Rookie Schedule

[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).

[Mark Padgett]

Camron - you should work our rec league here in Tigard. You can do 3 HS rec games on a Friday night and get $90. No mileage, but you're done in about 3 1/2 hours. Or, you could do 3 MS games on a Saturday and get $81 ($27 per game). Again, no mileage but if you were doing the little guys (running clock) you'd be done in less than 3 hours. These are the game fees for refs with at least four years of experience. Less experienced officials get somewhat less, but still not too bad. And if you wind up working alone (which almost never happens) you get 1 1/2 times your rate.

BTW - if you need (or just want) a new jersey, our league pays half, plus they'll give you a Fox 40 and Smitty if you don't have them.

Oh yeah - the "competitive" MS league pays $30 a game regardless of grade level.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

$30 a game.

Same pay as the Catholic school "junior varsity" league that I work on weekends. Fifth and sixth graders. Six minute periods. Games scheduled on the hour. We usually work a triple, or quadruple, header and walk out of there with $90 to $120, plus all the food you can eat from the concession stand. I tell you, it's like we're stealing money. Stealing money from the church? I think that I need to go to confession.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

plus all the food you can eat from the concession stand.

So do you ask for rule interpretations from the popcorn guy?

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Stealing money from the church? I think that I need to go to confession.

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. I touched my whistle in an impure manner...

[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.