Naso
 

They sent me an e-mail and a special rate ( only $79 for the first year ) Seems like a great deal.

What are the overall benefits to joining NASO?

The insurance and legal protection are the biggest advantages. In todays society you can be sued for any number of things as an official. NASO will have your back! $79 is a small price to pay for the peace of mind it gives you. Included in the price is a subscription to Referee magazine.

I like having the liability insurance and have been a long-time member of NASO, but personal umbrella coverage is typically not expensive and covers a lot more than what you get from NASO.

Our association got a special deal for joining. If any association officers are reading, it pays to call NASO and see if there's anything they can do for you. I think we paid even less than the $79 mentioned above.

I join anyway. ;)

I checked out different sports insurance rates for officials years ago. I was amazed at the actual cost per official; it was dependant on total number registered. I would also be absolutely amazed if NASO is paying any more than $9/official max out of their $79 membership fee for their member's insurance coverage.

Don't get it for the bonus material in the magazine alone, though. Very little was useful unless I was doing multiple sports. We have decent insurance through FHSAA, but I would consider joining again at some point to bolster the coverage.

Join !!!
 

To me this almost an absolute. The insurance coverage, magazine, deals on publications and general information has been invaluable. I joined my 2nd year and have never thought of not re-upping.

I love the magazine. The basketball specific articles are great and the other sport information is fun and informative.

2-3 games fees for all this is an easy sell to me.

BUT, will your FloridaHSAA insurance cover you for games not sanctioned by the FloridaHSAA. I know that if you wear your FloridaHSAA shirt for a non-sanctioned event and the FloridaHSAA finds out, you can be fined big bucks.

MTD, Sr.

Which I don't. I didn't live this long by being stupid.

I've seen dumber people live longer.

I know that the OSAA provided insurance (from the NFHS) does. The only requirement is that it is a scheduled game (no pickup game) and that it be in a sport that is recognized by your state.....If the state recognizes varsity basketball, you're covered for a 3rd grade basketball game.

That is true, but I can't speak for them.

And now that Larry King has retired, no one speaks for them.

That Guy does.

I wasn't calling you stupid, I was not sure if FloridaHSAA insurance will cover you for non-FloridaHSAA events. My OhioHSAA insurance does but other states may be different. I know about the FloridaHSAA shirt thing because I have officiated a vast number of AAU and YBOA national basketball tournaments in Florida over the many many summers that I have been alive and have many Florida officiating friends. You may know one: Larry "Torch" Torchia of Torch's Referee & Umpire Supplies in Merritt Island, and Jim Thompson in Vero Beach.

MTD, Sr.

OhioHSAA in a 100% NFHS state and we have the same coverage that you do.

Most personal umbrella policies have an exclusion in the base policy language for "profession activities". When you accept payment to referee you trigger the coverage exclusion on most personal umbrella policies. You would have coverage when refereeing for free for a charity game or organization, but not when being paid.

Please read the "definitions" and the "exclusions" portion of you policy before you get sued.

FYI: Licensed Insurance agent since 1990.

Essentially, FHSAA is for sanctioned events and travel to and from said events. I suspect had the official who was attacked been hurt or hospitalized that the insurance would have covered it. It is beat into our heads to NOT wear FHSAA patches to events not sanctioned by them. I do plenty of AAU, YBOA, USSSA & other non-FHSAA basketball down here and usually wear b/w shirts with no patches. I am about 1:45 below Orlando, so I do not know those folks, but know of Torch's.

Sounds like you're talking about medical insurance for the official, not liability insurance. Those are two very different things and most people are not worried about the medical as they likely have that covered elsewhere. It is the liability that everyone is worried about.

Besides the Magazine and Insurance...
 

...take your wife out of town and flash the NASO card and you'll save more on your hotel (I think Marriots) bill than what you paid for an annual membership.
Worthwhile for me.

But, I think, that's comparing the Marriott rack rate with the discount rate. The real comparison is what you pay with the card vs. what you'd pay with hotwire, or travelocity, or AAA discount, or jsut calling the hotel....

The few times I've tried it the NASO card would have been more expensive than the rate I got.

Thanks. I wasn't trying to provide professional advice. That said, I have been a NASO member for a long time -- I have learned that one can never have enough insurance. But I'm glad you mentioned this in case I'm ever sued and tried to stack my policies.

I've gotten some big bargains. I always try the VIP rate alongside the other discount rate codes I'm entitled to use. Sometimes I win, sometimes I don't. Mostly I stay at Starwood Hotels these days, so it doesn't really matter.