Officiating Question

[TIDE-HSV]

As I've pointed out before, these guys are independent contractors, paid by the game and work for no conference. In fact, all of them work multiple conferences. Another Roy Kramer "smart" deal, since we save a lot of bookwork and they're responsible for their own taxes, etc. We nominally have an SEC head of officials. Several years ago, he was asked why we didn't do more. I don't remember his exact words, but it was to the effect of "What would you like me to do?" If we even reprimand, they may quit calling our game. Worse, 4-5 of their buddies may back them up. We have trouble scheduling enough officials sometimes as it is. I'm sure there would be resistance, but we need to go back to each conference having its own officials as employees...

 

[JDCrimson]

I dont know if having officials as employees of the conference really is the answer. It ups the liability for the conference and probably would further undermine the culture within the administration of the conference. Plus it lets them maintain arms length.

To me the answer to improving officiating, is for officiating to unionize or officials create professional firms that conferences contract with.

But officiating at the high school level and above really needs to move beyond the shade tree approach used for decades. There is too much not to do it.

 

[AUDub]

It’s a brawl.

 

[AUDub]

Overall not a bad L, especially at Duke.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I dont know if having officials as employees of the conference really is the answer. It ups the liability for the conference and probably would further undermine the culture within the administration of the conference. Plus it lets them maintain arms length.

To me the answer to improving officiating, is for officiating to unionize or officials create professional firms that conferences contract with.

But officiating at the high school level and above really needs to move beyond the shade tree approach used for decades. There is too much not to do it.

Well, first, SEC football officials are employees and always have been. I don't think the liability question is material. It was never even considered with the BB refs. Also, the BB would have a devil of a time organizing, because they would have prove they were "employees." The Uber/Lyft litigation, is theirtrying to become employees so they could unionize. It they try to do it as an outside group of nonemployees, they run square into the teeth of the Sherman Antitrust Act. So, two things would have to happen - they would have to want to become employees and the conferences would have to want them to become employees. They have a sweet deal now and I doubt either would even want it.

Now, NFL refs are employees. They have had some impressive conflicts, reading the history. It should be pointed out that all but a few SEC officials are parttime and none of the NFL that I know of. With the BB officials, the changes would be wrenching. Few would want to be pressed into the "when, where, how" tests of employee status. Also, with most, officiating is not the majority of their income. I agree there need to be changes. I'm just unclear on what they could be...