Division I officials:

In preparation for the 2016-17 men’s and women’s basketball season, we wanted to make you aware of a change in the background check process. The NCAA has partnered with Verified Volunteers to conduct this year’s background checks. Verified Volunteers, which specializes in non-employment background screening, is an electronic based system that will require officials to create a user name and password to log into the system. Officials will receive an invitation email from Verified Volunteers as soon as your conference coordinators of officials submit their rosters.

Note: For officials that work multiple conferences, you will only be required to complete your background check once, so make sure to use the same email for all the conferences in which you work. Please contact Verified Volunteers at NCAAOfficials@verifiedvolunteers.com if you received multiple invites.

The full process of completing the application is in the attached pdf, which includes entering your information and answering questions should take no more 10 minutes. Screens shots have been provided in preparation for accessing and answering questions. Please complete your background check no later than September 15, 2016 to ensure NCAA Championship eligibility. Once completed, officials should allow a few days for their background checks to be processed before reviewing their results. If there are any questions regarding the new process, please contact Verified Volunteers NCAA Customer Care Team at 855-326-1860, Extension #1.

The Men’s College Basketball Officiating, LLC (MCBO) Mechanics Committee met during the Final Four in Houston. As a result there will be several changes to our mechanics manual that will be explained during the fall regional clinics.  Please click here to read the Summer Teaching Points Memorandum.

Please click here to view the 2015-16 Season Review Memorandum by J.D. Collins, NCAA National Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officiating.

Please click here to listen to March 2016: NCAA Officiating Monthly Update, an audio message from J.D. Collins, NCAA National Coordinator of Officials.

College Basketball Officials:

On behalf of the American Cancer Society and the "Officials vs. Cancer" campaign, I wanted to send out a huge thanks to collegiate basketball officials who participated in this year’s, “Officials vs. Cancer” campaign.  More than $11,000 was raised for the American Cancer Society by collegiate officials who participated.  Since the inception of the campaign, basketball officials at all levels have contributed over $1.2 million to the American Cancer Society.

Your support of this great cause and your participation in the “Officials vs. Cancer” campaign efforts is commendable.  Officials wore the pink whistles and lanyards throughout the week and now, continue to bring attention to this worthy cause.

Again, thank you for making the right “call."

Sincerely,

Donnie Eppley
Officials vs. Cancer
American Cancer Society

Officials,

This is a reminder regarding the upcoming Officials NCAA Eligibility deadline that all in-season training videos that are posted on the ArbiterSports site must be watched by January 29th at 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

If you feel like you did not receive credit for a video, please contact ArbiterSports. Once you have watched the video you should receive a certificate and will not have access to get back into the same video.

Best of luck with your upcoming assignments.

Be safe and stay healthy,

Sincerely,

Brad Taylor
NCAA Basketball

Please click here to listen to an audio Message from J.D. Collins, NCAA National Coordinator of Officials, Regarding Shot Clock Plays.

Click here to read Rule Clarification and Case Plays, Prepared by Art Hyland, NCAA Men’s Basketball Secretary-Rules Editor, January 4, 2016.  

Please click here to read New Playing Rules and Officiating Directive Update and Data Memorandum.

To all:

We would like to acknowledge a positive start to the season and encourage you all to keep up the good work. As you get ready for your weekend assignments please take the opportunity to listen to the attached message from J.D. Collins, the NCAA National Coordinator of Officials.

Stay healthy and be safe.

Brad Taylor
NCAA Men's Basketball

To all:

With the season upon the NCAA staff would like to wish you all the best of luck as we begin the games today. As you prepare for upcoming assignments please take the opportunity to listen to the attached message from J.D. Collins, the NCAA National Coordinator of Officials.

Stay healthy and be safe.

Brad Taylor
NCAA Men's Basketball

DELAY OF GAME ENFORCEMENT:

Greetings to all:

It has come to my attention that there may be different interpretations of how we should enforce the delay of game procedures for disqualified players, injured players and time-outs.

First let’s look at the rule(s):

Rule 4, Section 10, Art. 1.g and Art. 2:

Art. 1: A delay is any action that impedes the progress of continuity of the game.  Such actions include but are not limited to: (g.)  Delaying the game by failing to resume play immediately following the second horn indicating the end of a time-out or when a disqualified or injured player must be replaced.

Art. 2: One team warning shall be given for each of the delays in Rule 4-10.1d through g.  Each warning shall be reported to the official scorer and recorded in the scorebook.  Thereafter, a technical foul shall be assessed for the delay that has previously received a team warning.

Rule 10, Section 4, Art 4.2.g

Art. 2: A technical foul (after a warning) shall be assessed to a coach and all bench personnel for the following infractions: g. The head coach failing to replace a disqualified player within 15 seconds or an injured player within 20 seconds when a substitute is available or failing to resume play immediately following the second warning horn indicating play is to resume following a time-out.

The administering official has primary responsibility in determining if a team is causing a delay and not immediately ready to begin play.  The two other officials have secondary responsibility.  If a team is not imminently ready to put the ball in play issue a delay of game warning per rule and subsequently issue a Class B technical foul.

As officials we still have the responsibility to know whether a player is delaying putting the ball back in play:

1)  Player standing by the administering official ready to put the ball in play – acceptable.

2)  Team has broken the huddle prior to the second horn and the thrower-in is within a reasonable distance and making his way to the throw in spot – acceptable.

3)  Team has broken the huddle prior to the second horn, but the players are still standing near the bench listening to the coach and not allowing the ball to be put in play immediately – unacceptable.

As officials, we still must judge whether the team/players are ready to resume play or whether they are in fact delaying the process by impeding the progress of continuity of the game.  It is important that we all make this philosophic and habit change for the benefit of the game.

Best regards,

J.D. Collins
NCAA National Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officiating

IT IS GAME TIME!    

Many of you have begun the 2015-16 season with scrimmages and exhibition games.  As you learned at the Regional Clinics, we have 25 + rule changes to enforce and a directive to reduce physicality to create freedom of movement.  As you work scrimmages/exhibition games, IT IS THE TIME to set the standard by calling fouls on physical play.  If displacement exists - CALL THE FOUL!

A special thanks to Art Hyland and Ted Hillary for assisting with the Regional Clinics.  In addition, having the support of each Coordinator of Officials is greatly appreciated.

I am in the process of meeting with as many media personnel as possible.  It is our desire to educate the media regarding the new rules and the directive to reduce physicality.  We all know that there will be pain involved if we do our part.  We also know that we have more support than ever before to make a positive impact on our game.

NOW IS THE TIME, WE CAN NO LONGER DEFAULT TO THE NO-CALL: Call the fouls, be consistent and be diligent with the whistle!

Best of luck as you begin your season.


J.D. Collins
NCAA National Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officiating

The 2015-16 NCAA Men’s Basketball Officiating Test is now available under the TESTING Tab.

The Collegiate Commissioners Association Mechanics Manual
(CCA Manual App) has been updated and is available for you to download by
clicking the CCA App Tab.
 

Please visit the Center Court Central Hub frequently to stay current on the latest Men’s Basketball officiating news and information.  On the central hub, you’ll be able to read the latest rules interpretations from the Secretary-Rules Editor and bulletins from the National Officiating Coordinator, complete your requirements to be considered for a postseason assignment, and review videos of recurring plays and how they are to be officiated.

To register, click the REGISTRATION Tab at the top of the page.

The 2015-16 NCAA Men's Basketball Officiating Exam will be available on the TESTING Tab in early October.  When available, the 2015-16 Men’s Basketball Officiating Video can be accessed on the VIDEO Tab.  Searchable rules and case books are available by clicking on the RULES BOOKS Tab. 

Welcome Packets will begin shipping in late September, pending receipt of the printed books, with those who registered first receiving their welcome packets first. 

This year’s Welcome Packet includes the 2015-16 and 2016-17 NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Book, 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Case Book, and 2015-16 Men’s CCA Mechanics Manual. 

I am excited you have chosen to register with the NCAA.  If you have ideas or suggestions for improvement, please email me at jdcollinsref@yahoo.com.

When the officiating community is literally all on the same page, it is good for the game! 

Have a great season!

J.D. Collins
NCAA National Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officiating

Please click here for the Regional Advisor Position Qualifications and Requirements.  The deadline to submit for the position is Wednesday, July 22, 2015.

Please click the link to read Men’s and Women’s Basketball Playing Rules Changes Effective for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 Seasons.

Please click here to read J.D. Collins Named NCAA National Coordinator of Men's Basketball Officiating.