Giving Game Fees back

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by yawetag

If this were a high school game in my association, you're screwed. It's our job to call the school and verify the game is still on before leaving for the game. If the game is still on, you get the name of the person and drive to the school. If the game gets canceled at any time after that, you're paid for the game.

We have the same procedure in my association here in CT. We have to call the schools to verify especially sub-Varsity and Middle School games. However, if we are told that the game is on and we show up and the game is off or moved, we are still paid (under contract with the schools). The assigner handles all the dirty details in those cases.

[johnnyg08]

I think on game day, the schools should hold the burden of calling/emailing the umpires...it shouldn't fall solely on the umpires...esp on game day...

[chartrusepengui]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

I think on game day, the schools should hold the burden of calling/emailing the umpires...it shouldn't fall solely on the umpires...esp on game day...

In my area - if we don't receive a call cancelling in a timely manner - we get paid the contracted fee - w/ mileage. Timely manner means calculating the driving time - arriving at field 30 minutes prior to game time - plus 30 minutes. For example - if it takes 30 minutes to drive to field - we would have to be called at least 90 minutes prior to game time for us not to get paid. So far no problems - usually called in plenty of time. If game is cancelled for reasons other than weather - and they forget to call - we get paid. It is THEIR responsibility solely. We are not expected to keep track of all teams/schools.

[tballump]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

The assigner handles all the dirty details in those cases.

This is exactly who should handle all the problems. Call the game and immediately leave the field and go home. If any procedures for money are not met, call the assignor and he should fix them including paying you the money immediately if some team stiffed you or tried to pay after the game. I have yet to hear of a pi$$ poor assignor. All the ones I have heard about have well paying day jobs and are making a nice stipend from the schools and teams and many charge umpires a fee to assign them also for their trouble.
Many assignors umpire games and many times get a lot (quantity and quality) of good games regardless of whether they are the best in their association or not. So let them pay you immediately when things go wrong, and this will solve all the problems. Believe me, if the assignor has to keep paying a lot of his umpires out of his own pocket (although many can well afford it) because teams are lax or tardy with paying the game fee on time, he will fix the problem (because it will be a pain in the a$$ for him just like it is for the umpires involved) including and up to, not booking that team with umpires any more. IMHO, put the responsibility where it belongs, on the assignor, who in many areas with many teams is handsomely paid. End of discussion.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by tballump

This is exactly who should handle all the problems. Call the game and immediately leave the field and go home. If any procedures for money are not met, call the assignor and he should fix them including paying you the money immediately if some team stiffed you or tried to pay after the game.

This is moot through my organization. We're paid through the org, not at each individual school. I like it a lot better. I feel people, especially when the away team loses, tend to think things when you're handed a check at the game site.

One of the smaller leagues I ump for (away from the org) pays us cash for each game. We're most often paid in the office after the game, but one time the new president tried to hand me my pay on the field between innings. I politely declined and stated I would get it after the game.

[johnnyg08]

In amateur organizations, it's pretty common to get paid at the field and it's no mystery how umps are paid. your association doesn't get their money from the sky...you're still getting paid by the teams. anybody who's going to "think things" or "say things" about me being paid for umpiring because their team lost doesn't get 1 second of my time in the first place. Maybe it's different out your way. I'm glad that we don't get paid through our association.