Besides Pay, What Do You Get?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ODJ

Northern Illinois ADs have decided we football referees of Chicagoland will not get a pay increase next season. Oh, sorry, we will. 1% (mostly lower levels.)
The IHSA had said a 10% increase was coming. Well, guess not.

I've heard other states and associations require such things as towels and security for game officials. Can you provide examples, please?

The IHSA did not promise any pay increase of regular season games. The increase that was requested was for post season games. The IHSA has nothing to do with regular season or conference assignments. School districts are responsible for the budgets of schools and what expenditures are paid for. This is not something the IHSA can mandate, because if they did there might be a violation of tax status of the IHSA and other organizations.

The IHSA increased the pay for playoff games and increased the gas mileage compensation this past year. Your beef should be with NISOC and the way they conspire together to fix prices. And there are a few efforts to change that or change their practices. That does not mean it will work. The only way you will get some kind of satisfaction is everyone to not work games under those conditions. But you know that will never happen, because if someone gives up a varsity game, there will be someone that will take it regardless of the pay or situation.

Peace

[daggo66]

In MD we get to use luxury locker rooms complete with hot showers, jacuzzi, a lounge with big screen TV's, video games, and a hot meal served by women in bikinis and high heels....sorry, what was the question again?

[Forksref]

In ND we get to dress on the way to the game, provide our own food and drink (Except for Midway HS which is the best), listen to ignorant fans and some coaches too, go to our car at half-time, request that a car turn out its lights because they are shining onto the field, work on fields where you need a miner's hat to see...but, we get to see small town football and for the most part respectful kids and enjoy the long drive to the game on beautiful fall days. Tomorrow will be 110 miles each way. Best is the friendship and teamwork of the crew and the satisfaction of a job well done.

Perks? We don't need no stinkin' perks!

[Mike L]

We sometimes get a bottle of water or Gatorade at half time.

[Tom Hinrichs]

Schools treat us pretty well in Southeast Nebraska. They really try to do what they can. We are usually greeted by someone from the school, have a nice place to dress, and offered water / gator aide at half time and following the game.

A couple of schools have fed us after the game when they had cook outs, and one school packs a nice sack lunch for the trip home.

Our interactions with the schools, and with the great majority of the coaches have been very positive.

As for pay, there is no standard rate, in Nebraska, schools (and conferences) establish their own pay rates.

[Scooby]

For the most part water/gatorade at half time, sometimes a hotdog and popcorn or if we are lucky pizza.
A couple of schools provide a box lunch.
Dressing rooms from your car to a nice locker room.

[bisonlj]

I must say most places we work have had very good hospitality. It seems to be getting better each year. We usually have an adequate locker room with showers (sometimes cold water) and towels. We usually have a cooler with water/Gatorade/sodas with enough to drink before the game, during halftime, and after the game.

Some schools take us someplace different at halftime because the locker room is far from the field. They will offer us candy bars or drinks at halftime and often have additional food after the game. It is usually left over concession food but we occasionally get a pizza or Subway sandwiches. Last week we had a meat and cheese tray at halftime! As long as we get a decent locker room, showers, towels, and something to drink, I'm satisfied.

I've also noticed the smaller towns generally have better hospitality than the bigger schools in Indy.

Pay here is decided by the schools during the season and it is fairly consistent ($60-$75). Once the playoffs start, the schools pay us but it is a predetermined amount by the IHSAA. I think the first round is $55 plus mileage (20 cents/mile) and each round goes up a little. Depending on where you get assigned in the playoffs it is actually a pay cut.

[ODJ]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

The IHSA did not promise any pay increase of regular season games. The increase that was requested was for post season games. The IHSA has nothing to do with regular season or conference assignments. School districts are responsible for the budgets of schools and what expenditures are paid for. This is not something the IHSA can mandate, because if they did there might be a violation of tax status of the IHSA and other organizations.

The IHSA increased the pay for playoff games and increased the gas mileage compensation this past year. Your beef should be with NISOC and the way they conspire together to fix prices. And there are a few efforts to change that or change their practices. That does not mean it will work. The only way you will get some kind of satisfaction is everyone to not work games under those conditions. But you know that will never happen, because if someone gives up a varsity game, there will be someone that will take it regardless of the pay or situation.

Peace

Oh, post-season! Well, that's very different. Nevermind.
Still not paid enough in the regular season. Trying to make comparisions.

[MJT]

Paid before the game.
Sports drinks/water at 1/2 time and after the game.
Two large pizza's at 1/2 the games we work.

One school has "student ambassadors" (girls who volunteer) who greet us when we arrive, take our 1/2 time orders (drinks-food), meet us at the gate to escort us to our locker room, and were waiting for us at our locker room with pizza after the game. That was as good as it gets!!

[HLin NC]

We arrive in uniform except for playoff rounds. The towel you use is the towel you bring.

Pre-game is usually in girls locker room or weight room or coaches office.

Amenities run the gamut from nothing to water/soda/sports drink & candy bar and or hot dog at halftime.

One school does have a chicken dinner and jug of ice tea from KFC waiting on us but that is NOT the norm. A school I worked in Winston-Salem would leave us a dozen Krispy Kremes. KK is headquarted in W-S.

We are to be paid before the end of halftime at the latest, except for a few middle schools that mail us a check within a few days. Many of the youth league teams pay cash or cash the checks out for us.

[Anonymous67]

Schools are billed by and pay the association. We receive monthly checks. Current rate is $50 for a varsity game plus mileage. Mileage can vary from a minimum of $12 for local games to over $30 for others. Local mileage is paid to each official. Out of town games pay mileage to the referee who drives the crew.

Each school is required to provide a changing room before the game and at half time, and showers and a towel after the game. Most provide bottled water or gatorade at half time. Some provide a snack at the end of the game.

[OverAndBack]

Originally Posted by MJT

Paid before the game.
Sports drinks/water at 1/2 time and after the game.
Two large pizza's at 1/2 the games we work.

One school has "student ambassadors" (girls who volunteer) who greet us when we arrive, take our 1/2 time orders (drinks-food), meet us at the gate to escort us to our locker room, and were waiting for us at our locker room with pizza after the game. That was as good as it gets!!

Reciprocal privileges, please?