RULES, MECHANICS, TECHNIQUES:

Basketball
2005-06 NCAA Men's and Women's Rule Changes: Kicking Violations, Disqualification Procedures and Use of Monitor Addressed; Chalk Talk: NCAA Men's: Lead Uses Bounce Pass

Baseball
Live When Caught, Dead When It Falls: NFHS Clarifies Inadvertent Foul Ball Call; Who's to Judge?; Consider Quality of the Throw; Five Minutes With ... Paul Schrieber

Softball
A Way to Save Face: NFHS Equipment Rule Takes Effect in 2006; Chalk Talk: Two Umpires, Second Play on the Infield; Five Minutes With ... Willie Newman

Soccer
The Third Team on the Field: Referees Must Work Together to Manage Matches; Goalkeeper Reaches Outside to Play a Ball; Don't Pass on Persistent Infringement

Football
It's Tee Time on the Gridiron: Examining the Rules on Free Kicks; The Two-Minute Drill; Chalk Talk: Who's Got the Calls?; Personal Fouls vs. Unsportsmanlike Fouls; Five Minutes With ... Bill Carollo

FEATURES:

What Now?!
What do you do if your car breaks down on the way to a game? What if a coach keeps barging into your locker room? You've likely asked similar questions at least once in your career. But who thinks to answer them until they're staring you in the face? Twelve anxiety-producing questions are asked and answered with real, practical advice.

The Case for Three-Person Mechanics
Few topics cause more debate in basketball officiating circles than three-person officiating. The referees generally want it, while coaches are often concerned that more officials mean more foul calls and administrators and supervisors want to know who'll pay the bills. The Quad Cities of Iowa and Illinois present a unique case study in which the same officiating pool works three-person in one state and two-person in the other.

Interview: Dr. George Thompson
Verbal Judo, or tactical communication, is the gentle art of persuasion that redirects others' behavior with words and generates voluntary compliance. The program is widely used by police nationwide. Dr. George Thompson, founder of the Verbal Judo Institute, shares how officials can use his proven techniques to better manage games.

Basic Training : Are You a Complete Official or Just a 'Foul-Caller'?
Any fool can put on the uniform and — for better or for worse — call a game. But a shirt and a whistle don't make someone an official. How do you go from looking like a referee or umpire to actually being one?

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS:

Publisher’s Memo
For Love or Money

The Gag Rule
Announcers Should Learn the Rules

The News
MLB, NHL Hire Supervisors; FHSAA Reimburses
Fee to Help With Cost of State-Mandated Background Checks

Back to Basics
Signal Your Intent

Getting It Right
An Unexpected Action

Tools
Player Management CD-ROM; Dean of Umpires:
A Biography of Bill McGowan; 2005 NCAA Football Officiating Training Video; NFHS Basketball Methods Course

Take Care
How Far Do You Travel During a Game?

Profiles
Wearing the White Hat

For the Record
NFL roster

Classifieds
Camps/Clinics; Equipment/Apparel; Cyberspace; Officials Wanted; Leadership Resources; Collectibles; Miscellaneous

Last Call
These Shoes Were Made for Reffing