RULES, MECHANICS, TECHNIQUES:

Basketball
Dealing With Spectators: Penalize Inappropriate Behavior When Necessary; Hey, We Should Be Shooting; Correcting an Error; Chalk Talk: Three-Person: Center Stay on Ball During Rotation

Baseball
The Cold Facts on Warming Up: Rules Govern How and When Players Can Get Loose; Stealing Signs: Is It Thievery or Strategy?; Setting the Stage for Your Games; Five Minutes With ... Laz Diaz

Softball
The Power of the Circle: A Closer Look at the NCAA's Look-Back Rule; Partner Communication; NCAA: Runner Advancing, Ball Returned to Pitcher in Circle; Chalk Talk: NCAA: Batter-Runner Overruns First, Ball in Circle

Soccer
Control and Constraint: The Extent of the Referee's Authority Over Participants; Fouls in Youth Soccer; Chalk Talk: Location of a Throw-in; Determine Severity of Injury

Football
On a Clear Sideline, You Can See Forever: Diligence Improves Safety, Game Management; Airborne on a Plane; Chalk Talk: Keep Your Distance; Sorgen, Orlich Earn NFF Honors

FEATURES:

Peacemaker
The numbers bear it out: Assignments in the last five consecutive NCAA women's basketball championship games. Assignments in the last four consecutive WNBA Finals. Never mind the women’s game, you could make a case that Lisa Mattingly is the best basketball referee period!

The Lost Season
Caught up in the season-cancelling stalemate last year between the NHL players and management were a group of people unnoticed by most of the media — the NHL officials. No games meant no work for the men in stripes. They were laid off. So what did they do during the season that wasn’t?

Better Talk to a Lawyer
A player gets hurt, a fight breaks out, someone wants to do a background check on you and all sorts of other situations arise in which you need advice from a lawyer. We've got nine answers to your important legal questions.

We've Got Mail
It's the wise official who keeps his or her mailing address out of the public domain. Unfortunately, that means we get all their hate mail, complete with expletives. Liberally mixed in with our usual day-to-day communiqués are missives from sports fans all over the nation who seem to think we’re the clearinghouse for their officiating-related rants (never raves).

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS:

Publisher’s Memo
Upon Much Further Review

The Gag Rule
Busted Mouth Alert

The News
Minor League Umpires Reject Contract; Wrestling Referee's Call Stands Up in Court

Back to Basics
Are You Buying Trouble?

Getting It Right
Turkey Day Games Bring Officials Together

Tools
Arth-Rx Topical Analgesic; ProStretch; Dealing With Difficult People; Rules for Umps 2006

Take Care
What About Heel Pain?

For the Record
NCAA Football Bowl Games

Classifieds
Camps/Clinics; Equipment/Apparel; Leadership Resources; Cyberspace; Miscellaneous; Speakers; Computer Software

Last Call
Never on Sunday