This page contains the minutes from a 2003-2004 basketball board meeting.

05/12/03- Attendees: John Adejunmobi, Jack Brown,  Mike Hegarty, Mike Crosslin, Jim Eckler, Jon Decker, Matt Geer

The next meeting dates are  05/21/2003, 06/04/2003

Board insurance - Jon Decker reviewed a proposal for insurance for board members to cover potential litigation due to the unforeseen lawsuits, This involves the directors and officers policy that costs $350 per year. The board voted 4-0 to adopt this policy and request that the treasurer provide the funding from the general WCOA basketball fund. Jim Eckler and Jon Decker will follow up with Thom Powers.

Discussed the 2003 WCOA camp at USF  3-crew camp scheduled for father's day weekend: clinicians mostly confirmed, 51 current campers registered. A meeting is scheduled at Jon Decker's office 0n 06/02/2003 for a final review will all clinicians. The guest speaker will be Dave Jones, if he is not scheduled for an NBA game. The Friday session will open at 02:00 PM with a introduction from the Basketball VP, then the camp director will introduce the clinicians. At this time, the agenda for both days as well as court assignments will be distributed. At 02:15 PM the guest speaker will speak for approximately 30 minutes and the attendees will break into two groups for classroom sessions.  The tentative game start time is roughly 04:00 PM with two classroom sessions also ongoing. Additional clinicians may be required and several names were provided to Mike Crosslin as potential members. Each camper will receive a minimum of one session on a filmed court and preferably two sessions.  The clinician reviewing the court session will take the tape to a reviewing room to critique the film with the crew. Courts not being filmed will receive written critiques from the clinician. Larry Torchia may be available at the camp to provide a supply of basketball officials gear. The campers will receive better quality of food this year as well as having snacks and drinks available. Jack Brown raised a concern of cars parked in non-designated lots receiving tickets, and Jon Decker will check with the coaching staff about a special marked off section. Thom Powers will be requested to assist the camp with certain logistical issues.  USF will provide the video cameras and a secure room with a TV and VCR.

WCOA committee review and evaluation :  Several committee members have left their committees due to a withdrawal from basketball or in the case of John and Jack, being elected to the board. Questions were raised as to the length of a term on any committee, with opinions varying between one to two years. This was discussed in detail, as this should be a selection by the membership due to the committee structure. The general recommendation was that additional definitions must be provided in writing as to definite criteria for committee selections, term durations and replacements. This will be a topic of discussion at the next meeting.

Official uniforms and warm ups: Matt Geer through his company, will be able to provide warm ups at a nominal cost, with the board to select the design based on examples provided. Examples will be provided at one of the next summer board meetings and Matt will solicit requests from the membership as to interest. If interest is sufficient, Matt will provide this warm up at the fall meetings, with the sizes to be selected by the members. The estimated cost of the warm-up with a lined jacket an unlined pants, both can be purchased in different sizes is $55 - $60. As several members did not wear the specified Dunbrook jacket last year, the board voted to withhold games from any member without a jacket until the member obtained a legal jacket. Included in this vote, was a proposal that the WCOA purchase 12 jackets in varying standard sizes and have them available for the members to purchase at cost from the WCOA. Thom Powers was nominated as the holder of the jackets.  A motion was made to allow members to wear a mesh shirt as an option to the traditional solid polyester shirt, since the mesh is more comfortable but was tabled due to lack of a second.  

Other association crew switches - Charlie Boyle of the Coral Coast Basketball Officials Association, serving Charlotte and Desoto counties, who did games as a regional crew in Pinellas and Hillsborough county last year, proposed that his group swap games with the WCOA as a trail basis. The board had discussion on this matter and recommended that we see what the other association had to offer,  as this could be an option for some early round Christmas tournament or pre-season games. This will be re-visited at a future meeting after Charlie is contacted again. 

Summer Leagues -  Jerry Lambert was contacted regarding the board's proposal to better control the summer leagues and use them for a WCOA training exercise. ents. The board needs to be involved due to the potential for training and observation of officials, as to ensure that no shows are limited due to the fact that the board is involved. The board feels that it owes the high schools to provide qualified officials for all summer high school leagues as a return favor for their support during the basketball season. At this time, the decision is to have Jerry run the Hillsborough County summer league, with Jon Decker assigning the Paso County summer league. with this motion being addressed prior to next summer.

Attendance - The FHSAA has recommended that local associations adopt a point system and report on the number of meetings attended by their membership.

Classification of experienced officials joining the WCOA - The VP requested that the board consider recommendations as to a policy for officials with experience requesting to join the WCOA. This includes officials from within Florida, other states and those officials rejoining the WCOA after an extended absence. These officials need to have a ranking system as they are not rookies; tables for a future meeting

Next Meeting - Committee Roles follow up, Promotions/Demotions, Recommendations, Summer Ball, Camp, Officials classifications, 2003-04 meeting schedule, officials attire