All officials are reminded of their responsibility to check the website (www.mpcofficial.net) and email daily. The junior high basketball season is underway in the Tri-Valley League and the regular season and the Non-PIAA officiating seasons are right around the corner. If for some reason, you are not able to access www.mpcofficial.net, you may access Assign-By-Web direct by clicking on the following link: www.assignbyweb.com/midpenn.

3-Person Mechanics

As we begin to get ready for the upcoming season, there have been some major developments in the Mid-Penn Conference. The conference has approved the use of 3-person mechanics for all schools. However, the decision to use 3 officials is at the discretion of each school. The schools may use 3-person mechanics for some, all or none of their scheduled contests. I will be sending an email message to all athletic directors requesting this information.

What does this mean for you? Depending on the number of schools that decide to use 3-person mechanics, officials may be required to work both the junior varsity contest and the varsity contest on game night. If you are not interest in working both contests, there is a possibility that you may not receive any 3-person assignments. When possible, I will try and assign two officials for the junior varsity contest and three officials for the varsity contests. Last season, there were a couple of nights when I had officials doubling-up due to not having enough officials available for game night.

Using 3-officials is going to open up opportunities for less experienced officials. All officials are expected to review the mechanics manual to ensure they understand 3-person mechanics at the high school level.

If you do not wish to be considered for assignments where the possibility of working two games exists, please send me an email message indicating such.

Closed Dates

Officials must visit the website and closed dates online. Beginning Tuesday, September 9th, you will be locked out of the site and will not be able to close dates. Up until Tuesday, you may simply close your dates on the website. After Tuesday, you must forward all closed dates to me via email in addition to closing the dates on the website. A new change has been made on the availability calendar portion of the website. You may now make a comment on a closed date. For example, if you are closed on a particular date, but would like to be considered for a junior high assignment, you may indicate such on the website. In addition, if you receive a non-PIAA assignment, you are required to close the date and place a comment in the available box “Non-PIAA”. This will assist me greatly in ensuring the right individuals are in the right games when making reassignments.

To ensure that everyone has visited the website, I would like everyone to close “December 25th” and “January 1st”. If your system does not permit you to close dates or accept assignments, I need to know what type of computer you have, what operating system you are using and what version of Internet Explorer is installed. If you cannot open files that I am sending or have trouble downloading information, you should contact someone with computer experience to assist you.

Profile Sheets

As of this date, there are still several officials that have not submitted their profile sheets. You know who you are; I know who you are and the computer will not recognize you with a schedule unless your profile sheet is received.

Assignments

I will be making assignments beginning next week based upon your availability calendars and profile sheets. Assignment schedules will be released around the middle of October.

If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks.

Donnie Eppley
2410 Walnut Bottom Road
Carlisle, PA 17013-9334
717.258.8626 (home/fax)
717.571.8151 (cell)
eppleyd@comcast.net
www.mpcofficial.net