Louisiana Officials Possible Strike?

[Johnny Ringo]

Latest news story: Basketball officials say they'll go back to work - WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by Johnny Ringo

Latest news story: Basketball officials say they'll go back to work - WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |

Like I told a kid I teed up for slamming the backboard after he claimed he was going for the ball, "You were late to the party."

[Jurassic Referee]

Know what I found unbelievable? The direct quote on a possible pay raise from Kenneth Henderson, the LHSSAA rep... "Every game we miss, your chances go down." That's nothing but a direct intimidation tactic imo. And why not? They've been getting away with it for at least the last 17 years.

Time for the LA guys to throw the tea in the harbor.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Know what I found unbelievable? The direct quote on a possible pay raise from Kenneth Henderson, the LHSSAA rep... "Every game we miss, your chances go down." That's nothing but a direct intimidation tactic imo. And why not? They've been getting away with it for at least the last 17 years.

Time for the LA guys to throw the tea in the harbor.

I know that in VT, there were some concessions given by the officials that were temporary. The VPA, which governs interscholastic sports there, has been true to its word. Officials only charged one way mileage and there were 2 game fees split 3 ways on the V games. Those inequities were worked out, as game fees were no longer split and mileage was round trip, though car pooling was strongly encouraged.

Rates were a lot less than in NY & NH, and some officials started working more out of state games as a result if they lived near the border. [All IAABO areas]. Over time, subvarsity was increased from $30 to $45 plus 40.5 cents per mile in $5 increments. Varsity contests went from $50 to $55 to $65 to $75 with the same mileage allowance. There has been talk off and on about a flat travel fee so schools would not be shocked by mileage bills, but nothing has occurred in that area. And schools have 3 man crews on a set number of games based on classification for boys and girls. Schools at their discretion may have more if they pay for the third official.

All in all, it has worked pretty well. The officials gave to help out and the VPA kept their word about two way mileage & increased game fees.

Only one association in VT so there was no line crossing to be done. Two assignment areas.

Sounds pretty bad in LA by way of comparison. And hopefully, someone who can present a good logical position regarding inflation, expenses like uniforms, clinics, dues, gas, etc. can draw some parallels with some what ifs. Principal salaries 21 years ago were x. Now they are y. What if they were x again? But it will take a united front to accomplish anything.

[just another ref]

Couple of things in the Monroe Newsstar today:

Refs prepare return to play | thenewsstar.com | The News Star

Sports are about the kids | thenewsstar.com | The News Star

The plan is for the executive committee to review and potentially tweak the original proposal, which principals around the state voted down at the annual LHSAA convention Friday, at its March 16 meeting and to have a special-called meeting June 3 for principals to reconsider.

What potential tweaking could take place is still uncertain, Henderson said.

I see this "tweak" as a potential sticking point.

About 22 games in Monroe will have to be rescheduled because of the officials' walkout, and the girls' regular season ends next Friday. That's an unnecessary amount of chaos for student athletes, school officials, families and fans. We might suggest the officials who participated in the work stoppage make sure they step into the locker rooms of the affected teams when these 22 games are rescheduled and apologize for the inconvenience they caused — in the name of sportsmanlike conduct, of course.

I don't see this part happening.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Sports are about the kids.

If sports are really about the kids in LA, I wonder if the coachs, AD's, principals and the clown who wrote this article would voluntarily and happily go for 17 years without having a pay raise.

Just wondering.....

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

If sports are really about the kids in LA, I wonder if the coachs, AD's, principals and the clown who wrote this article would voluntarily and happily go for 17 years without having a pay raise.

Just wondering.....

Funny I have lost more games to Teacher's strikes and contract disputes than I ever had over a dispute with my money. But it is about the kids. That always cracks me up when someone says that I must do something for the kids as an official that will never see many of these kids again, but the people that see them everyday and know them by first name are exempt from that process.

Peace