[DownTownTonyBrown]

American Heritage Dictionary - Conflict of interest: A conflict between the private interests and the public obligations of a person in an official postition.

It is a general practice that one of the better, more knowledgeable officials usually becomes the assigner/commissioner. Purportedly, that person will understand the situations, the abilities of the officials, and the rules of the game, and will, in the end, do the best job as assigner/commissioner. Nowhere in that description does it say must also continue to officiate games.

Can the assigner continue to officiate and do a good job? Absolutely! Could I work my kids little league games and do a better job than the High School rookies. Absolutely! But it would only take one opposing parent to point out that my child was playing on the opposing team. Conflict of Interest!

Can the assigner pick the games he wants to work and still do a good job when he works that game? Absolutely! Will the other officials be upset that the assigner gets the work the more exciting, competitive games? Will the other officials be upset that the assigner picks for himself the games that pay the greater money - Varsity vs. JV? Will the officials be upset that the assigners picks his own partners - the better ones, and that they themselves have to work with lack-luster incompetents? Will the other officials be upset that the assigner selects their own children officials (or brother-in-law) to work a greater number of games because that child needs the money? Will the other officials be upset when the assigner "gets selected (by himself)" to attend the big season ending tournament and earn an extra $500 while they themselves set at home? Will the other officials be upset when the assigner who has worked only a couple games during the season is suddenly behind the plate for the district tournament championship? The answer for all these questions is very likely YES!

This is the conflict of interest. It is perception about the "favors" you are able to provide for yourself because of your position as assigner. It is not illegal. But in my opinion it is ABSOLUTELY perceived to be a conflict of interest.

It is not the fact that you receive these benefits. It is the fact that you assigned them to yourself that creates the perceived conflict of interest.

I'm not saying it can't be done. It obviously has been done... by many. I am saying that your fellow officials will likely not complain because the assigner also assigns benefits/games to those fellow officials. And they will likely feel that if they complain, the assigner will likely decrease the benefits/games those fellow officials are already receiving. Hence no complaints. Hence no bad evaluations. Hence life is wonderful when assigning your own benefits/games.

I also recognize as Elaine said that sometimes the assigner must work games because there just ain't enough officials or time is too short to find a replacement. In my local area that situation raises itself several times per week - the assigner necessarily needs to work.

Can it be done? Yes. Can you maintain your integrity? I think so, but you would have to work very diligently to stay above board and not take anything away from your fellow officials. Little digressions can lead to loss of integrity.

Good luck if you choose to try this endeavor. Keep your nose clean.

[Edited by DownTownTonyBrown on Aug 11th, 2003 at 04:09 PM]