Iaabo

[JohnDorian37]

So I imagine most of you veterans are part of IAABO.

This is my first year of officiating. At what point in my career should I start thinking about joining? What are the benefits? Costs?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JohnDorian37

So I imagine most of you veterans are part of IAABO.

This is my first year of officiating. At what point in my career should I start thinking about joining? What are the benefits? Costs?

Personally, unless your state requires it, I wouldn't bother.

Mine does, so I bother.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JohnDorian37

So I imagine most of you veterans are part of IAABO.

Why would you think that?

[JohnDorian37]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Why would you think that?

Just assumed that was the thing to do. Watched two BV games tonight and 4 or 5 of the 6 refs had their little IAABO patches.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by JohnDorian37

So I imagine most of you veterans are part of IAABO.

Fyi there are many more states with little or no IAABO presence and membership is strictly elective than there are states where IAABO is the governing body and membership is mandatory. What it isn't is some sort of elite officials association.

Iow your assumption above is not based on fact. Some veterans are members; some aren't. But IAABO membership isn't really relevant in any way that I can think of.

[hoopguy]

One example where the IAABO patch is used;
In my area, almost all tournaments and leagues including, AAU, off season high school, and travel leagues use as part of their advertising that 'only IAABO certified refs' will work their games. Obviously, this is not saying that the games will have the best refs in the world but it does say that at a minimum the refs have been certified to know the rules and they are not just grabbing a guy who bought a striped shirt at Sports Authority to ref the games.

I think this may also help with pay for the non high school games. If they use non IAABO refs, teams could go elsewhere to play because there are loads of tournaments to pick from during AAU season.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by hoopguy

One example where the IAABO patch is used;
In my area, almost all tournaments and leagues including, AAU, off season high school, and travel leagues use as part of their advertising that 'only IAABO certified refs' will work their games. Obviously, this is not saying that the games will have the best refs in the world but it does say that at a minimum the refs have been certified to know the rules and they are not just grabbing a guy who bought a striped shirt at Sports Authority to ref the games.

I think this may also help with pay for the non high school games. If they use non IAABO refs, teams could go elsewhere to play because there are loads of tournaments to pick from during AAU season.

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?

[Adam]

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?

CO is the same way, in that state certification is done through IAABO, but CHSAA is still the "governing body." This is my 5th season in CO, and I've already seen them deviate from both NFHS and IAABO in the same year on mechanics (table-side stuff, mostly).

[JohnDorian37]

I'm new to the scene--I get the sense that there is some animosity between IAABO and everyone else. Any truth to this?

[BayStateRef]

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?

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.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by BayStateRef

Never been called Scrappy...but JR has it only partly right.

Now JR has it right.

Thanks.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by hoopguy

They are not just grabbing a guy who bought a striped shirt at Sports Authority to ref the games.

I got mine at Foot Locker.

[chseagle]

Thanks for the suggestion of where to get a striped shirt, now I know where to go LMAO.

Originally Posted by hoopguy

bought a striped shirt at Sports Authority

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by chseagle

now I know where to go

must...stifle...urge...to...comment

[Adam]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

must...stifle...urge...to...comment

Got it bob.