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I suppose when you can choose from quite a few opportunities to work for free that are right down the road, the time into it isn't that much and that makes it more attractive for me and others. That's how it is for me. I enjoy officiating and am always looking to get better. I don't view it as time away from my family, or doing a job for free. I have a career where I make money. This is a hobby that we get paid to do. Doing it occasionally for free is enjoyable for me. It doesn't have to be for you or anybody else. The tone some of you guys are throwing out there about working for free is ridiculous. Is it all about money for most of you or is it about giving up your free time? Just so we are clear, NOBODY is a bad person for not working for free. This all started because someone made the statement they would never work for free. That's fine. You don't have to and I will occasionally. I think the skills and knowledge we have can be used to help out sometimes for free. That is all. |
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I have thoughts about why a few people volunteering to work for free is a bad idea, but I'll come back to that when I have more time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro |
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A "Laundry List" Of Fines ...
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Accident Medical $25,000 Excess Accident Limit $25,000 Physical Therapy $25,000 Dental $10,000 Accidental Death Liability $5,000,000 Per Official/Per Location Game Fee Reimbursement 100% of Game Fee up to $50 per game $2,000 Max Payout We have a "laundry list" of fines: Missed game assignments – full game fee Game turn-back due to not blocking date in the Arbiter - $15 Arbiter Late Partner Evaluation (submitted more than 7 calendar days from assigned game date): 2 to 3 Late or Missed - $25 Total; 4 or more Late or Missed - $50 Total Missed Meeting(s): A fine of $25 will be assessed for each meeting not attended beyond one permitted missed meeting. My first year, in ancient times © Mark T. DeNucci, Sr., 2018, the new guys were often assigned to work some men's recreation leagues (no more). I forgot to put a triple header on my calendar, and was a no show. I could of been fined three game fees, a steep penalty (plus I lost the three game fees, in essence a six game fee fine) for a low paid (at the time) teacher with a young family, but our treasurer took pity on me and only fined me a single game fee, dodged a bullet there. We also have late fees, and possible assignment penalties (half season, full season), for paying one's dues, fees, or fines, late, or if one bounces a check. Membership Dues Late Payment Fee - $50 Game Assignment Fee (7%) Late Payment Fee - $50 Late Payment For All Fines Fee - $50 Returned check fee is $25 Penalty for Non-Compliance Membership Dues and Game Assignment Fee If not paid by April 4 – Eligible for Assignments January 15 If not paid by May 1 – No assignments for the entire season Penalty for Non-Compliance with Fines No Assignments for the entire season (if not paid within 60 days of Fine letter) We have a new one. Attendance at the year end banquet requires a $20 deposit that you get back when you attend the banquet. We were paying for too many "no show plates" each year. I had a last minute family emergency last year and lost my $20. I wonder if I can deduct that from my taxes as a business expense. I'll check with my tax accountants, Dewey, Cheatem & Howe. |
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I totally understand the insurance part of it. That's a great deal! I already have medical and life insurance, so that wouldn't mean much to me, but it could mean a great deal for many people. How does your fine system have anything to do with working a scrimmage for free/volunteering? Thanks for the conversation and information. |
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I enjoy doing this. I truly do. I should add in the qualifier of "most nights." But I work 4-5 nights a week of varsity games due to the shortage of officials in my area, and I'm just not interested in doing it for free. I did some free work a few years back when I was a new official, and I did not enjoy it. Coaches still treated us poorly, the kids didn't thank us, and the parents were just as bad. I spend my summers trying to get better by going to a camp or two, working paid scrimmages, and enjoying my time off from teaching and coaching (to a certain extent). Maybe I just don't have a lucrative enough career to ref for free. Who knows. What I do know is that I value my time with my family much more than I value "giving back" to kids who don't thank me, coaches who act like jerks, and fans who don't know the rules. Maybe those involved act differently in your area but that's how it is here. |
What A Cute Little Boat ...
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https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.-...=0&w=249&h=161 It's the nation's oldest (1655) continuously operating ferry service, more of a tourist attraction than a mode of transportation. |
Paid Scrimmages ...
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We no longer volunteer to work free scrimmages. Scrimmages are treated like any other assigned game. All fines apply, including the 7% assignment fee. The difference is that we only get paid $50.00 (instead of usual Varsity Fee $97.17; Sub Varsity Fee $63.05), for three assigned officials who rotate into a two person game for six periods (about two hours). So, in essence, the schools are getting about $240 worth of officiating for a scrimmage discount price of $150. https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.l...=0&w=441&h=162 |
Who's Scott Free ???
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With 325 guys on our local board, we've got a few knuckleheads who would make life really difficult for our treasurer if these fines were not in place. |
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I can imagine you're the official that laughs with the coach the whole game and makes everyone's job harder by not handling business. Implying that officials who issue more T's than you and have a lower threshold for BS have "thin skin," "rabbit ears," "want to be seen," or any other fanboy-speak does make you a part of the problem, whether you like it or not. Have you ever considered that maybe your threshold is abnormally high? Doubt it. |
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I too work 4-5 nights per week of varsity action. It's not like I work a free game every week. A couple of times per year. A couple of camps in the summer. Once again, it sounds like a lot of you guys have coaches, players, and parents that are just more disrespectful than what I have seen. That's too bad and I can see how it contributes to your decision of not working for free. Thanks for the conversation! |
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We don't have a "Game Assignment Fee Late Payment Fee" Not sure I understand what that is. We don't tack on late payment for fines fees. We don't have a missed game assignment fee/fine. Then again, we never have guys that "no show". Guys might need to drop games, but they find a replacement for themselves. We don't use Arbiter, so anything associated with that doesn't apply to us. We don't have missed meetings penalties. If you don't hit the required number of meetings you are ineligible for post season. I think that's it. You guys have a lot more "stuff" to deal with. |
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