TASO Equipment Certification Cards?

[Ump62]

Can anyone post Mike Fitch's statement and/or the TASO and UIL policy regarding signing the card.
There seems to be a question about what to do if a Coach refuses to sign. The rule states "The head coach or his designated representative shall certify in writing to the umpire before the game that all players:....."
I read that to mean we can't have a game without the signature. I've seen posted that if a Coach refuses to sign we are to play the game anyway and submit an incident report. This looks like an exception to 1-4-9.

[TXMike]

This is the statement I am aware of:

TO ALL CHAPTER PRESIDENTS and SECRETARIES

As we conclude the scrimmage season, let's be mindful of the TASO Policy concerning Mandatory Equipment at scrimmages:


“As officials, it is not our position or place to tell a school what they may or may not wear during a scrimmage.  That decision is made by the head coach. 

However, if a team’s players are not equipped according to rule, the officials should respectively notify the coach that it is TASO policy for our members not to participate in a scrimmage where players are not wearing mandatory equipment as outlined in the rules.”

Thanks,

Mike

Michael Fitch
Executive Director


Texas Association of Sports Officials
1221 West Campbell Road, Suite 191
Richardson, Texas  75080

[TXMike]

And FYI...the Texas Coaches Assn has this right on the front page of their website:


http://www.thsca.com/

[Arbitrator]

And FYI...the Texas Coaches Assn has this right on the front page of their website:


http://www.thsca.com/

 

Hopefully, Mr. Fitch or Mr. Castleberry will forward post-haste the TASO version of this card on over to the the THSCA. The coaches and their administrators need to be made aware of the second provision that the UIL apparently just conveniently wishes to sidestep or blatently ignore!   

[TXMike]

The problem is we (TASO) added that section without any actual rule support.  It was being done in some parts of the state so the decision was made to do it statewide (or try to anyway).  But if a coach shows up with the UIL form in hand and signed he has met the requirements of the rule.

[Arbitrator]

 

Sounds good to me TXMike! But the THSCA really needs to have some knowledge of it. Even if it is put out there as "bait" for the UIL to balk at and to, in all likelihood, ignore!   

[HoustonUmp]

Whether it is done or not is up to each "crew" working a game.  I can state that I WILL NOT work a game, at any level, where I don't have the coaches involved sign a certification card.....just sayin.....

Cooper said today at the Corpus clinic that if the coach will not sign the card that we SHOULD play the game and then immediately file a UIL incident report.  Do not penalize the kids for the actions of the adults.  The UIL wants these cards to be signed and turned in.