Rule books received
 

Just curious to know how different associations handle the distribution of rule and case books, and officials manuals for Fed.
1. Does your state association provide you a copy of the books as part of your state registration?

2. If so, when (approximate date) does the state association get you your books?

In Iowa, our state assn. provides us with a rule book and case book every year. We never get an officials manual.

Ours usually come in about July 15th, but I have not yet received it for this year.

In Kansas we, in the previous years, have gotten the Rules, Case, and Illustrated Books each year in late June. We also got the Official's Manual every other year as it is only printed every other year. This year we didn't get the Illustrated Book but got the 2007 Rules By Topic Book. I still need to open that one up to see what all it says.

REPLY: Here in NJ, the portion of our local association dues that goes to the state association pays (1) to register us with the state, (2) for our insurance, (3) for membership in the NFHS, and (4) for our rule and case books. We no longer get the Officials' Manual which we used to get every other year. We usually get our books around the beginning of July.

Illinois- We receive the rules book and case book every year, and then the third book alternates between the officials manual and the handbook in the odd/even years. I think starting last year, they are not sending the third book due to some postal issue? Books usually come in mid to late July, but have been known to come in the beginning of August as well.

The Rules by Topic books are very helpful.

Here in MO, we get our books from the state right around August 1. We receive the rules, case, and officials manual.

This year the state is also rolling out an online officials section which I am looking forward to. We will receive coaches' ratings online, renew, and receive all other corresondence from the state via the web. Should be sweet. Way better than the current system. We don't receive coaches ratings until May 1, after the season has been over for months. This way may be a little more immediate. Emphasis on may be.

In Texas, our state dues cover rule book purchases. I'm not sure exactly when each chapter gets their books, but we usually get ours at our first association meeting -- usually in very late July (this year and last) or in very early August -- depending on when the Monday meeting date falls.

Since we work NCAA rules, there is no case book. Our mechanics manuals are written by our state association and are pretty much taken from the old 5 man (and, I guess, 4 man) manuals of the CCA. They are updated yearly and the 3 man manual is updated when they see fit. Last year was the first update since the late '90s. Anyways, the manuals come in PDF format on CD-Roms.

I've gotten to where I print everything out front and back and bind together in one big book. I've got everything -- rules, mechanics, UIL (Texas state athletic league) exceptions, and 6 man football rule differences -- under one cover. I've also been working long term on a rules guide -- something along the same lines as Redding, but a different style and format -- that I will add to the mix. However, the guide is probably 5-10% ROUGH DRAFT ready and no where near publication ready -- even if that was my ultimate goal.

In NC, the registration covers the books. We get a rule and case book. We used to get a funny book and the officials manual but neither this year. I think they'll give us the Rules by Topic at our state clinic. Too expensive to mail.

Rule case book came today.

There is some talk we will not get books except for every other year. The reason is postal costs have been going up and the IHSA does not want to raise the price on the officials for our licenses. We will have to see. This of course will not start until next year if this policy becomes a reality.

Peace

Rule books...mine came today
 

The officials manual isn't due out again til next season ('08).

I bought the Rules By Topic from Referee magazine the past two years. I don't remember the NCHSAA giving those out at the state clinic. They did have some "funny books" they gave out to those who wanted one.

Do you have to be a member of an association to buy a book? Or can any broadcaster trying to learn buy one?

A broadcaster study the rules!! I don't know if this was meant to be a joke or not, but I laughed either way!

And to actually answer your question somewhere on the NFHS website I think there is a place to purchase rule's book.

I got my Rules/Case book about 2 weeks ago. INDIANA

No, not a joke. I got burned once on the air doing a high school game confusing an NFHS with an NCAA rule. I sounded like a complete idiot going back and listening to the tape. I'm determined to not let that happen again. I understand knowing the rules and explaining them correctly will keep me from getting a national job. Oh well.

:D

Purchasing rulebooks
 

Anybody can buy them-just go to the National Federation website. Referee Magazine sells versions of the rule books too.

Use this link. In addition to the rule book I'd highly suggest the book Football Rules by Topic. There's a $10 minimum on orders anyway, so you may as well buy both books.

http://www.nfhs.com/index.asp?cmd=sh...ory&param_0=64

When our state finals are on TV, the broadcasters are really bad with the rules. I think they should have an official in the booth as a reference. He doesn't have to be on air, but can give the correct rule to the broadcasters.

It seems that the NCAA is giong to this during the bowl season to avoid broadcaster confusion. They put either an inactive replay or conference commish in the booth to help clear up any confusion.

voiceof: Good for you for wanting to learn the rules. Like those said, Referee Mag or NFHS sells many great books. On a side note, remember, there is no such thing as a "lateral". It's a backwards pass, that's it. Nothing more. That's one thing some officials crack up about when we hear announcers call them laterals.