Taking the Plunge

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

I'm no attorney but I wonder if this section of the IAABO constitution may come back to bite your state board?

I'm not an attorney either, nor do I play one on television, but the following advice has been given to all our members, in writing:

"If you officiate for a non-approved assignor you are not covered by the IAABO insurance and may be asked to officiate with a non-IAABO member. If you do officiate with a non-IAABO member you cannot wear the IAABO patch and represent yourself as an IAABO member. That would be a direct violation of the Constitution".

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I'm not an attorney either, nor do I play one on television, but the following advice has been given to all our members, in writing:

"If you officiate for a non-approved assignor you are not covered by the IAABO insurance and may be asked to officiate with a non-IAABO member. If you do officiate with a non-IAABO member you cannot wear the IAABO patch and represent yourself as an IAABO member. That would be a direct violation of the Constitution".

Are CT schools members of the FED, and thusly are IAABO members also considered members of the FED? FED insurance policy would cover members in that case.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

Are CT schools members of the FED, and thusly are IAABO members also considered members of the FED? FED insurance policy would cover members in that case.

Would that even apply in an AAU situation? It's not school teams playing in these tournaments.

Of course, if someone is a NASO member then they'd be covered in case of any problems.

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

Would that even apply in an AAU situation? It's not school teams playing in these tournaments.

Of course, if someone is a NASO member then they'd be covered in case of any problems.

From the NFHS Officials Assn. website:


Insurance coverage includes:

• Coverage for all levels of officiating (youth, recreational, adult and collegiate) in sports recognized by the state high school association

• Excess General Liability

• Excess Accident Medical and Dental

• Accidental Death and Dismemberment

The key is whether IAABO members are also Fed members in that state.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

Are CT schools members of the FED, and thusly are IAABO members also considered members of the FED? FED insurance policy would cover members in that case.

All Connecticut high school basketball officials are IAABO members. 100%. We're the only game in town. Unless we officiate another sport, we are not members of the NFHS, in fact, we aren't even allowed to join the NFHS as individuals due to the NFHS "all or none" policy. We get our NFHS rulebooks, and NFHS casebooks, as part of our IAABO manual, which also includes the IAABO constitution, an IAABO directory, and an IAABO mechanics manual. We have IAABO insurance, and those of us who do not officiate any other sports only have IAABO insurance, we do not have NFHS insurance.

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

All Connecticut high school basketball officials are IAABO members. 100%. We're the only game in town. Unless we officiate another sport, we are not members of the NFHS, in fact, we aren't even allowed to join the NFHS as individuals due to the NFHS "all or none" policy. We get our NFHS rulebooks, and NFHS casebooks, as part of our IAABO manual, which also includes the IAABO constitution, an IAABO directory, and an IAABO mechanics manual. We have IAABO insurance, and those of us who do not officiate any other sports only have IAABO insurance, we do not have NFHS insurance.

Sounds more like a union than an officials association. Not that there's anything wrong with that...jus' sayin'.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

Sounds more like a union than an officials association. Not that there's anything wrong with that...jus' sayin'.

Back when I started, more than 30 years ago. IAABO, with several local boards, under the control of one state board, for one reason, or another, worked all high school boys games. Girls high school games were officiated by several "county size" boards, all independent, with no state wide organization. Eventually, over many years, girls high school coaches, athletic directors, and principals, realized that IAABO, with it's local, state, and international organization, and with it's emphasis on training, and improving officials, started switching to IAABO officials. My local board merged with the last independent "girls" board a few years ago, and now Connecticut is a 100% IAABO state for all high school games, and prep high school games, both boys, and girls. If you want to officiate high school basketball games in the Constitution State, then you had better belong to IAABO. Ain't no other choice.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I'm not an attorney either, nor do I play one on television, but the following advice has been given to all our members, in writing:

"If you officiate for a non-approved assignor you are not covered by the IAABO insurance and may be asked to officiate with a non-IAABO member. If you do officiate with a non-IAABO member you cannot wear the IAABO patch and represent yourself as an IAABO member. That would be a direct violation of the Constitution".

Found something else that seems like the IAABO version of Rule 2-3

Chartered Boards shall have the right to formulate their own policies including, but not limited to, voting, working with non-members, IAABO uniforms, and local Board procedures so long as those policies do not conflict with this International Constitution.

That appears to leave boards a good deal of wiggle room.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I'm not an attorney either, nor do I play one on television, but the following advice has been given to all our members, in writing:

"If you officiate for a non-approved assignor you are not covered by the IAABO insurance and may be asked to officiate with a non-IAABO member. If you do officiate with a non-IAABO member you cannot wear the IAABO patch and represent yourself as an IAABO member. That would be a direct violation of the Constitution".

While someone may not wish to take that up in court, it doubt it would stand up to legal scrutiny while maintaining the independent contractor status. For employees, you could do that, but that is not the same.