History

The Rochester District Board of Approved Officials of the National Board was founded in Rochester in 1921 at a time when most basketball officiating groups were associated with the YMCA, AAU, and the NCAA.

Dr. Edwin Fauver, a professor and a coach at the University of Rochester, was the Board’s first president. Dr. Fauver remained president from 1921 – 1945, leading a group of 38 original members who covered an area from Syracuse to Niagara Falls. Today, the football stadium at the University of Rochester is named in Dr. Fauver’s honor.

Now known as Board 60, the Rochester District of Approved Basketball Officials has long been recognized by the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO) for excellence in training and assisting officials to become successful at their chosen level, including officiating at the highest levels of high school, college and the NBA.

Board 60 originated one of the earliest two-person officiating technique called the “switch system” at the Central YMCA in Rochester in 1942. That same year, the organization started a Clinic Program and became the first Board to initiative a training program exclusively for its newest members.

Board 60 is responsible for a training program for its members. It also established the foundation of the New York State Five Point Program, which emphasizes instruction and improvement through meetings, tests, and on the floor demonstrations.

The Board also advocates on behalf of its officials, seeking improved work conditions, pay, and other benefits. A diverse group of men and women have joined our organization, with our very first all-female crew of three officials having worked a junior varsity game during the winter of 2023. A year later, we welcomed our very first female to join our varsity ranks.

Today, our membership has remained fairly consistent over the last several years with approximately 115 varsity members and approximately 50 men and women working junior varsity basketball.