2 person varsity crews this year

[UNIgiantslayers]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Maybe they do not like the coverage of 2-person in that level of game. Anything that happens is not going to be like the scrutiny is going away. I would try to work at other levels that I am already working. We are independent contractors. when schools realize we do not have to leave our house for what is below a standard we have set, the better off everyone will be.

Also, some people have the desire to work higher level and more athletic basketball. That is a preference. It is not like we are getting rich doing this or making a D1 salary for a couple of hours. I think enjoying what you do is just as important as what level you do.

Peace

That’s a great way to look at it. I personally don’t enjoy lower level varsity basketball, or high school girls for that matter. I’d love to act as an independent contractor and not take games I don’t want. Unfortunately in our area it doesn’t work like that. We have one assignor who assigns for like 90 high schools in central and southern Iowa. I can think of about 3 schools that don’t use him and contract their own games. You can’t exactly turn back games and expect him to keep using you, no matter how desperate he is for people. If you want games in this area, you work what he gives you. As I mentioned, he does a great job of only putting you on a couple of those shitty games every season so you just kind of take your lumps. If you took your line of thinking in our area, you wouldn’t be doing much high school ball. I won’t do college ball because it’s too much time away from my family. I enjoy doing good high school ball and am fine recognizing that sometimes in life things aren’t perfect.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by UNIgiantslayers

That’s a great way to look at it. I personally don’t enjoy lower level varsity basketball, or high school girls for that matter. I’d love to act as an independent contractor and not take games I don’t want. Unfortunately in our area it doesn’t work like that. We have one assignor who assigns for like 90 high schools in central and southern Iowa.

I understand, trust me I do. Obviously, officials are making a choice. And that choice is not to work at all. What does that get us? Now these actions are taken. And if the smaller school are going to 2 person, there are likely to be officials that are like me, like Rich and like some others that might say, "Forget this, I am staying home."

Originally Posted by UNIgiantslayers

I can think of about 3 schools that don’t use him and contract their own games. You can’t exactly turn back games and expect him to keep using you, no matter how desperate he is for people. If you want games in this area, you work what he gives you. As I mentioned, he does a great job of only putting you on a couple of those shitty games every season so you just kind of take your lumps. If you took your line of thinking in our area, you wouldn’t be doing much high school ball. I won’t do college ball because it’s too much time away from my family. I enjoy doing good high school ball and am fine recognizing that sometimes in life things aren’t perfect.

Well, where I live we have more than enough officials and games to work in basketball. I can decide who to work for, I can decide what level not to work. And most of all maybe this is why officials all over the country are losing officials. I know in some other sports there were assignors trying to make people feel they had to do things, and now they are losing numbers and having to scramble for officials. The point I am making is that we can act like we have no choices, but it appears when people decide not to work that sport anymore, they are making a choice. You just have to know who you are in this game.

Peace

[SC Official]

I always think the idea of "we're independent contractors" is a bunch of hogwash, something that's only true in form and little in substance. Of course, that largely depends on the state, but overall as a profession I believe that is the case. There are multiple feuds going on with low-level college assigners in my area, to the extent that some assigners are saying "do not work for x assigner or you will not work for me." That is the definition of not being an IC, and that's just one example. Of course, assigners are ICs, as well, and can pretty much use or not use an official for any reason they choose. Where the line is drawn is not something I know (not a lawyer).

With respect to this topic, I guess I consider myself lucky to be in a state like SC where all varsity games come out of Columbia. The booking office goes as far down the rating list as it has to in order to fill every varsity DH with 3-person crews, even if that means the #600 official (out of ~750 statewide) gets an assignment. Don't get me wrong, the way things are done here is antiquated and illogical, but it does prevent a shortage to the extent that we'd have to go to 2-person varsity DHs.

And I'm like Rich. I would quit before regularly working 2-person varsity, if we ever got to that point.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by SC Official

I always think the idea of "we're independent contractors" is a bunch of hogwash, something that's only true in form and little in substance.

When I say that I am speaking from a state perspective. No one can require me or any officials to do anything. I can even give back games that I choose to not work. Now will that have other consequences? Sure. But when you say I must work on a Saturday or a Friday at a certain time, you have no right to tell me to do anything for many reasons. It is our internal goals or expectations that we do things we might not want to do. We have to just own that, but if you refuse what are they going to do to you?

Even as a college official, no one tells me what to make available. They ask for a reason early what we can do. If we leave few dates available, then the consequence might be we may not get many games, but they cannot make you do anything in the end. n varsity, if we ever got to that point.

And I can tell you that as a multiple sports official, the schools better make some changes or they might not have officials at all for certain games. Part of the shortage was on the schools, not even the assignors. Right now football everyone moved to Friday when there used to be Saturday games a lot. And the schools do not want to have schools open on Saturday. Well if they do not change that, they will not have games at all because they will not have anyone to do their games. Move the nights and the times, they will have plenty of officials available. Just because you do what always worked is not going to help the situation.

Peace

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

When I say that I am speaking from a state perspective.

Right, and my comment wasn’t intended to be directed at you. In states like yours and Rich’s where each conference hires its own assigner, I’m sure there is much more of an independent contractor “vibe,” versus states like mine and surrounding which have much different assigning structures that are more restrictive but the powers-that-be still claim that we are “independent contractors.”

Not at all saying I want to be classified as an employee of an assigner or state association, just saying that in many states, officials are treated more like employees than ICs with respect to the letter of the law despite what state associations call them.