Defining a Harried Assignor

[ref3808]

Last Friday night, 6:30 PM, I'm deeply involved in important domestic work (OK lying on the couch waiting for the pizza delivery) and the cell rings.

Assignor (for Weekend Tournament): I need help now, can you get here?
Me: Sure, where do you need help?
Assignor: On the court next to me!

Pause

Me: Yes, but where are you?
Assignor: Oh, yeah. (I hear his whistle) He names the college where help is needed. (20 min from house)

Ate the pizza three games and five hours later. Then did 10 more games on Sat and Sun.

[Smitty]

Riveting.

[Welpe]

It's hard to beat a fresh, hot pizza on Friday night in the off-season.

[Nevadaref]

If assignor's got tournaments to pay better, there wouldn't be such a shortage of officials.
A few years ago I decided that I wasn't going to worry about their lack of refs anymore. I would do three games per day and that's it. If the event was short, then they should attract more officials instead of running those that they have into the ground.
If you examine the team entry fees, spectators fees, and tournament expenses, you will quickly see that the tournament organizers are making serious money. They can share more of it.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

If you examine the team entry fees, spectators fees, and tournament expenses, you will quickly see that the tournament organizers are making serious money. They can share more of it.

I know of two AAU directors, two separate organizations, both here in Connecticut, who make a living, that is, it's their only full time job, running their organizations.

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I know of two AAU directors, two separate organizations, both here in Connecticut, who make a living, that is, it's their only full time job, running their organizations.

As I may have mentioned in another thread, you (and any member who does any AAU ball) would be very interested to see how wide spread this phenomenom is and how much money we're talking about. If you have a chance, read "Play Their Hearts Out" by George Dohrmann. It's a decade long chronicle about AAU youth basketball...the coaches, organizers, players and other characters affiliated with the organization and shoe companies. A real eye opener.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

If assignor's got tournaments to pay better, there wouldn't be such a shortage of officials.
A few years ago I decided that I wasn't going to worry about their lack of refs anymore. I would do three games per day and that's it. If the event was short, then they should attract more officials instead of running those that they have into the ground.
If you examine the team entry fees, spectators fees, and tournament expenses, you will quickly see that the tournament organizers are making serious money. They can share more of it.

Preach on, brother.

I get a ton of emails from people desperate for officials for these games. Many of these games pay $20/hour (games are played on the hour around here -- usually 20 minute running clock halves and finish in about 50 minutes or so) and that simply doesn't get me all that excited to work a lot of games.

Then when I think about it some more, I usually don't work at all. I've done one weekend of basketball during the off-season -- a tourney assigned by a really nice guy and good official who I'm happy to help out. They pay $25, which to me is still lower than what I think it should be these days.

Then again, if people are willing to work for what they're paying, I guess the rates are set where they needed to be. Doesn't mean I have to work, though.

[JetMetFan]

Organize.

I'm part of an organization in NYC that works games all year long, including what you now see on ESPN as the Entertainers' League (it used to be the Rucker Pro League). The main issue is always fees. We get more but we also promise more (guys will show up on time, they'll be properly trained, etc.).

I know we get more in my area than the majority of places but we tell tournament organizers if they wan't to pay less for an offical that's their decision but that's also the quality they'll get.

When I lived in GA 12 years ago they paid $15 (!!!!!)/game for men's rec league. Some even paid $10 and guys took it...and it showed. At that time my NYC group was getting $50/game for men's ball.