Officials Uniform Problems

[jeffpea]

Originally Posted by CDurham

After having to sign paperwork I stepped onto the court at 4:05.

if you arrive 30 minutes before the game, then you can handle the "paperwork" and have plenty of time to avoid these problems (if you haven't done so already by contacting your partner). people who do not arrive on time to games/meetings/appointments ultimately made a decision earlier in the day that what they were doing was more important than leaving to get to the game on time....

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by jeffpea

people who do not arrive on time to games/meetings/appointments ultimately made a decision earlier in the day that what they were doing was more important than leaving to get to the game on time....

Sometimes "issues" arise and decisions are made for you that are out of your control - no matter how early you leave (traffic, accident, weather, construction, breakdownetc.).

Believe me, I live in the DC area and leave 90 minutes early for a game that's only 15 miles away.....That being said, I've never been close to being late and always have my P's and Assignors numbers close at hand.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by jeffpea

if you arrive 30 minutes before the game, then you can handle the "paperwork" and have plenty of time to avoid these problems (if you haven't done so already by contacting your partner). people who do not arrive on time to games/meetings/appointments ultimately made a decision earlier in the day that what they were doing was more important than leaving to get to the game on time....

I work nothing but varsity HS and juco games, well, except when I don't.

A local guy I've worked youth football with got assigned a state final this year and asked me to cover a middle school game for him if his game conflicted. It did. I did.

I showed up at 3:45PM for the 4:15PM tipoff with my wheeled bag, dressed in nice clothes like I do for every game I work. There was nobody in the gym. I sat down and waited 15 minutes before anyone arrived.

I asked where I could change. The woman shrugged and said, well, there's a bathroom over there. Our officials come dressed. I was clearly an oddball.

My partner walked in at 4:10PM. I had already taken care of the book and talked to the captains. I decided to just relax and have fun, and I did. The guy wasn't the worst partner I've ever had, nor was he the best. The coaches were well behaved, mainly because I think I scared them.

My point is this: Showing up 30 minutes before an early game may make sense until it just doesn't. OTOH, I feel late if I show up less than an hour before a varsity game.

[Adam]

The last season I worked MS games I had the same experiences Rich talks about. It was my first season in that city, and I was working them to get my face out. I stopped, not because I was too good to work those games, but because I couldn't justify getting off work 2 hours early for $12.50/game in 2007.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

The last season I worked MS games I had the same experiences Rich talks about. It was my first season in that city, and I was working them to get my face out. I stopped, not because I was too good to work those games, but because I couldn't justify getting off work 2 hours early for $12.50/game in 2007.

Two games with 6-minute quarters for $50. It was like stealing. It made me think about doing more of these at some point.

Of course, I had to change in the bathroom afterwards and wasn't offered a shower, but I was only 5 minutes from the house and my hot tub.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Two games with 6-minute quarters for $50. It was like stealing.

$60.00 here.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

The last season I worked MS games I had the same experiences Rich talks about. It was my first season in that city, and I was working them to get my face out. I stopped, not because I was too good to work those games, but because I couldn't justify getting off work 2 hours early for $12.50/game in 2007.

$12.50 per game? Wow, I don't think I've seen or heard of a game for that little in forever...way before 2007. Did they pay in grain or pelts before 2000?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

$12.50 per game? Wow, I don't think I've seen or heard of a game for that little in forever...way before 2007. Did they pay in grain or pelts before 2000?

LOL. No idea. I made more than that in small town Iowa when I worked a few middle school games in college back in 1993 (long before I took officiating seriously).

I was surprised when I saw my first check, $37.50 for a three game set. I typically don't ask what the pay is, even now.

Although I did pick up four games this Sunday for $15.00/game; essentially our AAU equivalent from what I can tell. I'm not sure what I was thinking; neither is my wife.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

My partner walked in at 4:10PM. I had already taken care of the book and talked to the captains. I decided to just relax and have fun, and I did.

I have one Rec partner who shows up right at game time or slightly thereafter every time. After meetings, I have even gone ahead with the jump by myself and then in he walks.....when the league has seven games in one gym for the day you just try to avoid getting behind on game one.

Originally Posted by RichMSN

My point is this: Showing up 30 minutes before an early game may make sense until it just doesn't. OTOH, I feel late if I show up less than an hour before a varsity game.

I usually show up at least 30 minutes early too - even for Rec Ball. Just a good habit.

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I showed up at 3:45PM for the 4:15PM tipoff with my wheeled bag, dressed in nice clothes like I do for every game I work. There was nobody in the gym. I sat down and waited 15 minutes before anyone arrived.

I asked where I could change. The woman shrugged and said, well, there's a bathroom over there. Our officials come dressed. I was clearly an oddball.

I now come dressed for all junior high games. I learned this the hard way. I wheeled in 30 minutes before game time for a freshman girls game. After meeting my "where can I change?" with a deer in the headlights stare, then huddling up with her assistant coach for several minutes the head coach responds, "You can change in the girls PE locker room. We're done in there for now." So I'm in the girls locker room, just about to strip off, when in walks some random junior high girl with her mother. Turns out it's parent-teacher conference day. Ugh. So I find a nice safe boys restroom to change in.

After the game the coach apologizes and says we can shower and change in the coaches office in the boys locker room. We head in there, I turn on the shower, and settle into a chair for a few minutes to wait for it to warm up. Just as I'm starting to strip off, somebody comes into the locker room and announces for everybody to get out because the visiting team is coming in to change. Good thing I wasn't in the shower already where I might not have heard the announcement. That could have gotten real ugly real fast.

[TimTaylor]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

My point is this: Showing up 30 minutes before an early game may make sense until it just doesn't. OTOH, I feel late if I show up less than an hour before a varsity game.

Yep. Early sub-varsity level games can be a challenge at times and you have to do the best you can - I think everyone understands that.

I agree on the one hour minimum prior for varsity games. Tuesday I had a scheduled 5:45 varsity game & arrived at the gym at 4:15. The JV game was about 2 min into the 2nd quarter and there was only one official - his partner never showed up. I wound up working the 2nd half of the JV game on top of my scheduled varsity game.