USATF is exploiting its Certified Officials for financial gain

makes me sick.

bunch of idiots

In the Pacific Association USATF membership was already required. That is the only fee we must pay annually, however.

Keep bitching then show up anyways. Just like the T&FN photographers were telling us at USA\'s this year. The three of them spent $20K of their own money each on cameras and computers, paid their own hotel, rental car, and airfare, and T&F news gives them $50.00 per picture. If they\'re lucky they got paid $150 for the whole 4 day meet (not per day, for the whole 4 day meet, that\'s $37.50) and they get a W-2 form from T&FN at the end of the year and have to pay taxes on that. Think you got it bad, try picking up a camera sometime for T&FN, the photographers really have it bad.

Then don't do it. Go play f'ing golf or something.

There are many dissatisfied USATF officials. The selection process for the Olympic Trials (and other USATF Championships) continues to be a joke. What is the average age and waistline of those selected (?), most in their "prime" 20+ years ago. It truly matters who you know and kiss up to, not your ability to do the job for the ATHLETES. Why do this for no pay or appreciation, in fact one pays real $$ for the "privilege" to officiate!

This leads to another problem as well. Take a look at the officials at most track meets. The majority are not exactly spring chickens. When these folks start to pass away or retire, who is going to replace them? USATF charging people money for the priveledge of volunteering their time isn't going to help find new officials.

Tim Culpepper wrote:

This leads to another problem as well. Take a look at the officials at most track meets. The majority are not exactly spring chickens. When these folks start to pass away or retire, who is going to replace them? USATF charging people money for the priveledge of volunteering their time isn't going to help find new officials.

I agree completely. In my mid 40's and officiating track meets is the only thing i do that i am considered young. I was one of the young officials.

Since i started the other officals that work my local meets have been literally dieing off and no one is replacing them. I quit giving my time because it wasn't fun anymore. 3 people can't run 2 long jump pits. It became more trouble than it is worth. Now charging volunteers is really going to attract more.

ptboss wrote:

Tim Culpepper wrote:

This leads to another problem as well. Take a look at the officials at most track meets. The majority are not exactly spring chickens. When these folks start to pass away or retire, who is going to replace them? USATF charging people money for the priveledge of volunteering their time isn't going to help find new officials.

I agree completely. In my mid 40's and officiating track meets is the only thing i do that i am considered young. I was one of the young officials.

Since i started the other officals that work my local meets have been literally dieing off and no one is replacing them. I quit giving my time because it wasn't fun anymore. 3 people can't run 2 long jump pits. It became more trouble than it is worth. Now charging volunteers is really going to attract more.

No doubt. I've volunteered at meets in the past, although I'm not a certified official. Being in my 30's, I was easily the youngest one there, often by a couple of decades. Some of the old guys encouraged me to become a certified official, but things like what is posted above have kept me from doing it.

(Optional) wrote:

In case you haven't heard, we are going to be REQUIRED to join USATF for the next Olympiad in order to maintain certification.

You're rediculous. Of course you should have to be a member of the organization to be a certified official. If you don't support the organization why on earth would they want you working as an official for them. My meets pay $150 per day for officials plus meals and I know most meets pay at least something. So quit the exagerated cold sandwich is all I get stuff. Maybe at some meets but not all. Either be part of USATF or don't. No one is forcing you to be an official.

get over it wrote:

(Optional) wrote:

In case you haven't heard, we are going to be REQUIRED to join USATF for the next Olympiad in order to maintain certification.

You're rediculous. Of course you should have to be a member of the organization to be a certified official. If you don't support the organization why on earth would they want you working as an official for them. My meets pay $150 per day for officials plus meals and I know most meets pay at least something. So quit the exagerated cold sandwich is all I get stuff. Maybe at some meets but not all. Either be part of USATF or don't. No one is forcing you to be an official.

I have worked over 100 meets in 5 years and I received $30 once. I have revieved some shirts and thats about it. I would be happy to pay if i got $150/day.

Where are your meets that pay $150.

I know dozens of USATF officials. They rarely receive any pay and never over $50. USATF has always treated their officials like crap, and yes, most are aging and there is no new blood to take over.

way to go to discourage volunteer help.

get over it wrote:

My meets pay $150 per day for officials plus meals and I know most meets pay at least something. So quit the exagerated cold sandwich is all I get stuff. Maybe at some meets but not all.

2007:

Four college indoor meets, $50 each = $200 + 1 polo shirt

One HS indoor meet: $0 + t-shirt

HS indoor state meet: $0

Four HS outdoor dual meets: $0

HS County meet: $0

Five outdoor college meets, 3 @ $50, 2 @ $40 = $230 + 1 polo shirt

HS conference meet: $0

HS regional meet: $0

HS outdoor state mmet: $0

Masters meet: $50

Three junior olympic meets: $0 + 1 polo shirt + 1 hat

HS nationals: $0 + 2 polo shirts + 1 hat

Youth meet: $0 + 3 polo shirts + 1 hat

Almost all day-long meets provided meals

Total it up

25 meets

$430

6 polo shirts

1 T-shirt

2 hats

I wonder how much I paid in gas just to get to these meets?

As for "If you don't want to do it then just don't", well, you're right, that's exactly what I'm considering. The membership requirement will not go into effect until after the 2008 Olympics are done, so this year I'll probably do about 30 meets and maybe make $450 minus gas and get a few more shirts for my drawers. After that, I don't know if I will do it. Like people mentioned above, most officials are getting up there in age and I'm only in my 30's so I'm about as young as they come. There aren't many people my age willing to give up so many weekends every spring/summer to work a track meet for 8 hours in the hot sun.

Sorry that should be $480 not $430

I'm sure you'll be happy working the non-USATF sanctioned events in your area. What? There are none you say?

National Governing Body requires membership to participate in its events and you find this odd?

Silliest post of the new year.

I'm in the same leaky dingy 20 miles offshore with the tide going out as you guys are. I went to Osaka WCs this year and went to every session morning and evening. The JAAF Officials are are young, 30's, 40's, I'd guess the average age was 35 although I admit I'm one of the idiots who stereotype Orientals as forever youthful. The other important observation was there was no excess, no 15 guys raking the pits, no arguments, no two dozen marshalls all trying to be in New Sheriff in Town. I wonder if any one has ever interviewed a JAAF Executive or Certified Official about how they get so many youngsters to officiate. And I don't mean ask an American training in Japan to give us a spin on how they do it. Ask the real JAAF people what they do to keep things fresh. My association is also in desperate need of young bloods. No surprise here.

Is this for real? I absolutely had no idea. 15 years ago i ref'd youth basketball and Frosh/JV Basketball. Would get $100 for 4 youth games on a Saturday morning and the Frosh/JV games paid in the $50's if i remember correct. The varsity ref's made low $80's. I imagine they're over $100 now. This was regular high school basketball, in no way at the highest level. But the teams, coaches, fans, could get very vocal at the varsity level, thus the bigger bucks.

If you guys are doing this for nothing, you love the sport too much and are being taken advantage of. All the basketball referee's i got to know loved basketball but chose to officiate rather than coach because it was decent supplemental income without the time committment needed to coach.

We'll never get that amount. The number of people it takes for a meet is just too great for the revenue received.

When no officials show up for meets, then the pay will go up. The fact is that there are too many officials who are willing to officiate for free. That is one reason this situation may exist. Local high school meets can deal with using parents and retirees. Championship high school meets, college meets and major invitational meets can not. Cost of gas and all day extravaganzas has taken the "volunteer for fun" aspect out of officiating. Meet officials, especially at meets that charge entry fees and charge for food and t-shirts and have sponsors, can not expect to get free officials. If you are a qualified USATF Official then you should charge a fee for your services or be a spectator. Sanctioned meets require qualified officials. No pay, no official marks for the meet. Sounds pretty simple to me.

Osaka ? wrote:

We'll never get that amount. The number of people it takes for a meet is just too great for the revenue received.

That's sad.

My dad is a meet director for a local h.s. invite meet, it's fairly big - but not huge (20 or so teams.) All officials make money - usually about $40-50 for a 4 hour meet.

We don't have 20 people raking pits, and some of the officials work dual jobs - i.e. the throws are handled by the same crew, as is the jumps.

This really shouldn't be a difficult process, but when I read threads like this I can see why our sport gets no respect.

Heck, even for the intramural flag football league at my college the refs get paid - $10 a game, and they have 4 games a day!