Well that was fun

[deecee]

Originally Posted by j51969

IMO,

If they had enough fore-thought to hand pick officials to handle this matchup, they should have had enough sense to add a 3rd. Maybe not the norm, but the situation as you describe it wasn't normal. A good 3rd may have made a noticeable difference. Maybe a good after action comment to AD or assigner.

I have found that just adding a third doesn't help unless all 3 are well versed in 3 man. Without the proper training there is a negative return on investment for having a third official.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by deecee

I have found that just adding a third doesn't help unless all 3 are well versed in 3 man. Without the proper training there is a negative return on investment for having a third official.

Which is good reason to start 3 man at lower levels (large school JV, for example).

[packersowner]

Originally Posted by Adam

Which is good reason to start 3 man at lower levels (large school JV, for example).

Completely agree. Most nights, a JV 2-man is harder to work than a V level 3-man. Our assignor brings in a lot of 2-man crews for the JV game, brand new crew for the Varsity game. I'd rather have 3, work both games and take a little less pay for both games

Rough Numbers:

JV Game - 2 officials at $55
V Game - 3 Officials at $65
Total - $305

or

3 officials working JV and V game at $100.

[Dad]

Originally Posted by packersowner

Completely agree. Most nights, a JV 2-man is harder to work than a V level 3-man. Our assignor brings in a lot of 2-man crews for the JV game, brand new crew for the Varsity game. I'd rather have 3, work both games and take a little less pay for both games

Rough Numbers:

JV Game - 2 officials at $55
V Game - 3 Officials at $65
Total - $305

or

3 officials working JV and V game at $100.

Many won't see it as a little less.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Dad

Many won't see it as a little less.

I just drove 160 miles roundtrip last night for $50. I'm not in this for the bucks.

But it's ridiculous, nonetheless. $50 was at the low end here in 2002 when I moved here. Yes, we're 3-person now instead of 2-person, but there are parts of this state that pay $85/person (3-person) and places that still pay $50 as part of a negotiated reduction that allowed for 3-person 7-8 years ago that still hasn't been adjusted. And yet this year we're playing 18 minute halves instead of 8 minute quarters and there was *still* no adjustment to these fees in most places.

The example above means that the officials would be making $35 each to work the JV game. I don't like it, cause there's absolutely no skin in the game for the schools.

When I started assigning a HS conference, I allowed crews to bring 3 and have them split 2 checks -- this was last season. I knew we were going full-time 3-person this year (and we didn't cut fees at all), and I told the officials that it would be a one year cut...and they could always choose to work 2-person since that's what the schools paid for. About 40% of the games were worked with 3 officials last year. 100% this year and I can't imagine going back.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Rich

I just drove 160 miles roundtrip last night for $50. I'm not in this for the bucks.

But it's ridiculous, nonetheless.

So you actually lost money on the night. That is not cool. You might not be in it for the money but it shouldn't cost you to do it.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

So you actually lost money on the night. That is not cool. You might not be in it for the money but it shouldn't cost you to do it.

I took the game as a favor to an assigner. Where I am, we have no central assigners so I'm free to work games far away or close to home as I see fit.

Today I saw video from a game pitting the #1 and #2 girls teams in our small school division on a 94-foot floor. They hired 2-person crews. These days, in this state, that's outrageous.

Then again, it's one of those facilities that puts on events and usually assumes the responsibility of paying for the officials and they sent around an email earlier this season asking for crews. They paid $55 (below market in the area) and only hired 2-person for all games.