NAFA Does Not Last Long In This Area

[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.