Iaabo charter membership
 

Curious as to how many of you are IAABO members.

How many are in an association that requires all officials to be a member, and how many of you join individually?

What benefits do you value from iaabo? What do you wish they'd do?

Do you feel you get your money's worth from IAABO?

Our association is conducting a review of the benefits of IAABO membership. A few years ago our province has completely ditched NFHS rules and now we exclusively use FIBA. FIBA rules and interpretations are available free online both in an app and PDF. The book iaabo publishes for us is often outdated (we have to print before our girls season starts in September) and often contains typos. The plays of the week were supposed to contain FIBA rulings in addition to NFHS, but that hasn't come to fruition yet.

So, if you used a ruleset that IAABO wasn't a subject matter expert in and could get the rules for free, would you still be an IAABO member if you didn't have to be?

Thanks in advance

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Guardians Of The IAABO Universe ...
 

From all the money that I give to my local IAABO board through dues and fees ($125.00 dues, $150.00 fees), approximately $35.00 goes directly to IAABO International.

The rest goes to running my local board, paying the assignment commissioner, stipends for officers (secretary/treasurer, assistant commissioner, interpreter), membership in our state interscholastic sports governing body, Arbiter fee, scholarships, banquet ($30.00 each), meeting facilities, hearing impaired interpreter, etc., stuff that most non-IAABO associations have to pay.

So what do I get for my $35.00 annual dues that go directly to IAABO International? I get the benefit of all the instructional resources that IAABO International provides, including instructional DVDs that are used by my local interpreters and trainers. I get an annual combined NFHS Rulebook and IAABO Mechanics Manual. I get an educational magazine several times a year. I have an opportunity to attend twice a year conventions to discuss rules, mechanics, and the instruction of such. I get some liability insurance.

I am aware of FIBA getting the short shrift, but IAABO International has been trying to improve it's FIBA training over the past few years, and will hopefully eventually get fully onboard the FIBA train.

$275.00 to work on a HS board? That officiating shortage will not be ending anytime soon.

Boardwalk And Park Place ...
 

Varsity fee: $97.17, subvarsity fee: $63.05; and exclusive rights to officiate all high school and prep school games in the state (within our local geographic area), as well as almost all middle schools, cost isn't a major issue for most.

If you don't belong, and don't pay your dues and fees, you don't work high school games anywhere in the state.

We had a member suggest to make our annual banquet (it's about $30.00 each, appetizers during cocktail hour, open bar, cloth tablecloths, and napkins) a cash bar banquet to save money. That didn't go over big with the membership.

Butttttttt

If you were able to get that stuff for free else, would you still be on-board with spending the 35 to IAABO?

If they gave us additional insurance (similar to NASO) or something like that, then it might seem like a more worthwhile venture.



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What does any of that have to do with extortion level fees/dues a newbie would have to pay just to start out?

So I repeat, your officiating shortage will not be going anywhere for a while. I would insulted if someone solicited me to throw in an additional $30 for a "banquet".

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Sale, 100% Off ...
 

Instructional resources, including instructional DVDs, and training of trainers, annual NFHS Rulebook, Casebook, and Mechanics Manual, educational magazine several times a year, opportunities to attend twice a year conventions to discuss rules, mechanics, and the instruction of such, all for free?

Who doesn't like free?

When did the NFHS start offering rulebooks, casebooks, and mechanics manuals for free?

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.n...=0&w=239&h=170

Let Them Eat Cake (Marie Antoinette, 1843) …
 

I apologize for being unclear, the banquet is built into everybody's annual dues (and the annual board budget), even if one doesn't go.

Of course this means that the approximately 33% of us that don't go subsidize the 67% of us that actually go, meaning the banquet cost per plate is actually more than the $30.00 per member that is built into our budget.

The banquet is a little too classy for my taste. When I started almost forty years ago we had our banquet in a church hall with a local caterer, eight foot folding tables, with paper tablecloths, and folding bridge chairs.

Then, for some reason, we upped the ante. Now we have our banquet at some of the finalist banquet facilities in the state.

Personally, I wouldn't mind if they deducted $30.00 from our annual dues ($95.00 instead of $125.00) and made the year end banquet and awards ceremony a pay as you go affair, including a cash bar.

I'm speaking hypothetically...

All of our fiba resources come to us free of charge...

So even if IAABO did increase their fiba resources, we'd still get them for free from fiba.. So what sense is there in paying IAABO 35 USD if we get that stuff for free?



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All Four Railroads, Electric Company, and Water Works ...
 

Extortion is a strong word, but not too far removed from being accurate.

As a 100% IAABO state, with no other high school assigners except local IAABO assigners, if you don't belong to IAABO, and don't pay your dues and fees, you don't work high school games anywhere in the state.

To compare it to other associations, apples to apples:

Our annual dues ($125.00) is approximately equal to two subvarsity fees ($63.05).

We all pay a 7% assignment fee (7% of our income) regardless of the level we officiate.

Is that grossly unfair compared to other associations?

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.H...=0&w=229&h=165

It's Tough To Beat Free ...
 

If wishes were horses then beggars would ride,
If turnips were swords I’d have one by my side.
If ‘ifs’ and ‘ands’ were pots and pans
There would be no need for tinker’s hands!

Free rulebooks. Free casebooks. Free mechanics manuals.

It's tough to beat free.

Why switch?

https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.X...=0&w=300&h=300

My point is now that we get our resources for free from fiba... AND we pay a membership to IAABO who since we have switched away from using NFHS (previously 50% of our ball was nfhs.. Now it is 0%) seamingly provide no benefit to us. A few years ago, the cost of the rule and case books along made the 35 USD investment easier to stomach.

I'm trying to see if I can come up with a point/counter-point arguement for ditching our board's iaabo membership (it's mandatory in our constitution all must join iaabo). So far I haven't found one single reason to justify us remaining with IAABO.


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$40 to the state, $45 to the association here. $35 if you choose to join IAABO annually.

So not only do you have a monopoly in your state, they charge exorbitant prices just to work for them. That is some kind of graft in my opinion.

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Milk For Free, Why Buy The Cow ???
 

If you get the books for free, I can't either.

"The rest goes to running my local board, paying the assignment commissioner, stipends for officers (secretary/treasurer, assistant commissioner, interpreter), membership in our state interscholastic sports governing body, Arbiter fee...."

With these costs already accounted for, I'm appalled by the additional 7% assignment fee. Whose retirement fund is the beneficiary of that? I'm with Raymond on this.

Exorbitant Is A Strong Word ...
 

Putting aside the assignment fee, our annual dues of $125 includes the fee to the state and IAABO International dues.

Seems like your IAABO members (if they choose to) are paying $120.00 annually. Your non IAABO members are paying $85.00 per year.

So we're paying $40.00 more than your non IAABO members, and getting a classy (too classy in my opinion) meal at the end of the year (and membership to IAABO).

I'm not saying that our dues are not expensive, but let's compare apples to apples.

$125.00 is twice a subvarsity fee for us.

The double subvarsity fee gets one an annual membership in our local board, state membership, membership in IAABO International (includes NFHS rulebooks, casebooks, and mechanics manuals), a too classy meal at a high end banquet facility, and exclusive access to high school assignments (no competition from other organizations), thus no additional dues or fees to other high school assigning organizations (I've learned that many Forum members belong to more than one high school assigning organization).

All for the cost of two subvarsity fees.

How does that compare to your annual dues of $85.00?

How may subvarsity fees does it take to cover $85.00 (your non IAABO members)?

How may subvarsity fees does it take to cover $120.00 (your IAABO members)?

How many of your members belong to other high school assigning (and pay additional dues or fees) organizations (I've learned that many Forum members belong to more than one high school assigning organization).

Assignment Fee ...
 

We pay our assignment commissioner $32,025 annually to assign 325 members to over seventy high schools (boys, girls, varsity, junior varsity, freshman), and many middle schools, and pay $2,300 to Arbiter.

(I wouldn't assign for twice the pay.)

Assignment fees generate $42,700 (about $130 per member).

The last time our assignment fee went up (from 6%) our annual dues went down.

One way or another, the money is raised. One way or another, the money is spent.

Money is raised as a fixed amount (dues, same from all members), or as a percentage (assignment fee, varies from member to member).

We have a committee of several smart accountants that set our budget every year, and audit it six months later.

This committee sets the annual dues amount, that does vary slightly from year to year, based on the budget.

The budget is well publicized. We all see where every penny comes from, and where every penny is spent.

What are some common assignment fees in other areas?

Do any organizations just pay annual fixed fees (dues) and no assignment fee percentage?

Or vice versa, and just pay an assignment fee percentage?

Running an organization of 325 members covering over seventy high schools, in a very high cost of living state, isn't inexpensive.

I don't live in Hawaii, but I don't live in Mississippi either.

You listed $125 in fees and $150 in dues, that's $275.

How is $275 plus 7% of each game justified?

Total ...
 

Actually it's $125.00 dues, $150.00 fees ($150 is my 7% assignment fee (full varsity schedule), average on my board is $130).

While it may still not be justified, the $275 includes the 7% assignment fee. It's my total cost. Period.

I was trying to compare your fixed dues with mine.

It's hard to compare total fees when your assignment fee percentage may be different than mine.

Also hard to compare if many your guys belong to more than one high school assigning organizations, each with it's own dues and fees.

If you want to throw stones at out budget (which may be justified), I need to know as many specifics as I've given you.

What's your assignment fee percentage (if any)?

What percentage of your high school guys have to pay to belong to additional organizations to get a full high school schedule?

Do your dues include a banquet (it's 25% of my dues, or 10% of my total dues and fees)?

Bottom line for me is that it takes $275 of my hard earned money to pay for the annual membership in our local board, state membership, membership in IAABO International (includes NFHS rulebooks, casebooks, and mechanics manuals), a too classy meal at a high end banquet facility, exclusive access to high school assignments (no competition from other organizations), thus no additional dues or fees to other high school assigning organizations, and for me to get a full schedule of game assignments.

On the other side of the ledger, the $275 total for the year is equal to four subvarsity fees, or three varsity fees.

Different strokes....
 

Here, assigners are paid by the leagues with whom they contract. I am not aware of a local basketball assigner--school or rec--who imposes a %, per-game fee. I pay $45 per sport (I work basketball and soccer) to PIAA, and $30 per sport to my two local chapters. That's it, a total of $150 for two sports. Covers banquets, yearly rule and case books (some chapters also provide the biennial officials manual, others do not), scholarships to young officials to go to camps, etc.

There are no other organizations that service the vast majority of schools throughout the state, although some independent schools do their own assigning or have someone do it. That person usually draws from a local chapter. Same thing for rec ball--assigners are typically also PIAA officials and draw from local chapters. No additional dues or fees.

I no longer work school baseball, but in summer ball, there is one major assigner who tacks on a game fee. I do not and will not work for him. One assigner for whom I used to work charged $6 per umpire, which he explained as his arbiter cost per official.

Why should all basketball officials belong to IAABO?
 

In the interest of full disclosure, I have been a member of IAABO since the 1992-93 season: First as an Individual Member, then as a Member of the now defunct Board 55, and now again as an Individual Member. I have sat on four of its National Committees. And I am a proponent of membership in IAABO for all basketball officials.

One: Any basketball official in the world can be a member of IAABO. It does not matter at what level of basketball you officiate. H.S., college, WNBA, NBA, FIBA, amateur, or professional. That means, that even if one lives in an area where there is not an IAABO Board, one can be as Individual Member.

Two: I have a BE with a major in Civil Engineering and a minor in Mechanical Engineering, and practiced Structural Engineering (I am now retired.). When I am asked to explain what IAABO is, I use the analogy of professional and technical organizations in the engineering profession.

Three: Engineering organizations can be divided into two types: 1) Professional organizations, and 2) Technical organizations.

The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) is a "professional" organization. The NSPE, as an organization, represents, if you will, the interests, regardless of discipline, of all engineers. NSPE is much like the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO). NFHS has such a "professional" organization which when the NFHS created was called the National Federation Officials Association (NFOA).

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC), and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) are examples of "technical" organizations.

IAABO is an example "technical" organization with regard to sports officials. It is no different than the Local Officials Associations (LOAs) that one would find in most states. The OhioHSAA is a great example of LOAs because of it meeting requirements to maintain registration in one's chosen sport to officiate or umpire. Other examples of "technical" organizations are the Amateur Baseball Umpires Association (ABUA) or the California Basketball Officials Association (CBOA), of which I was a member of the San Gabriel Valley Unit when I lived in Glendale, California.

As an engineer, I belonged to NSPE, ASCE, SEAOC, and ASME in my days as an active engineer for the same reasons that I belong to NASO, IAABO, and the many LOAs in the various sports the I officiate/umpire. And while networking (that means finding employment or game assignments, both which of translate into income) is one of the by-products of belonging to these organizations, engineering or officiating, in the long run, the educational benefits far out way any possible negative (of which I was never able to find) aspects of not belonging. At the very worst, membership dues and mileage to meetings are a tax deduction on one's Schedule C (and I hope that every one is obeying the law and filing Schedule C's every year).

MTD, Sr.

In Illinois it is not required you belong to any association to get games. Many officials do belong to one or more than one association, but it is optional. When I was a high school official, I was a member of two different organizations. Now that I am a college official that still works some high school basketball, I do not belong to any association. I don't get as many high school games as I used to since I am really only available on a few Friday nights during the season, but I could still get a full high school schedule without being in an association if I wanted one. We pay $50 to the IHSA, which includes a rule book every other year. After that, I pay $7.5 to a group of assignors for Arbiter access. That is it. Total out of pocket expenses, whether I work 1 high school game or 100 is $57.50. Our assignors get paid directly by the conference. Of course that money is coming out of our pay in lower fees, but we never see it, so I guess it is less painful. We have a high school assignor in the Chicago area that assigns about 45 high schools and had 55 or so last year. He assigns all levels of the boys games. Combined for the 4 conferences he makes nothing close to what Billymac's assignor makes. Probably half that. Around here, the real money to be made as an assignor is through summer camps.

Game Fees ...
 

Sounds like a real bargain. What are your game fees? How many varsity or subvarsity game fees to pay all your financial obligations.

For me it's equal to four subvarsity fees, or three varsity fees.

Yours sound like it's about one game fee.

Game Fees ...
 

Sounds like a real bargain. What are your game fees? How many varsity or subvarsity game fees to pay all your financial obligations.

For me it's equal to four subvarsity fees, or three varsity fees.

Yours sound like it's about one game fee.

You mention that I can move from iaabo board to IAABO board.. True.. But the local board doesn't have to accept me.

Also, you mention that wnba, nba, fiba officials can join. My point to you is what is the point? Iaabo has published very little in the way of fiba.. And the stuff they have has all come from our executive which can be found for free on either our provincial or national association's website.

Finally, we had a fairly serious situation here.. A member was suspended indefinitely.. They appealed (they were going to take us to court) and had that suspension overturned because since their local constitution didn't put limits on the length of the suspension, they deferred to the iaabo constitution which has limits on how long a suspension can be.. How is that beneficial to the greater good?

I'm trying to find the benefits of IAABO.. I really am.. But for an official not using NFHS rules I can't find any.... Unless you consider having my mailing address published in the directory in the handbook against my wishes.

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Billy, in the suburbs where I work, there are two leagues, although there are probably another 5-6 in Philadelphia and the western suburbs. There is a pay differential of ~$3 between the two leagues, and fees run from $49 for a single middle school game to mid/high-$70s for varsity. Some MS assignments are doubleheaders (12 minute halves) for $65, but most MS assignments are single games (6 minute quarters) for ~$50; 9th grade games are ~$54. We do not work doubleheaders, with the exception of the MS doubles I've mentioned.

I'm available for both afternoon and evening assignments, so I'm as busy as I care to be, 3-5 days a week (not including local youth leagues), in both soccer and basketball. And that's with a 20-mile travel limit on my arbiter accounts.

Pennsylvania ...
 

Assuming $75 for basketball ($150/2 sports), your total financial obligation is equal to 1.5 subvarsity fees, or one varsity fee. That's about one third my total financial obligation and you seem to be getting all the benefits that I get. Your treasurer and finance committee deserve a tip of the hat. You certainly have the right to call my dues and fees exorbitant, you obviously don't live in a glass house.

Where do you hold your banquet, McDonald's or Burger King?

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.z...=0&w=283&h=182

"Exorbitant" was not my word. I did say I was appalled, but I misread your explanation of the 7% fee.

In any event, we have a quite nice end-of-season banquet at a caterer's hall, with choice of entree (beef, fish, chicken), several vegetables (potatoes, beans, etc.), salad, dessert. I don't drink, so I'm not sure if the bar is open or cash; I think the former.

Bargain Basement ...
 

All that as part of your $75 total financial obligation? The administrative costs to run your association must be only about $45? Your treasurer and finance committee deserve two tips of the hat.

Ours is an open bar. The four decade old ongoing corny joke on our board is to tell colleagues that we'll buy them a drink at the banquet. We're a bunch of real cheap bastards.

I pay $65 to the state and $75 to our association. $10 of that goes to our scholarship fund. We do not have an assigners fee. Each individual school has to pay him.
I get 40-55 nights per year with almost all being double headers.
$60 per varsity game
$50 per sub varsity game
$0.50 per mile round trip paid to one driver
We do not have a banquet.

Another Bargain ...
 

My round trip mileage last year was 739 miles, or a cost to me (based on your half ride reimbursement) of about $180. Of course I can deduct my mileage, from my taxes, you can't, so let's call it $150.00.

Let's subtract the $30 banquet portion of my dues.

That brings my total financial obligation to $370.00.

For comparison purposes, take away my $35 IAABO dues, so $335 total, or about five subvarsity fees, or about 3.5 varsity fees.

Your total financial obligation of $140.00 or about three subvarsity fees, or about 2.5 varsity fees.

Not as much of a bargain as LRZ, but still a tip of the hat to your treasurer and finance committee.

Ain't math fun?

My round trip mileage was 6521 for 2017.

Why can't I deduct my mileage? Honest question I don't know I have my tax guy handle everything.

Dewey, Cheatem & Howe ...
 

My error, you can probably deduct some of your mileage.

I'm not an accountant, nor do I play one television, but since you're financially reimbursed for half of your mileage, you can probably only deduct half of your mileage, the rest really isn't a business "expense".

My accounting firm, Dewey, Cheatem & Howe does an excellent job.

Right now I'm actually being audited for my 2015 taxes. Good thing that I declared every single penny of my officiating income, especially with about one third of my income coming through Arbiter Pay.

Why do you say i'm only reimbursed for half of my mileage? I am paid 50 cents per mile for all miles I drive. I claim all this money as income bc we are paid one check by the schools.

Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtain ...
 

Because you said "$0.50 per mile round trip paid to one driver".

Figured only you, or your partner, got reimbursed, not both.

If your claiming the mileage reimbursement as income, then you may be able to deduct all of your mileage as a business expense. Some would not claim it as earned income, and then not take a mileage business expense deduction.

Don't listen to me, I'm sure your tax guy does an excellent job.

Gotcha, only one of us is paid for driving most nights bc the farther driver will pick up the closer ones. If that isn't possible usually the school will pay two drivers if they don't the someone eats their miles or gets a kickback from the other driver. I am only claim for the miles that I'm paid for.

Call Top Bunk ...
 

You should be able to fully deduct the miles (as I do) that you're not paid for. Either that, or both you and your tax guy can share a prison cell.

I'm actually going to prison in early January, I joined my church's Prison Ministry. I've discussed it with a few of my referee colleagues who work as corrections officers (don't call them guards, they hate that). Their advice, be fully aware of your surroundings, and don't allow any of the inmates to walk behind you.

Whether one or both drivers are paid is not relevant. If he drives, he can and should deduct the mileage he actually drove. Likewise, whether you drive or not, all money received is income (even if it is designated as reimbursement for travel) and should be included in that income. The deduction for miles driven will take care of the balance.

This. The fact that somebody is paid specifically for the mileage is immaterial to whether it is deductible. There may be other reasons why it is not deductible, but this is not one of them.

Throwing Me A Life Preserver ...
 

You guys sound like you know what your talking about. I got in way over my head and was drowning. Thanks for helping out by throwing me a life preserver.

Next time you're in a hole, stop digging.

Inquiring Minds Want To Know ...
 

Now that I'm retired from my day job, I go from home to a game, and back home. I'm told that I can now deduct every single round trip mile as a business expense.

For those who may go to a game from their day job, is it true that one may not be able to deduct all their game mileage?

Mixed Metaphors ...
 

I didn't realize that the hole (or the water) was that deep until it was too late.

Let me premise: I am not a tax accountant/lawyer/etc. I prepare my own taxes and everything I do in that regard is based on publications coming directly from the IRS.

Careful here. Publication 463 says travel from home to any work location is NEVER deductible, though it also references that you may have an "Office in the home" (rules of which are layed out in publication 587) which could make this mileage deductible.

This mileage between job sites should be deductible (Publication 463), but the travel back home after the game is not.
https://www.irs.gov/publications/p46...blink100033930

Commuting ???
 

My accountant claims that while normal commuting miles traveling back and forth to the same workplace every day are never deductible (the guy who works in a factory), miles traveled to a variety of workplaces by self employed individuals (like basketball officials) are always fully deductible.

If he's wrong, then we're both going to prison.

Right ?? Not Really A Question ...
 

So if I commute twenty-five miles to my day job, travel only one mile from my day job to a game site near my day job workplace, and then travel twenty-six miles from the game site back home, I can only deduct one mile for business travel expenses?

Sounds familiar, maybe that's why my accountant would always ask me, "So, BillyMac, you always travel from work to home to feed the cat and pick up your bag and only then travel to the game. Right BillyMac?" (wink, wink, pointed finger in chest).

We pay $145 all in for dues and instructional materials.
Assignor Fee of $4.50 per game regardless of level of game.
Game fees: $79 Varsity and $68 non varsity.
End of year Banquet included in $145 above.

Kudos ...
 

Let's subtract your assignment fee from your game fee to come up with some real numbers: $74.50 Varsity and $63.50 non varsity.

Your $145 for the year is equal to 2.3 subvarsity fees, or two varsity fees.

(My $275 total for the year is equal to four subvarsity fees, or three varsity fees.)

Kudos to your treasurer and finance committee.

The Rookie, is the varsity fee for a 2-person or 3-person crew? IAABO boards differ from place to place, maybe even in the same state.

New Math ...
 

For some reason I decided to use the same method with my situation, subtracting my assignment fee from my game fee to come up with some real numbers: Varsity Fee: $97 minus 7% assignment fee equals about $90; Sub Varsity Fee: $63.05 minus 7% assignment fee equals abut $58.

Now my $125 (dues) is equal to two subvarsity fees, or 1.4 varsity fees.

LRZ: $75 for basketball, equal to 1.5 subvarsity fees, or one varsity fee.

Jeremy: $140.00 about three subvarsity fees, or about 2.5 varsity fees (but he gets mileage).

The Rookie: $145 equal to 2.3 subvarsity fees, or two varsity fees.

Now I don't feel so bad. It's really not that exorbitant compared to many others, a little high, but certainly not exorbitant.

My board officers definitely aren't going to Tahiti on my dime.