November 3, 2014

To: The NWBA Membership

From: Randy Schubert, Executive Director
RE: Excellence, Execution, Timing, Change, Accountability and Communication
Greetings,

When I was hired a little less than three years ago, I was asked to help lead our
organization into fulfilling our Mission and Vision statements:

Mission Statement - In our pursuit of excellence, the National Wheelchair Basketball

Association provides qualified individuals with physical disabilities the opportunity to play,
learn and compete in the sport of wheelchair basketball.
Vision Statement - NWBA is the model sport governing bodywe lead, we inspire, we
win.

A lot has happened over the past three years.many very good things due to some great
volunteers and members taking leadership roles and helping to improve the Association
for the players; a vast improvement in our organizational relationships (USOC, USA
Basketball, IWBF, USA Paralympics, the VA, to name a few) due to staff and Board time and
effort and a significant build out of our professional and business acumen.
Obviously the organization has made changes that were needed to shore up our risk
management, legal compliance with state and federal law, business practices that were
vastly outdated or non- existent, or items such as classification, background checks,
coaches rules tests, waiver forms, etc. that are not always easy, but critical to us ensuring
the safety and well-being of the organization while beginning the move to fulfilling the
Mission and Vision.

A lot has been asked of me, the staff and the Board to continue to improve the NWBA. A lot
has been asked of the membership to come in to compliance with the necessary actions and
tasks that are critical to creating standards that will protect and improve your Association.
Some teams have done well, but we are still facing the challenge of numerous teams being
non compliant or extremely late on their follow through which effects both the
membership and staff.
We all need to be much more accountable to each other to become an organization of
excellence. To that extent, we are going to extend many of the previous timelines to help
National Wheelchair Basketball Association
sherricefox@nwba.org

1130 Elkton Dr. Suite C Colorado Springs, CO 80907

randyschubert@nwba.org
jeaninelasage@nwba.org
www.NWBA.org

Tel: 719.266.4082 Fax: 719.266.4876

morganthompson@nwba.org

teams get their information in and requirements completed. I am also committing our staff
and key volunteer leaders in your Division to help you where you need assistance.

This is the last year where your National Office will not have all key information out to you
by mid-July and have everything ready to go when registration opens. It will also be the last
season where deadlines are extended and Teams are allowed to play until they meet
requirements. We will communicate, collaborate, lead and organize ourselves as a model
Sports Governing Body.
Thank you!

Now on to the key information:

The 2014-15 Season has begun and the National Office wants to remind you of deadlines
for the upcoming season. There have been a few new policies put in place this season and
we want to ensure that everyone has this information and the associated final deadlines. To
allow teams additional time for completion the following deadlines have been extended.
October 17, 2014

Registration Ends

December 19, 2014

Team Waivers

November 10, 2014

December 19, 2014

December 19, 2014

December 19, 2014
December 31, 2014

Team Reviewer Certifications completed

Junior Division Background Checks
Coaches Exam

Division III $50 Fee

January 16, 2015

DIII, Womens and Championship

Division- Final date to submit transfers
and final date to make changes to team
roster
Junior Prep and Junior 10 DivisionRosters must be set by this date.
National Tournament Registration Opens

March 4, 2015

Junior Division Banquet Registration

January 15, 2015

March 4, 2015
March 4, 2015
March 4, 2015
March 9, 2015
National Wheelchair Basketball Association
sherricefox@nwba.org

National Tournament Registration

National Tournament Payment

Junior Division Banquet Payments

National Tournament Rankings Released

1130 Elkton Dr. Suite C Colorado Springs, CO 80907

randyschubert@nwba.org
jeaninelasage@nwba.org
www.NWBA.org

Tel: 719.266.4082 Fax: 719.266.4876

morganthompson@nwba.org

Any teams, players and/or coaches that are not in compliance with these deadlines will no
longer be in good standing with the NWBA. Any eligible team that does not submit their
registration and payment for the National Tournament by the aforementioned deadline
will not be eligible to compete in the years National Tournament.
What if I do not know if my team will be ranked high enough to attend the National
Tournament, should I still register by the deadline?

Yes. We encourage the Top 35 teams in the Junior 10 Division, Top 28 in Division III and
the Top 20 in Championship Division to register by the National Tournament registration
deadline in case a team is unable to attend the next highest ranked team will be invited.
We will do our best to contact lower ranked teams as teams notify us of their attendance
status to ensure you have plenty of time to complete your forms. If your team is not invited
to the tournament any associated fees that were paid will be refunded upon request.
What does this mean for your teams, players and/or coaches to not be in good
standing with the NWBA?

1. Athletes are not eligible to compete in games

2. Coaches are not eligible to coach or sit on a team bench for a game. If the
incomplete item is the background check for junior coaches they must also not
participate in team practices.
3. If a team waiver has not been submitted the team is not eligible to compete. If a
player is missing from the team waiver that athlete must not compete until that
waiver is signed by the player and/or parent guardian.

What are the consequences?

1. If an athlete, staff member or team is found non-compliant with the NWBA rules and
policies the teams games will be subject to forfeit by the Division Commissioner
and/or NWBA National Office.
2. If an athlete, staff member or team is found non-compliant with the NWBA rules and
policies the team will be ineligible for post season play.
3. If a team chooses to compete against a team that has been considered ineligible in
the NWBA those games will not count towards post season play.

National Wheelchair Basketball Association

sherricefox@nwba.org

1130 Elkton Dr. Suite C Colorado Springs, CO 80907

randyschubert@nwba.org
jeaninelasage@nwba.org
www.NWBA.org

Tel: 719.266.4082 Fax: 719.266.4876

morganthompson@nwba.org