I think it can be done and your integrity maintained if you are willing to take the little games and only take them when you must to ensure coverage of the competition. (This is despite the fact that the assigner could work those bigger games and do an excellent job. The coaches might well want the assigner to work those games. However there are surely other officials that would like to have opportunity also.)
I do not feel you can maintain your integrity if you assign yourself more benefits, as perceived by your fellow officials, than you assign to those other officials.
I hope that you are not insinuating that I am childish and petty and that I see corruption at every turn. That would seem rather bold.
Honor is definetely an important part of integrity. I'm not sure what you are implying. The examples I gave were not honorable but they were factual. I also gave some situations that perception would lead one to believe the assigner is neither honorable nor has maintained his integrity. He has taken advantage of his position.
You are right; conflict of interest is a fact of life. It goes on all around us and in everything we do. I doubt it can be avoided.
To be the assigner and officiate (pay yourself to assign games to yourself) is an obvious conflict of interest. That was the original question and my answer is yes it is a COI.
I didn't intend to impugn anyone. It is a topic that I feel strongly about and I have probably overspoken my share.
See ya.
