Allegiance (sp?)

[bluezebra]

"Now, I can understand your dilemma about work and family commitments. It's even worse where I live. Our game assignments for the week come out in the Sunday paper. I cannot plan my week until the Sunday paper comes out. Every Sunday morning during baseball season, I am on the phone with assignors working the rest of my schedule around my high school schedule. Until Sunday, I have no idea what will happen in any given week. That's just the way it is."

This has to be one of the dumbest ways of assigning games I've ever encountered. Does your assignor own stock in that newspaper? I assigned FED softball and volleyball officials in my area, and my contacts were always personal. I sent out an availability form prior to our first association meeting. When those were returned, I made my assignments for the first part of the season (non-league games). I mailed out duplicate copies to the officials, asking them to return one signed copy at the first meeting. The next schedules were for the rest of the first month. Then, I got together with the instructional chairman, and worked at putting the best officials available on the games that involved playoff-bound teams. Also, having been an official for many years, I understand extenuating circumstances arise. A legitimate reason for turning back an assignment was never punished. Posting assignments in the Sunday paper leads to, "How come Joe got more games than me"? And, it's not fair to the officials as to planing ahead.

Bob