Rookie Schedule

[JFlores]

Originally Posted by bainsey

It's a simple case of supply and demand.

If officials are in demand, less experienced ones are more likely to work games. If they have plenty of vets, the newer guys will get fewer games.

Unless your in Houston. I guess with the economy there has not been a high turnover rate on fellow refs. Usually every year you would have anywhere from 50-65% of guys that dont return.

This year, the sub vars assignor are mainly concentrating on guys with 0-3 years of experience. Everyone else is SOL or getting whats left over especially if they dont have vars games.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by JFlores

Unless your in Houston. I guess with the economy there has not been a high turnover rate on fellow refs. Usually every year you would have anywhere from 50-65% of guys that dont return.

This year, the sub vars assignor are mainly concentrating on guys with 0-3 years of experience. Everyone else is SOL or getting whats left over especially if they dont have vars games.

That seems like a huge turnover. Not saying we have better numbers, but why do you think there are so many not coming back?

Peace

[Spence]

3rd year official.

I think I did about 40 JV/frosh games my first year.

I didn't do anything other than high school.

[JFlores]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

That seems like a huge turnover. Not saying we have better numbers, but why do you think there are so many not coming back?

Peace

Easy, they dont know how to handle fans and coaches. I can recall first year, some of the coaches being a-holes, fans constanly moaning from the stands. If your not mentally prepared for it, I can easily see why it would fluster young officials.

Around here, the second half of the season you get a huge amount of turnbacks, guys get that xmas money and disappear until next season.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by JFlores

Easy, they dont know how to handle fans and coaches. I can recall first year, some of the coaches being a-holes, fans constanly moaning from the stands. If your not mentally prepared for it, I can easily see why it would fluster young officials.

Around here, the second half of the season you get a huge amount of turnbacks, guys get that xmas money and disappear until next season.

Wow!!! I get the not being able to mentally handle people yelling at you. But I guess I am surprised by the turn backs and why that would be "allowed." If we did that here those guys would not have many games the next season.

Peace

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

That seems like a huge turnover. Not saying we have better numbers, but why do you think there are so many not coming back?

Peace

I'm guessing his turnover quote was with regards to 1st year officials. That doesn't seem that far off. I don't think our retention rate after the first year would be much better. A lot of people sign up that just aren't cut out for it. I'd bet that we lose nearly 75% of new officials within 3 years.

[Texas Aggie]

why do you think there are so many not coming back

I can only talk about what I'm seeing:

1. The abuse has gotten worse from the fans and stayed the same from the coaches. Texas UIL gives lip service about sanctions against coaches but in my experience, unless they are ejected, there isn't a penalty. Ejections are rare and the officials are scrutinized heavily -- plus first year folks generally don't have the stones to run anyone.

2. Many large chapters are forced to put 2 first year officials in a jr. high game. These games are often as heated as any rivalry varsity contest and 2 first years can't handle it.

3. Large chapters see many, if not the majority of the time, blow out games with 40 or 50 foul calls. If its not that, then its urban jungle or street ball with little offense or defense being played. These games are not fun and wear down anyone. At the end of the year, there is a strong feeling that one can find something better to do.

4. The physical play has changed the game and made it much more difficult to learn to officiate. One guy in the meeting says "if someone hits the floor, there needs to be a foul called." Another person giving a new guy a critique says, "you're calling too many fouls." Then, they watch us work with mixed results and a very mixed message. While it was never an a+b=c formula, its made the learning curve more difficult.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

I can only talk about what I'm seeing:

Plus, the pay stinks...you only do it cause you like it. Many people would might be good officials just don't put in the effort since they can earn more money elsewhere....or decide their time is more valuable then sub-minimum wage pay.

Here in Oregon, the officials get the short end of the stick when the economy is poor. The teachers and AD's keep getting their raises since they've got their union contracts. Those same individuals then petition for the officials to give up previously agreed upon raises and pretty much force it on the officials who have no real leverage.

We had our mileage rate cut by about 10%, even when gas prices and the federal rate were going up...and we already had to split a single mileage pay among the crew anyway (football really gets the short end on that one...effectivley under 10cent/mile per person).

The schools just won't find a way to pay the officials the previously agreed upon $2 more per game per official (2-person). One year, they petitioned the officials to freeze their pay one year (more accurately, mandated) with a promise to catch up the next year (give the scheduled raise and the delayed raise). Guess what happened the year...they didn't want to stick to their word.

The teams still find a way travel out of state or across the state for a tourneys, They find a way to get new uniforms.

They only need to come up with another $4 per game each year. All they have to do to pay the officials the promised raises is to charge an extra few cents for adminssions...but they don't seem to figure that out.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

The teachers and keep getting their raises since they've got their union contracts.

No problem here in the "Constitution State". Our state interscholastic sports governing body bases the fee increase each year on the average statewide annual teacher salary raise.

The average pay increase for teachers in Connecticut this school year was 2%. So officials got a 2% fee increase. Varsity $88.28. Subvarsity $57.25. No mileage.

No more contract negotiations in smoked filled, back rooms. Easy peasy lemon squeezie.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

No problem here in the "Constitution State". Our state interscholastic sports governing body bases the fee increase each year on the average statewide annual teacher salary raise.

The average pay increase for teachers in Connecticut this school year was 2%. So officials got a 2% fee increase. Varsity $88.28. Subvarsity $57.25.

No more contract negotiations in smoked filled, back rooms. Easy peasy lemon squeezie.

That is what I've proposed here.....but that assumes you start at a decent rate. One of the objections, is "How do you calculate that rate?"

We currently get $60.25 for Varisity plus $0.505 cents per mile, one way, as measured from a fixed point in the middle of the city with a minimum of $5. Most desitinations result in a total payday of $65-$70 (minues expenses and the assigner's commission) for 4-5 hours of commitment (travel time, pregame time, game time).

[JFlores]

Yeah the lower the level the crazier the parents and coaches are. Everyones baby is the next lebron and you need to call the fouls accordingly.

Example of a crazy coach:
For instance my first game of the year i worked with a new official, however, for the second game the jv game needed one of us cause there was a no show, so the youngin did not feel like doing it on his own and i dont blame him. So before the game starts i tell coaches is just me alone, and to just bear with me.
The minute the game got hot, one coach in particular just starts moaning and screaming for calls. I had to call time and let him know that it was enough and that its just me and that I cant call everything. Furthermore, if he had issues he needs to take it up with our assignor, and the next complaint he would get a T. BUT I was diplomatic about it.

I also second about it being low pay, UIL is paying $30 a game jr.hi/sub vars plus mileage.

[Spence]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

We had our mileage rate cut by about 10%, even when gas prices and the federal rate were going up....

How big of an area do you cover? What's the average drive to your games? I ask because I'm in a 3-county area that 90% of my games are within a 20 to 25 minute drive. We get no mileage.

[chseagle]

Here's an idea for all schools: stop giving students with ASB free entry into games, charge them $1-2.

Use uniforms for, at minimum, 2 years before getting new uniforms.

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

The teams still find a way travel out of state or across the state for a tourneys, They find a way to get new uniforms.

All they have to do to pay the officials the promised raises is to charge an extra few cents for adminssions...but they don't seem to figure that out.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

I'm guessing his turnover quote was with regards to 1st year officials. That doesn't seem that far off. I don't think our retention rate after the first year would be much better. A lot of people sign up that just aren't cut out for it. I'd bet that we lose nearly 75% of new officials within 3 years.

I know he was talking about first year (brand spanking new officials) and that still seems a little high to me. Not to say that our numbers are not as high, but that seems a little high when you considering you have the opportunity to train and mentor many of them. We do not license officials at the local association level so that could be part of the factor in those numbers, where we usually have the opportunity to keep guys around because when they come to us they have someone helping them out usually. I agree that over some time we will lose a higher percentage as I feel that if we can get officials for 5 years they will do it until they cannot do it anymore or want to do it anymore (retirement or health).

Peace