[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

The problem is that as long as there are people that WILL accept the going rate, whatever that is, we have no leverage. So, you can work all you want to raise fees, and sometimes that gets done, but if it doesn't you have to decide whether you are going to continue officiating or not.

The Texas UIL (state association) has said loud and clear they don't care whether officials quit or not. They are in bed with the school districts first and the coaches association second. I imaging within the next 5 years, our basketball chapter will no longer work many jr. high games. Within 10 years, we may get to where we only work subvarsity games that are tied to varsity games (i.e. doubleheaders). We will lose officials left and right, I think, unless fees are paid, and this fall -- with gas prices going out of control, we will see the first taste of this.

Everytime a school/coach complains about the officials just mention that while there are some great officials who will do it for token amounts of money it is hard to keep a full roster of the best when they can make more money doing something else without all the hassles. If they want better, they've got to pay better. The average official is not going to take 2-4 days off work without pay and also pay $200-$500 for camp fees when they only gross $1000-2000/year form HS games.