About Board 33

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Through your membership in the North Jersey Board of Approved Basketball Officials, Inc., you are a member of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials, Inc. (IAABO) – the only organization of its kind in the world: a nonprofit service and professional organization managed by and for basketball referees. Founded in 1923, IAABO’s stated purposes are:

• To educate, train, develop, and provide continuous instruction for basketball officials.
• To promote the welfare of the game of basketball, its players and officials.
• To maintain the highest standard of basketball officiating.
• To encourage the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship.
• To have available at all times an adequate number of thoroughly trained and capable officials.
• To cooperate with all organizations officially connected with the game of basketball in furthering its interests and ideals.

Officials Implicit Bias Workshops - NJSIAA Requirement

In September 2019, NJSIAA entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the NJ Office of the Attorney General – Division of Civil Rights.  This Memorandum required NJSIAA to provide implicit bias training to all registered NJSIAA officials.

To accomplish this requirement, NJSIAA will be offering a set number of workshop opportunities on implicit bias during the 2025-2026 school year at specific times.  The workshops will be virtual and will be hosted on the Zoom platform. They should last approximately one hour.

These are the only remaining dates/times that will be offered in 2025. Additional sessions will not be offered. NJSIAA will no longer be offering the workshops specific to each season, as has been done in the past.

As a reminder: This is a one-time-only requirement - it will not be a seasonal or annual requirement.  If you have already completed this workshop, you do not need to take it again.

This workshop is required! No official will be eligible for any assignments at any level (regular season or tournament contests) without participating in the workshop.  Similar workshops, like the NFHS course, will not be accepted.  

Thank you in advance for your participation and cooperation.

Below you will find the schedule for upcoming workshops. Pre-registration is required. Each registration link is unique to the specific date and time. Each session will be limited to 100 participants.  Only register for one session.

Thank you in advance for your participation and cooperation.

Registration links:

Wednesday, October 8 at 7:00pm

Wednesday, November 5 at 7:00pm

Wednesday, December 10 at 7:00pm

Any questions, please contact Dena Maggio from the NJSIAA - dmaggio@njsiaa.org

Board 33 Officials Lend Heart and Whistles to Special Olympics

Good Wednesday Board 33 family, there’s something special that happens when the game of basketball goes beyond the hardwood. 

This past spring, our Board 33 referees once again stepped up in a big way, lending their time, energy, and love for the game to the 2025 Special Olympics season. 

According to a statement released by my Board 33 colleague and Special Olympics Chairman Mr. Al Taliaferro, over the course of the season, more than 50 of our officials volunteered, many working game after game, week after week, to make sure these athletes had a fair, safe, and unforgettable experience. 

From Clifton to Old Bridge, and all the way down to Wildwood for the Spring Festival of Sports, Board 33 was there. Alongside officials from Boards 34, 193, 194, and 196, our team helped cover seven courts and seventy-five games in one weekend alone, capping off an incredible twelve-week season. 

What stood out most wasn’t just the hustle on the floor, it was the joy. Athletes handed out hugs and high-fives. Parents stopped to shake hands and thank us for being there. 

The Special Olympics of New Jersey treated our referees like family, even providing dinner and small tokens of appreciation in Wildwood. But truth be told, the biggest reward was being a part of these moments, watching young people compete with heart and determination. 

This year, I personally wasn’t able to get down there, and I’ll admit, YES, it stung. Hearing the stories, seeing the pictures, and knowing the difference our officials made, it hit me that I missed something bigger than basketball. 

So, I’m making it my business to be on that floor next year, and I hope more of our brothers and sisters from Board 33 will do the same. Committee Chair Al Taliaferro put it best, these athletes, their families, and their coaches pour everything into this. 

All they ask of us is a little time, a whistle, and a commitment to fairness. In return, they give us a reminder of why we fell in love with this game in the first place.

Meeting Dates Announced!

The meeting dates and attendance requirements for the upcoming 2025-26 season have officially been announced by the Board Secretary.

The Interpretation Meeting is an IN PERSON meeting, and in person attendance is required by all members at one location or the other. No packets will be distributed at these meetings.

General Meetings will be held remotely via Zoom, and invitations to attend each meeting will be sent out beforehand by the Board Interpreter.

Simulator Sessions will be held remotely via Zoom, and invitations to attend each meeting will be sent out beforehand by the Board Interpreter once the dates are announced.

To view a list of each meeting set, please visit our Meetings page on the site for more information.

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Check Your Information on RefSec

Dear Board 33 members,

We hope you are enjoying some time off this summer with your families. The Board 33 executive board is busy making preparations for the 2025-26 season. Every summer, we submit our roster and payment to IAABO. We also prepare our annual directory for publishing. Now is a good time for you to make sure all the information we have for you is accurate and up to date. You have the ability to review your personal information with Board 33 and with IAABO on the RefSec platform.

You can also change many of these fields if you have recently moved, updated your email address or changed phone numbers.  It's very important for you to understand that it is YOUR responsibility to make sure all your personal data is accurate.  If you find something that needs to be changed, and you can't change it yourself, please reach out to the Membership Secretary Jim Llewellyn for assistance.

To review your personal information online, please visit https://my.refsec.com/web/memberlogin.aspx You can check on Board 33, IAABO and any other sports you officiate that use the RefSec platform.

Thanks and have a great summer.

Goaltending and Basket Interference Addressed in 2025-26 Basketball Rules Changes

A trio of changes to address when goaltending and basket interference are called are among the changes to high school basketball rules for the 2025-26 season.

These revisions to the NFHS Basketball Rules Book are among the six changes recommended by the Basketball Rules Committee during its April 28-30 meeting in Indianapolis – all of which were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Honoring Dedication: 2024-25 Service Time Award Recipients

Recognizing the dedication and commitment of our members is an essential part of celebrating our organization’s success. Each year, we proudly honor individuals who have reached significant service milestones, acknowledging their hard work, loyalty, and invaluable contributions.

Below is the list of this year’s award recipients, each of whom has demonstrated unwavering commitment and excellence. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for their dedication and the positive impact they continue to make.

70 Years
Robert Kingsley
50 Years
Donald Beisswanger Allan Czaya Emil Ferlicchi
Louis James Giele Kenneth Hand Thomas Russo
Gary Schimel Michael Stang  
45 Years
Ronald Calo Ed Camp Louis Capozzi
Robert Csigi Alex Dobrowolski Jack Phillips
Marty Piccini Terry Shoebridge  
40 Years
Paul McPleasant William Mullins Renee Ruth
David Toomey    
35 Years
Micheal Brogan James Conte Timothy Lombardo
Michael Perullo Tom Stasik  
30 Years
Dennis Allocco David Barton Melvin Chettum III
Bruce Davis John Delamater Gordon Drewery Jr
Micheal Finnen Jr John Medica James O’Hara
Bryan Scipio Gerald Volpe  
25 Years
Kevin Chiodo Mary Ann Conboy Vic Degracia
Charles DePrima Steven Glassman Luis Gonzales
John Jones Gary Lange James Llewellyn
Lou Milano Ed Mills Craig Moracie
Robert Switer Patrick Warren  
20 Years
Alvaro Berges Anthony Candelario Joseph Cioffi
Alvin Cunningham Richard D'Avanzo Frank Di Maulo
Thomas Finn Edward Fodale Daniel Gerena
Joseph Henry Robert Hope Lauren Kelly
Robert LaSalle Eric Leeds Robert Limite
Rich Lustig Eric Montgomery Dennis Moskal
William O'Toole Richard Payne Tonya Rice-Turner
Jay Rosenfeld Christopher Sariti Thomas Swenticky
Marge Theobald Casey Thomas Shawn Thomas
Jim Tretola Joseph Tropeano Najee Webb

 

Flopping Addressed in 2024-25 High School Basketball Rules Changes

A new definition and subsequent warning for faking being fouled (flopping) has been added to the NFHS Basketball Rules Book for the 2024-25 season.

This revision to high school basketball rules was one of 12 changes approved by the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee at its April 9-11 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommended changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

“The committee approved changes addressing a variety of different areas,” said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS Director of Sports. “Maintaining a focus on player safety, fairness, balance and rules that officials can effectively adjudicate continue to be the focus of the committee.”

 Faking being fouled is defined in Rule 4-49-1 as when a player simulates being fouled or makes theatrical or exaggerated movements when there is no illegal contact. Examples include, but are not limited to, embellishing the impact of incidental contact on block/charge plays or field goal attempts, using a “head bob” to simulate illegal contact and using any tactic to create an opinion of being fouled to gain an advantage.

The new language also establishes a procedure for officials to issue a team warning on the first instance of faking being fouled. The warning is recorded in the scorebook and reported to the head coach. Any additional instances will result in a team technical foul and not a player technical foul, which was previously the case.

“(The committee) is hoping to get those dishonest acts out of the game,” said Billy Strickland, the executive director of the Alaska School Activities Association and chair of the Basketball Rules Committee.

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