NFHS rules app for Iphone
 

I noticeded this App is now available for the I-Phone has anyone purchased this app?( even for Android) How do you like it?
Also is this an app that has to be purchased (like the Rule books) every year, or do you get the updates when they are available? Just asking because I would rather purchase this in the fall when the rule changes come out.

Thanks Again:)

I bought the one for baseball for my iPhone and I like it quite a bit. It is nice having the casebook and rulebook all in one place and when reading a particular rule, relevant cross reference material is provided and easy to access. Searching is also a breeze.

I have no idea about updates but my guess is it will be a yearly purchase.

We take Part I and Part II open book where I am and using the app to search for phrases in the questions cut my test taking time considerably this season.

I don't understand the need for an app. Why can't one just put the PDF files on the iPhone and read/search them directly?

Very simple. Not every phone or tablet device is good with PDF files. Even on the computer PDF files can be a little difficult to navigate at times. This is much more of a problem on a phone or IPad in my experience.

Peace

It's the inconvenient matter of the Fed not making the PDFs available anymore. Plus the cross referencing is also useful and the formatting is much more readable than a PDF on an iPhone.

Well, that is no more of an issue with PDF files than it would be with a bad app.

I'd suggest that every device that can get an app as being discussed (iPhone or Android) is very likely able to deal quite well with a PDF. If not, get a different PDF reader app.

Well I can speak for my Android and downloads with PDF files do not work that great. Yes you can read them, but not something I want to spend a lot of time dealing with as reading a paragraph can be challenging on a PDF file. Now on my IPad PDFs do not automatically work that great either or not as good as an App. I do not know that I would buy the app either way, but I can see the reason for it. And if I have to go find a better PDF reader, then what is the point of not buying the app?

Peace

Is anyone else irritated that it's $6 a pop for the publications? I pay .99 for apps that have hundreds of hours of development and programming invested in them. $6 would make it the second most expensive app on my phone.

If it is the ITunes store, there are more expensive apps. Not so sure about the Android as I do not use many apps for my phone anymore.

Peace

Volume sales (or lack thereof)...only so many people are going to buy a rulebook app. The NFHS's primary source of funding is rulebooks....they want to make about that amount of money from each person that is willing to buy a rulebook. They need it to exist. Without it, they'd not be able to do the things they do. Of course, one could argue that they do not need to do all the things they do (yearly rules changes, for one, but that leads to more book sales). But that is another issue.

PDQ's ...
 

Amen.

That's just not true. I have them all from the past several years including the most recent versions. Several forum members have them.
Perhaps these reasons are valid, but I don't know because I just look at the PDFs on my iPhone. I was curious to see the responses of others since I don't understand exactly what the app does as I don't need to pay for the content. I already own that.

Of course now every overbearing parent is going to have a copy of the rules on their i-phone during the HS season. We'll be pretending not to hear "Hey Ref, that's not how I read 41.2."

$6 and you get the rules book, case book, and all the cross-referencing. Most e-books bought from Amazon or Apple are more than 99 cents.

I really don't mind the 6 bucks, but it would be nice if updates were included. I pay for the rule and case books every other year.
I think I am going to try this app , but after the rule changes in the fall.

This is for convenience and convenience only for the user honestly and another way for the NF to make some money off of their product like other books they sell. And you can pay a lot more money for other e-books like you stated which can be a much bigger cost than two books that normally cost about $6 or $7 on by themselves if you order the books in paper form.

So if someone likes the PDF version I am sure that is fine for those users. To me this is like any technology you buy or use, it is up to the people buying it to say if it is worth it. There are a lot of other things that cost much more than $6 that are not worth the paper it cost to use.

Peace

What is true is that I no longer have access to the PDFs and that the amount of people with access to them seems to be declining.

I Just Love Climbing That Volleyball Ladder ...
 

I only have mine through the kindness of a stranger. I don't know what I'll do next year.

I belong to the NFHS. I paid my $17.00 back in August, 2011. The problem is, the NFHS thinks I'm a volleyball official, and Arbiter knows that I'm a basketball official. Connecticut is a 100% IAABO state for basketball. IAABO officials don't usually belong to the NFHS. In regard to joining the NFHS, Connecticut is an "all or nothing state". Individuals can't join the NFHS. Stupid IAABO. Stupid NFHS. Stupid Arbiter. Stupid monkeys.

I am afraid to ask.....but...
 

Why could you not join the NF? What they tell you now what products you can buy?

Peace

Rock And A Hard Place ...
 

I am not allowed to join as a basketball official. Connecticut is an "all or nothing state". Since Connecticut is a 100% IAABO state, basketball officials here have no desire to join the NFHS (we get books, insurance, educational materials, etc. through IAABO). Individual basketball officials cannot join due to the "all or nothing" rule. I used to get access to NFHS materials (PDF's) by paying my $17.00 and registering (I know a guy) with the CIAC (our state's interscholastic sports governing body) as a volleyball official (which I'm not). That was before the NFHS and Arbiter got together. Since I'm not listed on Arbiter volleyball (because I'm not a "real" volleyball official), the NFHS no longer views me as a volleyball official. I am listed on Arbiter basketball, but the NFHS does not view any basketball officials in Connecticut as NFHS members.

Stupid IAABO. Stupid NFHS. Stupid Arbiter. Stupid monkeys.

I'd love for this to happen.

Comments like this fall under our Fair Play Policy and are an immediate ejection.

Can you elaborate on the "all or nothing" rule? What does that rule state? My initial reaction, if I'm understanding the meaning correctly, is that has to be some sort of illegal rule. How can an organization hold independent contractors to such a stringent requirement? Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems to smack more of an employer-employee relationship.

Just bought rules app..................deluxe!!

The ease of referencing rules and case plays makes it worth it, not to mention app suggests similar rules, caseplay sitches. It's awesome.

May flash to coach as I'm blasting by him when he questions a ruling.

It really is terrific.

Great throne reading!

Banned In Connecticut ...
 

When I go onto the NFHS website to try to join, as soon as the NFHS discovers that I'm from Connecticut, and that I'm a basketball official, they will not allow me to join. I don't know if this was unilaterally decided by the NFHS, or if they got together with the CIAC (our interscholastic sports governing body).

The only officials in Connecticut who are allowed to join the NFHS are those who belong to an organization where all the members in that particular organization join the NFHS together, all of them, together, getting their books, insurance, educational materials. etc. from the NFHS., for example, all the volleyball officials in Connecticut.

Connecticut is 100% IAABO for basketball. IAABO members get books (NFHS rulebook, and casebook, IAABO mechanics manual), insurance, educational materials. etc. through IAABO, and, thus, have no need to join the NFHS.

From the NFHS websaite:

Officials Area

The NFHS has partnered with ArbiterSports to provide members of the NFHS Officials Association with exclusive online benefits.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You must be a member of the NFHS Officials Association to access ALL the content on the NFHS Central Hub. Officials become members of the NFHS Officials Association through one of three avenues:

1. Through 100% participation by the state association. States participating include: AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, ND, OH, OK, OR, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, WV, WY

2. Through 100% participation by the local association (Tier 2 & Special Groups; only permitted in the states NOT mentioned above).

3. Through individual participation (only permitted in the states NOT mentioned above – click here to join.)

Click on the following link to experience the NFHS Central Hub powered by ArbiterSports – an exclusive online benefit for NFHS Officials Association members.

Billy,

I am still confused. If you pay for a service and you are not getting the service you pay for, why would that be allowed to not classify you properly? Could not pay for an account that has nothing to do with your normal Arbiter? It just sounds strange.

Peace

Hey Fullor
I hate to ask, but...
Did the download mention anything about support or updates.
I do not want to buy last year rule books cuz I have them already.
So I guess I will just wait.
Thanks for the responses to this post:)

Yes, it is true. They won't have them next year, as the NFHS will not produce them in PDF form next year. They will only produce the app and
an expandable web version like the ones members can access this year, which is similiar to the app.

The reason they won't have them in PDF is exactly what you stated above: members giving them to non-members.

Not sure, I dont care the whole point to me as rut said is the convenience and ease of use. It's the best

As one IHSA Official to another I will take your word for it.
This weekend I will take the plunge...:D