2-person state final question

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by OKREF

We have 7 classes B-6A. Only 5A, and 6A are 3 man. Even during the regular season only those 2 classes are 3 man. Some lower classification schools are starting to allow us to bring 3 during the season.

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

Is it more a matter of sheer numbers of officials available? Lack of desire from schools (i.e., money)? Something else?

JetMet, I think you may be onto something. The system the OSSAA had when I was there in 2007-09 was the same as it is today as OKREF describes it. Not much if anything has changed in eight years.

Why? I have two theories:

1. I think the number of officials has a lot to do with it. OK has more individual school districts then any other place I can recall, and they all insist on playing varsity games exclusively on Tues/Fri nights. That spreads officials fairly thin in all but the urban hotbeds of Lawton, OKC and Tulsa.

2. Pay sucks. It was $80 for a 2x varsity DH in OKC in 2009. I think it's only up to $90 now. Not very intriguing to new officials moving up.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

JetMet, I think you may be onto something. The system the OSSAA had when I was there in 2007-09 was the same as it is today as OKREF describes it. Not much if anything has changed in eight years.

Why? I have two theories:

1. I think the number of officials has a lot to do with it. OK has more individual school districts then any other place I can recall, and they all insist on playing varsity games exclusively on Tues/Fri nights. That spreads officials fairly thin in all but the urban hotbeds of Lawton, OKC and Tulsa.

2. Pay sucks. It was $80 for a 2x varsity DH in OKC in 2009. I think it's only up to $90 now. Not very intriguing to new officials moving up.

You've got a point. I can see both being a problem. In NYC virtually all of the games start at 4:30 or 5 but we have lots of officials and the only semi-quiet weekday tends to be Monday. We also don't work DHs, or should I say one assignor won't schedule you to work a DH.

From a pay standpoint, it's actually a combination of the officials and the schools that hold back 3-person. We're paid very well ($110.44 for Varsity) but people don't want to have their check reduced for the sake of getting the extra person. The schools don't want to put out the extra $ to have it at all levels.

[Mregor]

AZ has 5 divisions (DI-DV) for both boys and girls. ALL regular and post season is 2 person. Some holiday tournaments will use 3-person. There is no serious push to 3-person.