Member Benefits
KSOA Member Benefits
Members in good standing of the Kansas Sports Officials Association are given access to an ever growing list of benefits to support their personal development as well as the broader efforts of recruiting and retaining sports officials. These benefits create a multilayered environment in which individuals new to working the high school game can thrive and where veteran officials can hone their craft as well as give back to the next generation of referees/umpires. We are proud to offer the benefits outlined below and are constantly working to add to this list.
NASO Insurance
The National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) is a nationwide organization helping to pave the way in our industry. The NASO also provides critical legal and insurance protection for member sports officials. KSOA highly recommends each official be a member of NASO. To support this position, KSOA members are eligible to receive group membership pricing of $91/year, a $38 savings from NASO’s individual membership rate of $129/year. This discount effectively pays for a single-sport membership in KSOA!
RefQuest Plus
RefQuest Plus is a collaborative educational tool centered around video clips. KSOA baseball, basketball, soccer & softball members receive free RQ+ accounts to engage with training clips and various “you make the call” exercises.
Network of Officials
For most officials, one of the best aspects of being a referee/umpire is the chance to work with and get to know others in this line of work. The KSOA works to provide networking opportunities for officials of all levels and ages, making this a safe, comfortable, supportive environment for officials to begin and develop in the high school game. It’s no secret recruiting and retaining officials are difficult tasks. Our Association is designed to provide the ideal environment for individuals to succeed in the high school officiating ranks. This approach provides numerous opportunities for new officials to develop and veteran officials to both sharpen their skills and give back to the referees/umpires who will soon work in their place.
High Level Competition
High school competition in this area is arguably the best competition in the state of Kansas. Area teams are occasionally ranked on a national level, their coaches receive national recognition and area athletes achieve outstanding scholarship offers to top schools. KSOA members get the opportunity to work high level contests on a week to week basis. These games, including the level of competition and energetic atmosphere, prepare officials well for working at the collegiate level (for those aspiring to work higher levels).
Discounted Clinics
Off-season clinics are outstanding opportunities to sharpen your craft, receive feedback from high level officials and be seen by assigners. The Call the Game group has set a high standard for clinics over the years especially in basketball, volleyball and baseball. Call the Game and KSOA work hand in hand together to provide training and professional development opportunities for area officials to improve their craft, especially in the off-season. KSOA Members receive first crack in the scheduling of these opportunities, and can participate at a significantly discounted rate, often with no out-of-pocket cost at all. Check out the sport specific pages on our website for clinic information.
In-Season Evaluations
Feedback from qualified observers during and immediately following a game is invaluable for officials wanting to improve. The KSOA will be investing a significant amount of time, energy and resources into providing in-season evaluators to observe KSOA member officials of all levels.
Partnerships with Other Organizations
Your KSOA board is constantly working to partner with outside organizations to provide more benefits to the membership. These organizations include professional partnerships for goods and services and other officiating organizations. Sport specific partnerships will be made with collegiate assigning and training groups to provide a pathway to officiating excellence beyond the high school ranks for those seeking to move up. Members will be made aware of these partnerships as they are formed.
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Below are organizations with whom KSOA has partnered to provide discounts and benefits for our members. Please email info@ksoasports.org to receive discount codes and more information.
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*currently under review