Iowa high school basketball games postponed due to referee no-show

[ODog]

I see it's been mentioned already these are two rural schools, but does anyone else find it crazy the administration supposedly searched for local officials and found NOBODY able to do the games on short notice?

Are there only a few dozen officials on the board? Every board/association has its problems, but I think lack of #s would be a first.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by ODog

I see it's been mentioned already these are two rural schools, but does anyone else find it crazy the administration supposedly searched for local officials and found NOBODY able to do the games on short notice?

Are there only a few dozen officials on the board? Every board/association has its problems, but I think lack of #s would be a first.

You're assuming that there are well-defined boards/associations in the area. In rural schools around here, the schools would have to call from their contact list of officials -- it could be a small list.

[rockyroad]

Rich, around here if the schools cancel without letting us know and we show up, we get full game fee and mileage. If they cancelday of - unless it is weather related or some kind of emergency - we get paid our mileage. One of the perks of having an association that the schools have to contract through.

[refiator]

I find this post interesting from the point of how schools are contracted/assigned. When I started my officiating career (Georgia), the local associations were responsible for negotiating and contracting with the schools directly. These days, the GHSA assigns schools to the local association based on specific criteria (ie, geography, # of officials). The local association (there are 25 in the state, 7 in Metro Atlanta) then signs a contract with the school, who sends the season schedule to the association assignor. Our fees are set by the State and are non-negotiatble.

Just curious as to how many of you work in areas that contract directly with a school without any state oversight? Are your fees set by the state or can you negotiate?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by refiator

I find this post interesting from the point of how schools are contracted/assigned. When I started my officiating career (Georgia), the local associations were responsible for negotiating and contracting with the schools directly. These days, the GHSA assigns schools to the local association based on specific criteria (ie, geography, # of officials). The local association (there are 25 in the state, 7 in Metro Atlanta) then signs a contract with the school, who sends the season schedule to the association assignor. Our fees are set by the State and are non-negotiatble.

Just curious as to how many of you work in areas that contract directly with a school without any state oversight? Are your fees set by the state or can you negotiate?

Schools paid whatever they wanted.

And schools would pay whatever they felt would get officials to come to their school consistently. Actually I found rural schools pay more than urban or suburban places because they know people had to come further to work their games. And they want to get a cross section of officials coming to their school, not just a handful of the same officials.

Peace

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Rich

You're assuming that there are well-defined boards/associations in the area. In rural schools around here, the schools would have to call from their contact list of officials -- it could be a small list.

These towns are small enough, they may not have anyone qualified to work that level. And if they do, they're probably already working on a Tuesday night.

And you're right, associations in these areas, if they exist at all, don't look anything like associations in metro areas.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ODog

I see it's been mentioned already these are two rural schools, but does anyone else find it crazy the administration supposedly searched for local officials and found NOBODY able to do the games on short notice?

Are there only a few dozen officials on the board? Every board/association has its problems, but I think lack of #s would be a first.

If Iowa is like it is when I used to work baseball, the answer is not really. For one this might be a busy night where officials are already working. Or there is no one close to just pick up and work to anyone's satisfaction.

Iowa is mostly a rural state. It is hard to get to a lot of places if you are not close. Probably at the last minute no, but if they had an issue earlier in the day and knew there was a problem, then probably someone could have covered the game.

Peace