Transitioning 3-man to 2-man crew.

[Kansas Ref]

On last night's game, my partner had been reffing since 2 pm, I arrived to gym at 6 pm (after I got off from work) and did 3 games with him until 9 pm. These were 8th graders from a club team. As that was his 5 th consecutive game, I told him that "hey we don't have to long switch on endline to backcourt area because I'm sure your legs/feet are tired". He appreciated that and siad that "thanks, I was hoping not having to walk as much." I could tell he was quite fatigued because he'd walk up the floor (with a gait indicating ailing feet, hips, legs or back) and also fail to reach the endline when he became the new lead and was following the fast break / outlet pass action. But all in all, I'm sure he reasoned that it best to have a big game check regardless of how ineffective the ref work labor rendered him.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Kansas Ref

On last night's game, my partner had been reffing since 2 pm, I arrived to gym at 6 pm (after I got off from work) and did 3 games with him until 9 pm. These were 8th graders from a club team. As that was his 5 th consecutive game, I told him that "hey we don't have to long switch on endline to backcourt area because I'm sure your legs/feet are tired". He appreciated that and siad that "thanks, I was hoping not having to walk as much." I could tell he was quite fatigued because he'd walk up the floor (with a gait indicating ailing feet, hips, legs or back) and also fail to reach the endline when he became the new lead and was following the fast break / outlet pass action. But all in all, I'm sure he reasoned that it best to have a big game check regardless of how ineffective the ref work labor rendered him.

Or he was filling in for someone who couldn't show. Or he was doing the assigner a favor by working that many games. I'd be slow to assign any motives unless you've got more information that you shared here.

[Kansas Ref]

Assignor put him on 8 games that day (is what he told me)--evidently that ref agreed to work those consecutive games and was therefore obligated to be there. But I'm sure he's enjoying his $200 payout from that day.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Kansas Ref

Assignor put him on 8 games that day (is what he told me)--evidently that ref agreed to work those consecutive games and was therefore obligated to be there. But I'm sure he's enjoying his $200 payout from that day.

And if all the refs would get together and refuse to work more than four games in a day, the organizers and teams would be forced to offer more money in order to attract enough officials to cover the games. Everyone realizes that the organizers are making money with each game that is played, right?
Perhaps he could work four games at $50 each and make the same $200 in half the time. It continually amazes me that officials sell themselves short. The guy doing eight games in a day is not helping, he is hurting his fellow officials. He needs a wake up call. He is opting to take a short term gain, but the sacrifice is a long term loss.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

And if all the refs would get together and refuse to work more than four games in a day, the organizers and teams would be forced to offer more money in order to attract enough officials to cover the games. Everyone realizes that the organizers are making money with each game that is played, right?
Perhaps he could work four games at $50 each and make the same $200 in half the time. It continually amazes me that officials sell themselves short. The guy doing right games in a day is not helping, he is hurting his fellow officials. He needs a wake up call. He is opting to take a short term gain, but the sacrifice is a long term loss.

Officials are not going to get together on something like this no matter how you or I feel about this practice. Officiating these games are money grabs for the officials and officials are not going to do them for reasons beyond the money if the money is right. Remember, if someone agrees the terms of the contract, they are willing to do the work. Not many places you are going to make that kind of money in one day guaranteed on a hourly basis. These are not "real" games and not with often the same intensity or even responsibility you would have to take during a real game (uniform, time, rules, pre-game procedures). I have seen people from all walks of life and professions take these games in a similar fashion. Or they hop from one site to another and do the same thing.

I know a lot of people that use officiating these games as a way to pay for things like kids schooling or money for a vacation, if they want to take the time, more power to them. Someone working these games are not hurting me, because I might not take these games in the first place. And if I do, no one is holding a gun to me to make me either way.

Peace

[Rich]

I have some experience trying to organize officials to demand more money from an adult baseball league. A few people told me they thought the pay was quite fair (some of the worst umpires, BTW). Other decided they could pick up more games once the troublemakers went away.

As a group, we eat our own.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by Rich

I have some experience trying to organize officials to demand more money from an adult baseball league. A few people told me they thought the pay was quite fair (some of the worst umpires, BTW). Other decided they could pick up more games once the troublemakers went away.

As a group, we eat our own.

You go that right about eating our own.

When I lived in GA from '96 until the end of '99 the going rate for varsity/JV was $35/$27. We tried to get other groups to organize to effect some sort of increase. Of course, one group offered to do games for $30/$25 and that killed the plan.

As for rec ball, forget it. Some guys were paying $10/game at that time. The guy I worked for did $20. I worked four stop-time games on a single night three times and then said no more. I valued my time and, at that moment, my time with my young children too much to be out of the house for 7.5 hours to make $80. Frankly, it also wasn't going to help me become a better official.