I'll be Seeing These Guys Tomorrow

[SperlingPE]

Originally Posted by BayStateRef

For those of us who work in a state where 2-person is the norm, this is an interesting, but purely theoretical discussion. My state tournament game last night used three officials, but that is virtually the only time 3 officials are used in public high school games in Massachusetts.

I have heard several reasons why we don't do it here:

• The officials don't want to take a pay cut.
• The schools can't afford more money.
• The coaches don't like a third set of eyes.

Rut's math ($600 per season for a third official) would be a little low here. Varsity officials get $77/game (so 10 home games would add $770), plus there must be gender parity: so if the boys get 3 officials, so must the girls. That doubles the cost to about $1,500/year.

I have talked with many veteran officials and it disappoints me that most are not interested in making less money and don't see the advantages of a 3-person crew. At a post-season scrimmage last week with a 3-person crew (two teams who will be in the state tournament), both coaches affirmed they do not like a third official. That is hardly a "sample" of high school coaches, but I have heard it regularly enough that there must be more than a little truth to it.

As a mere official, with no other portfolio in public schools, association politics or state office hierarchy, I am interested in hearing how other states got 3 officials on their games. Where did the push come from? Officials? Coaches? A strong state office?

The above three arguments were also noted in my state.
The state does not mandate three officials during the regular season.
The large schools went to three man right away and now nearly all schools use three officals. There are a handful of small schools that will contract either way.

The officials took a slight loss in pay ($5 per official per game was the norm).
Pay range is $50 - $85 an official per game for varsity contests.
The loss in pay has been made up and the above range is still the norm.
Some schools will also pay mileage on top of the fees above.

Schools claiming that they cannot afford the increase was given as an excuse by some schools. After the second year of allowing three officials, the excuse was never really brought up again.

The third set of eyes excuse came from coaches who liked to play a physical style of basketball. Physical to the point of grabbing players in the two man dead zone area. These coaches have adjusted to the third official.

Three experienced officials makes for a better called game.

I remember being told by an AD that they shouldn't pay me the same for a three man crew because I don't have to run as much. I told the AD you are not paying me to run, you are paying me to officiate. No further comments were made.

I think the real reason that three man is prevalent in my state is that the officials would ask the schools when getting contracts whether they wanted a three man crew or two man crew. The AD's started to go along with the three man crew. Younger coaches who had three man crews in college asked for three man crews.
The reason this worked is because my state contracts officials as independant contractors. There are no associations to belong to. There are a few assignors for some conferences, but your contract is still directcly with the school, not an association.