Originally Posted by refnrev

There is only way to handle a one person game ---- Get in, do your best, survive, and get out.

Originally Posted by refnrev

The few times my partner was a no show and I had to fly solo, I got both checks. That's the way it works around here.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

How do the JV officials go home without knowing a varsity official has not shown up? This is a sore subject on our local board. We've always had a unofficial policy on our local board that varsity officials get to the site early to watch at least the second half of the junior varsity game, and the junior varsity officials stay and watch at least the first half of the varsity game. ...


But, alas, it's an unofficial policy. Sometimes the junior varsity officials have just completed a freshman/junior varsity doubleheader, have been at the site from 3:15 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. and just want to get home, leaving as soon as possible, in uniform, without even taking a shower. In some cases the junior varsity officials want to get out of there as soon as possible to get to their hometown to do a recreation, or travel game (easy money), again leaving, in uniform, without even taking a shower. Sometimes they just leave, no excuse, just walk out the door at the end of their game. We varsity officials can't do anything about this, except giving them a lower rating, because they didn't stay.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I've been a little more fortunate. The few times my partner was a no show and I had to fly solo, I got both checks. That's the way it works around here.

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

There's a term for those officials...Paycheck officials...just showing up to earn the check and not doing what it takes to get better or better the organization. The few that do the expected probably get the nod when the assignor needs some new varsity officials....and rightly so.

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

In my area if one official doesn't show up, the official that missed the game is fined an amount equal to the game fee s/he would have earned if s/he showed up. So the HS game that you miss is ~ a $72 swing. Because you don't earn the $36 game fee, and you're fined $36.
The official that does the game by him/herself is paid an extra 50% of the game fee. His/her game fee just went from $36 to $54. The other $18 stays with the association and is used for the social night, education (sending newbies to camp), etc....Since most assignments are double headers, missing usually amounts to being fined upwards of $70-$80, and as high as $100 or slightly more than $100.

Originally Posted by grunewar

The few times I have worked by myself have all been sub-JV thankfully. I do just as the post suggests - coaches meetings, captains meetings, foul line to foul line, etc. Thankfully, the coaches and players are fairly acceptable and appreciate just having the one official they DO have. Haven't had any real problems I can recall, but never felt like it was one of my better games - and I'm usually more tired too - both physically and mentally!

Originally Posted by just another ref

When calling a game alone, one must be prepared to acknowledge the fact that: "I didn't see it," and act accordingly. Lots of possession arrows on out of bounds.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Are you sure that you've only done this a "few times"?

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

In my area if one official doesn't show up, the official that missed the game is fined an amount equal to the game fee s/he would have earned if s/he showed up. So the HS game that you miss is ~ a $72 swing. Because you don't earn the $36 game fee, and you're fined $36.

The official that does the game by him/herself is paid an extra 50% of the game fee. His/her game fee just went from $36 to $54. The other $18 stays with the association and is used for the social night, education (sending newbies to camp), etc....

Since most assignments are double headers, missing usually amounts to being fined upwards of $70-$80, and as high as $100 or slightly more than $100.

Originally Posted by mikeref

This is a no brainer for me...under no circumstances do I work a game alone. The liability factor is just too great.

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

Mike, I'm not a lawyer, so this is an honest question. How is the liability greater for an official who works alone than for a crew of 2? And does that mean that the liability for a crew of 2 is greater than that of a crew of 3?

I just don't understand how the number of officials affects liability. I have no legal background.