NAFA Does Not Last Long In This Area

[whiskers_ump]

NAFA has already been replaced in this area. [Texas]

IFA is taking over. NAFA lasted 3/4th of a season locally. Once the Nats
was over, it was replaced.

http://www.ifasoftballcentral.com/

Glad I only bought two shirts. They were on a two for one sale.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by whiskers_ump

NAFA has already been replaced in this area. [Texas]

IFA is taking over. NAFA lasted 3/4th of a season locally. Once the Nats
was over, it was replaced.

http://www.ifasoftballcentral.com/

Glad I only bought two shirts. They were on a two for one sale.

Can't you Texans make up your mind? And here I thought it was Presidents from Georgia that sat high in the straddle.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Sure they can. Tommy Voss in Beaumont has made up his mind to make money on teams, umpires, and insurance commissions, and NAFA wasn't kicking enough back.

Keep buying shirts, Glen; they haven't run out of letters yet.

[Texasbock]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

Sure they can. Tommy Voss in Beaumont has made up his mind to make money on teams, umpires, and insurance commissions, and NAFA wasn't kicking enough back.

Keep buying shirts, Glen; they haven't run out of letters yet.

I'm not disagreeing with what you are saying necessarily. I would though like to know what Mr. Voss's side of the argument is.

A few comments about some of the other posts in this thread:

I worked the Sulphur National tournament this year and thought the fees were more than adequate. I would prefer the status quo in my neck of the woods. (SE Houston). Things are just fine pay wise and we sure as heck don't need an "organization" or a "system" to fix things. If it isn't broke, why does someone feel a need to fix it?

My main beef is with TASO (TX high school ball) where it takes forever to get a check. They get away with it because they are an "organized" "system" that could give a rip about how much softball umpire fees are and has been at the same rate structure for a long time.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by Texasbock

My main beef is with TASO (TX high school ball) where it takes forever to get a check. They get away with it because they are an "organized" "system" that could give a rip about how much softball umpire fees are and has been at the same rate structure for a long time.

First of all, TASO has nothing to do with your getting a check. That is between you and the institution (school) you worked for. TASO also has nothing to do with the rate structure of officials' fees in Texas. TASO is merely your voice to the UIL, rather than a few thousand people trying to petition the UIL altogether. TASO is an organization that makes sure you have the materials to officiate with, to help set officiating standards (such as uniform policies), and to make sure you are adequately insured while officiating, or on the way to or from an event. That is the purpose of TASO.

UIL, on the other hand, does set the fees that you will be paid, including maximums that institutions can pay for officials' services. They are also the authors of 1204, the much debated article of this year. The UIL has mandated for ages (as long as I can remember, and that is quite a while) that schools have a check in your hands within 45 days of the date of service, and encourages the schools to pay even sooner than that. (From my understanding, the 45 day period was decided on because many school disctricts, especially the 1 and 2 A ones, frequently cut checks just once a month.) If you an institution fails to pay you in that time frame, you need to immediately report said institution to the UIL in writing. (A quick phone call doesn't hurt either.)

As for the rate structure in Texas for softball umpires, seven years ago it set at $30.00 a game. About three, maybe four years ago, it was upped to $35.00 a game. This year it has been raised to $40.00 a game. I don't know about you, but two raises in a seven year period doesn't constitute as being "the same rate structure for a long time," in my book.

If you have issues that need to be addressed with the UIL, then I strongly encourage you to contact the president of your local chapter, or your district director. If that doesn't work, I have always found the people at TASO extremely easy to contact and to work with. However, I do recommend following the chain of command.

[Gulf Coast Blue]

Sad.........AFA had a pretty good following on the Gulf Coast of Texas and Oklahoma (both ASA strongholds). Many ASA resgistered teams played in the AFA qualifiers here just in case they did not get qualify for the ASA championships.

It was a beneficial symbiotic relationship between the two.

As is usual in the creation of competing organizations.........egos and politics of the individuals at the top get in the way of the big picture.

I have fond memories of the old AFA group. Glen umpired in one of the National tournaments that one of my daughters played in.

Lately it has just come become more diluted..........(which I am sure he will admit).

Joel

[Dholloway1962]

Same thing here in Okla. NAFA gone.

They decided to let us wear our high school uniform so we won't have to buy anything new.........YET.

[whiskers_ump]

Originally Posted by Dholloway1962

Same thing here in Okla. NAFA gone.

They decided to let us wear our high school uniform so we won't have to buy anything new.........YET.

Yes, that is what we were told also. Hope they are not pulling
our chain. I am running out of closet space. They just want us
to wear an IFA cap. Hmmmm wonder what that will cost?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by bkbjones

Hey, I like that idea of each team having to pay one umpire at the plate prior to the game. But...what if you are working three man? does the PU have to bring change to the meeting in his ball bag so they can get the odd man paid? Or...do you do a double flip, in which the losing BU has to work a freebie?

They instituted this method in the local leagues a few years back and it absolutely killed the local association. I don't like be paid on the field for a couple of reasons.

One reason is convenient store clerks get killed for less than $50 and a pack of cigarettes and a lot of the local parks are not well lit and security is non-existant.

Also, there is no incentive for an umpire to come to assn. meetings. And before you say, "well, just fine them", that would be awfully hard since there is no money in escrow (game fees due) from which to draw the fine. And before you say, "then just don't schedule them", and how do you suggest the assn. fulfill it's contract to provide umpires to the local leagues? Even if you could, already strapped associations are not looking to drive umpires away, but retain them and that isn't going to help if you start your season with a statement, "you need to pay us $xxx.xx before you can get a clinic or game".

Tournaments are no big deal, but for the sake of the local associations, I pay out tournament fees at their meetings and those who don't show, do not get paid until after the last association meeting. Not saying it helps that much, but it is my responsibility to aid the local associations in whatever manner I can.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

They instituted this method in the local leagues a few years back and it absolutely killed the local association. I don't like be paid on the field for a couple of reasons.

One reason is convenient store clerks get killed for less than $50 and a pack of cigarettes and a lot of the local parks are not well lit and security is non-existant.

Also, there is no incentive for an umpire to come to assn. meetings. And before you say, "well, just fine them", that would be awfully hard since there is no money in escrow (game fees due) from which to draw the fine. And before you say, "then just don't schedule them", and how do you suggest the assn. fulfill it's contract to provide umpires to the local leagues? Even if you could, already strapped associations are not looking to drive umpires away, but retain them and that isn't going to help if you start your season with a statement, "you need to pay us $xxx.xx before you can get a clinic or game".

Tournaments are no big deal, but for the sake of the local associations, I pay out tournament fees at their meetings and those who don't show, do not get paid until after the last association meeting. Not saying it helps that much, but it is my responsibility to aid the local associations in whatever manner I can.

I agree in part and disagree in part.

Ideally, umpires should be paid through the association and not on the field, security of that situation not being a concern IMO. This serves several other important purposes, from chain of command, to the money trail, to making sure the association and assigner gets their due.

Pay should be promptly, within a week or two, provided to the umpire, who is an independent contractor and deserving of pay for work provided in a timely manner.

Appearance at the association meetings can be a factor in deciding to assign, but should not be a factor in paying them once you choose to assign them; IMO.

[CajunNewBlue]

Originally Posted by whiskers_ump

NAFA has already been replaced in this area. [Texas]

IFA is taking over. NAFA lasted 3/4th of a season locally. Once the Nats
was over, it was replaced.

http://www.ifasoftballcentral.com/

Glad I only bought two shirts. They were on a two for one sale.

WTF? ohhh great.

Whomever the heck takes over, I hope they up the umpire fee's... last years was a tad low. IMHO