public synchronized void operateEntities(double p){
		period = p;
		
		/////////////////////////////////
		//      main entity loop       //
		/////////////////////////////////
		
		
		playerArrayList = new ArrayList<int[]>();
		
		//loops through every entity to perform operations on
		for(int i=0; i<playerList.size(); i++){

			Entity entity = operateEntityList(AL_READ, i, null);
			
			int[] entityArray = convertEntToArray(entity);
			
			//updates every entity's position. also capable of removing the entity
			if(entity.move(period)){
				operateEntityList(AL_REMOVE, i, null);
				i--;
			} else {
				playerArrayList.add(entityArray);
			}
		}//end entity loop
		
		ball.move(period);
		
		/* building transmit array */
		playerArray = new int[playerArrayList.size()][5];
		for(int i=0; i<playerArrayList.size(); i++){
			playerArray[i] = playerArrayList.get(i);
		}
	}