Since we've never had that situation, I can't speak to what the state might do as far as de-certifying.

Neighboring associations wouldn't be an option as we handle the SE corner of the state. Further, we've had to send crews to cover games in other areas when they've had too many non-con games on one night.

In Louisiana, the officials seem to have the backing of the LHSAA admin.

Personally, I don't think decertifying your local associations and starting new ones is very smart.

Good for them. I hope they hold out and get a significant increase and some respect. $31 a game sounds insaine to me.

When I first started working basketball in 1988, we had what we called a "jumper" system where a varsity official would be assigned (usually) 3 games -- the freshman, JV, and Varsity for the night. It was his responsibility to find another younger official to work the frosh and JV game. He would take the fee from the school and pay in cash his jr. official. Usually, he paid either $25 or $30 for the subvarsity games. I don't know what they made for the entire night from the school, but my guess is anywhere from $60-80 minimum -- and depended on the school district, crowd, and counting method. So the fees 22 years ago in Texas were more than they are now in Louisiana for a varsity game.

That's a crime, and I would have walked away years ago.

Looks like it is having an impact...

Referee sit-out forces cancellation of prep games - Plaquemine, LA - Plaquemine Post South

Mike, are we getting a preview of this coming fall in Texas?

The principal issue is significantly different, i.e. in LA it is money, here it is "control" (although it did start as money). I suspect a lot more folks would be motivated by money than "control" so we might not see the numbers sitting in Texas that are in LA.

Predictably, some in LA are making it seem that the officials are taking away opportunities from the kids.

What those people forget is that this isn't charity work. If they want free (or very cheap) officials, let the parents come out of the stands (one from each team) and let them work the game for $31 each.

$31. I still can't get over that. We got $30 for a freshman game in PA in 1987 (the year I started). That's 24 years ago.

Sure that wasn't 2 freshman games, Rich? 30 is about what we got for 2 subvarsity games around then.

In Pennsylvania? I remember working 1 game a night and never making less than $30. I could be wrong -- it was a long time ago.

I was in Texas, and though I'd find it hard to believe, if you remember it like that, then I do believe you. Seems like pay rose pretty fast from when I started until 2 or 3 years later. And Texas has always paid based on gate receipts. I did have a $90 JV game (one) and a $212 varsity game in or around 1991 and 92.

I think when we worked middle school we made something like $35 for 2 games. When we worked JV, we only worked a single game.

Regardless, $31 is incredibly low. Thing is, I worked as a member of the New Orleans association the year I lived there, worked a varsity schedule, and have no idea how much we were paid for those games. The money meant more in PA, when I was in college.

"Officials are paid between $68 and $74 per game, depending on certification. The payscale remains the same regardless of the size of the school."

What is this about? Someone is misinformed since there is a large difference between $31 & $68.

You might be confusing the pay for basketball and football officials.

Football officials are paid up to $75. The referee gets $15 extra (I like that idea -- I'm willing to bet the one guy on the crew who I think would be a great referee but doesn't want to do it would sing a different tune if we had a pay differential :D ).

It stuns me that FB officials get $75 and basketball officials get $31 (3-person crew). Every other state I've been in pays officials about the same for each sport.

I believe $68 to $74 is for a doubleheader, GV and BV.