H5AB presents a Q&A with Tony Timmons, UIL Director of Officials, on the new UIL Officials Program
BY RANDY BYERS © COPYRIGHT 2009 Houston5ABaseball.com
We have been reporting on this issue that has been brewing between Taso and the UIL for the past several weeks now. With Mr. Timmos explanation of our
questions we now have a much better understanding of the objectives and goals of the UIL's new Officials Program.
UIL: For the 2010-2011 school year, $50 for the first sport and $25 for each additional sport
H5AB Under the UIL Officials Program, who will provide the training for officials in their respective sports?
UIL: The UIL will work with officials in each sport division and local officiating chapter to provide the necessary training materials and tools, including online access to training, videoconferencing, mechanics training and clinic information. If the chapters need or desire additional assistance in those endeavors, UIL can provide said assistance through partnerships with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the National Federation Officials Association (NFOA), the NCAA (for football rules) as well as relationships for sharing best practices among the other 50 state associations (including the District of Columbia) across the nation that sanction competition and register and train officials.
H5AB How will the UIL deal with a shortage of officials if that should happen? TASO is reporting that a great many of it's officials will boycott UIL games.
UIL: The UIL will continue, as it always has, in supporting local officials chapters and member schools to recruit, educate and retain quality officials for the contests in which student athletes participate. Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, any person desiring to officiate varsity team sport contests involving UIL member schools must register with UIL as an official. UIL member schools will be required to use officials registered with UIL in all varsity team sport contests.
H5AB What is the UIL objective in regulating officials?
UIL: As with all actions of the UIL Legislative Council, the objective of the requirement for officials to register with UIL is to respond to the repeated concerns of many of the school membership, as well as some in the TASO membership, who were seeking an alternative with more accountability on a state wide level.
Across the various sports in which over 1,300 UIL member high schools and 2,500 middle and junior high schools participate, approximately $50 million were spent on officiating fees statewide during the 2008-09 school year. Schools and officials need to know that all rules and regulations will be equally enforced and equally applied to everyone.
