FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Thomas Yoshida, (808) 282-2299

Nation's High School Basketball, Softball Rules Editor to Speak in Honolulu

HONOLULU - National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) Assistant Director Mary Struckhoff will speak to local basketball and softball coaches and officials in her role as NFHS rules interpreter and editor on Saturday, May 19 at McKinley High School.

Struckhoff also serves as the NCAA coordinator of women's basketball officiating where she recently coordinated the assignment of officials to the Division I Women's Basketball Championship.

The softball session will start at 9 a.m. while the basketball lecture will be at 11 a.m. Struckhoff will discuss recent rule revisions and the growing trends of each sport. She will also share comments from coaches, administrators and officials throughout the country.

"The rules of softball and basketball are in great shape," Struckhoff said. "However, we are always looking for ways to minimize the inherent risks of our games and promote better sportsmanship."

A member of the NFHS staff since September 1999, Struckhoff also serves as staff liaison for the NFHS Officials Association, coordinating the NFHS Officials Education Program, and workshop organization for the NFHS Summer Meeting and National Athletic Administrator's Conference. She also serves on several committees and boards, including the Officiating Development Alliance, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Directors, and the Amateur Softball Association's Council and Equipment Standards Committee.

A former high school teacher (physical education, health, mathematics, computer science), coach (softball, volleyball, tennis) and administrator, Struckhoff earned a bachelor's degree in 1982 from Benedictine College (Kansas) in physical education and a master's degree in 1991 from Western IllinoisUniversity in athletic administration.

This event is sponsored by the Oahu Interscholastic Association and the Oahu Basketball Referees Association. Admission is $5 (pre-registration) and $10 at the door. Coaches, basketball officials and softball umpires of the OIA are free (registration required).

For more information or to register for the event, visit www.obrahawaii.com/struckhoff or call Thomas Yoshida at 282-2299.

Mary Struckhoff in Hawaii Flyer