Central Connecticut

Association of Football Officials, LLC

May 2, 2010

Dear Brother Official,

The football season opens on September 16, about 4 months from now. Your 2010 Official’s Availability Form and 2010 Availability Calendar are separate forms in the Arbiter “Form” section. PLEASE PRINT, COMPLETE AND MAIL BACK BY THE JUNE 30th DEADLINE. Do notsend it back in an email. New members should know this is a firm deadline. You may also close dates directly through Arbiter by June 30, but you need to send me a notice that you did so and that you plan to officiate this year. Officials who mail their availability sheet after June 30 will be eligible only for games that other officials turn back; officials who turn back or turn down games for open dates after August31 are subject to a $10 fine to the board for each game. Be specific on Friday & Monday afternoon times. If you need to close a date that was previously open during the season, notify me ASAP before you are assigned an extra game. An appeal process exists. ECOs be specific as to what schools you cannot go to:stairs, open bleachers, standing on sideline, etc. Due to the late interpretation meeting, the turn-back date will be extended to September 7.

We lost a good person and official much too early when Randy Kammerbeek, a25-year veteran, passed away on November27. His last game was the 2009 RI vs. CT all-star game. We will miss his kind, gracious and steady demeanor.

Bob Seneschal is recovering nicely from his severe burns when his kitchen caught on fire. What a wonderful organization that we comprise as the overwhelming response from members included money, furniture, appliances, a TV, use of a truck and movers and attendance at his fund-raiser. Your compassion and generosity is magnificent. Ron Patry requested and received a $250 donation from the New Haven officials (we did something similar for New Haven’s Dave Holdright several years ago). Ron also played in the band at the fund-raiser. As Bob expressed to me last week, his whole family has tears in their eyes over the generosity displayed by his fellow officials in his time of need.

Our football family also lost some valuable family members. Rick Kureczka and Scott Lawlor, after losing their Dads last year, lost their Mom and father-in-law respectively this year. Ron Patry and Bill Bartlett lost their Dads. Steve Bedard continues his courageous battle. Please remember them in your communications, thoughts and prayers. Dick Connolly, Bob Fields and Steve Stephanou are now in nursing homes. Bob Burbank, Harold Devanney, Reece Jennings and Steve Morda are doing well.

A quick review of upcoming items:

  1. Eric Mangini, the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, will hold his ninth annual football mini camp for CT football players on Saturday, June5 at BulkeleyHigh School. Game times are from 1:00 p.m. to 3:20p.m. We will need 64 officials, two on each field. The 7 on 7 games on 50-yard fields involve passing only. Free lunch at 12:00 & dinner at 4:00 are optional. Be there by 12:15 to go over the rules and disperse to the fields. Please let me know if you can help at () or call 667-3306, 416-2001, or 416-4098 before May 20 as it will greatly reduce the amount of phone calls. This is a great place for new and mid-level officials to practice judgement on pass interference or incomplete pass calls as there are not many opportunities for these calls. The same 45 officials are there nearly every year for perhaps the only event of its kind in the country; THANK YOU! We desperately need the help of some of the other 100 officials who are available on Fridays and Saturdays in the fall for varsity games to help out every couple of years. 2009 was our best showing yet with 60 officials, four short. I need help, not 100 excuses. Plus, you will enjoy it and want to return.
  1. Spring scrimmages (one so far, no others scheduled) continue to about June 21. Although spring scrimmages are assigned by the JV coordinators and fall scrimmages by the commissioner, all scrimmage requests and authorizations from AD’s must go through the commissioner first for placement on Arbiter. At this point in time, the rate is a JV fee (’09 for spring, ’10 for fall). Members cannot work scrimmages for free and violation will result in substantial penalties. While other officials may participate in the scrimmage, the schools will compensate only the officials assigned to the scrimmage. JV coordinators must report the names of the officials to me. Fall scrimmages can start Aug. 23. Check Aribiter announcements starting in early August and email me what your preferences are.
  1. Joe Tonelli from the CIAC (outstanding, despite his wife undergoing emergency surgery and his father’s health) and I were able to get most of approximately 300 officials paid by the city of Hartford. All levels of games by city schools and all personnel responsible in the payment process were added to Arbiter. Multiple updated outstanding payment lists were prepared by school, date, level and official. Joe identified each person in the process for every school. Frequent requests for payments from the city were made by both of us. City personnel don’t jump when you or I call to complain; Joe was much more effective. At this late, late date I am aware of only four officials of the 300 who have not been paid. Please send me another email if you also have a check outstanding. The CIAC was astounded at the payment problem we have with the city of Hartford. Not only have Joe and I committed to starting the pressure again for 2010 in October, but the CIAC has now discussed the problem with all schools statewide and changed its contract with the schools to require payment within 30 days. Do I believe that all payments will occur within 30 days? No. The new school contract does represent a prescribed deadline; it will force schools to comply, act quickly or explain to the CIAC just how much longer it will take. The CIAC and officials ultimately have an alternative available if payment is delayed beyond a reasonable timeframe whereas before we were at the mercy of the management of the city.

The scrimmage pricing structure is as follows:

2 Teams4 officials$ JV fee

3 Teams6 officials$ JV fee

4 Teams8 officials$ JV fee

Game Conditions5 officials$ JV fee

Situations not identified above will be negotiated. Schools will be responsible to notify the officials directly if there is a change. I need to be notified if the school brings in additional unannounced teams or the last scrimmage is played under game conditions with only four officials.

  1. The Northern Connecticut Chapter of the National Football Foundation will hold its annual scholar-athlete dinner on May 23. No football official will be honored this year.
  1. The third Connecticut Football Official’s Hall of Fame induction was held on March 28 and is now a biennial event. Vance Harris, a most deserving and knowledgeable official, was the member honored from the CCAFO. Vance has worked multiple CIAC playoff games, is a long time college official, our college rules interpreter and a tireless worker on both levels. He is also the best official/singer combo on the East coast. The CCAFO Vin Reilly award winner for 2010 was Jay Kelleher, a superb choice. Jay, a past president and veteran playoff official,has been one of the top five rated officials on our board every year for the last twenty years, a master at game management, extremely helpful to young officials and most effective in his advice to the Executive Board and various presidents. When tough problems arise, Jay Kelleher is the man you want on your side.
  1. The tenth annual Connecticut vs. Rhode Island High School All-Star football game is scheduled for Rentschler Field on Saturday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m. CCAFO officials will do the game this year for the eighth year in a row. Support your brother officials.
  1. Congrats to the following playoff officials for a job well done.

CIAC Playoffs, St. Josephs @ Holy Cross: Bob Facey,Dean Cowger, Bob Serrano, Dave Milvae, Joe Giliberto and Marino Silvestri.

CIAC Playoffs, Bethel @ New London: Bob Heimgartner, Jay Kelleher, Al Santostefano, Rob Thibault, Rick Kureczka and Jerry Behm.

CIAC Championship, Cheshire vs. Staples: Jay Selavka, Greg Pac, Chris Lemay, Bob Heizman, Matt Williams and Steve Gage.

  1. The CIAC has approved a new playoff system after years of effort to expand the current system. Instead of 24 teams with six state champions we will now have 32 teams with four state champions. Each state board will do, over a three year period, 4, 5 and 5 playoff games including two state championship games. In the year that two boards do not have a state final, they will have two semi-final games. At the state meeting the CCAFO, by draw, was given 5 games for 2010 with no state final. We will have state finals in 2011 and 2012.
  1. State negotiations to date provide both Lewis Mills (also sought by the Western Board) and Coginchaug (also sought by the New Haven board) to the CCAFO for the 2010 season. We now have a total of 54 schools plus two colleges, one prep school and two high schools for chain crews. The next highest in the state is the New Haven board with 27.
  1. The # 1-2-3 priority. We need more members and improved officials now. We have been forced to use some young members for varsity games every year since 2001 (not good for schools or officials) and on rare occasion had less than five officials leftavailable to work. Some of the younger members have used the opportunity to make a name for themselves. Check our web site at regarding New Member classes or call Skip Chase. I urge you to encourage your friends and associates to join our board. It takes years to develop good officials.
  1. The sixth annual Bo Kolinsky (another fantastic guy) Scholarship Golf Tournament was cancelled this year.
  1. The state clinic is scheduled for Saturday, August 21, at MaloneyHigh School at 9:00 a.m. Based on board policy, the new member classes from 2008 and 2009 are required to go two of the first three years. Classes from 2005-2007 are strongly urged to go. All other members are encouraged to attend. Last year 150 officials statewide and 63 from the CCAFO (40%) attended a great clinic. Fantastic job! Great that more of the younger guys participated last year;this event is designed for them. Attendance also satisfies our Interpretation meeting requirement.The CCAFO is again responsible for its presentation in 2010 and will notrepeat until 2021. We were complimented for its presentation in 2009 and we are planning for another successful clinic this year. Save the date.
  1. Meetings dates & times: All @ 7:00p.m.

Aug 31InterpretationMDCOct 12Regular MDC

Sept 7RegularMDCOct 26Regular MDC

Sept 14RegularMDCNov 9Regular MDC

Sept 28RegularMDCNov 16Annual MDC

Members must attend one interpretation meeting before working a varsity game. If Aug 31 is bad for you, contact Jim Dumais for other statewide dates/sites.

Banquet is set for December 2, 6:15p.m. @ the Aqua Turf.

  1. The two regional JV/FR coordinators will continue this fall. Thanks for the excellent help from Skip Chase and John Baibak. Both will have access to Arbiter to help solve late changes. They will need your help by updating Arbiter with your availability times during the week. You can also assist them by emailing them in advance that you are available on a particular Monday, Thursday or Friday. No need to email me that you are available for varsity games.
  1. No dues, no availability sheet--no schedule. No fall scrimmages, no Interpretation meeting, no exam, no confirmed schedule--no varsity games.
  1. I believe President Rob Thibault will continue the regional exam review sessions prior to the start of the season. More details on sites, coordinators and dates later. Again we urge a better turnout, especially among the younger members. All members are encouraged to attend and participate at a session of your choice. 100% credit on the exam score is provided to all those who take the test before and attend a work session.
  1. Committee assignments should be mailed in the summer. Books will be mailed as soon as they become available.
  1. The maximum number of games for 2010 is 10.
  1. Ratings were mailed earlier.
  1. Let’s review a point that I addressed again last year. At one time in the mid/late 80’s, the board was informed that the CIAC required medical personnel to be present before a game could begin. That was changed at some point and boards were never notified. The current CIAC/School position is that the HOME TEAM determines what is appropriate medical support to start a game, not the officials. If the home team coach indicates their policy provides for no medical personnel, we play, but get the entire crew and the visiting head coach together to confirm and document the decision. If the visiting team refuses to play, the game cannot proceed and the officials will be paid.
  1. Determination of 2010 game fees won’t be available until June 1.
  1. Another strong turnout of 40 officials for the flag football game on Super Bowl Sunday 12:00 at Colt’s Park. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
  1. The issue of JV/FR games at 12 minute quarters was not discussed last year. The CCAFO only does 10 minute quarters.
  1. CCAFO officials participating as a fan, commentator, observer or coach should never openly criticize the calls of another official working a game. We should maintain our professionalism. We have all made mistakes on the field. Plus, the other official just might be the one who is right.
  1. We are approaching the time to get physically and mentally prepared for the season.
  1. The CCAFO directory will be made available. Please contact Jim Dumais (216-4555) or me (mark change box on availability sheet) with changes prior to August.
  1. ECOs must now attend a minimum of three meetings a year to be considered for playoffs.
  1. The CIAC and boards representing sports officials continue to discuss background checks. Officials convicted of felonies of a sexual nature, similar to whatever Connecticut has for requirements for teachers/coaches, would be barred from officiating. Misdemeanors, parking tickets, outstanding tax obligations, etc. would supposedly not be considered. The cost in other states is typically $20-25. I was informed that one CT official in another sport with a prior conviction of a sexual nature was allowed to officiate last year. I am told that the state legislature is considering a law to this effect (funny, they have been debating the assault on officials bill for four years without passage). You should be thinking about this issue in advance of a future discussion. Jay Kelleher is our representative. Various aspects include the cost, arrest vs. conviction, possible collection/security of social security numbers, who controls such information, who has access, what specifically constitutes a ban, how that info is disseminated, possible fingerprinting, appeal rights, and possible legal fees to defend the decision. In other states, typically the tests are renewed every five years. All new members would be required to pass a background test. The cost for new officials, would be absorbed by each board, with the CIAC perhaps paying the initial cost. Our New Member application has been revised to include this question. I am informed by Jay and Joe that the committee has had some excellent discussions with top legal assistance.
  1. Arbiter was designed so that officials could change their personal data. I love you all very much, but please do not email me to change your data as my wife enjoys talking to me occasionally.
  1. I asked last year (twice) that officials go back into Arbiter (select “show all”) and accept all their assignments (24 games not completely accepted). Please continue to do this. I will consider it a waste of my time and an act of treason by the official if I need to do this for you before closing the 2009 file.
  1. There are ample opportunities for rapid growth in the CCAFO. For several years there have been hundreds of assignments to officials in their first five years. We have taken chances on some very promising officials and been rewarded handsomely. Young officials need to be prepared, be willing and take advantage when you have the chance (especially due to rainouts/heavy closed dates/injuries/college assignments). Remember Walt Akerley’s (our second commissioner at a time where you waited 4-5 years for your first game) 3 recommendations. 1) Work as many games as possible. 2) Watch as many games as possible, especially of good officials at your position. 3) Never say no to the commissioner (that was actually one of his principles!).