PROPOSED PLAN FOR BETVER OFFICIATING L
IN FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL

SECTION 1. The program should comprehend football officials and
basketball officials. Basketball officials should be included in an
effort to standardize rule interpretation and improve the quality of
officiating.

SECTION 2. The system should provide for the selection of competent
officials exclusively, continuous reports on the work of these
officials, and the periodic rating of these officials as to all-
round efficiency.

The first objective can be accomplished by a set of
examinations dealing with physical condition, game rules, and offic-
lating technique, supplemented by the compilation of accurate and
up-to-date records of experience as player, coach, and official.

The second objective can be achieved by a rating system
based on examination grades, experience, and game reports from
coaches and scouts. Details of the grading and rating procedure to
be worked out by handling agency. As to football officials, they
should be classified as nearly as possible as Referees, Umpires,
Field Judges, and Head Linesmen, and assigned to games in that
particular capacity, as nearly as possible.

The third objective can be accomplished by required
detailed reports on the work of each official in cach game from the
coaches of the competing teams, and from scouts.

SECTION 3. The system should provide for a uniform interpretation
of the playing rules in both sports during each season. This can be
accomplished by holding a meeting of all qualificd officials in the
sport, say football, several weeks before the beginning of the play-
ing season. This meeting might last for two or three days. At one
session, the interpretation of rules would be presented by the Dis-
trict Representative of the Football Rules Committee. At other
sessions, drill work on playing rules and officiating techniquewould
be stressed. During the meeting, uniform interpretation of the rules
would be agreed upon and the officials instructed to apply such
interpretations in all games to the best of their abilities. All
football coaches of member institutions should be reguired to attend
the interpretation meeting.

SECTION 4. The system should provide for the impartial assignment of
officials to individual games, due consideration boing given to the
wishes of the various coaches. Officials should be assigned on the
basis of merit, rating preferences of the coaches being followed
wherever possible.

ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
SECTION 1, The immediate purpose in establishing the Office of Com-
missioner shall be to provide a neutral agency for the appointment

of football and basketball officials and, thereby, to take over
official detail, correspondence and negotiations which make for