Operating Procedures

NORTH TEXAS BASKETBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION
(referred to as NTBOA or Chapter)

2011-2012 Operating Procedures

The Board of Directors has adopted the following NTBOA Operating Procedures for the 2011-2012 season. These procedures may be revised as necessary by the Board to conform to such needs as may arise. The intent of these Operation Procedures is to provide the membership with the methods used by the Board members in the chapter operations. It further details the board’s expectations and objectives of the membership in the service to the schools, the Chapter, and to basketball officiating in general.

It is the intent of the Board of Directors that all NTBOA members follow these Operating Procedures and that each member have a copy in their possession or access to one via internet. Suggested revisions should be submitted to the President, in writing. These procedures follow the By-Laws in their structure and will be reviewed and reissued annually by the Board.

MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING:
A NTBOA member who has satisfied the requirements set forth in the By-Laws, and these Operating Procedures for the following: Payment of dues, meeting attendance and completion/submission of the basketball official’s annual examination with a minimum score as required by the state governing body. Additionally, a member in good standing who wishes to be considered for playoff games must officiate a minimum of three NTBOA (3) scrimmages, a total of ten (10) NTBOA varsity assignments. No more than five (5) of the NTBOA varsity assignments may be tournament assignments. Also, that includes being a sole member of the NTBOA and not a member of any other high school basketball officiating chapter. However, a member may submit a written request for a waiver to the Board of Directors for extenuating circumstances.

ADMINSTRATION OF ANNUAL EXAMINATION:
The University Interscholastic League’s (UIL) website will contain the annual examination, the number of times the test may be taken, and the end date of the examination.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP:
An active member may submit to the Board of Directors a recommendation for an individual to become a life member of NTBOA. The Board will determine the eligibility for this honor.

GAME SITUATIONS:
Any conflict or confrontation between the officials and any player, substitutes, assistant coaches, trainers, team physicians, cheerleaders in uniform, band members in uniform, mascot in uniform, parent or any other persons affiliated with the teams in a contest officiated by the NTBOA officials will be reported orally to either the Chapter President or Assignment Secretary within six (6) hours of the incident. Other required reporting will be determined based on the initial oral report. Ejections from the above sources shall be submitted in a written form and reported within a 24 hour period of time after the oral report.

COMMITTEES:
The following are the active committees for the 2011-2012 season and their respective memberships:

1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: This committee will annually review the By-Laws and Operating Procedures of the NTBOA and perform other tasks as directed by the Chapter President. The Board of Directors is composed of the Incumbent of the following elected positions: President, Vice President, Immediate Past President and 4 Representatives at large elected by the membership. The Board of Directors is empowered to act on any issue not specifically covered in the Operating Procedures or Constitution and Bylaws.

2. ETHICS COMMITTEE: The Ethics Committee will serve as the “sounding board” for Chapter problems relating to game situations, actions of coaches, fans, players, etc. These actions will be reported in writing to the Ethics Committee. Also, any problems by or with co-officials, including tardiness to game assignments, failure to show up for an assignment, dress or conduct violations or any other breach of Chapter Operating Procedures are to be reported. The Committee will receive the written report, review the facts and contact the necessary people, including coaches or co-officials, to determine the facts of the situation. An appearance by the official involved will probably be included in the process. (Officials may wish to bring Division Representative to the meeting.) Upon completion of its review, the Committee will make a recommendation of action(s) to be taken to the all Board of Directors. In most cases, this will result in a written report given to the individual(s) involved and will include any sanctions taken against the individual(s). In a more severe case, the Board of Directors will review the facts and take any necessary action. These cases will normally be repeat offenses by an official or a problem of such a nature that expulsion from the chapter may be in order. The Ethics Committee will report its weekly actions at the next scheduled Chapter meeting. The President shall appoint the Chair of the Ethics Committee and its members are selected by the chairman and approved by the Board of Directors.

3. BANQUET COMMITTEE: The Banquet Committee will be responsible for coordinating the details for the end of the year Chapter party. The President will appoint committee members.

4. NEW MEMBER SCREENING/ RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE: This committee will review all new member applications to determine eligibility of the applicants for membership in the NTBOA. This screening activity will include a verification of data on the application and recommendation to the Board of Directors for acceptance or declination of the application.

5. RULES AND MECHANICS COMMITTEE: This committee will be composed of experienced officials and will make any rule decisions and interpretation of the rules necessary for proper officiating by Chapter members.

6. ARC COMMITTEE: This committee will be composed of active or inactive experienced members who are available to observe officials in the execution of actual game duties in order to evaluate performance of mechanics to aid in the improvement of the individual officials and the Chapter. Active officials are urged to observe and evaluate other officials and to render an evaluation report to the ARC Committee. The President will approve committee members.

7. EDUCATION COMMITTEE: The president shall appoint a member to serve as the Chair for this committee, who is charged with the duty of continuing education for all members of the NTBOA.

ASSIGNMENT SECRETARY:
The Board of Directors will select and employ an Assignment Secretary for a period of one year with the option to renew for an additional one year at the Board of Directors discretion. If the Board of Directors elects to renew the position for an additional year, the job shall be posted at the end of the one year extension. The Assignment Secretary will select Assistant Assignor(s) and upon confirmation from the Board of Directors the Assistant Assignor(s) shall assist the Assignment Secretary. If the Board does not confirm that individual, then the Assignment Secretary shall select someone else until an individual can be confirmed by the Board of Directors.

TREASURER/ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY:
The Board of Directors will select and employ a Treasurer/Administrative Secretary for a period of one year with the option to renew for an additional one year at the discretion of the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors elects to renew the position for an additional year, the job shall be posted at the end of the one year extension.

CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP:
In order to maintain active status in the Chapter, members must attend a minimum of 80% of regular mandatory meetings. Neither the annual banquet nor other social functions will count for meeting attendance credit. The District meeting will count only if it is held concurrently with a regular chapter meeting. A member may be excused from meeting attendance only when assigned to an NTBOA or collegiate level basketball game being played the same day of a regular chapter meeting. In this event, in order for the official to receive meeting attendance credit, the official shall send documentation to the Administrative Secretary verifying the date and time of the game no later than 48 hours after the scheduled meeting. To receive credit for a missed meeting due to any conflict not specifically mentioned above, a request for a waiver must be submitted to the Board of Directors within 48 hours of the missed meeting for appeal.

POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST:
In accordance with the state governing body policy, an official shall not officiate a game for any school where: a.) They have relatives who are students, players, or employees. b.) from which they graduated less than 10 years previous

VARSITY GAME ASSIGNMENTS:
Varsity game assignments will be made by the Varsity Assignor in conjunction with the Varsity Assignments Committee using an official’s availability information and a scratch list sent to the Chapter by the coaches who have been provided the full chapter membership roster.

SUB-VARSITY GAME ASSIGNMENTS:
All level officials of the NTBOA will have the opportunity, and are expected, to support our sub-varsity program. Assignments are under the direction of one of the Varsity Assignors or Assistant Assignors. The exact procedure for making and obtaining such assignments will be published and provided to each chapter member.

SCRIMMAGE ASSIGNMENTS:
The Varsity Assignor will assign scrimmages to members of the NTBOA. Each member will be assigned a minimum of three (3) scrimmage dates, and at their option, may volunteer for additional assignments. Assigned scrimmages will be considered a game assignment and are subject to the same attendance requirements as a regular season game. Scrimmage assignments do not count towards the minimum of ten (10) NTBOA varsity assignments that are needed to be a member in good standing.

POST-SEASON GAME ASSIGNMENTS:
The NTBOA members in good standing shall be eligible for consideration for post-season game assignments. However, the UIL requires each Chapter to provide to the UIL a listing of officials for possible assignment to Regional or State tournaments. The list is divided into the top three 3-person crews for both men’s and women’s. To submit these crews to the UIL, the President compiles lists based on stack rankings of the Board of Directors, the Varsity Assignor, the ARC committee (to be submitted by the chairperson of the ARC), and the Observer based on eligibility list provided by the secretary/treasurer. The highest ranking and lowest ranking will be thrown out and the remaining rankings will be averaged to determine the official’s final ranking. The UIL is solely responsible for assignments for Regional and State tournaments. An official is not eligible for post season assignments and their names will not be provided to the UIL in any of the following circumstances: 1.) If their meeting attendance record will not satisfy the Chapter’s meeting attendance requirements. 2.) If he/she has unpaid fines. 3.) If he/she failed to show up for a game assignment, or has had more than 2 acts of showing up late to game assignments without a waiver from the Board of Directors for extenuating circumstances. 4.) If he/she is otherwise on probation or not in good standing with the chapter. 5) If he/she does not make a minimum score of 90% on all UIL mandated tests. As stated above, members in good standing who are specifically requested by a coach to officiate a specific post season game will be given priority consideration for that assignment. All Regional and/or State qualifying officials must be able to be present for the duration of the tournament in case of a result of injury, sickness, or accident, or their name will not be submitted.

CHANGES TO OPERATING PROCEDURES
Any changes to the Operating Procedures shall first be submitted to the Board of Directors in writing. Approval from a majority of the Board of Directors is necessary.

CHAPTER SCRATCH POLICY:
Each varsity team served by this Chapter will be permitted to scratch up to five (5) officials of the Chapter’s varsity officials for a given season. If, during the season a varsity team desires to scratch an additional official(s) that varsity team must replace the newly scratched official with one of those on the prior scratch list. In order for the Chapter to honor a “Scratch List”, the list and any other changes must be submitted to the Chapter Assignment Secretary, no later than one week prior to the game(s) in question for which the list is to be effective. Failure to do so in a timely manner by the coach or school will result in the Varsity Assignment Secretary adjusting the schedule as he/she desires. No scratches will be honored within a 24 hours of the game request. The Chapter Assignment Secretary shall notify school coaches for changes of officials during circumstances below a 24 hour period as a result of sickness, good standing, or other issues.

OFFICIAL’S SCRATCH POLICY:
Officials will not be able to scratch other officials. Officials are expected to work the assigned games with the other officials assigned to that contest. Officials will be able to scratch a maximum of three (3) sites and a maximum of three (3) schools.

PRE-GAME CONFERENCE:
The top ranking official will be assigned and designated and as the Referee and will be responsible to hold a pre-game conference with all officials immediately prior to any Varsity Game, and when possible before any sub-varsity game. Or the top ranking official may designate who is to be the referee for any contest.

OFFICAL MECHANICS:
Only officiating mechanics approved by the NFHS may be used in UIL games. The Referee is responsible to see that the game officials utilize proper mechanics.

UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS AND DRESS/APPEARANCE STANDARDS:
A. The uniform worn by members of the NTBOA will conform to that specified in the current year Officials Manual and as approved by the state governing body. That uniform generally consists of: sub-varsity contests: black and white vertical stripe “V” –neck style shirt in regular or wide side panel, (all crew members are required to wear identical shirts); varsity contests: gray shirt with black vertical stripes, American flag on left sleeve, UIL patch on right sleeve; all contests: black slacks, black socks, black shoes, black belt (if wearing belted slacks), black lanyard, and black plastic whistle (Fox 40 preferred). Shoes will be mainly solid black with the possible exception of a shoe brand name. It is highly recommended that wash and wear slacks be used. Slacks made of denim material will not be worn.

B. Each NTBOA member will insure that his/her hair (including mustache and beard) is neatly trimmed, shoes are shined and uniform is neat and clean.

C. Street clothes worn to/from game sites must be neat and clean. Business Casual dress is preferred. Shorts of any kind, tank tops, and flip flops are not considered appropriate for wear to/from game sites.

RULES AND MECHANICS TRAINING:
The Board of Directors will, under the direction of one or more members, appoint all rules and mechanics meetings, training resources, and programs.

GAME CANCELLATIONS BY OFFICIALS:
All game assignments, made in accordance with an official’s availability as set forth by the official, are the responsibility of the assigned official, until he/she is notified by the appropriate Assignor that a suitable replacement official has been notified and has accepted the game assignment. The leaving of a message (voice or text) to the Assignor to be released from a game by an assigned official does not constitute cancellation, nor does leaving a message with another party constitute cancellation. Direct contact, meaning a phone call to the Assignors, followed by an email, will be the only way to cancel a game or games. After game assignments are made, should an official cancel an assignment, a cancellation fee of ten dollars ($10.00) per game of the assignment may be assessed. The fine for cancellation of a game assignment within 24 hours of the assignment is twenty-five dollars ($25.00). Should a game cancellation be the result of a game related injury, the Board of Directors may elect to waive the game cancellation fee. Multiple acts of this nature will result in an Ethics Committee investigation and could result in a member not being in good standing.

GAME CANCELLATION BY SCHOOLS:
When schools cancel games and the Chapter is notified, the responsible Assignor will make every effort to notify all assigned officials. If the school does not notify the Chapter of the cancellation 48 hours prior to game time, the school is responsible for game fee(s) for each cancelled game and reimbursement mileage payment to the officials. If the Chapter fails to notify the officials of a game cancellation, or if the Chapter incorrectly assigns officials to a game, the Chapter is responsible for game fee(s) and reimbursement of mileage to the assigned official(s).

REDUCTION OF GAME FEE FOR OFFICIAL BEING LATE FOR A GAME:
Schools served by the NTBOA will pay officials according to the UIL fee schedule. The UIL further stipulates that an official who is late for a game may have his/her game fee reduced by the home school by one-quarter of the fee for each quarter or part of a quarter the official is late. “Late for a game” is defined as not at the game site 30 minutes before the actual game start time, and on the court, ready to begin play at scheduled starting time.

FAILURE TO SHOW UP FOR AN ASSIGNED CONTEST(S):
The fine for failing to show up for an assigned contest(s), when the assignment was made in accordance with the member’s assignment availability, is equal to the game fee (for each game not officiated) which he/she would have received had he/she worked the game. If an official works an assignment without a NTBOA member as a co-official, the official who worked the game(s) will be paid by the Chapter (from the fine paid by the no-show official) that is equal to one-half the amount of the fine. The remaining one-half of the fine will be deposited in the Chapter’s checking account and used as seen fit by the Board of Directors.

Immediately upon notification of a failure to show up situation, the Chapter Secretary will contact the appropriate school administrator at the game site and determine the amount of the game fee. The non showing assigned official shall be notified by telephone and in writing of the amount of the fine deemed necessary. The official has seven calendar days in which to pay the fine to the Chapter Secretary. Failure to pay the fine within that period will result in cancellation of any remaining game assignments. An official who fails to show up for a second game assignment will be brought before the ethics committee and may be subject to disciplinary actions, all game assignments cancelled.

CHANGING OF GAME ASSIGNMENTS:
Only the Chapter Assignors, or in their absence, member of the Board of Directors, may make game assignments. No official will either change NTBOA assignments with another official or request another official to “cover” an assignment for him/her. No official will accept an NTBOA assignment from anyone other than those identified in the first sentence of this paragraph. To do otherwise, may be subject both officials involved to the fine outlined above in the FAILURE TO SHOW UP FOR AN ASSIGNED CONTEST(S) paragraph.

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OFFICIALS PRIOR TO CONTESTS:
Each Assigned Referee has the responsibility for contacting his/her assigned co-official, no later than 48 hours prior to the assignment, for the purpose of confirming transportation to and from the assignment, time, and travel arrangements. When a change of one official is necessary within 48 hours of the scheduled game, the replacement official is responsible for initiating contact with the originally assigned official. When a change of both officials is necessary within 48 hours of the scheduled game, the procedure stated in the first sentence above applies. Failure to make this notification may result in an ethics violation, should a scheduled official fail to show up for an assignment, or should there be a conflict regarding payment of mileage fees. If an official is not at the appointed departure point ten (10) minutes after the agreed upon meeting/departure time, the official who is present will depart and proceed to the game site. The late official will travel on his/her own to the game site, but will neither seek nor receive any reimbursement for his/her travel.

USE OF ANSWERING MACHINES, VOICE MAIL, EMAIL, OR OTHER PERSONS FOR LEAVING MESSAGES REGARDING GAME ASSIGNMENTS/ CANCELLATIONS/ OR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS:
The Chapter Assignors or other members of the Board of Directors may use the above means for the purpose of making an assignment or canceling an assignment.

PAYMENT OF DUES AND CREDIT FOR GAMES OFFICIATED:
A. State dues are set each year by the UIL and currently are $50.00 for all officials. State dues for the following season are due to the UIL through the UIL website. NTBOA Chapter dues are $100.00 for new officials and $100.00 for returning officials. Local dues are to be paid no later than March 31st each year before the upcoming season. Failure to pay Local dues on time results in a mandatory $100.00 fine for a person who wishes to pay them after the due date. Checks for Local dues payments must be made payable to the “NTBOA Chapter“. Cash, credit card payment, and money orders will also be accepted. Cash should not be mailed, but instead should be given personally to the Chapter’s Secretary/Treasurer at a NTBOA meeting who will provide the payer with a receipt for money received. Local dues are waived for members of the Board of Directors, the Assignment Secretary and the Treasurer.
B. No official will be assigned games, other than scrimmage games, until both State and NTBOA dues are paid.

NTBOA AND NTOC OFFICIALS CAMPS:
The NTBOA agrees to affiliate with the NTOC to provide officials camps.