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The problem is in the assigning method, as far as I'm concerned.
Everywhere else I've lived the officials association acts as a buffer, gets the game contracts, and assigns officials. In the best run places, coaches didn't even have redlining or scratching capabilities. The games were evenly distributed amongst the varsity-quality officials and officials NEVER had to call schools and ask them if they can get scheduled.
Why someone gets or doesn't get assigned certain games is a complicated matter. When I lived in a big city with a large African-American population, I had a hard time getting assigned to the best basketball schools, which were highly African-American. Is this any better or any different than Jeff not getting assignments at certain schools? I don't know. I know that I was just as good on the floor as those officials and occasionally did get to prove it. But it wasn't a coincidence that all-White crews were sent to mostly White schools and vice-versa.
Right now I'm having mixed success where I live, where the assignments are handled in the same fashion as in Illinois -- I am able to get a lot of assignments in some conferences and can't even get the courtesy of a reply from the commissioner of other conferences -- conferences where I've watched officials work who I felt were of lesser quality than myself and my regualr partner. What's our problem? We're TRANSFER officials, only 2 years in the area.
But there's a bright side to all this -- I may have to drive farther to my games (90 miles one way tomorrow night -- don't gasp, we get paid for mileage) but I do control my own schedule. And because of that, I am able to go to places where I know we're appreciated because in very rural areas there aren't many or any good officials. And when I get tired of driving that far, I'll have to decide whether to continue doing this or hope I'm able to break into some of the closer conferences.
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