To the Virginia officials ...

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

A good reason not to have contracts for individual games signed 9 months in advanced. No way in the world would my personal schedule allow me to know that far in advance that I will be available on that particular date. That's especially impossible to do for anybody who works college games as we start getting our schedules in October and are still receiving games through November.

Except they picked a different varsity game over mine. No excuse for that at all.

Our system is just different here. I assigned 2016-17 this past July. I leave some openings for transfers and people I see at camps, etc. but not many.

I'm happy to work with college officials. I know what they bring to the table and most of them work a dual schedule. But a small minority want to accept games and then at the last minute dump them in my lap thinking that I'll just deal with it because they're too good to fire.

I have to get off games as my day job requires occasional travel. I always find a sub and give that name to the assigner with my apologies. Now, it's just a matter of sending out a replacement contract, updating my master schedule, and notifying the school -- something I can do in about a minute.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Rich

Our system is just different here. I assigned 2016-17 this past July. I leave some openings for transfers and people I see at camps, etc. but not many.

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.

[Altor]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Our schools don't even have their games figured out until Sept/Oct just before the season.

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.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

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.

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.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Rich

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.

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