History of The Capital District Board of Women’s Basketball Officials

By Paul Gordon
Edited by Jay Miner
10/20/13

PRELUDE-The period of our research went back as far back as 1967. With the help of some of our present day Officials who actually played in that era we were able to gather information.  At that time there were Girl’s High School teams but not like those of today. Numerous teams would meet on a Saturday at a school and have “play days”. There was a time when there were six on six games. One of the most glaring differences was the fact that there were no certified Officials to oversee the games. Most were officiated by coaches.

The Capital District Board of Women’s Basketball Officials’ roots date back to the early 1970’s. In those early years Girl’s Basketball was viewed with little respect in Section Two and across the country. It was strictly considered a non-contact sport.

Early officials and coaches bought into that philosophy, often producing lengthy games lasting up to two hours. Many regarded harmless incidental contact as too rough. Obscure rules that were enforced became the norm instead of the exception.

Before held balls resulted in alternate possessions, countless jump balls painfully slowed games when players were not allowed to compete for loose balls. Officials often blew whistles unnecessarily interrupting play when opposing players momentarily grasped balls simultaneously.

In the early years of Girl’s Basketball there were no three-point goals, no thirty-second clock and drastically different rules. All of this added to the long games on a nightly basis.

With the help of Jeff French and Aileen Durrant, who saved old directories and contracts, we have pieced together a time line history of our board. These two present day Officials along with an increasing diminishing group were part of the very early years.

As Girl’s Basketball evolved the number of teams and levels of play increased. With the game’s development there has been a change in the way the games are called by Officials and the number of referees needed to operate a board effectively. (see the attached history of our contracts to see how Official’s fees have changed over the years)

From 1973 through the 1981-82 season the Capital District Board of Women’s Sports Officials governed all Women’s Sports Official’s in our area. That group, with an executive board, presided over all Girl’s sports. Each sport had a chairperson who reported to the CDBWSO. Games were played under the rules of the National Association of Girls and Women’s Sports (NAGWS). That group remains in existence today in other parts of the country.

Girl’s Basketball played accordingly to a different season than today’s games. Their season started in early January and ended late in February. That season remained through the 1985-86 season when it began running concurrently with the Boy’s season.

The uniform of NAGWS consisted of blue pants, black belt and a blue and white pinstriped shirt with a blue band on the bottom. On the left sleeve were three buttons where patches were worn designating the various ranks of officials. Shirts were worn outside the pants. New members were give the “Apprentice” patch. First year Varsity members earned the “Local” patch and after several years they graduated to the “State” level rank. Though it was never really made clear how to reach the “next level” a small group within the board sported the elusive “National” rated patch.

On June 23, 1972, an important event occurred that effected officials actively working girl’s and women’s sports. That was the day that then president Richard Nixon signed Title IX. In part it read, “schools or organizations shall be prohibited from discriminating on the basis of sex in educational programs and activities that receives federal financial assistance including athletics and sports”.

Even with the new law signed, it would take many years to establish the law in Section II and throughout the country. Sports had been a male dominated activity and the powers within the High School and College ranks fought against the change. With the new law and what it would soon bring, changes were taking place within the basketball board. The roster from the 1976-77 season showed fifty-five members. With Title IX fast approaching the number of games increased. That caused a greater need for more Officials.

Many members of the local boy’s IAABO Board 36 decided to become girl’s Officials. With almost two separate seasons and the girl’s games played at 4:00pm it was an ideal situation for many IAABO members to begin working for both boards.

Refereeing a 4:00pm Varsity Girl’s game was common for members, followed by the JV contest and then on to work the 8:00pm boy’s Varsity games.

While still affiliated with NAGWS, the 1980-81 season began and white shoes were added to the uniform by an edict from the NAGWS National office. With the steady influx of boy’s officials over several years, the now new majority steadfastly refused to wear the ridiculous white shoes. A major rife had started within the board.

The 1981-82 season arrived and the long awaited Title IX was now in place. Fees for boy’s and girl’s games were equal. The Varsity fee was 35.50.

The early years of Officials receiving assignments was drastically different from today’s process. The era from 1974-1977-78 was a time when there were no Assignors. Officials received their games directly from the coaches in a simple process known as a “draw”.

On a designated night before the season started, Officials and coaches met and league assignments were given to Officials who were available on particular dates. It was done on a rotating basis. If a coach disliked an Official he or she skipped over that referee. If an Official had a friend as a coach in a certain league they would probable get many more games. Non-league games were “assigned” directly by a coach with a simple phone call to a referee.

It was not until the 1978-79 season that the current process of having an Assignor for each area assign games to association members. Assignments of all non-league games continued to be at the option of the coaches until the 1986-87 season.

Another difference in the assigning procedure involved its payment method. Under the old system the schools paid the Assignors, while under the current system the Officials pay the Assignors a fee for each game they are assigned.

The first Assignor in the Northern area was Kathy Winn who held the position from the 1978-79 season through1983-84. Our present Northern Assignor Roger Forando took over his duties beginning with the 1984-85 season. As he begins his 29th year, Roger has held the position longer than anyone in the state.

The first Assignor in the Capital District was Gary Klipp. Gary held the position for five years before moving to North Carolina. Don Hepp from Troy took over the duties for the 1983-84 season and held the post for eight seasons. Mike Davis began assigning games for the 1991-92 season. Mike held the position for fifteen years but due to illness, Mike was unable to continue in December of 2007. During Mike’s tenure the current Arbiter assigning system came to the board replacing the old hand written or typed out scheduling that required individual mailings to each member. The Executive Board appointed Skip Spensieri as interim Assignor in December of 2007. Skip has won several reelections and continues to be our present day Assignor in the Capital District area.

Our board’s Chairpersons or Presidents date back to the 1975-76 season when the position was held for six years by Phyllis Rinella. Due to illness, Phyllis gave up her position and Roger Casey took over leading the board for eleven years beginning with the 1981-82 season. Former member Jack Cramer took over the reins to start the 1992-93 season and retained his position for seven years. Current member Ed Inglis became the fourth chairperson of the board beginning with the 2000-01 season and held the post for five seasons. In an election, Skip Spensieri became the President starting with the 2005-06 season. Skip’s tenure was cut short upon the death of assignor Mike Davis. Skip left his post to become the Capital District Assignor. Paul Gordon became the board’s sixth president in December of 2007 and continues to hold that post.

The 1986-87 season brought with it a major change in Girl’s high school basketball. Our present title of CDBWBO was formed at the beginning of the 1982-83 season as the local Capital District Board of Women’s Sports Officials dissolved. Nevertheless,girl’s games continued to be played under NAGWS rules. Boards across the state joined the newly formed New York State Girl’s Basketball Officials Association in the early 1980’s. The change to play under current NCAA rules occurred before the 1986-87 season. Not only were the NAGWS rules a distant memory but with the change came our current uniform standards.

The computer age came to us in the early 2000’s as the Arbiter Assigning system was introduced to the board in 2005. A short time later our newly developed web site was opened. The two new additions eliminated the paper directories and the need for any direct paper mailings.

At the touch of a button an Official can receive an assignment, rule changes and other important association news.However, the old hard and tedious work of when schedules and assignments were hand written, envelopes stuffed and countless phones calls made by Assignors must never be forgotten. Gone though with the extra work is the direct contact that Assignors had with members on a daily basis throughout the season.

Pioneers of the early days of the board set the tone for the improvements we have today. Our first Chairperson Phyllis Rinella led our organization while Mary Danaher, John Hopkins, Dan Cafferelli, Roger Casey and many more contributed greatly by conducting training classes for new candidates which set the foundation for our organization. Their efforts and countless hours were devoted to make our association strong and viable.

As Girl’s basketball evolved into an improved game in the early 90’s, the face of the board became its Capital District Assignor Mike Davis. Mike left his mark at every game he worked and each appearance he made at our board meetings with his unique style and wit to which we all became accustomed. His death in January of 2008 left a void that will never be filled. But to those who had the good fortune to work for and with him, his memory will last forever.

The board has always maintained a strong working relationship with the New York State  Girl’s Basketball Officials Association and its leaders. We would be amiss without mentioning the long hours devoted by such longtime leaders; Dr. George Roney, Margaret Fraina and former Executive Board member “Casey” Jones. Ourselves, along with all of the organizations across the state are forever grateful.

Our board has proudly been the starting point for several past and present Division 1 Officials and continues to produce college Officials at various levels. Our referees who work at the NYS Girl’s Basketball Championships each season are consistently rated among the best and are often selected to work the Federation Tournament.

With new training and recruitment in place the board looks to the future with hopes of making the next forty years even better.