Finally happened to me...

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Two checks? That's nice. We get the same as if we had a partner...just the one game fee.

I did that enough last year, including during a very physical freshman game that nearly had me tossing the visiting head coach. I really hope to not have to do that anymore but as the saying goes...wish in one hand...

I see both sides of this.

As an official, I wouldn't want to work by myself and not see something extra.

As a team, why should I pay the normal going rate and only have 1 official? That's the assignor's problem, not mine.

Luckily, in WI we can't start a game with less than 2 officials by state policy. And I don't work rec ball.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

As a team, why should I pay the normal going rate and only have 1 official? That's the assignor's problem, not mine.

You know, I actually tend to favor this line of thinking as well. Why should the schools pay for more than they are getting if they didn't screw it up?

It would be nice if the chapter covered the other 50 - 100%.

The part that stinks is I'd be the one put through the ringer if I did not want to call the game by myself.

I like Wisconsin's rule.

[Mark Padgett]

Our local kids rec league pays 1.5 times the rate if you work a game alone. That's seems fair to me. When working alone, you don't do twice the work, but you do about 1.5 times the work.

There's a "competitive" kids league around here that only pays an extra $5 if you work a game alone. That sucks.

BTW - our local kids rec league is giving all the refs a raise this coming season. They asked me to come up with the new pay scale. Cool.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Welpe

You know, I actually tend to favor this line of thinking as well. Why should the schools pay for more than they are getting if they didn't screw it up?

It would be nice if the chapter covered the other 50 - 100%.

..

Here we get paid double. And the missing partner gets fined a game fee.

Agree school shouldn't have to foot the bill for 2 officials if only 1 show up.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

And the missing partner gets fined a game fee.
Agree school shouldn't have to foot the bill for 2 officials if only 1 show up.

Car accident on the way to the game? What if only one official was assigned? In our little corner of Connecticut we have some difficulty assigning two officials to freshman, and middle school, late afternoon games on really busy days. Sometimes there's only one official available at that time in that town.

[IowaMike]

Every public school in my area gives you extra if you work alone. Some give you both game checks, others 1.5 times your regular fee. I've worked alone many times and it is not pleasant at any level. I do think we deserve something extra for the effort of working alone.

I once had to do a night of four consecutive 7th and 8th grade boys games alone due to a partner no show. Ended the night with 6 technicals and 2 ejections, one player and one coach (son and father). It was a Catholic school league so the number of T's wasn't really that unusual.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Car accident on the way to the game?

Or what if the official got abducted by aliens!!!

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

What if the official got abducted by aliens!!!

I ran out of gas. I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake. A terrible flood. Locusts. It wasn't my fault, I swear to God.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by Welpe

You know, I actually tend to favor this line of thinking as well. Why should the schools pay for more than they are getting if they didn't screw it up?

It would be nice if the chapter covered the other 50 - 100%.

The part that stinks is I'd be the one put through the ringer if I did not want to call the game by myself.

I like Wisconsin's rule.

On the other hand, why should I work a game solo for the same fee when I agreed to work with a partner? I've done enough accidental one-man games to know I'm not interested in working them at the two-man rate.

I work harder and they get a less covered game. 1.5 times the normal fee seems like a good compromise.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

1.5 times the normal fee seems like a good compromise.

If I'm a middle school athletic director trying to save a few bucks, and I'm thinking about asking an assigner to send only one official, I would have to weigh the savings of half of one fee versus the crappy game that's probably going to be called. It not worth the small financial savings.

Now on the other hand, if I had to pay only one fee for a one person game, then the financial savings can become significant over the course of a full season, and I might go with the crappy officiating.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

On the other hand, why should I work a game solo for the same fee when I agreed to work with a partner? I've done enough accidental one-man games to know I'm not interested in working them at the two-man rate.

I work harder and they get a less covered game. 1.5 times the normal fee seems like a good compromise.

I don't disagree. Frankly I hate working one whistle and would refuse to work if it wasn't expected of me by my chapter. Too much gets missed and the game has the potential to hit the toilet a lot quicker.

I also don't think the school should have to pay more for one official if it isn't their fault.