Wanted, Reward, Dead Or Alive ...

[sdoebler]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Having any problems recruiting new talent?

Extreme issues. I believe historically, at least around here, schools played most of their basketball games on Tuesdays and Fridays. About two years ago the association met with the athletic directors and governing body to equal out games per day. They now try to have about the same amount of games played all six available days of the week Mon-Sat.

In terms of recruitment around 09-12 the new officials class would have 40-60 people in it each year. Now I believe the numbers have been 10-15 the last 2-3 years. It is not sustainable with the numbers of officials we have retiring each year. Also, around here there are more schools being built and athletic programs being added. Each year as we have less officials and there are more and more games to cover.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by sdoebler

Extreme issues. I believe historically, at least around here, schools played most of their basketball games on Tuesdays and Fridays. About two years ago the association met with the athletic directors and governing body to equal out games per day. They now try to have about the same amount of games played all six available days of the week Mon-Sat.

I'm just surprised the ADs were willing to actually consider the officials in making their schedules.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by SC Official

I'm just surprised the ADs were willing to actually consider the officials in making their schedules.

It probably came down to that, not playing games, or playing one-person games.

When athletic directors keep getting, "Sorry. Nobody available", from the assigner every time they schedule, or reschedule, a game, they'll eventually get the point.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by SC Official

I'm just surprised the ADs were willing to actually consider the officials in making their schedules.

Why would that be surprising? Even here some conference games were played on "off nights" in order to get officials they might not get if they played all their games on a Friday. I know that in many cases that were made to have officials that worked boys games to be available. I am not talking about half the season, but certainly, a game on off nights was moved to get a better crowd and sometimes to get better crews for that night as well. Keep in mind we do not do two games in a night.

Do not get me wrong, we often not considered at all in any things schools do. But if they want officials, they better do something.

Peace

[sdoebler]

Originally Posted by SC Official

I'm just surprised the ADs were willing to actually consider the officials in making their schedules.

I believe prior to this a variety of schools received the answer that there were no officials to work the schools game on Friday. My understanding is that this happened to almost half of their games scheduled on Fridays. Then they had to do last minute changes generally which no one wants to deal with. Like others have said they really didn't have a choice in the matter the games were already being moved to off days during the season. At least working with the relevant parties on scheduling prior to the season allowed them to avoid all the changes.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by sdoebler

At least working with the relevant parties on scheduling prior to the season allowed them to avoid all the changes.

I guess that was my point. Normally officials are an afterthought for schools until something goes wrong, but the shortage must be getting so dire in some places that schools have to be proactive in scheduling around when officials will be most available.

I wonder how your assigner decided which schools got officials and which ones had to reschedule.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by SC Official

I wonder how your assigner decided which schools got officials and which ones had to reschedule.

[sdoebler]

Originally Posted by SC Official

I guess that was my point. Normally officials are an afterthought for schools until something goes wrong, but the shortage must be getting so dire in some places that schools have to be proactive in scheduling around when officials will be most available.

I wonder how your assigner decided which schools got officials and which ones had to reschedule.

We have about 6 assignors for our area, it was mostly the smaller and charter schools that were left out. This is probably for two reasons.

1. Lower profile games which may make them theoretically easier to move
2. Our process is different from most as I understand it. We receive all of our games for the entire season from the draw on or about October 31st. Many of the smaller schools don't get their schedule in in time to be part of the process so the officials for these schools are assigned manually with what is left. All of the games and officials are ranked so the higher ranked games will be filled first till there is no qualified referees left.

[ilyazhito]

Interesting. It certainly helps to have a degree of certainty as to who does what games, but how does your area deal with turnbacks, transfer officials, and dual-level officials (High School and College)? IMO, I might only know for sure what my availability is for the next month, unless there are set dates that I need to be present for (e.g. association/state meetings) or I cannot work on (e.g. the day before a final exam), and scheduling me for the entire season might lead to awkward situations in that regard. If the entire schedule is set in advance, then transfer officials might not have as much of a chance to get games compared to established officials, simply because the assigners have not seen them work, or may not know about them, other than through references from former associations.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by ilyazhito

If the entire schedule is set in advance ...

After being a Forum member for thirteen years, it is my understanding that some officials sign contracts anywhere from eighteen months, to twenty four months, in advance.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by sdoebler

... around here there are more schools being built and athletic programs being added.

Around here it's new magnet schools, and new charter schools.

We've seen a slight dip in subvarsity girls programs around here, a few schools couldn't field a girls junior varsity team last season, and very few schools have a freshman girls team.