Louisiana Officials

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I like the big gap. It encourages people to strive to advance to the varsity level.
My local area has the opposite problem. With only a $7 difference and often the varsity refs only getting a single game, there are several people who prefer the "easy" and low-key frosh & JV games, plus being home at a reasonable time for dinner to the varsity work. The pay gap isn't enough to make them want to move up.

We agree completely on this. I assign for 22 schools and each school has their stable of officials who have (1) been doing this for years and (2) have no desire to work varsity games. Close to home, early start time.

People think I'm joking when I say I think they should raise the varsity rates and leave the JV rates alone, but I'm completely serious.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Rich

We agree completely on this. I assign for 22 schools and each school has their stable of officials who have (1) been doing this for years and (2) have no desire to work varsity games. Close to home, early start time.

People think I'm joking when I say I think they should raise the varsity rates and leave the JV rates alone, but I'm completely serious.

I think a gap is a good idea too, but the size of that gap above is more than I think is reasonable.

There are a lot of people that will never be Varsity capable officials. Our toughest set of games to cover is the Freshman/JV set due to the number of them and the time of day (most are at 5:45 with some at 4:00). We need numbers of officials just to get those covered. Lower pay just doesn't do it and it makes the assignors job very difficult.

As a Varsity official, I wouldn't really be interested in helping cover the lower level games if the pay that poorly. I don't do it for the money, but I also don't do it for peanuts.

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Connecticut game fees for 2015-2016: Varsity Fee: $94.63; Sub Varsity Fee: $61.39

2014 Per Capita Personal Income: State Rank #1 Connecticut ($60,658)

Touché! There are exceptions to every rule. Yes, the urban Northeast isn't too bad when it comes to rates. I remember when I was in Rhode Island the killing those officials made, especially considering the less-then-motivated job they did. I hear officials in the NYC metro make heaps of cash, too. But then again it must be all that much harder to advance in an area with lots of registered officials.

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

I think a gap is a good idea too, but the size of that gap above is more than I think is reasonable.

Maybe not for you, but perhaps it works in other areas. The gap is really determined by local factors.

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

There are a lot of people that will never be Varsity capable officials.

And I'm never going to be an Admiral, but that doesn't mean I have the right to be paid like one.

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

Touché! There are exceptions to every rule. Yes, the urban Northeast isn't too bad when it comes to rates. I remember when I was in Rhode Island the killing those officials made...

Ask Billy where Connecticut ranks in terms of cost of living...for that matter all of the Northeast including NYC. I've lived in the Hartford, Boston and Orlando metros. I contend that my $55 varsity fee in Florida is a better rate than $94 in CT & Mass. or $100+ in NYC

[Nevadaref]

To bring this discussion back to Louisiana officials, I would like some additional information on the tiered pay structure. The new schedule has three categories, each with its own game fee.
Please post the rationale for this system as opposed to one rate for all officials working any particular level.
Please post the particulars for qualifying/advancing through the different levels.
Are there other states using this tiered pay system? What are your thoughts on it?

[LouisianaDave]

Nevada, there used to be 3 tiers, now its down to 2. Certified and approved.

The major difference is based on a test that is made up from the LHSAA office.

The 3 tiers were 70-79 Registered, 80-89 approved and 90-100 certifed.

Now its two being 70-84 registered and 85-90 certified.

I think the rationale is basically get in the rule book, learn the rules and you will be compensated. A few years ago, they implemented a meeting percentage requirement along with a mandatory camp that must be attended once every 2 years.

This was in response to making the officials better trained and more accountable in order to justify the raise that was given in 2010. But it was also in response to punish officials bc we didnt work one night during the season in response to them voting down the raise to begin with.

[Nevadaref]

Thanks for the quick response.
1. Do you mean 85-100 is Certified now?
2. I'm surprised that the classification is determined solely by a written test score and that there are other factors such as years of experience, a fitness test, or an evaluation of a game.
3. Under what conditions is your exam given?: online, open-book, etc.?

I'm asking for details because I wish to push for such a system here.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

Ask Billy where Connecticut ranks in terms of cost of living...for that matter all of the Northeast including NYC. I've lived in the Hartford, Boston and Orlando metros. I contend that my $55 varsity fee in Florida is a better rate than $94 in CT.

And your contention would be wrong. Close, but almost only counts in horseshoes, and hand grenades.

From an online cost of living calculator (below):

You are currently earning $94 in Hartford, Connecticut as a Umpire, Referee, or other Sports Official. You need to earn $76 to maintain the same standard of living in Orlando, Florida.

Bad Zebra does have a valid point. You should see my monthly electric bill. Of course, I just turned my air conditioner on for the first time this season this past Sunday.

Connecticut has the fifth highest cost of living, only New York, Alaska, California, and Hawaii are higher. Florida has the 22nd highest cost of living.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

I think a gap is a good idea too, but the size of that gap above is more than I think is reasonable.

There are a lot of people that will never be Varsity capable officials. Our toughest set of games to cover is the Freshman/JV set due to the number of them and the time of day (most are at 5:45 with some at 4:00). We need numbers of officials just to get those covered. Lower pay just doesn't do it and it makes the assignors job very difficult.

That isn't a problem due to the difference in pay between sub-varsity and varsity. What you have is a problem caused by the amount offered at the sub-varsity level. Apparently, people in your area feel it is too low.
The bottom number could be raised in order to attract more frosh & JV officials for afternoon games while at the same time maintaining the same gap with the varsity pay.
For example, if you currently have $40 (sub) & $70 (Varsity) changing to $50 & $80 (keeping a flat $30 gap) or $50 & $87.50 (keeping the 1.75 ratio) are both legitimate ways of addressing your issue. Of course, your area would need to convince the schools to spend more to fix the problem. Nothing demonstrates to schools more clearly that there is a lack of officials than not having any for some contests and informing the schools that they will have to provide their own personnel for those games.

[Remington]

Originally Posted by Rich

We agree completely on this. I assign for 22 schools and each school has their stable of officials who have (1) been doing this for years and (2) have no desire to work varsity games. Close to home, early start time.

People think I'm joking when I say I think they should raise the varsity rates and leave the JV rates alone, but I'm completely serious.

We have a group of people the feel the same and want to stay close to home. I believe the reason for our increases is that it is hard to get officials in our area for a few reasons: (1) People don't want to put up with the BS (2) People can't sneak out of their job early to work the games (3) Many of our games over 60 miles to get to making it a late evening (4) People's children are in many more activities now than when I was a kid so they don't have the time.

I know in the last 5 years the cost of living in ND has skyrocketed due to the oil activity. My house here is smaller than friends of mine in the twin cities and theirs is much less (especially when you add in our real estate taxes and specials). An average house in our larger towns is now $350K - $400K. With property taxes of $4700 and specials of $20K added to your escrow, they payment really jumps up.

The gap is being discussed at length. I believe they will leave varsity rates the same during the next 2 year rate lock but raise the JV rates to narrow the gap a bit.