Well they do not schedule or assign games in that fashion here for the most part. We work only boys on a night or only girls on another night. And if they ever do a "pack the place night" where they might play a boys and girls game, they assign two sets of officials.

For the record, not many come out for girls games anyway and that still does not change how they schedules run. Also girls basketball starts a week earlier and their playoffs start earlier based on class in some cases up to two weeks before the boys playoffs start. And I do not think a good girls team wants to play the same school of another school that does not have an equally comparable team outside of conference play. Girls play in their own tournaments and own shootouts so not sure that would be practical here. I only work boys basketball so this is only a school issue for most of us here rather than an assigning issue.

Peace

In my area we usually (almost always) work a double header. Most of the schools have all contest between them on the same night...varsity in the main gym...JV in a second gym...possibly freshmen in a third (yes, many schools have that many gyms) though freshmen sometimes play on a different night.

In the secondary gym there will be JVB-JVG double header and in the main gym there will be a VG-VB double header. Two crews assigned to work both games (typically two whistles for JV and three whistles for V).

I would not work for the rates in Mississippi.

While I don't agree with the specific amounts, the concept is valid. You only have to travel to/from the site once regardless of how many games you do. Building the travel amount into the fee is not uncommon and not unreasonable. They could just pay $23 per game regardless of the number then pay $32 for getting there. Again, I think the numbers are off, but not the concept.

It's not usually a matter of schools being "poor". It's a matter of them not wanting to fundraise more. Most places I'm aware of, expenses of extracurricular sports come from things like participation fees, gate fees, concessions, fan apparel, and fundraising. It does not come from the same pool of money as funding normal school operations does.

They figure if they can chop the officials fees, they don't have to beg for money as much in the community.

Well that might depend on your state and how schools are funded. And it might not apply to the private schools that get no such state funding. We have a funding issue in Illinois and the schools are not getting money from the state as they are promised. There are all kinds of schools trying to complain about payment to officials or upgrading facilities because they are not financially strapped. It is one thing to not fund raise, but not everything is in the budget when we have teachers complaining they are not paid enough or have other rights as a result. I suspect that officials are way down on the list of priorities right or wrong.

Peace

When you only work 9 months out of the year, you can't expect the taxpayers to pay you for 12.

I am not trying to make a political statement here, I am pointing out that there are other needs that schools claim to have. Some schools would rather pay for computers than play an extra $5 or $10 for an official a game. Right or wrong this is the reality when we complain about our pay.

And tax players complain when little Johnny cannot read at the right age group or cannot do other functions to get into college. So it is a little more than how many months you work, it is what you value.

Peace

Could Not Have Said It Better Myself ...
 

JRutledge: As a retired middle school science teacher, you have my sincere appreciation, and thanks.

BillyMac

My mom is a retired professor, so I get it.

Peace

All teachers I know cram 12 months of work into far fewer than 9.

Most unappreciated, underpaid professionals I've ever seen.

You don't know many teachers then.

I know some who do that and just as many who don't. And there lies the real problem, figuring out a way to reward the good teachers without rewarding the bad ones.

Not the case where I work in Iowa. Fees vary by conference, but I never get double for a basketball doubleheader. The big 4A conference I work in pays $75 for a single 3 person varsity game and we always just work one game. When I work smaller schools it's always a girl/boy doubleheader and we only get $90 working 3 person. Needless to say I try to work as few games as possible at the smaller schools. They only pay travel to the person who drives the farthest so if I'm not working with my regular guys who live in my area I could drive 50 miles each way and get no travel pay. Not worth it.

All HS baseball dates in Iowa are doubleheaders so there really isn't a one game fee. Generally $110 for a varsity doubleheader which I think is still low considering how long they can take.

re:
 

From the article:

"The state's basketball referees are the lowest paid among all officials who work for the MHSAA."

And at $40 per game, or even $45 if they got that raise the MHSAA was offering, I'd venture to guess they're the lowest paid officials in the COUNTRY. Heck, we get $45 per game for MIDDLE SCHOOL. Granted, it's 2 man, but still...

"It's Good To Be The King" ...
 

Connecticut game fees for 2015-2016: Varsity Fee: $94.63; Sub Varsity Fee: $61.39. Two person games. No mileage.