I had one of those moments once.

Why?

Our schools don't even have their games figured out until Sept/Oct just before the season. Even if they had then ready earlier, this isn't like scheduling astronauts for shuttle missions. 1-2 months ahead of the game should be plenty. I, as an official, would hate to have to commit to a specific Tuesday night for HS ball game 2 years away. That seems like it is skewed very much against the officials and very much for the assignors.

I'm not so sure you want to do that...unless you want to risk being classified as an employer. Controlling workers associations and putting limits and conditions like this are one of the tests the IRS uses to determine IC/employee status. Now would someone test it? Doubtful. But is it a risk you want to take?

Different sport...but I have two schools that sent me contracts for spring 2017 this past summer. I have several more that will send me contracts for the next year's corresponding date the week after I work a contest. I don't think it's that they are any more organized. Their preferred timeline in just different.

I never turn one back because I got something better. And I can't remember the last time I had to turn one back for any reason. I came close a couple years ago when I got called as an alternate for the grand jury and one of our court dates was the same as a contest. I told him the situation and he understood. Luckily, the "regulars" showed up for jury duty and I was able to go back to work.

To the Virginia officials ...
 

Your system is just different. It's not necessarily better.

And I do our sport schedules, not the schools, so the schedules are always 2 years in advance. It's what's expected here.

I'd be happy to schedule officials later. But when all the other assigners schedule in advance I lose the ability to hire the better officials.

BTW, I have a game scheduled for February 2018. I probably won't get to 17-18 till next summer.

We actually do that where I'm currently at....and yes, that same thought has crossed my mind. Independent contractors under union-like control are inherently dependent. Red flags all over if someone ever has the desire and resources to challenge it.

And that is the reason...a race to get them covered before others. It is really entirely unnecessary, but the way it is.

Our football schedules are generally not assigned. Schools contact directly with crews and usually do it as soon as they contract the games. That means it often starts 4-5 years out. Our crew already has three games scheduled for 2020.

Wow, 2-3 years out? We're lucky to get 2-3 days out for our first wave of games.

Hoop season around here starts THIS WEEK and we don't have our assignments yet!

This is just stupid. Your entire crew could be dead in 2020. There is no way anyone can reasonably be expected to make a commitment to a particular day 4+ years in advance, especially for something as trivial as officiating a high school sporting event.

This is freaking ridiculous as well. There is no way the assignor is still waiting to find out where and when the games for next week are going to be. The fact that he cannot get assignments out at this stage is just plain laziness.

I agree with that too. At least a month, but no more than 2-3 is about right.

I'll get my January schedule the week of Christmas....

My "regular" job is one that schedules week-to-week (hey, I'm only 23!). I have a relatively consistent schedule, but sometimes I have to work the odd shift that I'm not expecting because that's just how it is. So every week is a constant sweat between "can I work my job?" or "can I accept my games/what dates do I block on Arbiter this week?"

For football I got my assignments at least two weeks in advance. For baseball I got damn near my entire schedule before the season even started. Is basketball honestly that much more difficult? I'm not an assignor, so I really don't know.

And yet it sounds like they are.

My problem with some officials is this -- they know they have a conflict well in advance but wait till the last minute to address it. Surely those college officials knew they had a game on Thursday before they contacted me on Monday.