TX TASO news

[Andy]

From my understanding, Arizona is unique in that all officials that wish to work HS sports must register with and pay dues to the organization that oversees HS athletics, the Arizona Interscholastic Association.

This is required no matter what other organizations or groups you belong to. The AIA also provides mandatory training each year for officials of each sport. The AIA also assigns officials for each HS contest across the state and all playoff and state tournament games.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Andy

From my understanding, Arizona is unique in that all officials that wish to work HS sports must register with and pay dues to the organization that oversees HS athletics, the Arizona Interscholastic Association.

There are quite a few states that do this.

Scott, the problem is also that there are a lot of officials that don't have much experience in calling high school ball and aren't exactly ready to stop. I am in that position as I've barely gotten started and there are quite a few of us whom I suspect either aren't going to really understand what is going on or are going to be caught in a lurch on this.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Scott, the problem is also that there are a lot of officials that don't have much experience in calling high school ball and aren't exactly ready to stop. I am in that position as I've barely gotten started and there are quite a few of us whom I suspect either aren't going to really understand what is going on or are going to be caught in a lurch on this.

You do have a point there! And I didn't mean to leave your group out in my previous post, as I have mentioned that same demographic many times in discussions regarding this topic.

I have been doing my best to keep newbies apprised of what is going on with this, through discussion, email...etc. If you have any questions about why so many grizzled and curmudgeondly vets like myself are against this, then please feel free to PM me.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by Andy

From my understanding, Arizona is unique in that all officials that wish to work HS sports must register with and pay dues to the organization that oversees HS athletics, the Arizona Interscholastic Association.

This is required no matter what other organizations or groups you belong to. The AIA also provides mandatory training each year for officials of each sport. The AIA also assigns officials for each HS contest across the state and all playoff and state tournament games.

If UIL succeeds in their current endeavor, Texas will be joining you, in all aspects except for the last. (Though who knows what they could be thinking of for the future.)

[Welpe]

No worries, I am more just expressing my frustration about the situation. PM sent.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by Welpe

No worries, I am more just expressing my frustration about the situation. PM sent.

PM responded to in several parts!

[Tex]

I umpire in both Arkansas and Texas. Arkansas is like Arizona – the state runs everything. Texas has the middle organization (TASO).

Arkansas is way ahead of Texas. Receive rule books, membership cards, pays NFHS dues, keeps status of umpires, annual test is through NFHS, etc.

TASO does not do any of these. An umpire is lucky to even receive a rule book with TASO. Even the equipment distributers are cutting back on TASO items for this coming year.

UIL can’t be any worse then TASO.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by Tex

I umpire in both Arkansas and Texas. Arkansas is like Arizona – the state runs everything. Texas has the middle organization (TASO).

Arkansas is way ahead of Texas. Receive rule books, membership cards, pays NFHS dues, keeps status of umpires, annual test is through NFHS, etc.

TASO does not do any of these. An umpire is lucky to even receive a rule book with TASO. Even the equipment distributers are cutting back on TASO items for this coming year.

UIL can’t be any worse then TASO.

Tex. That would be a local issue. You cannot fault TASO for what your local people aren't doing. Every year, I get my rule books at the first of January, in a box to be distributed to the membership. In that collection of books, you will also find the membership cards(that entitle officials to get into any sporting event pro gratis), and a Referee Magazine supplement. Texas is not a full member state, currently, in NFHS, because it has been better for us to get the insurance that we get through TASO. It is the job of the local chapter officers to forward the status of their officials to TASO, which we do every year. TASO also supplies you with a test, both on paper and online, that requires a passing grade for an official to be eligible to call any contest at the varsity level. If you are not taking, and passing this test annually, not to mention attending the required state or regional meetings, then not only are you not eligible to work varsity games, you also are not eligible to call any playoffs. Worse, the games that have been worked in a season by non-sanctioned officials could result in forfeits by the teams using the non-sanctioned officials, and some sort of sanction by the state against the chapter who is assigning these non-sanctioned officials to work varsity/playoff games. By the way, these are the requirements of the UIL as well. (All except the state/regional meeting requirement.) So, rather than blame TASO, place the blame where it belongs. I will be most happy to alert both TASO and the UIL of the mismanagement that appears to be going on in the Texarkana area. I am sure that they would be happy to fix this for you.

As for the equipment distributors, of course they are cutting back. There is no reason to lay in large stocks of TASO labelled items when the UIL is trying their damnedest to get rid of them. That is just good business sense. People tend to underestimate the power of the UIL. But again, this has absolutely nothing to do with TASO.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by Tex

UIL can’t be any worse than TASO.

Just wait a year, buddy, and then tell me that!

[Texasbock]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Just wait a year, buddy, and then tell me that!

The UIL asst director spoke at one of our most recent "TASO" meetings in Houston. After a lot of time talking about what little changes would be in effect, everyone within my circle agreed that this was probably in the best interest of the high school softball umpire and that very little change would actually take place.

Those who seemed to be the most against what was going on were the ones with strong TASO affiliations or just resistant to change - period.

Ho-hum, a diddly dum.

The strength of the high school softball program is as strong as the local chapter. And, the Houston chapter is second to none. If anyone thinks that Arkansas has a better anything than the state of Texas, they need to keep the garage door open next time they paint the car.