What is your Association's Policy on...
 

...last minute game cancellations? I am curious, as we here established a long time ago the policy that state: Any last minute non-weather related cancellations shall result in said fees for said game(S) being paid to the officials.

Was just about to leave for 3 at a location, when I got notice that the first two were cancelled! And yes, I will get paid for BOTH. Our assignors have felt that a) this is almost always done by a team wishing to avoid forfeits, and b} we are PROFESSIONALS who have cleared our personal time - or perhaps had a chance to work somewhere else. My analogy is always that, if you have an appointment with a doctor, or a plumber or electrician, and cancel THEM at the last minute - guess what? You are going to get charged.

This is one advantage our system of our assignors only taking money in advance before scheduling has. If this was a cash on the field set up - guess what partner, you are SOL....

Where I am, each league has policy..not the association. Basically if they cancel before I go to the game, then no pay. If I go, and they cancel while I am enroute, or cancel/fail to show once I am there..I get paid (eventually)

This is purely speculation on my part, because I really don't pay much attention to how our association negotiates our fee structure. But I do believe our cancellation "policy" is what we negotiate into the contract with the various organizations that we provide services.

I don't believe we get paid a full-game fee if we are enroute to a game site when a cancellation takes place due to weather. I think it turns out to be a certain percentage. If, however, the cancellation is due to one or both teams not showing up, then we get the full-game fee. That's because the screw-up is usually on the organization for rescheduling the game and not informing our assignor.

We've had a bad 3 weeks + for weather related postponments. Our normal request is for the leagues to notify us 2-3 hours ahead of game time so we can notify officials. If that happens, obviously no pay required.

Within the past few weeks, we've had umpires show up to games just as thunderstorms and/or heavy rain hit. With heavy downpours, the field(s) was rendered unplayable. In those instances, we negotiate a lower "rain fee" with the leagues to at least cover the umpire's time and expense of getting to the field.

If we get there and get a game started (that is then suspended), or we get there and one team ends up forfeiting, we get a full game fee. We will, on occasion, send an umpire back to finish a suspended game w/ no additional pay. This is dependent upon the umpire's schedule and if he's willing to do that.

Weather changes things.

If the cancellation is not weather related - then once we show up, we get paid. If we're en route, we get mileage.

If the cancellation is weather related - if the game has not started, we usually don't get paid OR mileage.

Policiesi
 

The policy for Michigan high school should be (it isn't always followed and the MHSAA isn't always helpful).

1)If cancelled prior to the umpire leaving for the game no pay

2) If cancelled after the umpire arrives, but prior to the start, 1/3 game fee.

3) If cancelled after the start, full game fee owed.

One thing to remember with this. A DH is 2 games, with equal pay for each game. A first game cancelled prior to conculsion which also cancels the second game entitles the umpire to the first game fee only.

The Rec League I work for follows this policy.

1) Prior to leaving for game, no pay.

2) Cancelled after arrival of umpire, prior to first pitch, $10 travel fee is paid.

3) Once a game is started, pay is for full game.

4) Only games finished or in progress are paid. If a storm makes the field umplayable during game 2 of a 4 game schedule we get paid for games 1 and 2 only.


The one thing neither policy covers is while enroute to the game. After contacting the MHSAA I was told it is handled the same as when you have arrived but it hasn't started.

Our Rec League basically says you get a travel fee is cancelled within a reasonible time based on your travel. If you 2 minutes away and you are notified about is 30 minutes prior to your scheduled arrival you get nothing. If it's cancelled 30 minutes before the game, but you drive 30 plus minutes you generally get a travel fee.