Quote:
Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee
The IAABO patch is used in MASS because IAABO is recognized as the state governing rules body in that state. No more, no less. low "IAABO Certfied Refs" in MASS is exactly the same as state patched refs elsewhere. Every state has something similar, not just the few states where IAABO is recognized as the states governing authority. It's similar to say,Illinois where the state governing body decides who works what post-season games.
And iirc, the MASS high school group also still holds power over IAABO in all true governance issues also, as in dictating coverage of post-game hand shakes, wearing mouthguards, etc. Right, Scrappy?
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Never been called Scrappy...but JR has it only partly right.
IAABO is not the only ref association in Mass. It is the dominant one, but there are other independent associations which are recognized by the MIAA (the high school athletic assn.) and which have fully qualified officials. The high school group that holds the power is the MIAA....not IAABO. The handshake, mouthguards and other rules come from the MIAA.
There is a statewide Mass. board of officials, which on paper has power to enforce rules for all IAABO boards. But IAABO is not an assignor. And IAABO is not the MIAA. Independent assignors...some of whom are IAABO members and some who are not...decide who works high school games. I know assignors (both IAABO and non-IAABO) who use IAABO officials and non-IAABO officials. They care only that they find the best available official for the game.
For post-season assignments, the MIAA hires the assignors. Some are IAABO and some are not.
I belong to an IAABO board because it was the best choice for training, etc. when I started out. Any ref. association can be recognized by the MIAA (and I know at least one new one that has been in recent years) if it meets whatever standards the MIAA sets. IAABO is a good organization, but it does not have an exclusive hold on high school basketball in Mass. And it definitely is not the high school governing authority.