shortage of football officials

[jjrye22]

Hamilton, Waterloo.... Are you guys in Ontario Canada?
I'm originally from Ontario, but have been away since I started as a ref. How does it work over there?
Any possibility of 'guest' refing next time I come back for a visit, or is the orginization really strict about who can help?

James

[ref18]

I'm not sure how it works everywhere, but in my association they're really strict from an insurance standpoint. They don't take any risks.

[JugglingReferee]

Same here - we'd have to register you. I think it's $10 for insurance.

But if you wanted to go through the hoops... I'm sure I could talk to our assingor.

Where are you now? And where in Ontario are you from?

[cowbyfan1]

I see hope for my association. We were lucky enought to have like 25 or 30 new officials start last year. Some that I saw look really promising. Others will need some work.
We have a pretty high number of guys that are long or getting long in the tooth and getting these new guys to take and stick is really important.
I am going into my 4th season and have just gotten onto a crew and have been able to white hat my first varsity game last season. Had a blast and overall the crew I had kicked a$$. While the opportunity to "move up" in the association wil be there sooner than later, I will really miss a number of the older guys that either have or are going to be hanging them up in the next few years. One guy in perticular is hitting 50 years of calling this year and he has really helped me. This is supposedly his last year to call.
As far as recruiting goes we use person to person as well we have had some guys get onto the local radio sports talk show to recruit.

[tiger49]

Being a baseball umpire in Ottawa and very active in the CIS football community here as well. I always thought about becoming a football ref. I was wondering what the pay scale is like around Ontario and the costs involved?

[ref18]

The pay is pretty good

I get $25 for a minor game
$31 for a junior high school game
$22.50 for doing the sticks on a high school game/OVFL game
I think I got $31.50 for doing the sticks on an OUA game last year, but i'm not too sure of that one.

The uniform

$40 x2 shirts (short/long sleeves)
$60 knickers
$10-15 for the flags
$15 for stirrups
$15 for a number (i just have 1, and switch it from shirt to shirt with velcro)
$100 for shoes (black cleat with white laces)
$20 for hat
$6 for whistle
Being able to get it all muddy in your first game: Priceless

I think that's it.
Except for dues-i think for membership and insurance it costs about $75

[JugglingReferee]

Originally posted by tiger49
Being a baseball umpire in Ottawa and very active in the CIS football community here as well. I always thought about becoming a football ref. I was wondering what the pay scale is like around Ontario and the costs involved?

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