Best Umpire Organizations?

[rth54]

There seem to be a a number of Umpire organizations one could join, each offering a variety of benefits. Which are the best and why? I realize opinions may vary widely, but, I would like to hear them.

Thanks,

Nu Blue

[Umpire in Chief]

Are you talking about groups like ABUA, NASO, ESO... or individual associations?

[rth54]

The big ones...ABUA, NASO etc..

[Umpire in Chief]

IMO NASO offers a lot with the insurance and subscription to Referee Magazine

[semper_fi_72]

NASO for the insurance, highly encouraged, but not mandated by HS Association.

I am also a member of ABUA never hurts to have to much insurance plus with the material ordered from JEA I have just about saved the membership fee on discounts.

Don't forget both memberships get you 10% discount at Honig's.

NASO will provide some legal/tax advice and assist in obtaining a lawyer if ever needed.

Each has its benifits and each individual needs to decide what they need or want.

IMHO if you use either membership appropriately for discounts alone (Hotel/Motel, Equipment/Training Material, etc), you will easily save the amount of the membership fee in a year. I then look at it as if the membership was FREE to me.

[mstaylor]

If you are only joining one I would say NASO, more coverage and you get Referee magazine. If you want to join two, I would highly recommend ABUA, they have a good store on their site that you get discounts. ABUA has decent insurance foor a good price, NASO is more expensive but you add assault insurance and the mag. Both are good values, you just have to decide what your needs are.

The only big difference I can think of between the two, and I don't know the answer, does ABUA cover all sports or just baseball. NASO covers any sport that has a reconized rule system. It won't cover you for sandlot games but anything from youth sports to intermurals are covered.

[rth54]

Thanks to all for the input!... Just FYI I discovered that ABUA does cover you for all sports with their premium level membership (75.00).

[BT_Blue]

Thanks to all for the input!... Just FYI I discovered that ABUA does cover you for all sports with their premium level membership (75.00).

That was just added this year. In yeas past (I have been a member of ABUA from 2004/5 until this year when I went back to NASO) it only covered baseball and softball. I think they saw the writing on the wall that most of the membership works more than one sport and decided to expand.

As for ESO. Do they actually have anything useful on there any more for us baseball folks? They used to have the NCAA stuff but that is no more and I do not recall seeing anything on there for FED or anything else baseball related.