# of games

[CMHCoachNRef]

Originally Posted by ref2coach

Have you ever heard of a "unilateral contract"? A unilateral contract is where one party has all the power. They are illegal in insurance and some other industries.

TSSAA requires referees belong to a local association, require the schools to use an association to supply referees, assign +/or approve the schools serviced by each association. TSSAA appoints the assigning officer and supervisor of each association.

Any referee who turns down a game that was assigned on an unblocked date in our association has 3 other assignments removed. So no, short of not refereeing High School at all there is no "two parties to a contract" freedom in TN.

In the past a significant portion of an association attempted to start a new association to advocate for better pay and mileage compensation. TSSAA simply refused to sanction their elected assignor and supervisor and reminded the schools that if they used referees from an unsanctioned association that they would have to forfeit their games.

Would I rather get paid $80 and get some exercise and enjoy being around the game? Yes I would. Is there any semblance of "independent contract" or free market principle in the "unilateral" nature of TSSAA policies? NO.

My point to you is that as long as there are enough officials to take these games -- it does not matter WHY they take the games (hobby, short on cash, love the exercise, etc.) -- $80 will be the number.

At the point when enough officials decide to do MS games, indoor (outdoor) soccer games, etc., the rate will change. It has to change -- unless they want to go to 1-person crews. until then....well, $80 may not seem so bad.

[ref2coach]

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

My point to you is that as long as there are enough officials to take these games -- it does not matter WHY they take the games (hobby, short on cash, love the exercise, etc.) -- $80 will be the number.

At the point when enough officials decide to do MS games, indoor (outdoor) soccer games, etc., the rate will change. It has to change -- unless they want to go to 1-person crews. until then....well, $80 may not seem so bad.

Sounds like options but reality intrudes. MS games are also assigned by the approved associations. TSSAA also sanctions high school Soccer. I am a soccer referee also. The other Winter sports provide very little opportunity to break a sweat while refereeing. Wrestling or Bowling anyone.

[CMHCoachNRef]

Originally Posted by ref2coach

Sounds like options but reality intrudes. MS games are also assigned by the approved associations. TSSAA also sanctions high school Soccer. I am a soccer referee also. The other Winter sports provide very little opportunity to break a sweat while refereeing. Wrestling or Bowling anyone.

I am guessing they don't sanction club soccer. My point is that as long as enough folks are willing to wear a black and white striped shirt and meet the requirements AND are willing to do the games for $80, that is what you will get. I am guessing that soccer referees are more scarce (they certainly are in Ohio). Therefore, even if 10% of the soccer referees decided to do "something/anything" else, then there would be a shortage. With a shortage comes the options of either A) paying more or B) playing games with a less-than-ideal number of officials.

If there are tons of officials relative to the number of games, I would expect the pay to be low. If there are relatively few officials compared to the number of openings, I would expect pay to be higher.

While we may referee largely for fun and fitness, for 95+% of us, the pay is one reason why we do it. Otherwise, you would tell the schools to keep their check. Not many officials do that now, do they? Since money is at least a minor consideration, the law of supply and demand will hold in the long run.

We always have options -- may be bowling, but we do have options.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

My point to you is that as long as there are enough officials to take these games -- it does not matter WHY they take the games (hobby, short on cash, love the exercise, etc.) -- $80 will be the number.

At the point when enough officials decide to do MS games, indoor (outdoor) soccer games, etc., the rate will change. It has to change -- unless they want to go to 1-person crews. until then....well, $80 may not seem so bad.

Even if they find officials to work the games, that is different than getting who you want. When I have seen prices change is when the "right officials" decline working any of those games and somehow the fee goes up or changes to everyone's liking. Let's face it, not everyone is judged on the same level and if you get first year guys only working and no veterans things sometimes will change.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Even if they find officials to work the games, that is different than getting who you want. When I have seen prices change is when the "right officials" decline working any of those games and somehow the fee goes up or changes to everyone's liking. Let's face it, not everyone is judged on the same level and if you get first year guys only working and no veterans things sometimes will change.

Peace

Too many veterans will take whatever is given them. I had one guy tell me he thought we made "enough money" when we got $60 for a 9-inning adult game and that we were "just causing trouble." Too many of these types and no real organized action is possible.

[chartrusepengui]

We've got one school where I work that has a real smart AD. He raises the fees he pays every year. It may only be $1.00 - $2.50/year but he is not paying far and above anyone else in the area. (this is for sub-varsity games - the conference sets fees for varsity) Other schools have not raised fees for so long that they have had or will have to raise by $15 -$20 just to compete. He's been doing it for about 15 years. I can make as much for a JV game there as most places pay for varsity.

[BillyMac]

Warning: To those of you who do not believe that you are getting paid enough. Stop reading this post right now. Move on to another thread.

Thursday is a slow basketball night in Connecticut, so I don't have a high school game tonight. Instead I have a Catholic middle school "varsity" (eighth graders) game. One game. Boys. Site is a ten minute drive from home. No observation for evaluation before, or after, the game. Same partner I worked with last week, so no pregame. I'm required to show up only ten minutes before tipoff. No introductions. No National Anthem. Seven minute periods. Five minute halftime. "Relaxed" mechanics (switch when convienent). Complimentary food, and drink, from concession stand. I'll leave home around 5:40 p.m., and be home by 7:15 p.m., with $54.00 cash in my pocket.

Priceless.

Note to IRS agents who may monitor this website: Keep in mind that in real life, I'm just a sweet transvestite from Transexual, Transylvania. Just try to find me.

[cmhjordan23]

Wow. $54 for a middle school game. In our area only get $20-$25/game. Depending on school. $45-$50 for JV and Frosh. Don't know what Varsity officials get but I do soccer and get $55-$65/game. Depending on the conference.

[BillyMac]

High school varsity: $88.26
All subvarsity (junior varsity, freshman, middle school): $57.25
Automatic raise every year equal to average teacher raise in the State.
No varsity doubleheaders.
A few subvarsity doubleheaders.
A few weekday afternoon middle school, or freshman games, with one official: 150% fee.
No mileage (most distant games about 50 miles one way).
Two hour scrimmage: $100.00 split between two, or three, officials.
7% assignment fee to commissioner at end of season.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Thursday is a slow basketball night in Connecticut, so I don't have a high school game tonight. Instead I have a Catholic middle school "varsity" (eighth graders) game. One game. Boys. Site is a ten minute drive from home. No observation for evaluation before, or after, the game. Same partner I worked with last week, so no pregame. I'm required to show up only ten minutes before tipoff. No introductions. No National Anthem. Seven minute periods. Five minute halftime. "Relaxed" mechanics (switch when convenient). Complimentary food, and drink, from concession stand. I'll leave home around 5:40 p.m., and be home by 7:15 p.m., with $54.00 cash in my pocket.

Girls/Boys Doubleheader: $82.00 Cash
Sub"varsity" Weekend Games (Six Minute Periods): $30.00 Per Game Check (Usually Tripleheaders, or Quadrupleheaders)

I can hear you all saying, "There's gotta be a catch". Not really. Must show up in full high school (sans jacket) uniform (no shorts, no sweatpants, no sneakers, no jewelry). No showers available. Must enforce every "fashion police" rule in the book, or we don't get paid.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Girls/Boys Doubleheader: $82.00 Cash
Sub"varsity" Weekend Games (Six Minute Periods): $30.00 Per Game Check (Usually Tripleheaders, or Quadrupleheaders)

I can hear you all saying, "There's gotta be a catch". Not really. Must show up in full high school (sans jacket) uniform (no shorts, no sweatpants, no sneakers, no jewelry). No showers available. Must enforce every "fashion police" rule in the book, or we don't get paid.

So, you could, theoretically, send your partner off the court for that.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Too many veterans will take whatever is given them. I had one guy tell me he thought we made "enough money" when we got $60 for a 9-inning adult game and that we were "just causing trouble." Too many of these types and no real organized action is possible.

Of course, but just because you are a veteran does not mean you are a preferred veteran or someone that has other options. I know a lot of veterans that will not do many games or go many places because the pay is not worth it to them.

Peace