Seems like all the talk around Washington and Austin these days is about cutting budgets--and now the talk has come to the DFW Metroplex...
There is talk among some officials about developing a different pay scale for newer officials that includes a 44% pay cut from $18 an hour to $10 an hour. The only excuse given for this proposal is that they are "new" and "inexperienced" and therefore deserve less pay. Their main excuse for this proposal is that tournament directors are complaining that the new officials aren't doing as good a job as the more experienced officials.
Here are some points to consider in this discussion:
* No guidelines are given as to what constitutes a "new" or "inexperienced" official. All officials are certified and therefore should receive the same pay. All officials (new or experienced) are asked to stand in the same cold or heat and deal with the same players and parents. Some offer that a "new official" is one with less than 5 years experience. Basically, that is smoke and mirrors to cover up a pay cut.
* If we are going to penalize "newer officials" for their lack of experience then we should also institute a program where "more experienced officials" are penalized for poor job performance. Seems ridiculous doesn't it--and that's what its meant to do...
* Let the law of "supply and demand" hold true. If an official is no good--then don't hire them. If the tournament director doesn't like the job performance of the officials being hired then check with the referee since it is their responsibility to oversee the officials. If you don't like the product--then get a new referee...
* In the Metroplex, new officials are already required to undergo a "shadowing" program and a "new officials training program" in addition to attending the regular officials school each year. They have "paid their dues" in order to enter the officiating workforce by participating in all these requirements.
* Some tournament directors are also referees for various tournaments. This latest proposal smacks of being just another way to make more money. The Biblical admonition, "no man can serve two masters" rings incredibly true in this instance.
* The complaint that newer officials don't do as good as job as older officials simply isn't true. Some of the worst officials are those who have been at it the longest. Check out the complaints registered each year at the USTA and you will find that most of them are against more experienced officials.
* If tournament directors are complaining about the quality of officiating by newer officials then why are no complaints being sent into the MTOA or the Texas Section?
* Perhaps another way to consider the issue would be to issue "bonuses" or "pay incentives" to all officials based on their performance. This would be quite a new experience in our officiating world!
* Many officials are already being asked to report to work 30 minutes early without pay to "prepare" for the tournament. This policy is expressly prohibited by the MTOA and should be reported immediately.
* Officials are also being asked to "bring their own meals" or not being paid for meals. This is just another ploy by some referees and tournament directors to make more profit on their tournaments.
As we think about this issue, here are some things to remember:
* Ask your referee before the tournament begins what their pay scale is and if they provide meals and if they are asked to come early without pay. If they fail in any of these areas--then don't work for them.
* Do your very best job at all times and be conscientious in all that you do.
* Make sure that you know the rules. Study, study, study...
* If you feel you need more training--then ask for it. There are plenty of experienced officials in the state who would be glad to help you.
Hopefully this new proposal will meet a quick demise. Learn to recognize it for what it is and then let's move on...
15 comments:
A well written post in support of those at the bottom of the ranks. Encouragement and wisdom to a new official. Thank you for the advice.
As an experienced official, I'd like to turn this argument upside down.
How about a BONUS for someone who must be deemed "experienced" because they are asked to work 14 hours a day for 2 or more days straight, without relief?
It's kinda arrogant that the same 'Referees' that are proposing the cuts are the same ones making the big bucks. Why don't they take pay cuts to compensate? In addition, how can a Referee suggest cutting the pay for new officials when they stick it to certain tournaments by charging them over $2 an entry to enter them into TDM and then charge FULL rate for their Referee time. To me, that needs correcting ASAP.
If anything, pay should be based on competence. From my experience as a competitive tournament player, I’ve seen more than my fair share of incompetent experienced officials, which also includes Referees. At least I'm considering them experienced by their age.
As both an official and tournament player, I can say that when I feel my matches have been negatively affected by an official, it has always been an "experienced" official either not doing their job correctly, or at all. These particular "experienced" people certainly don't deserve more pay than the "inexperienced" officials that are actually doing the job they're being paid for.
Supply and demand.. ONLY If the referee is NOT in the back pocket of the TD - can you expect quality Officials...
Best advice is that that if you don't like the condition - YOU DONT HAVE TO WORK!!!
14 hour days - THAT IS YOUR CHOICE! You can ask to work half a day - if they don't offer - DONT WORK!
I was wondering when "FREE MEALS" would be brought up again...
When I worked all day in my bosses landscaping company - I never got a free meal... When I worked at Dairy Queen 14 hours in a HOT kitchen - I never got a FREE MEAL.
When My daughter taught tennis all day - she never got a "free meal."
Working 12-14 hours at the Water Park - I was expected to PAY FOR MY OWN FOOD - HECK NO!!!
STOP CRYING!
How about a "head" check for anyone who'd "work 14 hours a day for 2 or more days straight, without relief."? Either you consider yourself a martyr, are one of those "I do it for the love of the game" zealots or you're dumb enough to deserve what you get.
The Grape of Wrath
Give it a rest about your bad situation in life. Meals were a part of the package for over 15 years until a couple of our referees decided to give the DTA and the Ft. Worth Tennis Association a free ride. If you work for me, you get meals provided or a $12 stipend. Its all up to your referee...
Dear Stop Crying,
As a landscaper you get to leave to eat lunch, working at the Dairy Queen you had food available, a water park has food available to be purchased. Where does an official get food at a high school site with no concession stand? The tournaments usually send food out to the desk person they could easily send it out for the official which they used to do all over Texas.
As for your daughter, I bet she set her own schedule. It was her choice not to eat.
The way the 14 hour days come about is difficult to determine in advance.
The referee apologizes because someone else didn't show up and matches fall behind. If you ever want to work in this town again, you can't just walk off, especially if you're the only official at a site.
I have refused to work the second day back to back for DTA because they pull stuff like this all the time. In some cases, your assistance or "relief" official never existed in the first place.
It happens far too often with the DTA but newer officials are afraid to stand up to the referee who has duped them into a 14 hour day. I had one do that to me a couple of years ago and I told him on the second day that I was leaving at 1:30 p.m. so he had better have someone there to take my place.
He did...
18.00 per hour!!!
AND LUNCH!!!!
And when the Mom comes up to me and says the Official on the court told me that he never saw my opponents son throw his racket over the fence... therefore he was not going to enforce rules!!
PATHETIC that I pay this much for an entry fee - so you can eat during your 14 hours and look the other way because your overworked!!!!
If he didn't see it then he was doing the right thing. If you start believing every Mom that swears by all kinds of things then you are in more trouble than you know. I'd sure like for you to come work a 14 hour shift with no meals and see how you enjoy the experience. Let me know and I can put you in touch with some referees that will make sure you are underpaid and hungry...
First of all I wouldn't work 14 hours if I did not want to - especially if I got so tired that I could not see a racket laying on the other side of a fence and I was too afraid to ask the kid if he threw it!!!
Second - I would take a lunch break and if my boss did not like it - screw him/her they should of planned better.
Why do you demand crap and put some officials out there that TAKE $18 and look the other way?
It's a valid point that if the racket is outside of the fence, and people are accusing the kid of throwing it there, that you can ask him to own up to it.
Shame on an official who did not do so.
On the other hand, you can always ask said official to contact the referee at that point, or let the referee know of your displeasure.
It may be fun to rant on this blog, but that will in no way result in a satisfactory outcome, unless you just like to complain?
Post a Comment