New Referee Basketball

[BryanV21]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

You make much more officiating than you make working at McDonald's for example. I paid for my first car mostly with money from officiating. I tell guys in college that they can do better working games than they can most other jobs with their time they spend on other things.

Peace

You're right, most part-time jobs are not going to pay you around $70 for what amounts to maybe 3.5 hours of work (travel time, early arrival, and game time). Of course, that doesn't take into account the time we spend attending meetings, reading, paying dues, along with the money and time used to purchase uniform stuff.

To your point, my best friend's father put him through college using the money he made officiating. Of course, his father officiated four sports, and worked almost every night, to do so. But yes, there is money to be made doing what we do.

But I believe my point is still valid, as it is certainly possible to find a part-time job that is comparable in pay when you take into account all those extras I pointed out in the first paragraph. And that doesn't include the stress and crap we put up with compared to the guy working the drive thru at McDonald's, either (that's not to say they don't have any crap to deal with, but I believe on average we put up with more).

To you and me, the money we make is worth what we put into it. But I'm not going to tell somebody that simply wants to make a little extra money that officiating is a great way to do that. I'd rather be 100% honest about what it takes to truly succeed at what we do, and let that person decide if it's worth a try.

I'm sorry if what I'm saying dissuades anybody from officiating, as many places need more officials (especially good ones that are dedicated).

[bucky]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

You're right, most part-time jobs are not going to pay you around $70 for what amounts to maybe 3.5 hours of work (travel time, early arrival, and game time). Of course, that doesn't take into account the time we spend attending meetings, reading, paying dues, along with the money and time used to purchase uniform stuff.

To your point, my best friend's father put him through college using the money he made officiating. Of course, his father officiated four sports, and worked almost every night, to do so. But yes, there is money to be made doing what we do.

But I believe my point is still valid, as it is certainly possible to find a part-time job that is comparable in pay when you take into account all those extras I pointed out in the first paragraph. And that doesn't include the stress and crap we put up with compared to the guy working the drive thru at McDonald's, either (that's not to say they don't have any crap to deal with, but I believe on average we put up with more).

To you and me, the money we make is worth what we put into it. But I'm not going to tell somebody that simply wants to make a little extra money that officiating is a great way to do that. I'd rather be 100% honest about what it takes to truly succeed at what we do, and let that person decide if it's worth a try.

I'm sorry if what I'm saying dissuades anybody from officiating, as many places need more officials (especially good ones that are dedicated).

Bryan did a better job of saying essentially what I meant. A new official doesn't start making $70/game. I also do not believe one, initially, could make more money working at McDonald's, let alone "much more". Clearly McDonald's would provide more hours and thus more money. McDonald's, or similar job, provides room for advancement, resume building, S.S., education reimbursement, food(lol), and other perks that are more worthwhile than officiating. Not say officiating completely does not provide some of those things just not a par with a job. This is the way I might look at it: A teenager asks, "What should I do for income? Get a job, like McDonald's, or officiate basketball?" I know what my answer would be.

This is all presuming that the OP was young. If older and simply needs a "hobby" then my answer might be different.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bucky

Bryan did a better job of saying essentially what I meant. A new official doesn't start making $70/game. I also do not believe one, initially, could make more money working at McDonald's, let alone "much more". Clearly McDonald's would provide more hours and thus more money. McDonald's, or similar job, provides room for advancement, resume building, S.S., education reimbursement, food(lol), and other perks that are more worthwhile than officiating. Not say officiating completely does not provide some of those things just not a par with a job. This is the way I might look at it: A teenager asks, "What should I do for income? Get a job, like McDonald's, or officiate basketball?" I know what my answer would be.

This is all presuming that the OP was young. If older and simply needs a "hobby" then my answer might be different.

I might make $70, but then I spend $25 of it on dinner afterwards. I don't know of many officials who run right home after every game and don't spend any of the money they make.

[bucky]

Originally Posted by Rich

I might make $70, but then I spend $25 of it on dinner afterwards. I don't know of many officials who run right home after every game and don't spend any of the money they make.

Now you know at least one, me.

(save that dinner receipt, as an expense, for tax purposes. lol)

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by bucky

Good info and makes sense however new officials, mostly, are not officiating enough to average $50/day as you indicated for yourself.

So now you are going directly opposite of your initial "only do it if you are going make it your primary income" post.

[bucky]

Originally Posted by Raymond

So your now you are going directly opposite of your initial "only do it if you are going make it your primary income" post.

With grammar like that, I do not want to risk trying to understand.

[justacoach]

Originally Posted by bucky

With grammar like that, I do not want to risk trying to understand.

I find no fault with Raymond's observation that you are back-tracking 180 on your original position.

Invoking the grammar police is the last bastion of a flawed and confusing message.

Where's the IGNORE feature on this board?

This is the first time in 15 years I have ever wanted to block a blockhead user.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by bucky

With grammar like that, I do not want to risk trying to understand.

You understand exactly what I wrote, extra word or not. Your first response in this thread was for one to only get into officiating if it will be one's primary source of income. Then you turn around and give a litany of reasons why money can't be made in this vocation.

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[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Rich

I might make $70, but then I spend $25 of it on dinner afterwards.

WOW! How many Big Macs is that?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

WOW! How many Big Macs is that?

Zero.


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[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by bucky

Bryan did a better job of saying essentially what I meant. A new official doesn't start making $70/game. I also do not believe one, initially, could make more money working at McDonald's, let alone "much more". Clearly McDonald's would provide more hours and thus more money. McDonald's, or similar job, provides room for advancement, resume building, S.S., education reimbursement, food(lol), and other perks that are more worthwhile than officiating. Not say officiating completely does not provide some of those things just not a par with a job. This is the way I might look at it: A teenager asks, "What should I do for income? Get a job, like McDonald's, or officiate basketball?" I know what my answer would be.

This is all presuming that the OP was young. If older and simply needs a "hobby" then my answer might be different.

I used to be a Dominos Pizza delivery guy in college. I would make in tips for a full night from 4-close (2 in the morning), about 25 dollars in tips on a weeknight. I might make around 50 dollars working on a weekend where I would close later. I would not make as much money after taxes as I do working a single middle school game and it is guaranteed, not based on how many tips I might get. And you can write off your expenses like food or gas and you might not have spent a couple of hours based on where the game is located.

So I can work a couple of hours and make well over $50 or work all night and maybe make that. And McDonald's and many other jobs are not going to allow you to work a 40 hour week. Where they take out taxes and other fees because they are required to do that by law and you cannot write off any expenses the same way you can while being self-employed.

I would never say this was the best way to make money overall, but when your time is money and you have hours in the day to do other things (like another job), it is pretty lucrative as a second job. I know people that use the money to go on family trips or to pay kids through college.

Just think about it, if during a 3 month period I make an average of $50 a day for 90 days (including multiple game days), I have made $4500. And that is only at the heart of the basketball season. I can work many more games during the off-season and more games in a day between.

And if you file taxes right, you pay almost nothing because you can claim reasonable expenses for those fees you get.

Peace

[bucky]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I used to be a Dominos Pizza delivery guy in college. I would make in tips for a full night from 4-close (2 in the morning), about 25 dollars in tips on a weeknight. I might make around 50 dollars working on a weekend where I would close later. I would not make as much money after taxes as I do working a single middle school game and it is guaranteed, not based on how many tips I might get. And you can write off your expenses like food or gas and you might not have spent a couple of hours based on where the game is located.

So I can work a couple of hours and make well over $50 or work all night and maybe make that. And McDonald's and many other jobs are not going to allow you to work a 40 hour week. Where they take out taxes and other fees because they are required to do that by law and you cannot write off any expenses the same way you can while being self-employed.

I would never say this was the best way to make money overall, but when your time is money and you have hours in the day to do other things (like another job), it is pretty lucrative as a second job. I know people that use the money to go on family trips or to pay kids through college.

Just think about it, if during a 3 month period I make an average of $50 a day for 90 days (including multiple game days), I have made $4500. And that is only at the heart of the basketball season. I can work many more games during the off-season and more games in a day between.

And if you file taxes right, you pay almost nothing because you can claim reasonable expenses for those fees you get.

Peace

Good info and makes sense however new officials, mostly, are not officiating enough to average $50/day as you indicated for yourself.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by bucky

Good info and makes sense however new officials, mostly, are not officiating enough to average $50/day as you indicated for yourself.

Maybe in your area, but around here you can work every day if you really want to. For one there are mostly lower level games which need a body more than anything and weekend tournaments that would also be youth games and can easily get a lot of that work if they wish. I belong to 3 associations and every day I get emails to cover games at some lower level or Junior High/Middle School. And in many cases, those lower level games are multiple games and pay nearly if not $50 a game. And if you get paid $45 dollars a game and you will work 3 or 4 games in a night at the middle school level, you made over $100 easily that day. Guys like me do not do that anymore because I make enough working varsity and college games and this is not my main source of income. So I have other things I would like to do but could work every day during the basketball season if I choose to. I just choose not to. But everyone gets the same emails I do regardless of experience level.

Peace