A sad state of affairs . . .

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Welpe

You aren't doing that already?

Rich, you do raise a good point IMO. The amount of control that an association can exert over how an official does his job in some areas does seem to blur the line between independent contractor and employee.

Blur? I think it obliterates it. Add in the typical association "restraint of trade" nonsense (officials aren't free in many places to work for the association and also for other groups or for people not willing to pay the association going rate), and I can't possibly understand why officiating associations can have it the best way, from every angle, simply for them?

If I want to work HS baseball in many states, I have no choice but to join the local association, pay whatever due they tell me I have to pay, pay the assigning fee, wear only what uniforms they allow, including association-only hats, etc., etc. How does this make me an independent contractor?