2 person varsity crews this year

[UNIgiantslayers]

I have heard that Iowa will be using 2 person crews for some lower level varsity games this year. This is entirely due to a lack of officials in our state. I thought that was pretty sad that we’re having to do that after being 3 person for so long. I wonder if game fees will stay the same or if we’ll get an increased cut because we’re splitting it between 2 rather than 3.

[Rich]

Honestly, I see botn sides. Why should the schools pay the same to get lesser coverage? Why should the officials do more work and not get paid more?

I'm done working 2. I'd retire first.


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[UNIgiantslayers]

I feel bad for our assignor because I’ll bet he will deal with a lot of guys that think they’re too good to go work 2 man small school. He does a great job of mixing it up so it’s not the same 7 or 8 crews working all the big school games. Honestly, I don’t think working 2 man will be that bad because a lot of those teams that will get 2 man crews play much slower than a 3A or 4A team. It will be an interesting year for sure though.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by UNIgiantslayers

I feel bad for our assignor because I’ll bet he will deal with a lot of guys that think they’re too good to go work 2 man small school. He does a great job of mixing it up so it’s not the same 7 or 8 crews working all the big school games. Honestly, I don’t think working 2 man will be that bad because a lot of those teams that will get 2 man crews play much slower than a 3A or 4A team. It will be an interesting year for sure though.

It's a step backwards. I'd rather promote lower level officials to fill 3-person crews or have a JV person stay to work with 2 varsity officials.


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[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by Rich

It's a step backwards. I'd rather promote lower level officials to fill 3-person crews or have a JV person stay to work with 2 varsity officials.


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Theoretically, I completely agree. But ADs always seem to get 51% of the vote.

With the officials shortage, this may be inevitable in more and more places. If so, I hope the expectation is that there is judicious decision-making on which games get which sized crews, not necessarily based on school size and division, but more so on the standings (which admittedly can be arbitrary in early December but are certainly very important come mid-January).

Truthfully....and Rich, you know this with some of your schools....not every varsity game truly needs three officials. That should be our goal of course....but if we're stuffed into a corner by circumstance, we know which games we'd cut the third official from.

Note: All of this is easier said than done in a long-term contracting state like Wisconsin.

[ilyazhito]

Originally Posted by Rich

It's a step backwards. I'd rather promote lower level officials to fill 3-person crews or have a JV person stay to work with 2 varsity officials.


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Agreed! That way the JV officials can get varsity experience, and get comfortable with varsity level games before being promoted to the varsity staff full-time.

I also think that using 2-person for varsity games is nonsense, because the athletes are too big, fast, and strong for the officials to get into credible calling positions if there are only 2 of them. That is why I have joined groups that use 3-person for their varsity games as a dual-board member.

[UNIgiantslayers]

The schools that will get 2 man are absolutely not too big and fast for an official to keep up. It is BAD basketball. A lot of 20-16 final scores, just slow and bad basketball. It’s not fun but every crew gets these teams once or twice a year.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by UNIgiantslayers

I feel bad for our assignor because I’ll bet he will deal with a lot of guys that think they’re too good to go work 2 man small school. ....

Or those officials don't want to work 2-man or don't think those games are worth leaving their house for. It's not always about thinking "they're too good".

[UNIgiantslayers]

I don’t know many that want to work 2 man. It’s usually bad basketball.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Or those officials don't want to work 2-man or don't think those games are worth leaving their house for. It's not always about thinking "they're too good".

Exactly.

I'm glad I don't work in a single assigner system where saying no to a game like this means the rest of my schedule will suffer.

I assign 24 schools and I have only had one game run with two officials in the last few years. Last minute death in the family and too late to get another official.


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[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by UNIgiantslayers

I feel bad for our assignor because I’ll bet he will deal with a lot of guys that think they’re too good to go work 2 man small school. He does a great job of mixing it up so it’s not the same 7 or 8 crews working all the big school games. Honestly, I don’t think working 2 man will be that bad because a lot of those teams that will get 2 man crews play much slower than a 3A or 4A team. It will be an interesting year for sure though.

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

[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.

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by Rich

I'm done working 2. I'd retire first.

If I weren't 38 and now living in Rhode Island, I'd be right there with you.