Tiring Scrimmage

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

ected to pay for for one (1) official per team at scrimmages.[/COLOR][/B]
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I have disagreed with this new scrimmage procedure since it first came up last season. Officials working scrimmages for free, or for a small, voluntary stipend for lunch, gas, and laundry, is a win, win, win, situation for all involved.

Why is it a win for the officials? If we work, we should get paid. There's too much "working for free" going on as it is, with officials working 3-person for the price of two officials.

I worked 2 scrimmages this year in football and 2 in basketball. Schools wouldn't even ask officials to work for free around here.

The best one was a 4 hour scrimmage where we had 3 officials per court (3 courts) and we were paid $100 each. And then teams dropped out and we had floaters to give breaks, too. The other scrimmages paid $40, $50, and $40 and were all about 2 hours long.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Why is it a win for the officials? If we work, we should get paid. There's too much "working for free" going on as it is, with officials working 3-person for the price of two officials.

I certainly can see your point, as does the our state athletic governing body, as well as my local, and state, basketball officiating board. And I can certainly agree with you up to a certain point. As I said, I don't mind getting some type of small stipend, to cover my transportation, etc. But I also believe that it is to my benefit to get in some games before my real games, and it is also to my benefit to build up some good rapport with the coaching staffs. Why a small stipend instead of a set fee? I guess that the real reason is that when I do a scrimmage I am practicing, just like the teams, and feel that I am getting as much benefit in being allowed to "warm up" for my real season, as they are in getting an official, instead of an assistant coach, to "ref" their game. I know that I'm in the minority on this issue, but that's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.