Local Basketball Official Recognized for Outstanding Contribution to the Game
Edison, NJ - In a ceremony held on September 17th at the Pines Manor, Brian Scipio, a stalwart figure in the world of basketball officiating, was bestowed with the prestigious NJSOA Official of the Year Award. This recognition comes as a testament to Scipio's unwavering dedication and exceptional contributions to the sport over the course of his illustrious career.
A member of IAABO Board 33 since 1995, Scipio's commitment to officiating has been nothing short of remarkable. His wealth of experience and keen understanding of the game has earned him a reputation as one of the most respected officials in the region.
Throughout his tenure, Scipio has officiated numerous state tournament games, leaving an indelible mark on high school basketball in New Jersey. His poise under pressure and impeccable knowledge of the game have made him a sought-after official for some of the most critical matchups in the state.
Scipio's influence extends well beyond the high school level. As a collegiate basketball official, he has officiated tournament games in the highly competitive CACC, NJAC, and Region 19 conferences. His ability to maintain the integrity of the game while ensuring fair play has earned him accolades from players, coaches, and fans alike.
Among his many accomplishments, Scipio's officiating prowess has graced the NJCAA Championship, as well as both the Division II and Division III tournaments. His presence on the court has become synonymous with professionalism and a deep understanding of the game's nuances.
The NJSOA Official of the Year Award is a fitting tribute to a figure who has left an indelible mark on the basketball community. Brian Scipio's dedication, integrity, and passion for the sport have set a standard of excellence that will continue to inspire officials and players for generations to come.
Congratulations to Brian Scipio from IAABO Board 33 and the Awards Committee.
Phillip Hamilton/ Gilbert Bragg
Co-Chairpersons - IAABO Board 33
Meeting Dates Announced!
The meeting dates and attendance requirements for the upcoming 2023-24 season have officially been announced by the Board Secretary.
Meeting Set 1 is an IN PERSON meeting, and in person attendance is required by all members at one location or the other.
Meeting Sets 2, 3 and 5 will be held remotely via Zoom, and invitations to attend each meeting will be sent out beforehand by the Board Interpreter.
Meeting Set 4 is split, with one session being on Zoom, and the other being an in person event at Passaic County Technical Institute.
To view a list of each meeting set, please visit our Meetings page on the site for more information.
Packet Pickup Locations Announced!
Starting September 27, you will be able to pick up your rulebook packets for the 2023-24 season. Distribution times vary.
In order to pick up your packet, YOU MUST BRING YOUR INDEX CARD, as well as any other index cards for packets you want to pick up.
You may pick up other members' packets, providing you have their card(s) with you.
To view a list of each meeting set, please visit our Meetings page on the site for more information.
Locations:
-
Wed, 09/27/2023 - 7:00pm - 8:30pm
-
Wed, 10/04/2023 - 7:00pm - 8:30pm
-
Sat, 10/07/2023 - 9:30am - 11:00am
-
Mon, 10/09/2023 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Free Throw Procedures and Foul Administration Amended in 2023-24 High School Basketball Rules Changes
Beginning next year, high school basketball teams will shoot two free throws for common fouls when in the "bonus." This change to Rule 4-8-1 eliminates the one-and-one scenario and sets new foul limits each quarter for awarding the bonus free throw.
Rules changes were approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Basketball Rules Committee at its annual meeting April 24-26 in Indianapolis. The recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
In addition to awarding two foul shots for all common fouls, teams will reach the bonus when their opponent commits five fouls in each quarter and team fouls will reset at the end of each quarter. Previously, teams were awarded the one-and-one bonus when their opponents committed seven fouls in a half and two foul shots when 10 fouls were committed each half.
"The rules committee studied data that showed higher injury rates on rebounding situations and saw this as an opportunity to reduce opportunities for rough play during rebounds," said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS Director of Sports and liaison to the Basketball Rules Committee." Additionally, resetting the fouls each quarter will improve game flow and allow teams to adjust their play by not carrying foul totals to quarters two and four."
The throw-in procedure for front-court violations was simplified in Rules 7-5-2 through 7-5-5. When the ball is in team control in the offensive team's frontcourt and the defensive team commits a violation, a common foul prior to the bonus, or the ball becomes dead, the corresponding throw-in by the offensive team will be at one of four designated spots determined by where the infraction took place. The designated spots are either the nearest 28-foot mark along each sideline or the nearest spot 3 feet outside the lane line on the end line. The one exception is when the defensive team causes a ball to be out of bounds, the throw-in shall be the spot where the ball went out of bounds.
Throw-in administration was also addressed in a change to Rule 7-6-6. When an official administers a throw-in to the wrong team, the error can be fixed before the first dead ball after the ball becomes live unless there has been a change in possession.
Other approved rules changes include:
- Rule 2-1-3 establishes the official placement of a shot clock operator at the scorer's table for those states utilizing the shot clock.
- Rule 3-4-5 clarifies that multiple styles of uniform bottoms may be worn by teammates, but they must all be like-colored and adhere to uniform rules outlined in Rule 3-6-2 regarding logos and trademarks.
- Rule 3-5-6 addresses undershirts and allows teams to wear a single solid color or solid black for visiting teams with dark jerseys. This provides an opportunity for schools with hard-to-find colors to have all players wear a black undershirt.
- Rule 9-3-3 was amended to allow a player to step out of bounds and return to the court if the player gains no advantage. A player is penalized only if, after returning inbounds, the player is the first to touch the ball or avoids a violation.
A complete listing of the basketball rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on "Activities & Sports" at the top of the home page and select "Basketball."
According to the 2021-22 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, basketball is the third-most popular high school sport for boys with 521,616 participants in 18,428 schools nationwide. It is the fourth-most popular girls sport with 370,466 participants in 17,901 schools.
Join Us!
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do you have a true passion for basketball?
- When watching college and professional basketball, do you find yourself breaking down referee calls on the court?
- Do you watch the referees and their calls more than the players when watching games in person?
- Are you able to watch a game objectively without rooting interests?
- Are you committed to do whatever it takes to become a high school basketball referee and help make a difference in New Jersey high school hoops officiating?
If you answered YES to any of these questions - you obviously came here for a reason, and that is to become a proud future member of IAABO Board 33!
In order to join our organization, you must be able to commit to and meet 100% of the requirements set forth for the Board 33 Referee Training Program.
For more information on each program, please visit the requirements page by clicking here.
NJSIAA Pregame Sportsmanship Anti-Bias Statement - Revised
Effective with the Winter 2021-22 season, the following statement from the NJSIAA must be read before all sanctioned high school games, regardless of level:
The NJSIAA requires officials to enforce all rules regarding unsportsmanlike conduct by coaches and players. There will be no tolerance for any negative behavior, such as taunting, trash-talking and verbal, written, or physical conduct related to race, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or religion. Such behavior will result in being ejected from this event. All participants must respect the game, respect the officials, and respect their opponents.
