NCAA Rules Book Online

[Adam]

Originally Posted by mbyron

"Information wants to be free."

Maybe, but distributing it takes resources that will otherwise be redeployed if the profit is removed.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by mbyron

"Information wants to be free."

Everyone wants a free lunch...but someone, somewhere has to actually pay for the cost of the lunch. Unfortuantely too many people think that it is OK as long as it is someone else.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by IREFU2

For?

My pretty, bounded, large page rule book.

[Lcubed48]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

My pretty, bounded, large page rule book.

In order for IREFU2 to do one for you, you should say "the check is in the mail!! Oh yes, and actually send it. LOL!!

[Berkut]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Everyone wants a free lunch...but someone, somewhere has to actually pay for the cost of the lunch. Unfortuantely too many people think that it is OK as long as it is someone else.

What is the cost of putting rules online?

Effectively nothing, since they don't even have to host it themselves - someone else certainly would.

And they can still sell rulebooks - after all, I get mine as part of my association dues, and would continue to do so. I imagine some chunk of my dues goes to them, right?

This has nothing to do with a "free lunch" and everything to do with being annoyed that the rules are not available in an easily accessible, searchable digital format.

Whatever they are getting from me for the printed books, I would be happy to pay for the rights to a digital copy, and they would actually make even more money, since it costs a lot more to print a book.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Berkut

What is the cost of putting rules online?

Effectively nothing, since they don't even have to host it themselves - someone else certainly would.

And they can still sell rulebooks - after all, I get mine as part of my association dues, and would continue to do so. I imagine some chunk of my dues goes to them, right?

This has nothing to do with a "free lunch" and everything to do with being annoyed that the rules are not available in an easily accessible, searchable digital format.

Whatever they are getting from me for the printed books, I would be happy to pay for the rights to a digital copy, and they would actually make even more money, since it costs a lot more to print a book.

It has everything to do with a free lunch, due to the "information wants to be free" comments. And most people who are wanting the rules on line want them on line so they can access them for free.

The kicker is, they are available on line, just not for free, at the NFHS website. Of course, I have no idea how searchable it is.

[rsl]

Here in Utah, we pay the state association, and they automatically register us with NFHS. But, they don't set up electronic passwords for the NFHS site. Last year I asked if I could get one, the state coordinator emailed NFHS, and now I can get electronic rulebooks. All it took was asking, but I did have to ask.

The electronic rule book is a PDF, so you can search it with a good PDF reader. It comes in handy at test time, but most of the year I rely on the printed copy. It is also nice for posting rule excerpts to online forums.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

The kicker is, they are available on line, just not for free, at the NFHS website. Of course, I have no idea how searchable it is.

I have an idea how searchable: very. They're downloadable PDF files, which are easy to search. They're also cut-and-paste-able.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by mbyron

They're also cut-and-paste-able.

I'm sure you meant to say copy-and-paste-able. I would hate to see sections of the rulebook disappear as NFHS members cut and paste.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I'm sure you meant to say copy-and-paste-able. I would hate to see sections of the rulebook disappear as NFHS members cut and paste.

Hmmmm.

That might be worth a try.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Berkut

What is the cost of putting rules online?

Effectively nothing, since they don't even have to host it themselves - someone else certainly would.

And they can still sell rulebooks - after all, I get mine as part of my association dues, and would continue to do so. I imagine some chunk of my dues goes to them, right?

The cost of printing and distribution is almost certainly their largest cost...but it is not their only cost.

And do you think that revenue stream would continue if they were freely available? Once they become freely available, their entire revenue stream will dry up.

Originally Posted by Berkut

This has nothing to do with a "free lunch" and everything to do with being annoyed that the rules are not available in an easily accessible, searchable digital format.

Whatever they are getting from me for the printed books, I would be happy to pay for the rights to a digital copy, and they would actually make even more money, since it costs a lot more to print a book.

Close, but not quite. Once they make them easily/freely available in a portable format, let the filesharing begin....The one person that pays would be doing so for 10 more.