About Board 33

TO BECOME A REFEREE, CLICK HERE.

Through your membership in the North Jersey Board of Approved Basketball Officials, Inc., you are a member of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials, Inc. (IAABO) – the only organization of its kind in the world: a nonprofit service and professional organization managed by and for basketball referees. Founded in 1923, IAABO’s stated purposes are:

• To educate, train, develop, and provide continuous instruction for basketball officials.
• To promote the welfare of the game of basketball, its players and officials.
• To maintain the highest standard of basketball officiating.
• To encourage the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship.
• To have available at all times an adequate number of thoroughly trained and capable officials.
• To cooperate with all organizations officially connected with the game of basketball in furthering its interests and ideals.

Annual Banquet

Event Date: 
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 - 6:00pm
Meeting Set: 
Banquet
Location: 
The Fiesta (Wood-Ridge, NJ)

Officials & Distinguished Guests,

The Board 33 Banquet Committee is pleased to announce the date and location for the upcoming 2025-2026 season-ending banquet celebration. This special night is designed to recognize our officiating accomplishments.

Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Cocktail Hour – 6:00pm • BUFFET DINNER – 7:00pm

The Fiesta
(NEW LOCATION!!!!)
255 NJ-17 South
Wood-Ridge, NJ 07075

Register & Pay Online $70
(Save 15% - Payment after deadline / at the Door is $80!)

As part of this celebration, we will acknowledge the achievements of fellow officials with the presentation of our three major awards Dominic Cuccinello Distinguished Service Award, Edgar Cartotto Dedication to Basketball Award, and the Corrigan Memorial Award), as well as post-season honors. The banquet allows our membership the opportunity to spend an enjoyable evening catching up with old acquaintances and also provide our young and aspiring officials with the ability to network with other officials, assignors, and members of the organization who will be in attendance. We look forward to seeing all our members and what will surely be an enjoyable evening!

If you have any questions or need more information, contact Banquet Committee Chairman Bill Meyer using the contact information below.

Bill Meyer, Chairman
Banquet Committee
t.: 908 477-9299
e.: billmeyer1948@gmail.com

Annual Business Meeting

Event Date: 
Monday, March 23, 2026 - 7:00pm
Meeting Set: 
Business Meeting
Location: 
Zoom Webinar

Notice of Annual Business Meeting of the 

North Jersey Board of Approved Basketball Officials, Inc.

IAABO BOARD 33

 

 

Notice of Annual Business Meeting

Annual Business Meeting will be held by Videoconference

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Zoom connection information will appear here closer to the meeting date.

DATE: MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2026  TIME: 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Annual Business Meeting of the North Jersey Board of Approved Basketball Officials, Inc. will be held on Monday, March 23, 2026 beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT.  This meeting will be conducted by zoom-meeting videoconference. The purpose of this meeting is to elect officers, to vote on proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws; to receive reports of committees; and for any other lawful business that may come before the corporation. Members in good standing who are otherwise eligible to vote will be required to register in advance of the time set for the meeting. Please watch your email for information on how to register for this meeting. Members may participate via zoom meeting connection, telephone or other form of electronic device that produces a reliable audible connection between the member and the meeting proceedings. Members without access to email may request a link or telephone call-in number by written request to Mr. Walter F. Rusak, Executive Secretary, North Jersey Board of Approved Basketball Officials, Inc., 26 Constitution Way, Somerset, NJ 08873.

North Jersey Board of Approved Basketball Officials, Inc

By:  Walter F. Rusak

Walter F. Rusak, Executive Secretary
 

Old Business (Login Required):

Business Meeting / Committee Reports - March 2025  


Honoring Dedication: 2025-26 Service Time Award Recipients

Submitted by IAABO Board 33 on Mon, 03/16/2026 - 4:31pm

Recognizing the dedication and commitment of our members is an essential part of celebrating our organization’s success. Each year, we proudly honor individuals who have reached significant service milestones, acknowledging their hard work, loyalty, and invaluable contributions.

Below is the list of this year’s award recipients, each of whom has demonstrated unwavering commitment and excellence. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for their dedication and the positive impact they continue to make.

55 Years
Victor Dudka Steve Turner Joseph Wladyka
50 Years
Bob Lauterhahn
45 Years
Gilbert Bragg John Gojdycz Michael Kaelber
Gregory Kronoski Michael Pariso Ray Perone
40 Years
George Beghyn Gene Buerele, III Gary Doyle
Anthony Falco John Kayser Guy Pagano
Nicolas Peloso Robert Sferrazza  
35 Years
Dick Hecker Frank Iacobazzo Dennis McCaffery
Stewart Spraggins Wade Woodson  
30 Years
Carlos Guzman David Hanson Thomas Medler
John Moss Brian Perone Guy Robinson
David Sandaal Edward Scott  
25 Years
Accronetta Copper Richard DeHart Raymond Dodd
Kevin Downes Rodney Robinson Robert Smith, Jr.
Ronald Ulak Chris Witt Jim Younghans
20 Years
Kevin Bobrowski Paul Conover Jason David
Frank Ditrani Stephen Gagliano Thomas Gandolfo, Jr.
Steve Harris Elyse Kelly-DeVault John Kufel
Ted Magda Marco Manuel Beery Palmore
Michael Passero John Stanford Timothy Thompson
15 Years
Jack Baum Mickeni Caldwell Randy Desir
Gerard Devine Michael Dox Fred Gaines, Jr.
Jack Maher Mark McGlynn Cliff Smith
Kenneth Van Rye Richard Von Fischer, Jr. Frank Yao
10 Years
Hamza Abdelhadi Derek Brubaker Robert Cole, Jr.
Michael Cramer John Cummins Antwan Dasher
Keith Davis Lewis DeAngelis Gabriel DiMasi
Gerard Doran Michael Giangrande David Johnson
George Karameros Frank Kennelly Stephen Lederer
Ken Lee Alexander Manzo Douglas Marshall
Jasmine Mushington Jonathan Perez Michael Petrillo
Ray Roux John Roy Brandon Smith
Robert Spicuzzo Jerome Starr Jeffery Stein
Andre Van Drost Paul Vizzuso Keith Warren
Stanley Wilkins Jemel Williams  
5 Years
Mitchell Blanks Nestor Calara Ray Cappiccille
Michael Chatman Justin DePena Jose Diaz
Paul D'Imperio John Gibney, Jr. Parcco Goodwin
Erica Guketlov Haron Hargrave Ronald Harris
Brad Howard Choung Lee Gene McAteer
Petar Mitkov Galina Natchev John Petela
Sidney Poinsett Rich Reinstein Kyle Siconolfi
Rob Sullivan Ken Sysyn Charles Vellis
Luke Walker Jerry Wimberly  

 

Tags: 
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board33
iaabo

NFHS Rule Interpretation / Update: Basket Interference

Submitted by IAABO Board 33 on Wed, 11/12/2025 - 2:43pm

NOTE FROM BILLY MARTIN, NJSIAA STATE BASKETBALL RULES INTERPRETER

NJSIAA Basketball Officials,

Please read the following memo regarding slapping of the backboard and basket interference:

This was released by NFHS Rules Committee this morning. I will try to keep you updated on any additional info as it becomes available.

Download Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cu9BKtnnV1NWvPjadvZR5VpKbOqusl8B/view?usp=sharing

If you have any questions, please reach out to your local chapter Rules Interpreter.

Thank you.

Yours in Officiating,
Billy Martin
NJSIAA State Basketball Rules Interpreter

Tags: 
rule changes
nfhs
information

NFHS Basketball Rule Clarification: Substitution Confusion

Submitted by IAABO Board 33 on Thu, 11/06/2025 - 1:05pm

NOTE FROM BILLY MARTIN, NJSIAA STATE BASKETBALL RULES INTERPRETER

NJSIAA Basketball Officials,

Please read the following memo regarding an updated interpretation from NFHS and IAABO:

Substitution Confusion (10.4.2B, IAABO Plays 16-10-4, 19-3-8)

The NFHS has approved a change to a long-standing interpretation for when a player who is on the bench should be on the court after a “lengthy” substitution process. 

Previously, when a team had only four players on the court, it was legal for a coach to direct a player (who was mistakenly in the bench area) to directly enter the court without penalty as long as the player did not gain an advantage.

Beginning this season, if a player in this situation enters the court directly, the TEAM will be charged with a TECHNICAL FOUL for failing to have all players return to the court at approximately the same time.

This change is accurately reflected in NFHS Case Book Play 10.4.2B on page 83 as well as in the IAABO Rules Guide Play 19-3-8 on pages 236-237.  This was also accurately reflected in the IAABO Game Simulator too.

Unfortunately, this play was also located in the IAABO Rules Guide at Play 16-10-4, and the ruling on this is incorrect. 
 
**IAABO Rule Guide, Page 214 Play 16-10–4
This play is slated to be deleted in next year’s IAABO Rules Guide.  Please DO NOT use this ruling on p 214 going forward. 

As always, reach out to your local chapter Rules Interpreter if you have any questions on this play or any others.

I hope this helps in your preparation for the year.

Yours in Officiating,
Billy Martin
NJSIAA State Basketball Rules Interpreter

Tags: 
rule changes
nfhs
information

Goaltending and Basket Interference Addressed in 2025-26 Basketball Rules Changes

Submitted by IAABO Board 33 on Wed, 05/21/2025 - 1:00pm

A trio of changes to address when goaltending and basket interference are called are among the changes to high school basketball rules for the 2025-26 season.

These revisions to the NFHS Basketball Rules Book are among the six changes recommended by the Basketball Rules Committee during its April 28-30 meeting in Indianapolis – all of which were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Tags: 
nfhs
rule changes
2025-26

Flopping Addressed in 2024-25 High School Basketball Rules Changes

Submitted by IAABO Board 33 on Fri, 07/19/2024 - 5:14pm

A new definition and subsequent warning for faking being fouled (flopping) has been added to the NFHS Basketball Rules Book for the 2024-25 season.

This revision to high school basketball rules was one of 12 changes approved by the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee at its April 9-11 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommended changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

“The committee approved changes addressing a variety of different areas,” said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS Director of Sports. “Maintaining a focus on player safety, fairness, balance and rules that officials can effectively adjudicate continue to be the focus of the committee.”

 Faking being fouled is defined in Rule 4-49-1 as when a player simulates being fouled or makes theatrical or exaggerated movements when there is no illegal contact. Examples include, but are not limited to, embellishing the impact of incidental contact on block/charge plays or field goal attempts, using a “head bob” to simulate illegal contact and using any tactic to create an opinion of being fouled to gain an advantage.

The new language also establishes a procedure for officials to issue a team warning on the first instance of faking being fouled. The warning is recorded in the scorebook and reported to the head coach. Any additional instances will result in a team technical foul and not a player technical foul, which was previously the case.

“(The committee) is hoping to get those dishonest acts out of the game,” said Billy Strickland, the executive director of the Alaska School Activities Association and chair of the Basketball Rules Committee.

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