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Originally Posted by Snaqwells
There are some areas where if an official makes this "choice," he will be labeled high maintenance and a prima donna (sp?). Some places, you just show up and work if you want to move beyond that level.
I've worked in such an area. I eventually stopped working ms games, but it was because they paid $12.50 per game and it wasn't worth getting off work early to work three hours on a tartan floor for that rate. I just wore separate shoes, set my bag behind the scorer, and took care of the game.
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I would never work for $12.50 a game now and many people I know would not dare assign anyone for that amount. If I found out that was the pay I would stay home or never work that league again for that pay. I just had this conversation with an assignor last Sunday that said he would not dare assign a tournament/league for that $17 and advised his officials if they knew any better they would not accept that kind of fee. And his comment to the person that wanted him to assign officials to a particular tournament was, “I do not have $17 referees to assign games to.” And he was not saying he would not assign someone if they worked for that amount in the future, just saying we are worth more and he would suggest you not lower your value when you consider all the other people that are involved in getting paid for these tournaments and leagues. I do not know any JH games that are assigned for less than $30 (and that would be low) during the regular season. Actually in many cases here they have to pay almost more than a HS game just to get guys to consider working that level. I am not talking about summer league, running clock games either before you start talking about that angle of this situation.
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Originally Posted by Snaqwells
Here, I'll be doing ms games for the first time in five years (schedule change), and I don't yet know how the dressing room situation looks. I imagine its closer to the high schools' situation (there's always a coach's office at least), but if it's not, I won't be doing myself any favors by taking a principled stand on this issue.
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You have to take a stand to get dressed? First of all I would not show up in my uniform or any part of my outside uniform on, so you better have some place to get dressed unless you do not mind me getting dressed in front of everyone. So they would have to provide some place for me if they do not want to have such a report complaining about how and where I get dressed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snaqwells
My point was, your standards may work well for you, and there are some issues where I think every official could benefit by performing and appearing above standard. For example, if the other officials at your level and shining their shoes, do it anyway. If the other officials at a level aren't all clean shaven, do it anyway. If they're all showing up in jeans or sweats; show up in business casual and stand out.
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Let us keep a couple of things in mind. This thread started about a bunch of officials that were getting dressed in the parking lot and in places that might were by the schools considered inappropriate. The law is not going to care why you are naked; they are just going to charge you with a possible crime, ticket or violation of some local ordinance regardless of the reason why. And all any of us need is the right kid, parent or school administrator to say we did something sexually inappropriate and what do you think will happen to us when that charge is made? So either they find us a place to get dressed as everyone is not coming from home or a place where they can just have their uniform on all day, you need a place to put your stuff so you are not exposed to everyone and have some privacy, even if for no other reason to have a pre-game and a place to talk about officiating without being overheard or things you say being taken out of context. This is really more than about getting dressed, this is about the things we do are much more scrutinized then the average public.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snaqwells
But refusing to work because you don't get a dressing room won't work for guys wanting to move up. It will only work for those who have already moved up and don't want to get stuck doing AAU and YMCA.
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I am an independent contractor, I can work where and under whatever circumstances I wish. I do it all the time. It is clear to me that when I read this board many of you are not in that situation. You have no rights to refuse games or to decide where you want to work and when. I do and many other places do as well and I would not work leagues that expected me to be in full uniform but would not give us a locker room, coaches office or somewhere private to keep our stuff or pretty much guarantee that some young girl is authorized to walk in on a bunch of grown men that have no clothes on (this happen to me with other officials and I can tell you it did not go over very well with the assignor). If you want to be an employee and they are not paying your taxes or workmans comp, be my guest.
Peace