Umpires on strike

quote:

The umps in East Texas have gone on strike and will not call any high school games this spring. The state says schools are allowed to pay $45/game + .585/mile. The umps are wanting flat fee of $85. So for a jv/varsity game they would get around $125. They are asking $170. The amount really doesnt matter. I can only pay what the state says I am allowed to pay. Any of you guys up for a road trip?

Here's some algebra for ya coach.

$45 + (68.376 X .585)= $85

So, any ump you have to pay to drive more than 68.376 miles is gonna cost you more than $85.

And, naw, if I was an ump I wouldn't drive 68 miles to get $45 to ump your game.

Maybe you and the state ought to discuss that.

lol....not sure that classifies as algebra. Looks more like simple multiplication. We play jv/varsity at the same place back to back. So, 45+45+35(in milage) = 125 for about 5hr of work.

I work in one of the richest schools in the state. It is also a rural school so most umps drive on avg. 60 mile round trip to our place. It is not the fact that we wouldn't pay it. I have to follow the rules set by the state.

$85 = $45 + (.585m) (where m equals miles)

I went ahead and solved it for you.

quote:

45+45+35(in milage) = 125 for about 5hr of work

Naw, it's about $125 for you to get your game called.

It's $9 per hour to each ump for the work.

The $35 reimburses the ump for the cost to get there.

no, it is $250 to get my game call because we use two officials. But lets not have a math discussion. You are in TX. You know the UIL does things the way they want to.

d8,

I was hoping that you are using two umps.

This is actually a pet peeve of mine.

I believe that the quality of officiating needs to improve.

I think one of the ways to do that is to make the job more appealing by increasing the pay.

I would encourage you, the rest of your coaching peers, and the UIL to figure that out.

And, by the way, how much do the football officials get per game?

quote:

Originally posted by FormerObserver:
d8,

I was hoping that you are using two umps.

This is actually a pet peeve of mine.

I believe that the quality of officiating needs to improve.

I think one of the ways to do that is to make the job more appealing by increasing the pay.

I would encourage you, the rest of your coaching peers, and the UIL to figure that out.

While I don't disagree with you FO but where does that money come from? The vast majority of schools right now are hard pressed to pay for what is already there and now they have to find more money for umps is hard to do.

It's hard enough to generate money for game balls.

My solution is get rid of the mileage and just up the overall fee. In the long run it helps both sides. It's not perfect but it's doable.

quote:

where does that money come from?

It comes from the same place where they get the money for football officials and footballs.

You do realize that pool of money isn't exactly unlimited.

There are some schools that have ample money and they can just write a check. But there are some schools who struggle to pay for game balls. Where are they going to get the money?

Maybe I'm wrong here because Texas does it differently but in the places I have been (mainly KY) each team has to pay for itself. I never got my teams t-shirts because it was either that or game balls. The school paid the umpires and I didn't have to raise money for it but there were a few times where I heard the comment "you play a lot of home games" and then it was mentioned how I wasn't bringing enough money in.

I believe umps deserve a raise across the nation because they deserve it but before you start granting raises you need to find out if the people who pay it can afford it.

I called a friend of mine who umpires in East Texas. He tells me that the umpires are not on strike. They are not employees.

They are independent contractors who have decided that their services will cost a certain amount.

It would seem that you have three alternative. You could try to negotiate. You could find a way to pay their price (and there is a way.) Or you could find umpires willing to perform that service for the amount you want to pay.

Good luck.

quote:

I heard the comment "you play a lot of home games" and then it was mentioned how I wasn't bringing enough money in.

Let me guess who said that.

The athletic director and head football coach.

I agree that finding an acceptable fee is better than a low fee and a mileage fee. You make out on close games and no so well on far games. It all should average out over the season.
The situation where the governing body just says,"This is what you get and our schools can't pay anymore" is BS. It is a horrible way to negotiate a contract.

quote:

Originally posted by d8:
The umps in East Texas have gone on strike and will not call any high school games this spring. The state says schools are allowed to pay $45/game + .585/mile. The umps are wanting flat fee of $85. So for a jv/varsity game they would get around $125. They are asking $170. The amount really doesnt matter. I can only pay what the state says I am allowed to pay. Any of you guys up for a road trip?

I hope you can get this sorted out prior to the season...I understand that the alternative is non certifed umpires or volunteer coaches.......

Pay for HS games vary greatly.....in my area of PA, for a Varsity/JV set, I get $50 varsity and $35 JV and no mileage.......

One of the things that concerns me about this issue, is that the state organizations are adamant about stating that we officials are independent contractors and thereby exempt from "employee" issues....yet they want to regulate what fee an "independent contractor" can negotiate with his clients.....

quote:

Originally posted by FormerObserver:

quote:

I heard the comment "you play a lot of home games" and then it was mentioned how I wasn't bringing enough money in.

Let me guess who said that.

The athletic director and head football coach.

LOL - nope it was the principal.

I guess we have it good here. Last year I got paid $125.10 to do a JH girls basketball game. 35 minutes playing time, no halftime, and the only time the clock stops is when there is a power outage.

Jimmy03.....Strike was their term not mine. The pay is what it is and schools can not negotiate. Like I said, I happen to be at a school who could afford to pay more, but I can not afford to knowingly break the rules. Coach2709 is right....There are several school that have a hard time coming up with $$$.

Anyway, I have found several qualified people that I would like to get trained. This is the part I need help with. What is the best way to do that since I cannot use the TASO (state organization)? Does the NFHS have a program? Or should I get someone from out of state to come in?

I sure hope you can get this settled before you need to settle for umpires who are unfamiliar with NFHS rules...

But to answer your question, unfortunately no, the NFHS does not train, they leave the training to the state associations......

quote:

Originally posted by d8:
The pay i what it is and schools can not negotiate. Like I said, I happen to be at a school who could afford to pay more, but I can not afford to knowingly break the rules. $$.

Other schools have found ways to pay more. I believe the state figure is the maximum game fee. Some schools pay additional, different fees.

The issue is whether qualified umpires deserve what they are requesting for their services. If they do, there is always a way of paying them. If they are not, look elsewhere.

I am just curious, how do you in your different associations and states get paid? At the game site, weekly, monthly? Hope all of you had a great holiday season and are looking forward to the coming months of good baseball.

For me, when doing HS games, it is usually a School district check at the game site prior to the game.

I do have a few schools who will mail out checks every 2 weeks....At the game site you fill out a payment slip and the check is mailed to you. If you have a number of these schools, it is imperative you keep a good game journal....it will keep you from missing checks....

I have had to follow up with the AD's a few times to make sure I get paid.

We have two public schools and a handful of private schools that pay on the field by check, the rest pay our assoc and we get paid at the end of the season.

1. The UIL now prohibits schools from paying a flat fee to an umpire.

2. The amount of mileage paid to umpires can vary.

According to UIL rules, umpires are to be paid a minimum of $45 for a varsity baseball game. Umpires can earn more based on the revenue from ticket sales for a game.

UMPIRE PAY
The UIL pay scale for varsity baseball umpires (does not include mileage reimbursement).

Gross gate receipts Single game Doubleheader
Up to $150 $45 $75
$150 to $300 $50 $80
$300 to $500 $55 $85
$500 to $700 $60 $90
$700 to $1,000 $65 $95
$1,000 to $1,500 $75 $105
$1,500 to $2,000 $80 $115

Each additional $1,000 in gate receipts adds $20

If I was one of you Texas coaches, I'd be getting the AD to get the checkbook ready.