[JRutledge]

Some will disagree with me. But anytime you take money for a service, have a schedule within for that project that you take money for, anything you do is an investment. Investing in Referee Magazine or NASO or what kind of shoes you buy is all apart of that business. Just like anything else you spend your money on, there are going to be pros and cons to what you invest. This is not different than the debates we have had over belted pants or bletless pants, Honigs vs +POS or Officiating.com vs McGriffs. There is going to be ups and downs to all of it. I would suggest if you have not subscribed to NASO or Referee Magazine, do for a year. If it does not work for you, drop it. For a current member and someone that has been a member for probably 6 years or so, I would not live without it. When the new NF and NCAA Rules come out, Referee Magazine is often the first to have articles about them in all the sports they cover. I also like the fact that they have information on official's abuse and laws that affect officating in specific states and around the world. You also get insight on what it takes to move up and what other states are doing to make officiating better around the country and the world. I can work two games in basketball and one weekend in football and I have paid for the membership and have money left over.

If it is worth it to you, pay for it. If it is not, do not pay for it. If you have a friend that had a bad problem with NASO, then if you trust them enough, listen to them. If I get sued or if I get hurt, it is not going to be my friends that help me with the situations that NASO helps with. It really comes down to if money that you are already going to make is worth investing, rather than holding your money and having to come out of your own money to pay for you loss or get a lawyer. I hate all the money I pay in car insurance, but when I had an accident, it was worth it then.

Peace