Officiating Industry's Legal Guide is Now Available

RACINE, Wis. — Sports Officiating: A Legal Guide, available through NASO and Referee magazine, is the number-one comprehensive book about officiating legal issues for officials, administrators and association leaders.

Considered the foremost authority on the legal issues of sports officiating, Alan Goldberger, an attorney and veteran basketball official, football referee and baseball umpire from Clifton, N.J., has written a thorough yet easy-to-understand reference covering official’s rights and responsibilities.

Published by Referee and now in its second edition, Sports Officiating: A Legal Guide includes specific coverage of rules and regulations in 10 sports: baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, track and field, volleyball and wrestling. Topics covered within the sport chapters include officials’ duties, weather situations, sportsmanship issues, uniforms and equipment and more.

Goldberger also covers association issues such as non-profit status, independent contractor issues, hiring and firing practices and tax questions.

“Avoiding liability and knowing when to assert your legal rights is critical to successful officiating in the 21st century,” Goldberger said. “Officials need to recognize that the law impacts their work, and that of all officials associations, whether they like it or not.”

Goldberger examines prior cases involving officials and explains how the verdicts in those cases affect today’s officials.

“At the end of the day, officials can work their games smarter, manage risk and protect themselves from legal troubles if they have practical, real-world guidance,” Goldberger said.

“This book is the essential guide for sports officials and those who supervise, manage and use their services,” said NASO President Barry Mano. “Its contents are a clear indication that officiating in today’s world is not like the ‘old days.’”

Sports Officiating: A Legal Guide is priced at $34.95. To order the book, call 800/733-6100, or visit the NASO website at www.naso.org.           

NASO is the world’s largest organization for sports official at every level and all sports. With close to 16,000 members, NASO’s mission is to serve as the leading source of officiating information, programs and services.

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