College Basketball Officials Association Members Join NASO

Dec. 19, 2011 — One of the latest groups of officials to team with NASO is the College Basketball Officials Association (CBOA). Many of its members have taken advantage of the exclusive benefits that NASO has to offer and have received a break in the cost of an annual membership thanks to the CBOA.

The CBOA, which consists of about 200 members and is based in Princeton, La., contributed $27 toward the group membership rate for each official who chose to join NASO last fall. With that rate members receive such benefits as NASO’s unparalleled liability insurance coverage, Referee magazine, educational materials, discounts with major officiating suppliers and advocacy on behalf of sports officials.

“I think the excellent benefits, the insurance coverage and the training materials are second to none,” said Mike Thibodeaux, treasurer of the CBOA, NCAA Division I men’s basketball official and an NASO member for 15 years. “I think the main reason officials get into it is for the liability coverage, but the most important part is the cutting-edge training tools.”

Officials in the CBOA primarily work games in the Big 12, Conference USA, Ohio Valley and Sun Belt conferences. Thibodeaux also works the Southeastern Conference and the Missouri Valley Conference.

“CBOA and the Men’s Basketball Officiating Consortium determined that the opportunity to enroll their officials in the NASO group membership program was too good of an opportunity to pass up,” said Ken Koester, NASO business development specialist. “The commitment from the association leadership was impressive and the association contributed roughly a third of the cost of each individual membership on behalf of its officials. Despite their officials being scattered across the country, they found a way to organize and make it happen. Kudos to them and we’re excited to have some of the best and brightest D-I men’s basketball officials in the nation as NASO members.”

Curtis Shaw, coordinator of men’s basketball officials for the Big 12, Conference USA, Ohio Valley and Sun Belt conferences and longtime NASO member, fully supports NASO and what it does for officials.

“NASO offers terrific educational material for officials in addition to legal support as well as the support through the different types of insurance available,” Shaw said. “I would highly encourage all officials to be a member no matter what level they officiate.”

NASO will design a benefit program that fits the needs of an association’s members. Leaders of associations with 25 or more members interested in having their chapter join NASO as a group should contact Koester at 262-632-5448, ext. 132.