Which of the following past Summit themes do you find most appealing?
| 24% |
The Power of Persuasive Officiating |
| 20% |
The Official’s Role in Sportsmanship |
| 13% |
Evaluating Officiating Performance |
| 13% |
Officiating and Technology |
| 12% |
Accountability in Officiating |
| 10% |
Leadership Officiating |
| 8% |
How to Get and Keep Officials |
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One of the main benefits of NASO membership is the Sports Officials Security (S.O.S.) Program. The S.O.S. Program is not just a great insurance package — it is a complete risk management and legal protection service that starts working for you even before you need it.
What is covered?
Any activity having to do with your officiating avocation. Coverage extends to all your officiating activities for recognized sports organizations, leagues and associations. Your policy also provides excess coverage for claims for bodily injury, property damage and personal injury during sporting activities that are organized by recognized sports organizations, leagues and associations and while assigning, attending seminars, conferences, camps, clinics and similar meetings designed to improve officiating knowledge and skills. Coverage extends to claims brought against the official by athletic participants (participant legal liability). Coverage is also provided for claims alleging a breach of duty as an official by reason of error or omission occurring while acting as an official.
What are the policy limits?
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The policy provides excess coverage up to a $3,000,000 per occurrence general liability limit with a personal policy aggregate of $4,000,000. The per occurrence limit is the most the policy will pay for all insureds for any one occurrence. |
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$50,000 per occurrence for unintentional errors and omissions of NASO members. This limit is included, and not in addition, to the overall $3,000,000 occurrence and $4,000,000 personal aggregate limits. |
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The per occurrence limit is the most the policy will pay for all insureds for any one occurrence. |
NASO’s Sports Officials Security Program provides the best protection for sports officials available today. Do a fellow official a favor and introduce them to NASO’s S.O.S. protection.
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To view previous issues of NASO LockerRoom |
| Click here |
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Volume 9, Number 3
March 14, 2008 |
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Halftime, Postgame Reviews Time Well Spent
Pregame meetings are an absolute must if you’re going to fully prepare for the job ahead. Halftime and the minutes after the game provide two other opportunities for officials to discuss situations and make adjustments that can help elevate performance.
Halftime is a time for catching your breath, visiting the restroom or drinking fluids. It’s also a prime opportunity to straighten out problems that cropped up during the first half. Be sure to pack your rulebooks and manuals along with your uniform. If you have a question about a ruling or need a refresher on a mechanic, use the intermission to break out the appropriate book. If a rule has been misapplied, many officials will seek out the coach before the start of the second half and acknowledge the error. That way, if the same situation arises in the second half, the coach will understand why the enforcement is different than it was in the first half.
Between periods is a prime time for a less-experienced official to pick the brain of a veteran, to find out if a play could have or should have been handled in a different way. If you are asked for your opinion, let the newcomer explain his or her rationale for making the call. If the ruling is erroneous, carefully explain why. Veterans should remember that halftime praise can boost a younger official’s confidence.
An official who isn’t sure a play was viewed correctly can ask partners or crewmates if they had a different look. Avoid arguments or heated debates that could be detrimental to crew harmony. But a calm, reasoned discussion can provide affirmation or correct a misconception.
The break is also a good time to share information about the tenor of the game. Good officials can tell if tensions are running high. A plan can be formulated that may head off trouble before it starts.
If the game is tied or close at the half, a review of overtime procedures is helpful.
Most officials’ instinct is to quickly shower, dress and leave the game site following a contest. But a review of the day’s work while the information is still fresh in everyone’s mind is often just as cleansing as the shower. It’s important to make an honest self-appraisal, but input from other officials is more helpful. Many officials won’t solicit crewmates or partners for information and many others won’t offer opinions unless asked. As a result, bad habits or other detrimental actions go uncorrected. Avoid the problem by asking for honest and constructive criticism.
Written by Jeffrey Stern, Referee associate editor. This article originally appeared in the 12/03 issue of Referee.
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7 Summit Sessions
You Won't Want to Miss
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The NASO educational program at NASO’s 2008 Summit in Cleveland on July 27-29 will empower officials, provide unmatched resources to state and local associations and deliver critical analysis to officiating leaders everywhere. You won’t want to miss these sessions this summer:
1. A Higher Calling — Lamell McMorris, founder of the Perennial Strategy Group and lead negotiator for the National Basketball Referees Association and World Umpires Association discusses the power of unity, the responsibility of officiating leaders at all levels and the importance of officiating in society.
2. Officiating Standards in Practice — Officiating leaders discuss programs they’ve put in place to address responsibility and standardize officiating. Learn how you can implement standards for the officials at your levels.
3. Everything You Need to Know About Background Checks — In the past five years, more and more organizations have been delving into the backgrounds of current and prospective officials. The session provides all you need to know about background checks, so your group can develop tough standards, then implement them.
4. Talent is Not Enough — Perseverance, initiative, focus, passion, character, responsibility and preparation are various traits in all top-level officials. Learn the personal standards that some of our officiating “superstars” have developed over the course of their careers.
5. Indisputable Video Evidence: Peak Performance — Video plays are everywhere we look nowadays. Through YouTube, e-mails and conference websites, plays at all levels are being watch and dissected more than ever before. Get an inside look at the finest in officiating standards on the court and on the field.
6. Conduct Unbecoming — Can you mandate an official not step foot into a casino during the season? Can you punish an official who participates in a coach’s charitable golf outing? The session examines if standards can be set off the field or court to help the public image of officials.
7. The Online Officiating Conversation: It’s Time to Join In! — Officiating information available through blogs, chat rooms and websites is more prevalent than ever before. Find out what’s out there and how you can use it.
It’s NASO’s most innovative and extensive program to date. Don’t miss out on the opportunity. For more information on Summit registration and accommodations at the Cleveland Renaissance Hotel, contact NASO at 800/733-6100. |
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A Fast and Effective Way to Understand and Retain
Football Rules |
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The NFHS 2008 High School Football Rules Simplified and Illustrated and NFHS 2008 Football Rules By Topic publications will be available soon.
2008 High School Football Rules Simplified and Illustrated continues to be a critical resource for veteran and new officials alike providing a different approach to learning the rules and implementation through the use of Referee’s exclusive PlayPic and MechaniGram illustrations. It includes 2008 rule changes, updated points of emphasis and clear definition of challenging rules.
2008 Football Rules By Topic is designed to complement the NFHS rulebook and organizes the rules by category. Definitions, penalties and references are linked by topic and found in one location — perfect for rules study and open-book exams. It includes rules, related caseplays, rationales behind the rules, fundamentals, breaking down complex rules into simple terms, historical tidbits on rule foundation and rule fact from fiction.
The 2008 High School Football Rules Simplified and Illustrated and 2008 High School Football Rules By Topic will be available in late May for $7.95 each. To order call 800/733-6100 or visit www.referee.com/magads/nfhsfb. For details on bulk discounts available to your association, please contact Jodi Schmidt at 800/733-6100 or jschmidt@naso.org.
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The 2008 NASO You Make the Difference Membership Drive is now available to NASO members.
Please nominate a fellow official from your association or crew that you believe would benefit from NASO membership. Call toll free 800/733-6100 or click here .
Each of your nominees receives a special NASO Invitation Kit — sent directly from NASO in your name. Each kit contains information about NASO and how to join. Invitation kits are available only to those nominated by active NASO members during this membership drive. So there is only one way an official can receive the valuable information. It takes your thoughtful recommendation.
And when one of your nominees joins, we’ll send you a very special gift. A free NASO polo shirt featuring an embroidered NASO logo on the front chest. This black short-sleeve polo shirt is 100 percent ringspun Egyptian pique cotton with double-needle stiching and ribbed cuffs. Great for your next association meeting or golfing event.
We want you to know how much we value your membership and involvement in NASO. We hope you can help at least one official during this special membership drive. You can “make the difference” by nominating a fellow official today. And remember the larger the numbers — the stronger the voice. We look forward to receiving your nomination. |
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Study Guide: College Baseball Rules 2008 is a well-organized resource designed to help umpires better understand the rules.
This manual provides detailed, easy to follow analysis of NCAA baseball rules through the organization of content, use of caseplays and rule references. All aspects of college baseall umpiring are included in this user-friendly rulebook supplement.
Topics include:
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Basic principles of the game and every component of baseball umpiring
are reviewed |
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Rules are organized with caseplays and
rule references |
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2008 rule changes clearly marked |
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All professional interpretations included |
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Quiz questions and answers provide practice for the NCAA online test – Plus the discussion of quiz answers offers further clarity and understanding |
Click here for more information and to order!
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Sophisticated Watches for Officials
Referee watches are perfect for the stylish official. Each face includes an imprint of Referee’s exclusive PlayPicTM illustration specific to baseball, basketball or football. With premier Japanese quartz movement, water and scratch resistance and adjustable bands, these watches are sophisticated yet sporty.
Click here for more details! |
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