Association Dues

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

For those of you who are paying assigning fees, I can't believe that you put up with that. That cost should not be borne by the game officials, but instead by the member schools who are contracting with the assignor or organization doing the assigning. That fee should be built into that contract.

To stick the rank and file officials with that cost is bush league.

In my association, commissioner's fee is 8% of our game fees and each school pays a nominal annual scheduling fee to the commissioner.

As far as dues, $40 to register with the association (plus $10 for newcomers/transfers) and $40 to the State ($25 if already registered in another sport).

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

In my association, commissioner's fee is 8% of our game fees and each school pays a nominal annual scheduling fee to the commissioner.

That's exactly what I believe is wrong. The schools should be paying the amount that your officials are having to make up by that 8%. The commissioner should be getting his fee solely from the schools, not taking a cut of the check of each official. If he doesn't believe that the nominal annual scheduling fee is high enough, then he needs to discuss that with the schools, not take it out of the pockets of his officials.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

That's exactly what I believe is wrong. The schools should be paying the amount that your officials are having to make up by that 8%. The commissioner should be getting his fee solely from the schools, not taking a cut of the check of each official. If he doesn't believe that the nominal annual scheduling fee is high enough, then he needs to discuss that with the schools, not take it out of the pockets of his officials.

It's standard practice around these parts. Military, adult rec, kiddy rec, high school, middle school--all associations have a commissioner's fee coming from the game fee. Customer's are pretty much only putting out the money for the games themselves.

Only venue where the customer pays the commissioner's fee is AAU.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

It's standard practice around these parts. Military, adult rec, kiddy rec, high school, middle school--all associations have a commissioner's fee coming from the game fee. Customer's are pretty much only putting out the money for the games themselves.

Only venue where the customer pays the commissioner's fee is AAU.

It is pretty much standard practice for just about any similar type of operation...officiating or otherwise. Not sure why he's so worked up about it.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

It is pretty much standard practice for just about any similar type of operation...officiating or otherwise. Not sure why he's so worked up about it.

The school pays (say) $100 to the officials, who give $8 to the assigner.

Or, the school pays $92 to the officials and $8 to the assigner.

Or, the school pays $100 to the assigner who sends $92 to the officials.

It seems everyone ends up with the same amount of money under either scenario. So, unless one method is more efficient than the other, or there are some "legal" ramifications (the latter could lead to an employment relationship, for example), it doesn't seem to matter much.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

The school pays (say) $100 to the officials, who give $8 to the assigner.

Or, the school pays $92 to the officials and $8 to the assigner.

Or, the school pays $100 to the assigner who sends $92 to the officials.

It seems everyone ends up with the same amount of money under either scenario. So, unless one method is more efficient than the other, or there are some "legal" ramifications (the latter could lead to an employment relationship, for example), it doesn't seem to matter much.

In our case the school pays $100 to the association which in turn pays $92 to the officials and $8 to the commissioner.

But, for some reason, the commissioner receives a one-time $15-25 (not sure the amount) fee from each school before the season. Don't know what that fee is for.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

It is pretty much standard practice for just about any similar type of operation...officiating or otherwise. Not sure why he's so worked up about it.

Because it's tantamount to a kickback. That's an unethical practice.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Because it's tantamount to a kickback. That's an unethical practice.

I do not know if I would go that far. But the practice might violate some other laws if there is some kind of legal action taken place. Something like that happened here because of a kind of "kick back." But if that is the policy I would not consider that a kick back if that is the standard. I just think it is silly. If you are going to pay the officials, it should not be based on what the fee you decide to give the assignor.

Peace

[FrankHtown]

From the UIL (Texas' governing body for HS Sports):A(n) (officials) chapter that requests a service/assignor fee from schools will not be a chapter in
good standing...

For the Texas officials doing sub varsity games who are upset about the assignor's fee, the recent change to the pay scale should soften some of the blow: 2 sub varsity games plus mileage = $92. One varsity game plus mileage = $67.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Because it's tantamount to a kickback. That's an unethical practice.

No, it's tantamount to paying a commission. Just like entertainers and athletes pay to their agents. The commissioner is a receiving a fee for service.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

No, it's tantamount to paying a commission. Just like entertainers and athletes pay to their agents. The commissioner is a receiving a fee for service.

I have no problem at all with an assignment fee. Those guys spend lots of time getting their games booked and should be compensated. One previous assignor took a flat fee based on number of games booked, which I thought was very generous. Another charged $2 per game. I think the associations have a booking fee that is assessed to the schools down here. Nobody should work for free. And if you [not the quoted poster] think that assignors are any different, perhaps you would like to trade places. For no fee of course.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

No, it's tantamount to paying a commission. Just like entertainers and athletes pay to their agents. The commissioner is a receiving a fee for service.

And the service he is providing is to the member schools in getting officials for them, not to the officials themselves who are providing a service themselves. Therefore, the schools not the officials should be paying the commission. That's the point, which you are missing.

Otherwise, let the school ADs or athletic secretaries contract and obtain their own officials. If they don't wish to do that task, then they should pay someone else to do it for them.

[Upward ref]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

In my association, commissioner's fee is 8% of our game fees and each school pays a nominal annual scheduling fee to the commissioner.

As far as dues, $40 to register with the association (plus $10 for newcomers/transfers) and $40 to the State ($25 if already registered in another sport).

or $125. for a newbie !

[JRutledge]

That does not sound out of the question. Many associations in my area allow officials that are new to come to the group for free for the first year and observe. But after all your fees you will have to pay. A $125 can be made in one or two games (or dates) so I see that as very reasonable.

Peace