Conflict of Interest

[Pantherdreams]

We are a small rural association with a low number of officials but most are very good almost a quarter of our top officials work university level games. As a result we tend to work double headers, two person, and a variety of levels. We could show up to a gym and the double header could be v boys and v girls, jv and v for either side or even a middle school game and high school game. FOlks in my association are flexible I could be on a middle school game with a college level official some nights.

It has always been on us to decline games or assignments because of conflict of interest. Has never been a big problem. We now have a school complaining about the quality of officials they get as a direct result.

We have 9-12 varsity level officials in our pool most years. As I said we have 4 officials who work college level and high school 3-5 more who are capable or young up and coming officials (I'm putting myself there) and 2-3 guys who are on the down hill slide or who have just been around for a long time but not gotten better.

A lot of these guys will officiate at schools where they are alumni but some will not. Basically what has happened is between the college and guys and capable group we have school team with 3 school alumni, 1 fraternal relationship (hi bro), 1 former player and an employer/employee relationship. All of whom are declining games because of conflict of interest. As a result when the other college level officials aren't available this school is consistently getting the bottom 2-3 guys.

Should we be encouraging some of these officials to not see this as a conflict of interest or just let it roll.