Reference is made to the annual Rules Survey distributed to all college coaches and NISOA Officials. Our NCAA liaison, Teresa Smith, Assistant Director of Playing Rules Administration, informed me yesterday that her office has not yet received returns from any referees. I immediately contacted John Van de Vaarst and Ken Andres to obtain approval for sending this note asking that all able-bodied NISOA members take a few minutes - from what I know are very busy schedules - to help us out.

Please take a minute and fill out the online survey.

     Cliff McCrath has been appointed the Director/Liaison of NISOA Communications.  Cliff’s primary responsibility will be to interface and serve as a liaison with our outside constituents such as the NCAA, NAIA, NSCAA, NCCAA, NJCAA, and others.

     John Van de Vaarst has been appointed Director of Operations.  He will be responsible for the day-to-day activities of NISOA as well as long range planning.  He will manage the budget and expenditures, maintain and update all NISOA publications and the Policy Manual, and oversee the web page.  He will respond to questions from chapter contacts and members, and coordinate agendas for the Executive Council and Annual Conventions.  He will be responsible for the logistical planning for the Annual Convention, the NSCAA convention and all workshops and training programs of the various Program Directors.

     Mario Donnangelo will continue as an Associate Executive Director, with additional responsibilities. He will handle all NISOA membership issues, coordinate the awards programs and be the primary contact with our insurance carrier and chapter contacts on insurance matters.

We wish Ken the best of luck in this important assignment.

It is with great sadness that we must inform you that Dr. Ray Bernabei passed away on Friday, September 5, 2008 from complications that resulted from his illness. We will inform you as soon as the family notifies us of the arrangements for the funeral. Let us continue to keep them in our prayers.

Dr. Bernabei has been NISOA’s only Executive Director, serving in that role since 1975 and for most of us, the face of NISOA. He will be missed.

• At least 72 hours before the match, the assigned referee will contact both of the assigned assistant referees to confirm the assignment and coordinate specific details. If you use email or leave a voice message, you must make sure you get confirmation that the message was received.
• 48 hours before the match, the assigned referee must make sure both assistant referees have confirmed the assignment or attempt to contact them again. If an assistant referee has not been contacted by the referee, the assistant referee must contact the referee and the other assistant referee to confirm the assignment. At this point, telephone contact is preferred to email.
• 24 hours before the match, if all three officials have not been in contact with each other, we strongly recommend the referee and the assistant referee contact the match assignor and advise them of the situation while continuing attempts to contact the unresponsive official.

This procedure will only break down if ALL 3 officials do not do their job.

1. An official who is assigned to work a Collegiate Soccer game on the night of a scheduled business meeting shall be excused from that meeting and be given credit for that meeting.
2. The annual dinner will be considered a business meeting.

In addition to these two proposals, the Executive Board will request discussion of the following administrative constitutional amendment:

Change Article 4, paragraph 1: “Elections shall take place with nominations brought to the floor at the fourth business meeting of that year.”

to:

“Elections shall take place at a scheduled business meeting. Nominations shall be brought to the floor at the business meeting immediately prior to the elections.”

This notice satisfies the requirement for written notification to the membership. These proposals will be discussed at the September 10, 2008 business meeting and, if approved, voted upon at the September 23, 2008.

• NJ Metro ISOA - August 9, Saturday – Drew University, Madison, NJ – Physical fitness test and Interpretation meeting – 8:00 am registration, 8:30 start.
• ISOA-NJ – August 9 – Mercer County College – Fitness test at 8:00 am. Interpretation meeting follows the fitness test.
• Eastern PA and Delaware - Saturday, August 16, Saturday – Villanova University – 7:30 am start for the fitness test. Interpretation meeting follows the fitness test.
• Westchester/Rockland ISOA - Rules Interpretation information is here.

NY Metro ISOA members who attend these (or any other non-NY Metro ISOA) rules interpretation meeting are required to attend three of the four scheduled business meetings to meet the NISOA requirement to attend 3 business meetings.

1. Download the test from our website. We recommend printing the test and writing your answers on the test itself.
2. Log on to the web site and fill out your answer sheet. You do not have to fill out the entire answer sheet in one session. When you click on the ’save and submit’ button, your answers will be saved. You may come back and finish at any time before August 23, 2008.

As always, you may use the NCAA Soccer Rules Book as a reference when you take the test. Please post any questions in the comments section.