Digital Rulebook And Casebook ...
 

Back in August, I sent a check for $35.00 to my state interscholastic spots governing body to cover the extension of my membership in the NFHS Officials Association. A few nights ago, I received my paper NFHS rulebook and casebook, as part of my IAABO "packet".

The problem is, I do not have access to a digital 2012-13 NFHS rulebook, or casebook. Every time I post a citation on the Forum I will have to type the entire citation, word for word, on my keyboard, and I'm not a very good typist.

Connecticut is a 100% IAABO basketball state, and, as such, basketball officials in the Land of Steady Habits do not belong to the NFHS Officials Association. Also, Connecticut is a state where, in order to become a NFHS Officials Association member, all officials of that sport must join, or none may join, thus, there are no individual members.

For the past several years, in order to gain access to the NFHS online basketball rulebook, and casebook, I've joined the NFHS Officials Association through my state interscholastic sports governing body I send them a check every year, and they put my name on the volleyball official's roster, even though I am not a volleyball official, giving me a working NFHS username, and password, allowing me access to all NFHS online rulebooks, and casebooks, specifically, basketball.

This has worked great, until last year. The NFHS partnered with ArbiterSports to provide members of the NFHS Officials Association with exclusive online benefits through the NFHS Central Hub.

I paid my dues to join the NFHS Officials Association, I have a working username, and password, but I am not a volleyball official, and my name is not on the Connecticut Arbiter volleyball roster, thus, I no longer had access to NFHS online rulebooks, and casebooks, basketball, or otherwise. I do have an Arbiter account, but it is for basketball, and as stated earlier, basketball officials in this state do not belong to the NFHS Officials Association.

Last year some very kind Forum members, who did have access to the ArbiterSports NFHS Central Hub, offered to email me PDF files of the NFHS rulebook, and casebook, so I was able to access these resources when posting on the Forum. I would tell you who those very kind Forum members were, but then I'd have to kill you.

I now understand that then NFHS is no longer making these PDF resources available to anyone, members, or nonmembers. I also understand that the NFHS is making these resources available to the public as applications on smartphones.

I don't own a smartphone. I just barely use my stupidphone. I wouldn't know an "app" if it punched me in the face. Even if I did own a smartphone, would this allow me access to the NFHS rulebook, and casebook, for use on my personal computer, or laptop, where I spend all of my time perusing, and responding to, the Forum?

Does this mean that I, and others like me, who have legal access to paper NFHS rulebooks and casebooks, and who have NFHS membership, will no longer have the ability to copy and paste (digitally speaking) citations into Forum threads, and posts?

What is a Forum member to do? Will somebody, who has the time, have to scan every page of the rulebook, and casebook, and digitally convert them into some type of digital document? There has to be a better way. Anybody have any ideas? If you do, either post them in this thread, or send me an Official Forum private message, and I will send you my real email address. Keep in mind that I have paid my NFHS Officials Association dues for the upcoming season, so I'm not looking for a free lunch.

If an app punched you in the face you would surely know about it.

Here's an Idea
 

Move to another state. Throw off those IAABO shackles and bask in the freedom of independence where NFHS downloads flow freely and you don't have to bear with your frustration any longer.
Move here and I've got a drain-cleaning business you could buy just to keep you in touch with what you work with now.
And if you really want to do volleyball, I can get you in with those who do.

A Plumber's Helper ???
 

This was an obstacle in the past, and still is, but I believe that there's still an obstacle that doesn't involve the IAABO NFHS Arbiter dilemma. I understand that the NFHS is no longer making PDF resources from their website, or the Arbiter website, available to anyone, members, or nonmembers. I also understand that the NFHS is making these resources available to the public as applications on smartphones. I don't own a smartphone. Even if I did own a smartphone, would this allow me access to the NFHS rulebook, and casebook, allowing me to copy and paste rules, and casebook plays, on my personal computer, or laptop, where I spend all of my time perusing, and responding to, the Forum?

The Ladder Of Success ???
 

I don't know if I'm in good enough shape to officiate volleyball? Don't you have to be in tip top shape to climb up that ladder at the beginning of the match? And then climb back down the ladder at the end of the match? I'm in good enough shape to put in the equivalent of a three mile cardiovascular run during a high school varsity basketball game, but I don't have to do any climbing in a basketball game. And all of that standing around once I'm up the ladder? That can't be good for my arches? Wouldn't I have to somehow strengthen my arches to be able to do all that standing around?

Could you register with another state that provides the NFHS dues? MN does that. You may have to take the MN tests, but you are already doing that, so just a matter of copying answers. All our testing is online.

Nice Try ...
 

That was the problem a few years ago. Now the main problem is that these NFHS online resources are no longer available online for anybody, members, or nonmembers. I understand that the NFHS is making these resources available to the public as applications on smartphones. I don't own a smartphone. Even if I did own a smartphone, would this allow me access to the NFHS rulebook, and casebook, allowing me to copy and paste rules, and casebook plays, on my personal computer, or laptop, where I spend all of my time on the Forum?

Did you try contacting the Fed?

This is what I would do. My NFHS membership was through basketball membership. I don't access the NFHS through the state portal but through NFHS' own Arbiter site.

Billy, see if you can sign into Arbiter on this site:

http://nfhs.arbitersports.com

It is time to get with the current times. If Newsweek can stop paper publications and go to smartphones or tablets, so can you. :)

I am not saying this is the most ideal situation at this time, but that is the way the world is going. And considering that PDF files can be transferred much easier than those on other formats and not be paid for, time to get with that reality.

And yes if you are listed as a volleyball ref, then you need to talk to someone at the NF, not complain about it to people that cannot help you. ;)

Peace

I just logged into the Arbiter site, and got to the rulebooks no issues. Click on the link provided by Welpe, click on the Basketball link on the right hand side, then publications at the top.

Nice Try ...
 

Arbiter asked for my email address, and my password. I gave them both, and this is what I got: "This content is available only to registered members of NFHS Basketball".

Remember, Connecticut basketball officials do not belong to the NFHS, nor do they belong to the NFHS Officials Association. I only belong to the NFHS Officials Association as a "pretend" volleyball official, a "pretend" volleyball official who isn't listed on any Arbiter list as a "real" volleyball official.

Keep trying guys.

I'm All Thumbs ...
 

Good point. For argument sake, let's say that I do decide to purchase a smartphone. Let's also say that I get the NFHS application that lets me see NFHS basketball rulebooks, and casebooks, on my smartphone. Can I then transfer these digital files to my personal computer, where I spend all my Forum time. I have enough trouble typing on the small keys when I occasionally use my laptop, there's no way that I intend to log on to the Forum with those little keys on a smartphone. My thumbs are way too big.

Also, as a "pretend" NFHS volleyball official, who isn't listed on any Arbiter list as a "real" volleyball official, would I have access to the NFHS basketball smartphone applications?

Billy, you seriously might want to contact the NFHS before spending the money that a data plan would cost you even if you got a "free" smart phone.

Luddite Solution to Foot-Sized Thumbs
 

How 'bout you just "type" (i.e., input, key in, etc., for those in the current century) the rule/casebook reference and all of us who have what you don't have can just look up the citation you're talking about? It can be like our own little secret code. Of course, that might not be a benefit for any table officials who might be lurking.

Worked for me. Thanks Welpe!

In one sentence you say paid for a membership in the NFHS Officials Association but in another you say you can't be a member. :confused:

The email address you used to join the NFHS has to be the same one you used to access the Arbitrsports site. If it's not, then that's the issue.

If they are the same, then you need to contact the NFHS.

Bottom line, if you paid $35 to the NFHS Offiicals Association, then you should have access to all publications, no matter what sport you officiate.

The Unbooked ???
 

Players, coaches, fans? Look at my Forum record. I've provided as many actual citations to the unbooked, not just rule numbers, or case numbers, as any other Forum member. Some Forum members seem to think that all on the Forum have rulebooks, and casebooks. There are many non-official Forum members who are unbooked. There are many Forum visitors who are unbooked. I know that many of my posts contain offtopic, or slightly offtopic images, but I do more than just that.

Good Advice ...
 

I am seriously considering that.

Rock And A Hard Place ...
 

Why confused? I do belong to the NFHS Officials Association, I have a working password to get me onto the NFHS Officials Association site. The problem seems to be with the Arbiter NFHS connection. I'm on the Connecticut basketball officials Arbiter list, but Connecticut basketball officials do not belong to the NFHS Officials Association, so I can't log on to the Basketball component. I'm really not a volleyball official, so I'm not listed on any Arbiter volleyball list, so I can't log on to the volleyball component.

I'm confused b/c you keep saying you are a member through your state and then you say Connecticut officials can't be members so it's an obvious contradiction. It would seem to me that if you have paid for a membership you should be entitled to all the benefits, to include access to the online pubs.

I would also recommend that, unless you have other uses for a smart phone, you take a look at an iPod Touch. They require a WiFi connection to get to the Internet (no 3G/4G), but the NFHS app does not require Internet to use it after it is installed on the iPod.

I'm just cheap and refuse to pay $30/month for data where practically everywhere I go has free WiFi.

That all might be true, but if someone is only concerned with their access to the rules in a specific way, those days appear to be over. You have to adjust because it is clear the NF is not going back to PDF format unless they get some revenue stream jump anytime soon like the NCAA gets. I do not even use my smart phone for any rules review, I bought a tablet for that type of purpose.

Peace

I smell a conspiracy...
 

Being the proud owner of an iphone and ipad, I just checked the app store and found NFHS Rulebooks available for purchase for $5.99 each...for every sport EXCEPT basketball. Anybody know what the deal is there?

They probably are about to release the 2012-2013 rulebook and don't want people upset because they purchased the 2011-2012 rulebook.

If you dig on the NF website, the basketball rulebook for the IPad/IPhone will not be available until early November. I think the Android version will be available earlier. Do not ask me why, just what I read.

Peace

Maybe the next version of Windows will allow android apps to work on a PC.

Already possible:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-ways-...-apps-windows/

Unfortunately, for me, the offtopic overshadows the "I do more than just that." :(

PDFs rock
 

Until recently, Utah was just Billy described. They collected your NFHS fee and gave you a rule book, but you didn't get electronic access. I had to get the Utah office to send an email to NFHS to get a password, but it was worth it to get the PDF rulebook.

One more thing to consider. Can you keep multiple apps on the smartphone version, or will you lose the 2011-12 rules when you install 2012-13? I keep the PDFs every year so I can compare versions and figure out when rules changed.

Kind of like an electronic version of NevadaRef's attic.

Each version is a new app. You should be able to keep all of them.

Basketball App -
 

Email from NFHS:

We are happy to announce the release of the 2012-13 NFHS Basketball Rules Mobile App. The new app is a searchable, interactive mobile resource. The NFHS Basketball Rules app provides both Rules and Case books together in a searchable, interactive mobile app! Used by high school (NFHS) and college (NCAA) officials, coaches, players and fans, this app gives you quick access to the info you need.

Android version available at Google Play

Apple version available in 7-10 days

NFHS Rule APP.
 

I spent the $ 5.99 last night for the NFHS basketball rules app for my smart phone. Pretty neat little deal. The best time I think to use the phone app is going to be when you go to game to watch and a fan knows you are a ref and ask you what the rule is on a play and you tell him, then the fans says you are wrong. The search icon and the save a rule search are the best part of it.

Oh the fun one could have!

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