* The cost of gasoline. (Now at $3.50-$3.75 per gallon)
* The frequency of rate increases. It has been at least 5 years since our last rate increase.
* The cost of tolls to get to tournaments.
* Being competitive with other major cities and their rates.
The current rate for the MTOA is $18/hour for the referee with an 8 hour minimum and $15/hour for the umpires with a 6 hour minimum. The Houston Association just raised their rates to $19/hour for the referee and $16/hour for the umpires so its time for the MTOA to raise their rates.
Considering today's economy a rate increase is totally feasible. Gas prices have increased tremendously since our last rate increase and toll roads are everywhere in the Metroplex so that increases our costs considerably.
After our last increase some of our referees permitted tournament directors to quit providing meals for the officials as a way of off-setting our fees. Basically, it was their sedate way of getting even with the officials for raising their rates. We did implement a new policy that if meals aren't provided then the official can leave the site to go and get their own meals but the bottom line is still the same--we are paying for meals and violating a policy that has been in effect since the beginning of the MTOA. More on this issue will be coming soon...
As a board member I will be making the following recommendation for a pay increase at our next board meeting:
Referee: $20/hour with an 8 hour minimum
Umpires: $17/hour with a 6 hour minimum.
We would welcome your thoughts and comments on this issue.
18 comments:
The current rates are more than fair based on the work performed. If the pay increases are implemented, then we need to ensure we have qualified officials working events, which isn't the case now.
Next you guys will want a union and benefits; how about retirement pay? AND, let it go on the LUNCHES already!!! You don't have to work those tournaments.
1st Question: How much have tournament fees gone up in the past 5 years?
The 8-hour & 6-hour minimums are excessive; especially on the warp-up day. That pays for a lot of missed LUNCHES.
And Joe is right, that's a lot of pay for a warm-body who doesn't know their ass from a hole in the ground.
What happened to the day when officials worked for the love of the game?
If you want to work for free be sure to send me your name and qualifications. I'll be sure to sign you up to work a 14 hour day in a ZAT tournament in 104 degree temperatures.
If you don't want lunch provided be sure to let me know your name and I'll see to it that you never get it. The rest of us will enjoy ours.
If you think we have officials that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground then maybe you need to get on board and help us change it. Or perhaps, you are one of the ones who doesn't know their ass from a hole in the ground already.
Why is it that noone says anything about the huge profits that some of these tournament directors are making? Maybe its because they never share how much they make.
Let's run this by the Ad Hoc committee......Or has it already been there?
An officiating crew that is professional and works your tournament in a professional manner is priceless. Irate parents, coaches and players, players that are still learning the game, and players that "play the game" (nod nod wink wink)all present specific challenges that when successfully handled make a tournament that is much less a headache for the tournament staff and runs in greased grooves. Just look around, the good 'uns are worth the pay and lunch!
Tournament directors are like CEOs, there to make money. Officials are like hourly labor, there to perform a necessary evil. This is basic folks!
Moe makes a most excellent point. If you want to move up the food chain, then become the tournament director. If not, the shut the hell up.
I sure don't want to become a tournament director because then I'd have to find ways to spend all my money and still manage not to provide lunch for the officials.
BTW, the ad hoc committee only exists at the Texas Section level. Thank goodness we don't have one in the MTOA.
I like Larry's comments about the union, benefits, and retirement pay.
What did you have in mind, Larry, and where do we sign up?
I'm all for a pay raise. Those who think not probably voted for Obama & support his socialistic values & beliefs.
Sounds like a bunch old pissed off folks sitting around talking about past issues... AD HOC - that is a throw back!!!!
If you don't like the pay - QUIT!
Why in the heck should you know what the person who is writing your check makes - either offer your services for the pay they offer - OR DON'T OFFER YOUR SERVICES!!!!
Obviously we have some among us who are not officials. The Ad Hoc committee was something conjured up by Bruce Sampley and hopefully is long gone.
If you don't like the pay--then do something about it. Little bit different take on the issue.
Joe, Larry, surely you are not in Texas. If you are, I would suggest you hire a new Referee who will then hire better officials and make sure they do thier job. There are good officials all over Texas. There are also so not-so-good officials. DON'T HIRE THEM
I see a lot of tension on this site. We apparently have non-officials visiting. Why won't they disclose their full names when making such inciteful comments?
I do love the game, have over five years of experience, and believe my officiating to be exemplary - I would like to offer my services, but only to those who appreciate them.
So, to those who anonymously badmouth officials as a group - please do tell me your name - if you don't appreciate our work; and won't even consider a pay raise - that way we won't ever have to work together. Thanks!!!
I am a very good qualified official, but yes there are some that need to be retrained or find another job.
I do enjoy the work, but I also think we should receive a pay increase.
Maybe the first year officials should get paid less.
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