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We will update this WEB page weekly on the weekends with the latest News and Tid Bits  from the Booking Office and the Association.

 

Sunday, Feb 7,  – Saturday, Feb 13, 2010

 

 

NCAA Tourney May Expand;

Games are More Stressful;

Ref60 – No Substitute for Rules Knowledge;

Facebook Topics;

By the Rules;

Camp

 

NCAA Tourney May Expand – There was a huge article in our paper on Friday with the title of this item. We broke this story back on Wednesday on Facebook, two full days before this article hit the news stands. The NCAA has met with University Presidents, Conference Presidents, Athletic Directors and Coaches to determine if there is any interest in expanding the field of 65 to 96 teams next year.  We are cautioned that this is only an idea and not a done deal.   As you would expect,  there are Coaches for it and against it.  Coach K is on the record for it citing that in the ACC, the only sure representative in the ACC Tournament winner and this would allow for an automatic berth for the Conference winner as well.  K also thinks it would give MORE relevance to the Regular season play.  Many other coaches are for it citing the growth in the number of Universities which stands at 347 now.  Others applaud saying it would give teams from smaller conferences a better chance of getting in.   Several have spoken out against expanding.  Washington State Coach Ken Boone likes it as is: “It’s a really special tournament when only 64 get in, I really like the way it is now”.

 

Other Comparisons – In Football, 68 teams out of 120 football playing schools  get a Bowl game.  That is 56 % of the teams.  In Basketball, now only 18 % of the schools make the playoffs.  Other Pro Sports with teams making playoffs are:  NHL = 53 %; NBA = 53 %; NFL = 37 %; MLB = 26 %.  That in itself is a pretty compelling argument.  But others argue that the lower percentages in Basketball is what makes it special.  Like the Masters, just getting in is an honor. 

 

What’s Next – CBS has an 11 year deal with the NCAA but the NCAA can opt out next year and put the TV contract back up for bids. However much would have to be worked out such as a revenue sharing deal with the schools,  who would get byes,  who the automatic bids would go to, how much more would the student athlete be away from school,  and more.  Villanova Coach Jay Wright said it best, “ I’m sure what’s best for TV  is probably what’s going to happen; we’re just playing the games, and we will be fine with whatever it is”

 

You’re Reading this Sunday or Later – We broke this story last Wednesday on Facebook and have a Topic on our DISCUSSION Page for you to voice your opinion.  Is this good or bad ?  Do you Like it or Not ?  Express your opinion over on the Facebook Discussion Page.

 

Games are More Stressful – This is the last week of regular season, teams are jockeying for position.  Some will make the playoffs, some won’t.  Don’t expect the players, coaches or fans to like what you are calling.  Just do your job; be  a little understanding of what is at stake.  For the seniors,  some will be playing their final games ever, as most will not go on to play at the next level.  They are putting that uniform on for the last few times.  This week and the Conference Tourament next week will be the end of the line for half the schools in North Carolina.  Then one game in the Sectionals will take care of half that number. So for ¾ of the schools, it’s about 5 more games and it’s over.  That is sad to me so give em your best effort.  

 

Conference Tournament Week – Conference Tournaments start on Monday, Feb 15;  coat and tie are required dress for those games.

 

Sectional Tournament Week – Sectional tournament week starts Monday, Feb 22;   both the Boys and the Girls will play on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Coat and Tie required for these assignments.

 

Regionals in GreenvilleThe  Regionals will be  Mar 2 through Saturday, Mar 6.

 

State Championships -  The State Championships will be  Mar 13.

 

Technicals  (Recap) – You must call me if a player receives two technical fouls.  A report must go to Chapel Hill and the schools involved.  I will send the reports, but you must call me with the information. There is a 24 hour deadline for this report,  I want it that night after the game.  It is now a MUST.  

 

Ref60 – Ref60 is an internet news letter that I get each month.  This month’s title is “No Substitute for Rules Knowledge” and goes into detail on Substitutes and Knowing the Rules about Substitutes.  I thought it was a great article and very timely since we start tournament play after this week.  Please read and digest this article from Ref60.

 

Player substitutions are a constant and natural part of the ebb and flow of every basketball game, so it is important for officials to have a thorough understanding of what is permissible in this area of inter-changing the 'moving parts' of the game...

While it is the official closest to the table's responsibility to beckon substitutes, it wouldn't hurt the game for each official to get in the habit of sneaking a quick peek at the scorer's table to see if there is a player waiting to report, or a player hustling to the table to enter the game...

To digress for a moment, the term "preventative officiating" certainly can be a lightning rod for discussion on what our roles as officials are, but one position is that we are servants of the game and anything we can do to not antagonize coaches and players (denying substitutes entry, putting the ball in play before both teams are ready, etc..) will make everyone's game experience more enjoyable...What is reasonable, what is logical and what is fair should be a part of our decision-making process...

For a conflict-free game related to substitutions, remember: 

  • A captain can request a defensive match up if 3 or more substitutes enter the game from the same team.
  • Between quarters, halftime, and during a timeout, a substitute must report or be in a position to report to the scorer's table prior to the 15-second warning horn.
  • Substitutions between halves may be made by a team representative.

A substitute may go IN & OUT of the game without any time coming off of the clock, but they may NOT GO OUT & BACK IN... without the clock moving.

Here are a couple other items to remember ...

  • When a player is required by rule to be replaced prior to administering any free throw(s) (i.e. disqualification or ejection), then all other substitutes who have legally reported may also enter the game.
  • substitute who reports to the table may be called back to the bench by the coach with no repercussions.
  • A substitute who enters the court without reporting to the scorer's table will be charged with a technical foul if it is discovered BEFORE the ball becomes alive.

If you follow these "60 Second" reminders on the parameters of replacing players, you will be able to rule competently and confidently on making substitutions in your game...

 

 

Facebook Discussion Page – This page is our on-going Opinion Poll page.  Some of the most recent topics added are:

 

Super Bowl Picks --  I put on a post just in case you wanted to try to guess the winner and final score.

 

ACC Standings Feb 1 -   We got a lot of ACC fans in our area, what do you think of the standings.

 

Will or Should Favre Retire  Instead of waiting for him to hem haw, lets go ahead and decide it for him. 

 

Is Kobe Best Ever Laker Kobe just became the all time leading scorer for the Lakers passing the mark set by Jerry West this week. Is he the best Laker ever ?

 

Who is Second Best Ever Celtic -  While you may not agree,  I believe most people would say Larry Bird was the best ever Celtic.  I think the argument would come in determining who is second best.  But if you disagree, then tell me who your best is,  or in our case, who is second best ?

 

Baseball Law SuitRead about the law suit by a baseball player who got hit in the head while sitting on a bucket outside the dugout.  Voice your opinion.

 

Not Limited to One Item or One Post per Item – Many of our readers get on the Discussion page and write on one topic only.  Shucks, write something about all of em.  If it has Carolina on it, Randy Gibson writes on them all.  It is Ok for you to write on every one of our topics. And you are not limited to one entry on each topic.  If you said something about Randy Gibson on a topic, he would answer 11 times if 11 others wrote on it. You can to.  Hey,  I have an opinion on every topic on the board and every topic that has been on the board.  We want to see yours.  Jump in.  And it is not for EOA only.  We have had a few from other areas:  Jimmy Benford, Johnny Jones, Brad Allen, Kim Evans and several others have participated. Join in the fun. 

 

NFL Contest, Will Post Final Standings after Super Bowl – Robert Farley took all the fun out of this contest, closing everyone out early.  After the game, I will figure the standings all the way down the line and post them on NFL Comments.

 

BE A FAN” beside Your DISCUSSION Tab ?If there is a Be A Fan  beside your tab, please put the cursor

on it and click.  That will make you a fan of our Discussion Page

 

By the Rules.  Hey, I know this is working because I have officials asking me about the answers they have found in the book.  Only goes to prove that Rule Book is good all year long,  not just for before the test.

 

By the Rules (This Week)  # 10 – The team is White knocked the ball out of bounds at mid court.  The official correctly points to Blue’s basket and signals Blue Ball.  White calls Time Out.  After the Time Out,  the official mistakenly hands the ball to White (the wrong Team) for the throw in.  The White team inbounds the ball to a team mate who immediately scores.  The officials now realize they have given the ball to the wrong team.  Keep in mind we have not had a second live ball.  You are the referee, what is the call ?

 

Refereeing Tip -  A game lasts from the opening tip to the final horn.  Officials must referee that entire time period. This does not mean you referee hard while the clock is running and take the day off during dead balls and Time Outs.  There are no lax times for the good referee.  He is alert the entire time and especially during the dead ball periods.  You simply can not let what happened in the play above in your game.  Be alert, don’t let it happen.  We are coming up on tournament play, the deciding games that will determine who advances in the playoffs.  Referee those dead ball periods just as vigorously as you do the Live Ball periods. Concentrate, stay alert.  

 

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Tid Bits

Tommy’s Facebook Discussions   Click the Tab above in the third line to go to our Discussion Board (a la Opinion Polls) on Tommy Mattocks Referee Page.  Go read what some of your fellow officials as well as other sports fans think.  Click on the topic name and the reviews will appear.

Tommy’s Facebook Scores – Click this tab and you are at Tommy Mattocks Referee Page Notes Tab.    I will list today’s date.  Example:  Scores for Friday, Dec 18. You click on COMMENTS and enter your score,  include if it is a Var Boys, Var Girls or JV Boys or JV Girls.

ArbiterSports Site – This link will take you to the Arbiter assigning program.  For your convenience, here is a link to the Arbiter Sports site:    www.arbitersports.com   Once at the page,  there is a Log In box in the extreme top right hand corner.   I will leave this link here during the season.

 

Camp Dates:  June 20 – June 23           Print Brochure:    CampBrochure.pdf    

ARBITER Tid Bit    Click on any official’s name on the ARBITER and a drop down screen will show his address.  Click on that address and MapQuest will provide a map to his house. Do the same thing for a school for a map to that school or rec gym.

My Email Address  -  eoa1@suddenlink.net    (That is a # 1 behind the eoa, not an “L”)

Home Phone – 252 522 2373

Cell Phone -  -  252 559 0493

Mailing Address :  3000 Graham Dr,  Kinston, N C 28504

                                                                                                                           EDITION # 607

Disclaimer, Fine Print -  This web page is not an official site or endorsed by any organization such as the NCHSAA or the National Federation of High Schools.  Except for the Opinion Poll Results, all items are the opinion, philosophy or belief of Tommy Mattocks. It's sole purpose is to provide information and entertainment for the EOA members, former EOA members and any other interested readers. We apologize for any inaccuracies or misspellings that may slip through the cracks.  Read at your own risk.

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