newsletter - University of Illinois Archives

National Wheelchair Basketball Association
NEWSLETTER
Ut S •• t o n Building
Volume XXXI
Lulngton,
September 10, 1991
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS IN JUNE
The NWBA Executive Committee was convened
for
its
annual
mid-year
meeting
in
Schaumburg, Illinois on June 22 and 23. All
five members were present: First Vice
President Tip Thiboutot of Wayland, MA;
Second Vice President, Ralph Smith of College
Park, PA; Secretary Deborah Dillon of
Uncoln, CAj Treasurer George Veenstra of
Springfield, IL; and President Marvin Lapicola
of Schaumburg.
Also present was NWBA
Commissioner Stan Labanowich of Lexington,
KY. Sitting in as an observor for most of the
meetings was Jay Kennedy. President of the
Northeastern Conference who was invited to
make a presentation to the Committee
regarcling the development of a magazine for
the Association.
The business transacted
included these items of significance :
o
Authorization of the President to sign a
contract with Fletcher and Richardson,
Inc. of Dayton, OH to serve as a fund
raising agent for the NWBA as of June 30,
1991.
o
Instructed
the
Commissioner
to
communicate to the Organizing Committee
of the 44th National Wheelchair Basketball
Tournament in Albuquerque, NM the need
to sign an agreement no later than August
1 with the dates of the 1992 NWBT to be
established by negotiation.
o
Agreed to a proposed amendment to the
Bylaws that would spell out qualifications
of team trainers and physicians for
international competition.
o
Approved a proposal from the Connecticut
Spokebenders
and
Northeastern
Conference to serve as the NWBA agent
for the publication and distribution of a
magazine entitled, "Wh~lclll:lll' Bl::Uiketball
World" which would be distributed to all
NWBA members six times a year.
o
•
Confirmed the appointment of Mike
Woodard of Lexington, KY as Assistant
Commissioner of the NWBA in the Office of
the Commissioner.
o
KY
4050.
Number 1
Rejected a petition from the Music City
Lightning to reverse the Commissioner's
decision to levy a $650.00 fine for the
team's willful forfeiture of a game during
the
1991
Bluegrass
Invitational
Tournament in Lexington, KY .
44TH NWBT ARRANGEMENTS SET
Despite the effort made by the Commissioner
to arrange a site inspection of the venue for
the 1992 NWBT and to sign an agreement with
the tournament organizing committee by
August 1, .as instructed by the Executive
Committee, the Albuquerque, NM organizers
indicated that they could best accommodate
the proposed visit on September 6.
The
difficulty owed to the incompatible work and
meeting schedules of both the Commissioner
and key persons on the organizing committee .
Commissioner Labanowich was duly invited to
meet with Tournament Director Cliff McKinnon
along with four other members of his
organizing committee in Albuquerque on
September 5 and 6. Also present were Tim
Dowling,
Executive
Director
of
the
Albuquerque Convention Bureau, and Joe
Gomez, Assistant Commissioner of the Rocky
Mountaln Conference.
The Commissioner's report to the Executive
Committee filed follOwing the meeting was
highly positive and recommended confirmation
of the NWBA Agreement with the sponsor of
the NWBT.
He was satisfied that the
arrangements made for the playing facility,
accommodations for teams and delegates to the
annual meetings, transporation throughout the
four-day affair, and the planning initiated for
promoting the tournament games were totally
satisfactory .
The 44th NWBT will be played in Tingley
Auditorium located on the grounds of the
State Fall' in Albuquerque, NM.
The
headquarters hotel will be the Hyatt Regency
in downtown Albuquerque, twenty minutes
drive from the game site. The Hyatt has 450
accessible rooms available. The Organizing
Committee has reserved 250 rooms at a rate of
$65.00 per night before taxes (10%).
2
1: 00-3 : 00
The dates of the tournament are March 20 and
21.
The annual meeting of the NWBA will be held
at the Hyatt Regency on March 19 and 20 .
6th
Annual
Legends
Game
March 21:
6:00-7:00 Pre-banquet reception
7:00-10:00 44th Annual Awards
Banquet
Adctitional information will be published in
later Newsletters.
U.S. TEAMS FALTER IN INTERNATIONAL
COMPETITION
CALENDAR OF POSTSEASON EVENTS
With the confirmation of the decision made to
hold the 44th NWBT on March 20 and 21. the
significant events and dates related to
postseason competition are established as
follows :
January 29 :
- deadline for submitting
Application for Regional Tournament Berth
February 1 lit 2: :
last weekend of the
February 8 &: 9:
regular season
- Meeting of Tournament
Selection Committee to rank
and
assign
leams
to
Regional Tournaments
February 22 lit 23: - Regional tournaments
March 7 &. 8 :
- Sectional tournaments
FINAL FOUR
March 20:
7:00 pm. Semi-final: East vs.
Midwest
- 9 : 00 pm. Semi-final: Far West
vs. South
March 21: - 11: 00 am. Third place game
- 1:00 pm. Championship game
PROPOSED MEETING SCHEDULE FOR NWBT
The meeting schedule, tentatively arrived at
and awaiting final approval by the Executive
Committee, as as follows:
March 18: 2: 00 - 5: 00 Executive Committee
7:00-10:00 Executive Committee
March 19: 9: 00-12: 00 Executive Committee
2:00 - 5:00 Assistant Commissioners
Conference Presidents
7:00-9:00 Annual Meeting
First session
9: 00- 12: 00 Tournament Social
March 20: 9:00-12:00 Annual Meeting
Second Session
For U. S. wheelchair basketball teams J there
have been good years at Stoke Mandeville and
there have been bad years.
This year was one of the latter. The men's
team absorbed a shocking 61-41 defeat at the
hands of Canada in the championship game,
while the women finished third in a four-team
field behind gold medal winning Canada and
silver medallist Germany.
The women
defeated Great Britain 41-33.
Fieldlng a team of 11 internationallyexperienced p layers J Coach Harry Vines was
unable to find the right combination that
could check the offensive power of the
Canadians and mount an effective offense of
its own. Canada raced out in front 8-0 inside
of five minutes and built a 17-4 lead with 7
ntinutes remaining in the half. Pat Griffin did
most of the damage with 8 points.
The
Americans appeared on the verge of a
comeback as Jim Coughlin scored 6 straight
points, but Canada's Denis LaPalme, Jim
Enright, Ron Minor and Roy Henderson
teamed to rack up 13 points against the
U.S.'s 4 to take the lead at half time, 30-14.
The U . S . ferect somewhat better in the second
half, but were still outscored 31-27. Dave
Kiley's two 3-pointers near the mid-way point
brought the team within 12 of Canada at 3826, but it failed to spark a sustained effort.
particularly when Kiley drew his 5th foul and
was disqualified with a little more than 10
minutes remaining. The Canadians, coached
by Brent Foster, played their heady brand of
ball from thereon in to win by 20.
For Canada, three players scored in double
figures: Jim Enright (16). Pat Griffin (14)'
and Denis LaPalme (10).
Jim Coughlin led the U.S. with 11 points.
while Jim Miller and Dave Kiley chipped in 10
and 8 respectively.
The game marked the second time in the las t
3
three years that Canada has defeated the
U. S. in the title game of the World Stoke
Mandeville Wheelchair Games. In 1989, the
Canadians, led by the same Griffin, Enright
and Reg McClellan, took apart a young,
talented U. S. team by 18 points.
• ••••••
For U . S. Women's Team Head Coach Ron
Lykins, 1991 was the year to test some
promising but inexperienced players in the
international arena. His lineup included only
three players with previous experience limited even at that - in Kim Martin, Alma
Torres and Laura Krendl. Only Martin and
Torres played on the team that Lykins
coached to the world championship in st.
Etienne, France in 1990.
Nonetheless, this team of eager "novices" did
themselves proud with steadily improving
performances through an 8-game schedule
over a period of five days. Playing against
Great Britain's and Canada's veteran national
teams and a well-stocked German group, the
U. S . came away with three victories and five
defeats. The three wins came in the last four
games, while three of the losses were suffered
by a total of 5 points.
Alma Torres was the tournament's top scorer
with an average of 11.4 points per game .
Tiana Tozier was second high U . S . scorer
with 8.0 points per game, 19 of which came in
the bronze medal game against Great Britain .
Torres' game high point total of 16 came
against Canada.
BIDS FOR POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT SITES
CALLED FOR
Three bids have been received in writing to
host either a regional or sectional tournament
in 1992. They come from the Courage Rolling
Timberwolves of Minneapolis, the London,
Ontario Forest City Flyers, and the Florida
Renegades .
Other teams or conferences
seeking to host a tournament are requested to
submit their bids in writing as soon as
possible but no later than November 1. It is
the intent of the Tournament Selection
Committee and the Commissioner's Office to
confirm the sites of the tournaments at the
earliest possible date.
The following teams had indicated interest in
holding regional tournaments during the 1991
annual meeting:
St. Louis Rollin' Rams
Courage Rolling Timberwolves
Forest City Flyers
Nol'lh Floridtt Renegades
Philadelphia Spokesmen
Cypress
Music City Lightning
Chattanooga Big Wheels
EPV A Chargers
Connecticut Spokebenders
Carolina Tarwheels
Salt Lake City Rimriders
Okie Spokesmen
Eugene
Arkansas Rollin' Razorhacks
Golden State '76ers
Bids for sectional tournaments were indicated
from the following:
St. Louis Rollin' Rams
Lakeshore Pioneers
Cypress
Forest City Flyers
Carolina Tarwheels
Music City Lightning
Memphis River City Rollers
Connecticut Spokebenders
Rjchmond
New Jersey Blue Devils
Philadelphia Spokesmen
BLOSSER
RESIGNS
CHAIRMANSHIP
CLASSIFICATION
Gary Blosser of Columbus, OH announced his
resignation as Chairman of the NWBA Player
Classification Committee effective with the
1991 Annual Meeting . Blosser had served as
Chairman since 1978.
A Registered Physical Therapist, Blosser was
a founder of the Columbus Buckeye Wheelers
of the Mid American Conference in 197 and
served as coach for many years.
He was
elected Assistant Commissioner of the NWBA
for the Conference in 1978 and served until
1986 when he resigned to concentrate on
classification matters.
Because of his intimate knowledge of
disability, his years of coaching experience
and his study of the classification system (his
Masters degree thesis was an in-depth
analysis of he NWBA classification system), he
was appointed by the NWBA Executive
4
Committee in 1978 to chair the Committee
mandated to re-examine the system and
propose changes intended to correct inherent
deficiencies. He did tms successfully with a
revised system calling for every player1s
reexa m.ination which was carried out within
one year. Members of his committee appointed
at the time were Ed Owen, Dr . Tip Thiboutot,
Dr. Cairbre McCann, Tim Nugent, Dr . Shirley
McClure, Merlyn Earnest, and Commissioner
Stan Labanowich, ex officio .
CURTIS
APPOINTED
COMMITTEE CHAIR
CLASSIFICATION
Kathy Curtis, Ph. D .• P. T .• of Coral Gables.
FL, has been appointed Chairman of the
NWBA Player Classification Committee. The
announcement was made by President Marvin
Lapicola following the Annual Meeting held in
Little Rock, AR, March 23 .
2.
3.
1991-92 listing of conference officers and
team representatives
1991-92 schedule of games.
At the same time, each conference assistant
commissioner is requested to submit to Ralph
Smith, Chairman of the Rules Committee. the
name and address of all officials who officiate
conference games, as well as those of
conference-independents, in order to ensure
their receipt of the NWBA Officials' Exam
during the late summer or early fall .
Successfu l completion of the exam is required
for appointment to postseason competition
leading to the national championship for both
men and women.
Ralph's address is: Recreation and Parks
Dept.. S-203 Human Development Building.
Penn State University. University Park, PA
16802
Curtis carried excellent credentials in
assuming this important position in the NWBA.
A Registered Physical Therapist, she began
her career in the NWBA, first as a coach and
then a classifier. She coached the Peninsula
Golden Spokes of the Northern California
Conference from for several years, and has
served on the staff of numerous teams in
international competition. She is currently on
the faculty of the University of Miami-Florida.
1992 PARALYMPIC
TEAMS QUALIFIED
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION NEEDED
To date, 9 of the men's and 6 of t h e women 's
teams are known. These are teams that have
qualified in tournaments designated in part
for the purpose by the IWBF over the past
year or more. Thus the top four finishers in
th e men's_ ~990 World Championships in
Belgium qualify automatically: France. United
States, Canada and Holland . Together with
the top two teams in the 1989 Far East and
Southern Pacific Games, Japan and Australia,
the top 2 in the 1991 European Championships
(other
than
from
the
1990
World
Championships) Great Britain and Israel and
the host country, Spain, the first 9 are
qualified.
Yet to qualify in a tournament
scheduled to be held in Mexico City in
February of next year is one team from the
Americas i and two teams from all other
nations participating in a qualification
tournament that will be held in Europe before
March of 1992.
The membership responsed promptly and
enthusiastically to last season's early call for
announcements about tournamen ts being held
by member team of the Association during the
1990-91 season .
Seeking to do the same for the 1991-92
season, a form accompanies this Newsletter to
all team representatives requesting prompt
return to the Office of the Commissioner .
This will allow for the publication of a
schedule of tournaments early in the season
and the release of the information to
publications such as Sports 'n Spokes at the
earliest possible moment .
CONFERENCE INFORMATION NEEDED
The designated officer in each NWBA
conference is requested to submit the
following information to the Office of the
Commissioner as soon as possible:
1. Minutes of the 1991 annual meeting
GAMES
BASKETBALL
The format for the Paralympic Games
wheelchair basketball tournaments to be held
in Barcelona, Spain will be different from past
Paralympic Tournaments when there was no
limit to the number of teams entered. The
1992 Games will be limited to 12 men's and 8
women's teams .
The 6 women's teams that have qualified so
are are the United States, Germany, Canada
and
Holland
from
the
1990
World
5
Championships in France; France, the top
finisher in the 1991 European Championship
behind Germany and Holland, and the host
country, Spain. One team will qualify from
the women's tournaments to be held in
conjunction with the men's in Mexico City lind
Europe in 1992.
92 season, teams are reminded that women
players, as approved at the 1991 annual
meeting, are allowed to play for both a men's
and women's team as long as the name is
submitted on both rosters to the Office of the
Commissioner before January 1.
5TH NWBAJPVA CAMP DRAWS WELL
NELSEN CERTIFIED FOR INTERNATIONAL
GAMES
Mark Nelsen of Sioux Falls, SD was awarded
an international officials licence by the
International Wheelchair Basketball Federation
at the conclusion of the World Stoke
Mandeville Wheelchair Games.
The licence
entitles Nelsen to officiate in tournaments and
games sanctioned by the lWBP anywhere in
the world.
Nelsen was called upon to work the
championship game of the women's tournament
won by Canada over Germany, 49-34. He is
the third U. S. official to gain an international
licence. The others are Paul Camitsch of St.
Paul, MN (1982), and AI Orr of Tampa, FI
(1978).
TYNER CERTIFIED TO CLASSIFY IN IWBF
Toni Tyner of F1-esno, CA became only the
third U. S. candidate to gain certification as
an official classifier for the IWBF .
She
completed the second phase of the training
program at the World Stoke Mandeville
Wheelchair Games in England. July 27 -31.
Previously granted certification as IWBF
classifiers were Tip Thiboutot of Wayland, MA
(1989) and Kathy Curtis of Coral Gables, FL
Under Staff Director Lew Shaver of Southwest
State University, the 5th annual NWBA/PVA
National Basketball Camp was conducted on
every bit as grand a scale as in any of the
previous camps. Present were 80 players and
15 coaches who absorbed the offerings of the
instructional staff - six head coaches and
seven assistants, each with considerably
coaching and playing experience in the NWBA .
The staff appointed to work the 1991 camp
consisted of: Toby Broadrick, MInnesota
Timberwolves; Dan Byrnes, Charlottesville,
VA; Brad Hedrick, U . of Illinois; Ron
Lykins. U. of Wisconsin-Whitewater; Bob
Szyman, St. Louis Rolling Rams; and Harry
Vines, Arkansas Rollin' Razorbacks. They
were assisted by Pam Fontaine, Texas Heat;
Andy Krieger, Wright State U.; Angelo V.
Nicosia, EPVA Chargers; Rick Swauger, Ohio
Buckeye Wheelers; and Mike Woodard,
Lexington. KY. The Camp Coordinator was
Steve Truels of Champaian, IL .
Many thanks to to the Paralyzed Veterans of
America and especially Sports Director
Andrew G. Fleming for their support of the
annual summer camp . They continue to make
a substantial contribution to the growth and
development of the sport.
(1990) .
NCAA RULES AVAlLABLE
IWBF MEETINGS SUMMARY
NWBA personnel attending the annual
meetings of the IWBF held in conjunction with
the World Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Games
included Commissioner Stan Labanowich and
First Vice President Tip Thiboutot.
Both
serve on the Executive Committee, Labanowich
as Chairman of the Competitions Committee,
and Thiboutot as IWBF Secretary.
The 1991-92 NCAA Men's and Women's
Basketball Rules and Interpretations are now
available. Order through: NCAA Publishing.
P.O. Box 7347, Overland Park. Kansas 662070347. Telephone: (913)339-1900. The price
is $4.00 per copy . For 10 or more copies. the
cost drops to $2.75 each.
Payment must
accompany all orders . .
CLASSIFICATION WORKSHOP AT ST . LOUIS
The
meetings
were
attended
representatives of 22 countries.
by
NEW LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN
As preparations are being made for the 1991-
The S1. Louis Wheelchair Athletic Association
is sponsoring a NWBA Classification Workshop
to be held September 21, 1991 at St. Mary's
Health Center in St. Louis, MO .
The
teaching faculty includes Kathleen Curtis,
6
Ph.D.,
P . T.,
Chair
of
the
NWBA
ClassificaHon Committee; LeAnn Snow, M.D .•
University of Minnesota; and Bob Szyman,
Ph.D .• Executive Director of the St. Louis
Wheelchair Athletic Association.
The registration fee is $25.00 ($10.00 for
students). and should be sent to: St. Louis
Wheelchai r Athletic Association, c/o SSM
Rehabilitation Institute, 6420 Clayton Road,
St. Louis. MO 63117.
For more information contact Bob Szyman at
(314)768-5325.
.-
•