Bigwes68 wrote,
I hear the pay there is pretty good, not like the $50 or so we get for working two middle school games, or $70 for two varsity games -
. In 2006, between football, baseball, softball, basketball and volleyball, I have officiated a total of 220 contests which encompasses 116 dates. This does not include trips to state and local meetings, camps, clinics, etc. This also includes scrimmages and play-days for which I was not paid. I have put over 4,000 miles on my car this year JUST from officiating. I have also accumulated nearly $1,000 in expenses, not counting mileage. So in the long run, unless you are good enough to move up to the higher levels, the money really isn't that great.
If you take an average of $60 per night and assume you work 5 hours per night, including travel, take your 116 dates and 220 contest and turn that into 8 hour days for 360 days, and it works about to be about $66,000 a year. Pretty good pay for a part time job. I am tired of hearing about how underpaid officials are. How many other jobs could you do where you could make $20-$30/hour and have complete power while you are working.
I agree it is a hard job and I would not want to do it, but if you CHOOSE to be an official you know what you are getting into.
I also understand that most officials are good, but as the saying goes, you are only as strong as your weakest link.
I think the problem most people have is that there is no accountability with officials. If this article is true, then that official was able to completely determine the outcome of a game and there was nothing that anyone could do about it.
I guarantee you that if you checked the best officials in the state give out less technicals than everyone else. Bad officials give T's to compensate for bad calls and there is nothing that can be done about it.
I know i will get raped by some officials on here for writing this, but oh well, i guess it will feel good for them to dish it some.lol