ALLIGATOR: In today's vernacular, it is one who would deceive and defraud new officials in regard to pay, working conditions, and assignments.
In our tennis world, we are busy enlisting, training, and struggling to get our new and ITA officials certified by the upcoming and expired deadlines--and its quite the task! All of the new testing requirements challenge the mind and imagination of even experienced officials and it can be a daunting and frustrating task for a new official--BUT ALAS, there are even more serious dangers awaiting our new and less-experienced officials and that is the presence of ALLIGATORS in our midst...
We try to walk our new officials through the officials' waters but its not always an easy task. In the Metroplex, we set up the METROPLEX TENNIS OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION years ago to help and they have similiar organizations in San Antonio and Houston but that leaves a lot of the state basically uncovered and unprotected...
The sad thing is that some officials and tournament directors seek to enlist new officials with lesser pay and more work requirements but simply forget to tell them they are being abused. IF YOU ARE A NEW OFFICIAL, here are things you need to check out before agreeing to work for anyone:
* Be sure your pay scale is agreed upon in advance. Pay in the Metroplex is $18/hour for umpires with a 6 hour minimum and $20/hour for referees with an 8 hour minimum. DO NOT let anyone tell you that we pay new officials a lesser amount because that simply isn't true. There are set fees in every area in Texas so be sure to ask before consenting to work.
* Remember that there are different pay scales for USTA, ITA, UIL, and pro events. Always have the pay scale made crystal clear before agreeing to work.
* Remember that there are different pay scales for USTA, ITA, UIL, and pro events. Always have the pay scale made crystal clear before agreeing to work.
* Remember that as an official you are considered to be an INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR and that means you can work for whatever amount you agree to. The local associations are there to provide a base pay to insure that new officials are not underpaid. You are always free to negotiate whatever rate you desire with your referee or tournament director but be sure the facts are known in advance. Alligator bites hurt...
* Be sure that whoever you agree to work for is working with the local association and if not, that they are providing you with a Form 990 and that they will be filing your 1099 form with the IRS. If they aren't, don't work for them because you don't need any problems with the IRS.
* Remember that local officials organizations are registered with the IRS and do all of your tax information in the correct way. Anything else is not being fair to an official.
* Check to see the policy of lunch and supper being provided. It is the policy of the MTOA for meals to be provided or time given to leave the court (with pay) to secure your own meals. In some cases, if meals are not provided then additional pay will be added to the tournament invoice. If you choose to work without meals being provided, then that is your own choice but not one that you are required to make. Simply put, no meals provided meals more money for the referee and tournament director so be sure to keep that in mind.
* Do not let a referee or tournament director ask you to arrive early on the day of your assignment and then not pay you from that arrival time. A legitimate organization would never ask you to work for free. If you are required to be there at 7:30 a.m. then you should be paid from that arrival time.
These are just some words of advice to new officials. If you have questions, feel free to write. You don't want to get bit by an ALLIGATOR...
3 comments:
Tournament Directors would be very wise to pay their officials in a timely manner to ensure they are able to hire the same qualified officials for future events. It has taken almost 2 solid months to get paid for a local ZAT Challenger and then our Treasurer had to go to their office to pick up the check, which they claimed was mailed a week prior. It was not.
The worst part is that the TD had the money in their hands before the tournament even started since they have to register and pay online.
At the tournaments I run we make sure we have the funds on hand and the check written and delivered personally to the officials at the close of their watch with a firm handshake and our sincere thanks. But I too had to wait 7 weeks recently for a sanctioned tournament check and I am still waiting on a ITA dual match check from April. And so it goes!
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