Just watch the gas prices rise and rise...
Remember most of us have kids (and grandkids) who always need money...
With the sky-rocketing cost of living, we as officials need to take a long look at our pay scales but we also need to temper our discussions with reality. The reality is that gas prices (and everything else) are going up but the number of participants in tournaments is going down. Tournament directors will quickly tell us that they can't afford for us to raise our rates but many of them have no problems raising their entry fees to cover inflation.
So--here are some thoughts to consider in our discussions:
* The rising price of gas. Everyone knows it takes gasoline to get us where we are going and some areas haven't raised their rates in years.
* Some large associations (such as the Dallas Tennis Association and the Ft. Worth Tennis Association) have quit providing meals (which has been a requirement since the beginning of time in the Metroplex) in order to save money. The TD's saving money on our backs isn't the right answer... Higher rates should be charged for those tournaments that do not provide meals.
* We need to consider the costs involved in tournaments with less than 50 participants and adjust accordingly.
* Conversely, we need to consider the amounts of money taken in when a tournament charges large entry fees.
* Consider the amount of money paid football and basketball officials in UIL events. Tennis officials are way down the scale but many times we are asked to do a dual match with one official for 19 matches.
* When considering ITA fees, the answer is probably not to lower our fees but lower the number of officials on a match. The rate should probably be increased for those schools who do not provide mileage.
* The current rate structure in the Metroplex is $18/hour for the referee with an 8 hour minimum and $15/hour for the umpires with a 6 hour minimum. Meals are to be provided. This seems to be the gauging standard around the state--but probably needs to be raised in 2012.
* Consider the cost involved in attending an annual school as well as the cost of officials' equipment. Even though these are tax deductions, they still come out of our pocket.
These are just a few random thoughts at this budget-preparing time of year. We would welcome yours...
12 comments:
I strongly believe officials are already more than adequately compensated for the duties we perform. Greed and arrogance is about to price us out of working.
Cudo's to Ernest for his astute observation!!!! I concur.....
Gasoline has actually been trending lower the past month or so. It has actually been close to $3.00/gal. at times.
Just wait until you drive 80-100 miles to do a ZAT in 105 degree heat and get paid $10/hour.
We'll see what you think then.
Respectfully, what duties do you perform, EPW? We often have to drive over 100 miles one way and some times have to commute back and forth each day of the tournament. As a TD, Referee and official I see both sides of the situation and it has been my experience that you get what you pay for. Greed has nothing to do with it, it is just the cold hard facts of the business expense of providing a quality professional service.
Even to drive from the north suburbs to Arlington is 35-45 minutes - I don't think this should be overlooked. The big question is - where does all of the tournament income go to? Balls, some sites charge, officials - Who gets the rest?? and if it is the Tournament Director, guess who the greedy one is then? Take a look at some of the draws of the ZAT's, SCMZ and CMZ - there is a lot of $$ being paid to play those tournaments and some TD's try to skimp and pay 11 hours instead of 12 hours when you work all day!!! If we are doing our job correctly and not just mixing in with the crowd, we are on the court in nasty temperatures for large amounts of time with no real break schedule(especially if you are at a site alone) C'mon man - stand up for what you do!!
The worst thing is when a TD sends out lunch for the site director but expects the site official to stay on the court the whole shift and never eat or drink. And they expect us to do this while they sit inside and count their money.
I don't do this to pay the bills, but I won't do it for free and I certainly won't do it and go in the hole. A lot is expected of tennis officials for what little they are paid, particularly in ITA events. The economics of tennis officiating is very odd in that the bigger the event, the less that seems to be paid in a relative sense. Seems to be backwards in that regard.
Damn sure is a lot of whinning going on here. Current gas prices are actually lower than they were back in 2008. If you have to drive over 100 miles one way to work a tennis tournament, especially a ZAT, then you are already dumber than dirt and getting paid more money won't help that. There are a lot of folks out there that would work for $10/hr if all they had to do was stand around. If you don't like working in non-California temperatures, then stay at home a drink mai-tais in your cool air conditioned casa.
I've worked many events from junior high school matches, ZATs, Champs, Super Champs, Leagues, Adult levels tournaments from local club shoot-outs to nationals, collegiate, and professional tournaments and it never ceases to amaze me how many officials complain about having to work at all levels. Frankly, I'm getting really sick and tired of it and am seriously thinking about hanging it up, unless I can work at a site pulling solo-roving duties. It is much more tranquil. Most of my time is spent wandering around the site looking for something to do. Very rarely do I have to actually work for my money. If you look in the mirror, a lot of other officials should be saying the same thing. If not, then those are the village idiots that are going out of their way to look for trouble, which makes us all look bad.
So please stop complaining and if you don't like the pay (which in my opinion is more than adequate), do us all a huge favor, quit and stay at home.
WOW! You guys are CRAZY! The TD's HIRE YOU! You WORK FOR THEM! It does not matter WHAT they do with the money - YOU have a choice work or DON'T work! Someone will work... if it is horrible employment they hire SO BE IT! JUST QUIT CRYING - gosh you guys make me sick!!!
That last one must have been written by a TD. It shows. Remember that we will set our rates and then you will pay them or lose your sanction for the tournament.
How does that feel in your self-righteous craw?
If you are wandering around the tournament site looking for something to do then obviously you don't know as much as you think. You're probably doing mediocre work and don't even know enough to know it.
Look I agree with Randy, expenses have increased the TD or Associations have gotten use to abusing the Officials to the point of being worst than the player parents. However the TD is right, Official need to stand together and not work their the tournaments. The work is to demanding to work for under the market rate. Tournaments will get what they pay for and if they what a mess-up tournament and hassel finding High School kids to take the test and act like real Official, they will problems and non-returning players and families.
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