To the Virginia officials ...

[letemplay]

In some of the rural more spread out areas, they have had a tough time getting quality refs over the last several years when the move from 2 man to 3 along with the fact that Class A and AA girls bball was moved from fall to winter, coinciding with boys seasons. Too many games on same nights depletes the roster. The "better" refs get the better games and the others are left with the less experienced officials. Travel costs can sometimes exceed game fees, so some of the older, more experienced have just called it quits. Getting into one of these areas with any kind of ability could land you some varsity assignments quickly, although as someone else said, it will be obvious if a person is not ready for that level and he might get bumped back to JV to clean up some stuff.

[BatteryPowered]

At our last association meeting we were being lectured by the assignor for our blocks and "cherry picking games" (seems quite a few members are members of multiple associations and are turning back games if they get a "better" game from someone else).

Since we are in our first heavy tournament period we have a lot of games to fill. One night there were so few officials available the assignor had to give someone their first varsity game...it was the 4th game he has ever called.

Just depends on the area, the number of games to fill and the pool of available talent.

[Dad]

What does a varsity schedule mean? There is a world of difference between varsity skill levels. I've seen varsity teams that would lose by 100 points to a strong freshman club. Just getting a varsity game really doesn't tell me anything.

[deecee]

Originally Posted by dad

what does a varsity schedule mean? There is a world of difference between varsity skill levels. I've seen varsity teams that would lose by 100 points to a strong freshman club. Just getting a varsity game really doesn't tell me anything.

+1

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Dad

What does a varsity schedule mean? There is a world of difference between varsity skill levels. I've seen varsity teams that would lose by 100 points to a strong freshman club. Just getting a varsity game really doesn't tell me anything.

Well, I live in Virginia. It's about a $22-25/game difference and means you are working 3-man instead of 2-man.

[Dad]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Well, I live in Virginia. It's about a $22-25/game difference and means you are working 3-man instead of 2-man.

Weird payment system if 3man V gets 22-25 more per official than 2man JV

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Dad

Weird payment system if 3man V gets 22-25 more per official than 2man JV

That's normal as far as I know. Don't know of any place that pays the same for JV as it does for Varsity.

[Dad]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

That's normal as far as I know. Don't know of any place that pays the same for JV as it does for Varsity.

I didn't say the same. It's 3man verse 2man

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

That's normal as far as I know. Don't know of any place that pays the same for JV as it does for Varsity.

I second the comments of my colleague from another part of this great Commonwealth.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Dad

Weird payment system if 3man V gets 22-25 more per official than 2man JV

For my schools, the 2 JV officials get $20 less than the 3 varsity officials do. I would like to see that difference be *greater*, not smaller.

[Dad]

Originally Posted by Rich

For my schools, the 2 JV officials get $20 less than the 3 varsity officials do. I would like to see that difference be *greater*, not smaller.

per official or overall cost?

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by BatteryPowered

At our last association meeting we were being lectured by the assignor for our blocks and "cherry picking games" (seems quite a few members are members of multiple associations and are turning back games if they get a "better" game from someone else).

This is an interesting point. Happened a lot in the pre-internet era of assigning, but decreased when assignors gravitated to the monopoly that we know of as Arbiter. Now that Arbiter is experiencing some competition from other applications, it stands to reason that the "game-shopping" problem is on the rise again.

Integrity. If you accept an assignment, honor it. If you're lucky, your assignor has a policy where if you're offered an upgraded game, all you have to do is contact him/her to ask for relief. Good assignors are happy to provide relief if they have replacements available.

Game-shopping and turnbacks, without approval, are a reputation killer. Your short-term gain will turn into a long-term loss.

[Dad]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

This is an interesting point. Happened a lot in the pre-internet era of assigning, but decreased when assignors gravitated to the monopoly that we know of as Arbiter. Now that Arbiter is experiencing some competition from other applications, it stands to reason that the "game-shopping" problem is on the rise again.

Integrity. If you accept an assignment, honor it. If you're lucky, your assignor has a policy where if you're offered an upgraded game, all you have to do is contact him/her to ask for relief. Good assignors are happy to provide relief if they have replacements available.

Game-shopping and turnbacks, without approval, are a reputation killer. Your short-term gain will turn into a long-term loss.

Some good points, especially reputations being at stake.

I'm wondering why this is such an issue. If you block a lot of people, you don't get games. If you send games back, you don't get games. If you're arbiter is up to date then take what you get.

I also don't believe in blocking partners. It's so rare for there to actually be a good reason. I guess some association may have a ton of people with freakishly horrible social skills who just block everyone. No games for you.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Dad

I also don't believe in blocking partners. It's so rare for there to actually be a good reason. I guess some association may have a ton of people with freakishly horrible social skills who just block everyone. No games for you.

I've only blocked one person. It isn't because he is a bad official. In fact, he is one of our best. I blocked him because of some extremely unprofessional behavior he demonstrated in game where he went out to buy a bus, drove it onto the court, and proceeded to run it back and forth over me, then got out and threw the keys at me.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

I've only blocked one person. It isn't because he is a bad official. In fact, he is one of our best. I blocked him because of some extremely unprofessional behavior he demonstrated in game where he went out to buy a bus, drove it onto the court, and proceeded to run it back and forth over me, then got out and threw the keys at me.

I had one of those moments once.