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ATHLETIC DIRECTORS’ ASSOCIATION
of the MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE

es Address
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EXECUTIVE SECRETARY a . sonny
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October 22, 1938

Mr. Forrest C. Allen
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

Dear Phog:

During the psst year I have been making an exhaustive study of
affeirs which have to do with officiating in both football and
besketball, with the utmost thought in mind that it shovld be
standardized, not only from the standpoint of appointing offidals
with a definite system of procedure but also the specific
mechanics pertaining to the actual officiating itself on the
field of play.

I have been in touch with A. R. Hutchens; Commissioner of Officials
for the Southeastern Conference; Herb Dana, of the Pacific
Coast; Major Griffith, of the Big Ten; and James St. Clair, of

the Southwest Conference. In fact, I have recently been in con-
ference with Mr. St. Clair for three days.

Out of all the material furnished by these agencies, I have set
up whet, in my judgment, would be a splendid plan for both the
Big Six and Missouri Valley conferences to consider for adop-
tion. Stendardization in our section would go toward something
definite in establishing a system which has been well accepted
in the Southern, Southeastern, and Southwestern Conferences by
the faculty representatives, athletic directors, end coaches.

Under this system, all officials are required to take an exan-
ination covering physical condition, knowledge of rules, «nd
actual mechanics in officisting, which qualifies the individual
for definite assignments.

In addition to the proposal, which is being sent to you today
under separate cover, there is also in effect in these confer-
ences a manual covering officisting in the actual games, giving
the specific positions officials should assume while the game

is in progress. For more than half a century the theory and
practice of football officiating has steadily advanced. From
the crucible of field experience throughout this long period,
certain fundamental principles have emerged and are more or less
in general use. Nevertheless, awkward situations do srise,

and the development of uniformity does lag for wnt of recorded
agreement on accepted principles. Therefore, in accordance with
this plan, it is essential that a manual covering the mechanics
of officiating be adopted. It is recommended that the manual

be modeled after the ones now in used by the Southeastern amd
Southwestern conferences which have stood a critical three years