Back in 2012-13, for the first time, the CIAC required payment for all scrimmages (in all sports in Connecticut).
Coaches were having difficulty finding officials for scrimmages, especially for some sports like lacrosse, ice hockey, and field hockey.
Previously scrimmage officials would sometimes get a slice of pizza, a ham and cheese grinder, a T-shirt, ten dollars cash for gas and laundry, or, usually nothing at all.
No wonder coaches were having difficulty finding officials for scrimmages.
Also in 2012-13, my local board began to use Arbiter to assign scrimmages (no longer voluntary).
Previous to this local members would volunteer for scrimmages using signup sheets at preseason meetings, or some schools directly contacted hometown, or alumni, officials.
Back in 2012-13 (the first season we got paid), the basketball scrimmage fee schedule was a follows:
Schools should be expected to pay a total of $150 per scrimmage (regardless of the number of officials). The board will assign a minimum of three officials to work the scrimmage. Assigned officials will officiate a maximum six periods or two hours per single game scrimmages.
And it stayed that way, the same exact $150, for eight years.
After much negotiation in dark, smoke filled, back rooms, we just got a 60% raise.
The following procedures will apply to the 2024-2025 season:
Schools should be expected to pay a total of $240 per scrimmage (regardless of the number of officials). The board will assign a minimum of three officials to work the scrimmage. Assigned officials will officiate a maximum six periods or two hours per single game scrimmages.
The following procedures will apply to the 2025-2028 seasons:
Schools should be expected to pay a total of $330 per scrimmage (regardless of the number of officials). The board will assign a minimum of three officials to work the scrimmage. Assigned officials will officiate a maximum six periods or two hours per single game scrimmages.
That’s nearly a 38% raise (on top of the previous 60% raise).
