National Wheelchair Basketball Association NEWSLETTER Office 01 the Comml.. loner 110 Seillon Sulldlng Lulngton, KY 40506 Volume XXXIV July 6, 1994 Number 1 47TH NWBT SITE VISITED BY COMMISSIONER Conference, and the Delaware Valley Wheelchair Athletic Association. The organization of the 47th NWBT scheduled to be held in Philadelphia, PA, March 24-25, Requests for information about the tournament 1995, is proceeding with vigor and great should be directed to: Dan Sullivan, 1521 enthusiasm. Hollinshed Ave., Pennsauken, NJ 08110, (609) 663-1338 (H). (215) 587-3080 (W). NWBA Commissioner Stan Labanowich, at the direction of the Executive Committee, paid a ALBUQUERQUE BID FOR 21ST NWWBT site visit to Philadelphia June 24-25 to ACCEPTED evaluate the progress being made, the quality of the facilities for the tournament. and Sharon Hedrick, Chairperson of the Women's provide whatever assistance was necessary. Division, has confirmed the award of the 21st His report to the Executive Committee NWWBT in 1995 to the Zia Chapter of the pyA complimented the Tournament Organizing . in Albuquerque, NM. The dates of the Committee in its planning and the progress tournament have yet to be decided. made to date. The Final Four teams and the membership, as they participate in the games Directing the tournament' will be Cliff and annual meeting preceding the semi finals. McKinnon who served in the same capacity for are certain to find the facilities and the highly successful 44th NWBT in 1992. arrangements very agreeable. McKinnon is the Zia Chapter's Executive Director. The games will be played on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in the venerable 1995 NJWBT SLATED FOR UW-WHITEWATER Palestra, site of more NCAA championship games than any other college or university Bob Szyman, Commissioner of the Youth facility. Built in 1927, the Palestra seats Division, has announced the conduct of the 8,700 spectators. Home of the University's 3rd Annual National Junior Wheelchair Division I Quakers, the building has been Basketball Tournament in Whitewater, WI placed on the federal historic register and under the auspices of University of Wisconsin. consequentIypreserved in excellent condition. The dates are March 31-April 2, 1995 . The teams will practice at the Recreation and EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS AT MID­ Park Department's Carousel House, a six-year YEAR old facility and home court for the Philadelphia Spokesmen of the Mid-Atlantic The Executive Committee gathered in Conference . Schaumburg, IL on June 17 and 18 to conduct its annual mid -year meeting. Present were While the practice facility requires bus Marvin Lapicola, President; Armand transportation for the teams housed at the Thiboutot, 1st Vice President; Ralph Smith, Penn Towers Hotel, the Palestra is but a 2nd Vice President; Deborah Lightfoot, short pushing and walking distance away. Secretary j Morris Gardner, Treasurer; and Thus, the 47th NWBT will be third successive Stan Labanowich, Commissioner national tournament to have reduced the need for extensive transportation from hotel to Working through a lengthy agenda, the playing site. Committee: The tournament will have three co-directors o approved the transfer of $3,162.91 from with defined areas of responsibilities: Jayne contingency funds to cover excess Marie Eagle (facilities) ; Dan Sullivan expenditures in conjunction with the men's (fundrais ing); and Joe Theiringer (finances). national team's participation in the Gold Cup The host organizations include the qualification tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Phila delphia Spokesmen, Mid-Atlantic April 18-24. 2 o received the final report of the BIDS FOR REGIONAL/SECTIONAL Tournament Organizing Committee for the 46th TOURNAMENTS NWBT held in San Jose, CA, and instructed the Commissioner to communicate to In the May mailing of the Newsletter was Tournament Director Jan Elix of the San Jose included a bid form for teams and conferences Parks and Recreation Department the seeking to host either a regional or sectional appreciation of the NWBA for the excellence of tournament in 1995. To date. only two have the report. been received in this Office. Although the o directed the Commissioner to meet deadline of October 1 is still three months off. with the Tournament Organizing Committee in we encourage bids to be submitted as early as Philadelphia, PA, site of the 47th NWBT in possible. This will give the Chairman of the 1995. to ascertain the status of arrangements Tournament Selection Committee, Bruce made for the tournament and annual meeting. Russell. and the Commissioner. who together o approved an agreement with two make the decision. some idea of where Chicago law firms, Wildman, Harrold, Allen &: additional tournament sites may be needed. Dixon, and Vedder, Price, Kaufman &; Kammholz, to represent the NWBA in pursuit During the recent annual meeting in San Jose, of arbitrating the gold medal won and CA. seven teams indicated intent to bid on subsequently stripped from the U.S. team in either a regional or sectional tournament, or the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona, both. We will obviously need more bids. Spain, with the International Paralympic Committee, on a pro bono basis . RICE RETIRES AS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA o endorsed the Women's Division CONFERENCE COMMISSIONER decision to accept the bid entered by the Zia Chapter of the PV A to hold the 21st NWWB T After serving as Commissioner of the Southern in Albuquerque, NM California Conference for eight years, Bob o reviewed the situation surrounding Rice has announced his retirement from the the refusal of Anardo Valdez, a player on the position. Rice served dutifully both as 1992 U.S. national team to submit his gold . President and Commissioner in establishing medal to the Office of the Commissioner after the conference as a forceful element in the three written requests and accepted the NWBA . He will continue his involvement as an recommendation of the Commissioner to inform active player with the Cypress College Valdez that if the medal is not received by Chargers. July 1, he will thereafter be suspended from playing in the NWBA. Rice's successor as Commissioner is Chuck o authorized the Commissioner to Molnar who gives up his position as enforce the provision of NWBA Regulation 5, Conference President to take on hiS new Section 4(a) which states that "The responsibilities. Tournament sponsors shall not provide lodging and meals and shall charge the team NWBAlPVA CAMP TO BE HELD IN BLAINE, for all awards it or its members received" for MN each and every team in the NWBT that fails "to furnish, at the time of qualification for The 1994 NWBAJPVA camp will be held at the the sectional tournament, a team. photograph, National Sports Center in Blaine. MN, August a team history, short biographies of all 15-20 .. players, and photographs of outstanding players ... for promotion of the tournament." The camp is designed for players of all levels o reviewed the agenda of the 1994 of experience and ability - from novices to IWBF World Congress to be held in Edmonton, advanced, skilled players. A coaches' Alberta and appointed Commissioner curriculum is provided for those seeking to Labanowich and Treasurer Morris Gardner to develop expertise in that area. act as official u. S . delegates to the meetings to be held on July 28. (See article on In addition to the core curriculum the camp proposed amendments and other agenda items will feature an "advanced component" • below. ) specifically geared towward the experienced NWBA player or past NWBAJPVA National Basketball Camp athlete. Camp Director Lew Shaver of Southwest State University will 3 head an all-star instructional staff including o Last date for submission of nominations for Frank Brasile (U . of Nebraska, Omaha); Brad the Commissioner of the NWBA to Lew Shaver, Hedrick (U . of Illinois); Paul Jackson, Golden address above State Warriors j Ron Lykins j Angelo Nicosia o Last day for submitting proposed (EPVA); Bob Szyman, St. Louis Rolling Ramsj amendments to the playing rules to Ralph Harry Vines, Arknnsas Rollin' Razorbacks; Smith, Chairman, NWBA Rules Committee, Mike Woodard; Tim Kazee, Arkansas Rollin' Parks and Recreation Management, 201 Mateer Razorbacks j and Deb Sunderman, Courage Bldg. , Pennsylvania State University, Rolling Timberwolves. Tobe Broadrick, University Park, PA 16802 Courage Timberwolves, will be the on-site coordinator. Paul Camitsch, North Central February 1: 0 Last day for submitting a Conference, will coordinate officiating. proposed amendment to the Constitution of the NWBA to Secretary Deborah Lightfoot, 111 E. For registration forms outlining the fee 9th Street, lincoln, CA 95648 schedules, please call PVA Sports at (800) 424-8200 (752). Applications and fees must March 1: 0 Last day for submitting proposed be postmarked by July 25, 1994. amendments to the NWBA Bylaws to Secretary Lightfoot, address abov. 1995 POST SEASON DATES MAILING ENCLOSURES The follOwing are dates established for postseason play in the NWBA in 1995: The following materials are enclosed for conference commissioner, conference officers January 25: Deadline for submitting the and team representatives: Application for Regional Tournament Berth Form o Minutes of the 1994 Annual Meeting February 4-5: Meeting of the Tournament including the Commissioner's Report and Selection Committee in Lexington, KY reports of the Classification, Rules and February 25-26: Regional Tournaments at 16 Women's Division sites o Team Registration and Roster Form March 11- 12: Sectional Tournaments at 4 o Tournament Information Form sites o Application for Conference- Independent March 24-25: 47th NWBT in Philadelphia, PA Form March 31-April 2: "NJWBT in Whitewater, WI CALL FOR CONFERENCE INFORMATION 1994-95 SEASON DEADLINE DATES Conference commissioners are asked to Conference and teams are alerted to the arrange for the submission of minutes of various deadlines applicable to the 1994-95 annual meetings, schedules and listing of season: officers for the 1994~95 season.