,

National Wheelchair Basketball Association

NEWSLEnER • til ••• ton Build'" • • Lealnglon! K Y 40501

Va IlITle XXVI October 10, 1986 I'Uri:>er 1

f'l'.Tl ~ 1FAVIS Q.A1M I s.t:; 5 I LVER AN)

I'KNlE t.'EDALS

The Nr\B6. returned to Stoke Mandevi lie , England in July of this year and came away wi th a si Iver and a bronze rreda I for j ts showing. Both the nen's and worTJ:!;n's select nat lena I teams PJt on fine performances, but in the final analysis , could not overcome the superb play of their opponents in the championship rounds.

The men's team fell to the ~eat Britain squad in the semi-finals 65- 60 before winning over Spain 95-80 in the bronze rredal gcwne. The U.S. had errerged (ran a 5- team rOlnd robin pool lIldefeated and ~re odds­on favorites to advance to the finals when they were Lnexpectedly beaten by the Sri tish before a widly partisan crowd at Stoke Mandevi lie. The G.B. lean establ ished an early lead on the strength of some n9g1'lificent srooting by veteran Phi I Craven, and kept the .Americans off guard until the closing minutes when a late U.S. surge to close a t9- point gap at the 6:00 minute nark fell 5 points short at the buzzer.

Coaches Frank Burns of Binningham, AlabalT'S and Jom M::CaIIUTl of Jacksonvi li e, Florida kept their charges in tip top shape, begif'Yling with the 3-day training camp held at the Lakeshore Hospital athletic carp lex in Bi nningham, Alabane and later in Madrid prepartory to their appearance at Stoke Mandevi lie StadiUTl, si te of the 8- day competitions. The game scores are included with this Newsletter.

The NWBA congratu lates the players and coaches for their fine representation of the U.S. in international competition . In the same year in which an earl ier U.S. rrenls team '0\011 the \\()rld chanpionship in LrIdisputed fashion, this team of select players , inexperienced for the roost part in international competition, condJcted themselves .....ell against top competition fran 10 other nations.

Selected to the U.S. team .....ere : Rich Oieker, Springfield Spoke Jockeys; Reggie Goodnm, M.Jsic City Lightning ; Don Langford, Charlotte Tarwheels ; Kevin lowery, Golden State 76ers; Jim Leatherman, Baltimore Wheelchair Athletic Club; Kris Lenzo, Toledo Si Iver Streaks; Jim Mi Il er, Da lias Texans; M:lrk Partridge , At lanta Peachtree Pacers; Rick St. Jom, Toledo Si lver Streaks; Anardo Valdez, EPVA Chargers ; Manny Vi Ila , Los ,Angeles Stars ; and Jim Wooten, Lakeshore Pioneers. Valdez was taken ill following the 3-day training carrp and was lrIable to accoopany the team to Europe.

The Players Selection Conmittee was IT'Sde up of George Veenstra, Springfield Spoke Jockeys; Tip Thiboutot, Boston Mustangs; Dave Ki ley, Casa Col ina Condors; Roger Dav is, Music City Li9htning; and Frank Burns, head coach .

The U.S . v«menls team carre up with its finest outing to date in international competi tion outside of the Pan Allerican Games . Made up of a mixture of veteran and new players, the 104nember contingent coached by Terry Hanson and Dan Byrnes, lost only to gold ~I winners west Germany, 43 -27 in round-robin play among seven team5 and a second tirre, 51-29 in the charrpionship garre .

The teamls most notable winning performances were against Japan (35-34) and Israel (35-33) . In both instances. the U.S. waren had to come fran behind in the late stages to emerge as winners. \-\h i I e the games aga i ns t the Wes t Gel"'Tl'"Sn team appeared to be lop-sided victories for the Genrens, the U.S. showing was not without its redeeming qualities stemnil'l9 fran the surprising capability of a relatively inexperienced U.S. crew to push the 'Mlrld charrpions to the limit in a top-rated competition.

Leading the v«men wi th a 10.9 points per game scor i ng average was Susan Hagel of Courage Rol l ing Cophers followed by Roll ing Gopher tearmete Mary hv1 QINei II with 8.7 points and Susie Grimes of Bay

Area Weteorites with 6.6 points. Rolnding out the roster were laura Krendl and Pam Stewart of Wright State University Raiders; Sharon Ramsey and hYl Cody of University of Illinois Ms Kids; Liz Dahl, Twin Cities

\'iheels of FortLrle; Sharon Herbst, San Diego Sharps; and Rita Abi lez, Casa Col ina Unicorns.

Mbffi I 0 EXH I B I TICl'I su:cESSR.L I'm U.S. lE'M

The men's team played a dennnstration garre against the Spanish national team in M3drid on July 20 as part of the program for the FIBI\. ITeI1'S v.orld chatrpionship. 1he game, played at 10 :00 a.m. In the MUnicipal Sports Hall, attracted 'Pite a few onlookers including several thousand towards the end of the rrstch v.t'IO had entered early to watch the 5th place game between Spa in and Ita Iy irnrediately following.

I t was an exce II ent game - good floor action, passing and shooting - and ended up with the USA on top in a squeaker, 62-59. Chief arrong the observers was Juan hltonio Sarmranch, President of the International Olyrrpic O:mni ttee, v.t'IO had ini t iated the Spanish Sports Federation for the Disabled in the mid- sixties. He stayed throughout the entire game and afterwards congratulated the participants personally.

The U.S. contingent stayed on later that evening to watch the U.S. defeat Russia for the men's v.orld charrpionship.

EXECUTI VE <Xt.MITlEE DfCI 5 I CNS

The Executive O:mnittee meeting with the Cannissioner in SchallTb.Jrg, III inois on July 11 and 12 , dealt with a number of issues that required action prior to the beginning of the 1986- 87 season. Chief cwrong the actions taken were the following:

. agreement not to adopt the f'IC'A4. 3- point field goal for the 1986- 87 season (see following art iclel .

.extension of the rule related to the 4S- second clock penmitting the use of a hand held stop watch at the scorer's table during regular season conference games during the 1986- 87 season.

.withdrawal of intent to enter a men's and a ....anen's national team in the

2

1986 Pan hrer i can \\hee I cha i r Carnes to be held in Puerto Rico, NovenDer 1- 12, because of the lIlWi II il""g"less of the Pan JIm Garres Federat ion to use the playing rules of the 1S'vG" enabl ing all lower extremity disabled to play.

.decl injng of an invi tation from the South African Sports Association for the Physically Disabled to se lect a U.S. men's team to tour South Africa in October, 1986.

.approval of a timetable for the selection of the men's and women's national teams scheduled to coopete in the Paralyrrpic Cames in Seoul, Korea, October 15 to 24, 1988.

Cl'I RUES I'm TI£ 1 986- 87 SEASCN

1. lhe!'CM 3- point field goal rule wi II not be used in the Nr'&\ thi s season. 1he Executive Comnittee rrsde the decision based on the prevai I jng di fficul ty having to nark high sCOOoI courts \W)ich rmst Nff!A teams use. 1he National Federation of State High School Associat ions has not adopted the rule yet. At the same time, it was felt that the delegates at the next annual meeting should have an oPfXlrtlllity to vote on the issue for future play. The Rules COmmittee will consider a proposal to be put before the 1987 amual Jreeting.

The 1986- 87 Rules Book contains this comment:

Ch an experimental basis, NM3A conferences lTeyadopt the three- point field goal for regular season play. If adopted, all conference games nust be played according to the measurements and rulings specified in NCAA Rules 1- 15, 5-2, and corresponding interpretations. For a successful three- point field goal in v.heelchair basketball, all points of contact of the v.heelchalr with the floor nust be beyond the three- point line....nen the try is released. The three- point field goal wi II not be used in Regional Sectional nor O\anpionship playoff garres.

2. The Executive Cannittee also approved a recommendation from the Rules Comnittee to extend for another year the use of a hand­held stop watch for the 45- second rule if a visible shot clock is not available.

This was done t o allow teams nDre time to PJrchase their 0YKl shot clocks. It is understood though, that a visible clock is rrandatory for all regional playoff, sectional and national tournament games.

3 . Rules Cmmittee Claimsn Ralph Smith has issued a reminder to all teams and garre officials that when the horn on the 115-second clock sot.nds, play continues lIIti I the whistle blows. Game officials should remind the captains of both teams before the start of each garre.

!'.lIB'. DECLINES ENTRY (F TIiWIS IN 1986 PAIIC'S

The VIII th Pan hrer i can \\hee I cha i r Carnes to be held in Puerto Rico, Noven'ber 1- 11, 1986 will be minus the appearance of a U.S. men's and wcrren's team in the wheelchair basketbal I competitions. This situation has arisen because the Pan hrerican \\heelchair Carnes Federation has refused to ensure that the basketbal I competitions wi II be corrlJcted under the rules of the Basketball Section of the International Stoke Wendevi lie Ganes Federa tion, the govern i ng body of the sport. The ~ Executive Cmmittee, in response to the Lf1Wi II il'lgless of the P.Ai\GF to follow the ISMGF rules, thus barring non-sp inal cord related disabled athletes fram participating has declined the opportlllity to participate. For the ~ to conform to the PAVCF rules for the purposes of playing in the Puerto Rican crepet i t ions 'M>Uld be to violate existing Nr\eA pol icy. The Associat ion ruled in 1982 to bar participation of any team, player or official in any wheelchair basketball competition which prohibits participation on the basis of the etiology of a player's disability .

RB:;1Cl'W.. flU) SECTICl'W.. D'\TE5 SET

The dates of the 1987 regional playoffs and sectiona l tournarrEnts have been establ ished.

March 7 and 8 - Regional playoffs

March 20- 22 - Sectional tournaments

The site and dates of the national tournament have not yet been confi nned. It is likely that the 13thNNt\BTwill be he Id fram Warch 25 to 28 and the 29th Nr\BT on March 27 and 28, both at a common site as in 1986.

3

l(P 20 N¥.ti) BY S 'n S

CI i ff Crase, Senior Edi tor for Sp?rts 'n Spokes has kindly released prepublication infomstion on the r-.w?A's Top Twenty as nDre than 165 teams ready themselves for the 1986- 86 season. The S 'n S panel of experts has cane up with this prel iminary slate :

1. Casa Col ina Condors 2. To ledo Silver Streaks 3. Dallas Mavericks 4. Springfield Spoke Jockeys 5. M.Jsic City lightning 6. Golden State '76ers 7. Alberta Northern Lights 8. Los Angeles Stars 9. Grand Rapids Pacers

10. Arkansas Roll in' Razorbacks 11 . Fresno Red Ro II ers 12. Detroit Sparks 13. Lakeshore Pi oneers 14. North Florida Renegades 15. Dallas Texans 16. Vancouver v.tlee I Wi nds 17. Ki tChener Spimers 18. Long Beach Flying v.tlee Is 19. Sioux Wheelers 20. Carol ina Cyclones

IFF I CIAlS EXA\1 M'.I LID

The garre officials examination has been sent out during the week of October 6-10 to all garre officials identified by Conference Assistant Commissioners. The sl ight delay in fTBi I ing was occasioned by the late receipt of the 1986- 87 Nr\eA Rules and Casebook v.nich are sent out wi th the exams.

TEfoM [Le; RR 1986-87

Treasurer George Veenstra reminds all teams that the annual dues of $175 .00 must be lTBi led to h im in an envelope postlTBrked no later than October 31. The pena I ty for late payment is a fine of 25% ($43.75) 'llhich then becanes payable by Noven'ber 30. Fai lure to pay the fine along wi th the al'VltJ8l dJes wi II autOfl'Btically bring suspension frem the Nr\eA and loss of postseason playoff rights. Mai I payment to : George Veenstra , 2612 Delaware Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702.

~ DEi'DL1~

Other deadlines that will cane l4l as the season progresses are these :

Jarua'115 - Last day for stbnission of norrunat ions for NftB4\ Ha II of Fame. Send to Saul Welger. 80 Aven.Je P, Brooklyn. New York 11204.

February 1 - Postnark diIte for subnission of proposals to amend the Constitution of the Nr'i3A. Send to Debbie Di lion at 5661 Butano way. Rockland. CA 95677.

February 15 - last day for stbnission of proposals to amend the playing rules of the NfeA. tiel I to Ralph ~ith at : Oepartrrent of Recreation. College of P.E., Recreation aOO Health, lhiversity of ~ryland. College Park. ID. 20742

Werch 1 - Last for subnission of proposals to amend the Bylaws of the NftBt\. Send to Debbie Oi lion at; 5661 Butano way. Rockland, CA 95677.

1REASlRfR' 5 OFF I CE 10 BE El.KTID IN 1 987

The office of Treasurer of the NW8A wi II be l4l for election in 1987. The incU1"bent, Ceorge Veenstra of Springfield, III inoi s has anrlOll"K:ed that he wi II not be a candidate for the next S-year tenm. Veenstra has held the office since 1977 .

Nominations for ~ Treasurer are invited lI1tll January 15. TIley should be sent to ~ President wervin lapicola at 1417 Olartwell Road, Schaumurg, IL 60195.

Candidates for the posi t ion should have a basic backgrotrd In accOll1ting aOO /or bookkeeping in aciji tlon to sourwJ knowledge and lI1derstanding of the sport of ¥lheel­chair basketball from a participant's point of view (i.e., player , coach or rmnager) .

It Is widely recoglized that Veenstra has rmde a great contribution to the developnent of the Nf6\ thrOlJ!tl his rmny successes as a player (MJP and All - National Tournament in 1970), as coach (Springfield Spoke Jockeys, 1973 to present) and as a rTEfTDer of the executive Coomittee. He wi II continue to coach and play in Spr i ngf i e I d.

• NIoB'. REa I YES CIJIF\IT1R FR>.I lWM-1R.IST

Thr<><9> the diligent .rrort and generosity of former ~ Vice- President Dale Wi ley of Nashvi lie, Ternessee, a Hewlett - Packard Vectra caJ1lUter has been dona ted to the~. Rece i pt of the cOfrlJUter In late Septenber wi II help to streaml ine the adninistrative operations in the Office of the Ccmnissioner in Lexington. Kentucky. Wiley, a long-tirre standout wi th M."slc Ci ty and flBny U.S. national teams before his retirerrent in 1985, has been actively raising fU"lds for the ~ in the past year throur:ll the lW¥.-Trust which he serves as di rector. He had previous Iy raised $3 .000 to assist the U.S. national team in its pursuit of the Gold CUp Oa1'pionship in ~Ibourne. Austral ia last April. His effort to obtain the computer for the f'o.MI3A stems from his bel ief in the value of the sport for all disabled and a desire to see the Association refine its adninistrative operations .

The Execut i ve Ccmni t tee and the Ccmnissioner wish to thank Wi ley for his continuing t~tfulne55 and concern for the Association and its rnentJer teams.

FIDERATIO'I PARLEY SOElJ B> IN FHlENIX

At the invitation of the Chainman of the National Ytheelchalr Athletic Association the NM:1A wi II send two representat ives to take part in Infonmal discussions concerning a federation of U.S. wheelchBir sports associations. The meeting will be held in Phoenix, Arizona. October 30 and 31 . Scheduled to sit in are representatives of the U.S. Folndatlon of Ytheelchair Tennis, the NWAA. and Paralyzed Veterans of Arerica. along with NftS6. President wervln lapicola and Cannissioner Stan Labanowich. Travel and housing are being covered by the !'VA.

In the time since the end of the 1985- 86 season, three NWBA conferences have dissolved whi Ie another has red.Jced frOOl t'l«) to a single division. In Jt.ne . the Lake Erie Conference team representatives voted to disband the 3- team conference. On October 1 , written notice was received

that two teams of the 4-team North Texas Conference had withdrawn, leaving the rerT8ining teams with lIlCertain status. In mid- Septerrber, Bi II D:lnat.Je, Assistant Corrmi ss i oner of the NorttMtes t Conference rePJrted that the 4-team Oregon Conference had di sbanded because of the wi thdrawa I of 1 team, leaving the 3 remaining teams to be taken into the NorttMtest Conference.

With the disbanding of the Lake Erie Conference, 2 of the 3 teams involved, Toledo Si Iver Streaks and Cleveland Ccrnets, joined wi th a new team, the Akron Rubber Ci ty Rollers and a fomer rrerber of the Mid-Im!rica Conference, the Coh .. rbus a..ckeye \\heelers, to fonn the Q-eat O'lio! Conference. The Detroit Sparks, who were not invi ted to join, sLbs~nt Iy appl ied for rrenbership in 3 neighlxlring conferences - the Lake o,tario, the Mid-Im!rica and the Lake Michigan. Lhsuccessful in gaining entry, the team applied to the ~ for independent status wi th full rights to challenge for a berth in the PJstseason regional playoffs. Coomissioner Labanowich ruled that the Sparks could not ~Iify if the team did not belong to a conference -either in an existing NWBA conference or a new one if fol'l'Jed in the Detroi t area. t..pon appeal to the Executive Corrmittee, a decision was made to enable the Sparks, as an independent rrerber team, to qual i fy for PJstseason play only if it were to take on the character of a newly organized team with the addition to its roster of a majority of novice players. This was based on an interpretation of the recent arrendTent to the by I aws (Art. I, Sect i on 2b) reelef i n i ng independent team merrber status.

In the case of the North Texas Con­ference, the Lhiversity of Texas-ArJ ington FreeY.heelers and the Baylor Blazers have withdrawn for reasons related to the level of competition that has evolved in the conference over the past several years and their concern for development of new players. Both teams have indicated difficulty in meeting institutional object ives as conference rrerbers.

Because the circumstances surrounding the appl ication of the Wsvericks and Texans for independent status with pl ayof f

5

rights are identical to those involving the Detroi t Sparks, the Coomissioner has ruled that the Wevericks and Texans nust be he I d to the saJrl'!, concH t i ons . I n order to qua Ii fy for PJstseason play, thei r rosters nust be made up of a majority of novice players for the 1986- 87 season.

The Oregon Con ference chose to disband because one of the 4 merrber teams, the Wi I I arm lane Shooting Stars withdrew in order to concentrate its efforts on playing the Vbnen's Division. The three rerT8 i n i ng teams; the Port I and W1eelblazers, Wi Ilanette Valley Roll in' Rebels and ume Cotxlty Low Riders, decided that provisional conference status was not desirable and subsequently appl ied for and were granted nerbership in the NorttMtest Conference v.f1ich nt:ffl

expands to 7 teams.

The Scuthern Conference has reorgani zed from 2 divisions to a single division following the withdrawal of 6 of its 13 teams. Che of the wi thdrawing tearns, the Nashvi lie Rebels, has joined the Bluegrass Conference. The appl icat ion of the rerT8ining teams is U"lkncMn at this time.

JLN 100 lll.R-i'MNr AT CIWP <Il.RI'{;E

The 4th Arnual Courage Center JU"lior Invitational Ytheelchair Basketball Tournament wi II be held Noverrber 14- 16, 1986 at Carrp Courage in Wsple Lake, Mil'Vlesota. The tournament sponsors are hopeful of an in­crease in the number of teams in 1986 over the 10 entered the previous year. For information on entries, contact Karyl t-blger, Courage Center, 3915 Colden Valley RDad, Golden Valley, ~ 55422. Telephone (612) 588- 0811.

lAKE CNrARIQ crNFffiEN:E MAro WIN'4ERS

The Lake Ontario Conference award wil'Vlers for the 1985- 86 season are: First AII -Star Team : Bruce Russell, Ron Van Elswyck ana Jeff Pel'V'ler, Twin City Spimers; Denis laPalme, Ottawa Royals; and Flo Aukerra, Toronto Spitfires. Second All - Star Team: Keith Cartwright and Erick COrsaut , Forest City Flyers; John Boyki , Toronto Spitfires; O1ris Stoddard, Toronto OJtl aws; and Skip Ii.Jtton , Buffalo Er-VA Q la ri o t s . Rookie- of­the- Year was Dave Smith of the Spitfires.

Voted i\otiP was Skip t-lJtton of ElIffalo. Voted top coaches were Bruce RlJsse II (Twin Ci ty) and Cameo TOITIJsi (9.Jffa 10).

IICMN' 5 lU.R'£Y FEAlLRES WRD 0i'IW1<NS

The results have not been received yet rut a 6- team women's tournarrent, including the 1986 world chanpionship team frem West Cermmy, was held at Cal i fornia State Lhiversi ty of Los ftngeles, October 3-5 . Other teams entered were the Southern Califo rnai Strtrise, Casa Colina Lhicorns , San Diego Sharps, Bay Area Weteori tes and Sacramento Cold Rush. Resul ts wi II be publ i shed in the next issue of the News­letter .

U. S. I'I'oTI CNAL lE'M R6U. TS

Madrid Spain, July 20 :

U.S. Select Menls Team 62 , Spain 59

International Stoke Mandevi lie Carres, July 26-August 2:

U.S. Se lect Men's Team 60, Netherlands 35 76, Finland 45 90, Egypt 16 67, Belgium 52 50, Austral ia 48 60, Great Britain 65 95, Spain 80

International Stoke Mmdeville Canes, July 26 - August 2:

U.S. Select WOmen·s Team 52. Great Britain 9 42. France 29 35. Japan 34 35. Israel 33 60, Sweden 20 27 , Cemeny 43 29, Cemeny 51

6