RULES, MECHANICS, TECHNIQUES:

Basketball
2003-04 NCAA Men's and Women's Rule Changes: Trapezoid, Farther Three-Point Line Coming in 2004-05; Chalk Talk: Two-Person: Lead 'Ball-Side' Primary Changed

Baseball
Angling for the Proper Angle: Stance and Head Height the Keys to Plate Work; The Ump Gets Dumped; Thinking Outside the (Coach's) Box; Checked Swing Check-Up

Softball
Double Base Means More Rules: Think Safety First at First Base; Obstruction Revisited; NCAA Plans Regional Clinics; Chalk Talk: Two Umpires: Long Fly Ball Caught in the 'V'

Soccer
Don't Leave the Job Half Done: Problems Can Occur if You're Not Alert; Increased Media Means Increased Scrutiny; Two Bites of the Apple?; Assistants: Speak Up When You Must; Assistant Requests Stoppage in Play

Football
What Goes on Up Front? Rules Involving Offensive Linemen; Literally, Teams Get a Choice of Lateral Position of the Ball; Untimed Down Signal; Five Minutes With ... Mark Steinkerchner

FEATURES:

3,2,1... Zero
Is it a clock ticking off to the end of the game or a countdown to the explosion? Postgame fights and spectator mobs descending to the playing surface are becoming more and more common. What does that mean for you? When does your responsibility to the game take a backseat to your responsibility for your own safety?

This is the Land of the Umpires?
There's a small section of a particular state in this nation that's a hotbed for producing quality top-level umpires. It's gotta be somewhere warm, right? Where they play baseball year-round? The answer might surprise you.

Interview: Sandy Alderson
Major League Baseball¹s executive vice president of operations discusses the continuing changes in the MLB umpiring program. From the QuesTec controversy to the recent departure of MLB vice president of umpiring Ralph Nelson, Alderson weighs in.

NASO Portland Conference – 8 Highlights
The issue of accountability – officials' accountability to the game and the game's accountability to the officials – was analyzed, discussed and scrutinized at this year's NASO conference in Portland, Ore. If you missed the gathering, don't miss the high points here.

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS:

Publisher’s Memo
Calling It the Way It Is

The Gag Rule
?NASO Made the Right Call'; 'A Quality Person'

The News
NBA Refs Get Two More Bosses; Bayou Pols to Refs: 'Get Better'; Art Imitates Life

Back to Basics
Officiating is Always a Matter of Trust

Profiles
Father Knows Best

Getting It Right
I Met an Angel at Shortstop

Tools
AssignByWeb; Therapeutic Athletic Shoe; ASA Umpiring Video; Ken Aston Website

For the Record
WNBA and Minor League Baseball rosters

Classifieds
Camps/Clinics; Equipment/Apparel; Cyberspace; Miscellaneous Computer Software;

Last Call
War Games