[BillyMac]

From Scrapper1: "This is probably not legal. If you work the game, you get paid. If the assignor doesn't like the job you do, he has every right not to invite you back. Don't put up with that kind of BS intimidation."

From MichaelVA2000: "Any other non-enforcement issues the assigner won't pay officials that have officiated game(s)?"

Scrapper1: It's not intimidating. It's the Deanery rule, and that's what we have been told to tell the coaches, especially at the beginning of the season, when they accuse us of being the "fashion police". The assigner works hard on our behalf, and he is a class act, please read on.

MichaelVA2000: There are financial penalties for showing up late: More than 10 minutes late, $7.00 reduction; Later than halftime, no fee.

Also: Game starts more than 10 minutes late, $7.00 additional payment: 20 minutes late, $12.00 additional payment.

Also: Schools agree not to solicit, and officials agree not to participate in, any raffle (50%-50%), contest, drawing, or any other fundraiser.

This assigner is very professional, almost like a high school assigner: availability sheets, which he wants updated, confirmation of assignments from officials, written rule differences (no press, or fast break, at certain points in the game, all players play, etc.), mandatory preseason officials meeting, and he scouts, and recruits, good young officials for Deanery games. He also recognizes, in terms of give-backs, that our high school assignments take top priority. Due to his work on our behalf, we get paid extremely well, even for fifth and sixth grade games, and the coaches, and athletic directors, respect us, realizing that they are getting high school varsity, or top rated junior varsity, officials, for elementary and middle school games.

These are the only games that I do, other than my high school varsity schedule, and the Special Olympics Unified Games (free). These Deanery games are great: good players, good coaching, big crowds, cheerleaders, great rivalries, post season tournament, etc., and they're all within a 20 minute drive from my home. Games vary between 6 and 7 minute periods, and most games are over in an hour. We are often assigned a "varsity" (seventh and eighth grade) doubleheader, or a "junior varsity" (fifth and sixth grade) triple, or quadrupleheader. We get paid for the high level, seventh and eighth grade games, at the site, usually in cash. We get paid for lower level games, fifth and sixth graders, at the end of the season, in one big check. This year, I plan to use my big check, from the lower level games, to purchase a high definition LCD televison, in the spring. If I don't get snowed out of a lot of games, I plan on getting a check for about $800.00.

This assigner, and this Deanery league, is a class act.