The days of Michigan having some of the lowest officiating fees might not be changing anytime soon, but the corps of officials it pulls from might be significantly smaller this year due to a rapidly-changing economy.
Energy prices, cost of living increases and the concern of losing a solid job for an advocation have made officiating a changed religion for many of us in the Great Lakes and around the country. What used to be good 'play money', even for the patricians among the ranks of officials has become cost-of-living money for all of us. Assignment processes that were regional are now local, and umpires, referees and officials have to be careful dealing with coaches, players and fans in their own backyard.
A few days ago I wrote about the puzzling and oft-perplexing decision of some assignors to reward the same core of officials over and over with the same, premiere assignments while other qualified officials are left behind. Today's economy makes walking away from that frustration easier, and for many serviceable prep officials, necessary to remain legitimate breadwinners in their households. What will be left behind will be a smaller, leaner and less-qualified corps of officials to handle the mass of games before the championship tournaments play. Officiating is not a growth industry, but youth sports is rapidly expanding. The who and when of staffing the many games will be a monstrous challenge in the future.
Michigan, and the state's high schools in particular, have enjoyed the luxury of paying some of the lowest fees in the country to the corp of officials who handle their games. In Detroit, three-man basketball pays $50 per man; the same assignment pays $75 in Indiana. Outside of Detroit's metro, many basketball games are still staffed by two-man crews. Michigan ranks in the bottom five of 50 states in official's pay. An explosion in cost of living costs and the low end of the fees for officials is not a good thing for Michigan's prep sports structure.
Long drives to games, gas at $4 a gallon and milk at near $5 a gallon has made officiating, even when paid cash, a losing endeavor. Seriously, did anyone think that milk would be more expensive than gas if it had been reported 20 years ago that gas would someday by $4 a gallon? A gallon of milk and two loaves of bread is now $10!
What we're seeing now is multiple games at the same site for officials because travel expenses have made officials decline assignments they used to readily accept. Officials are forced to fish for the highest-paying games at the expense of assignors who are trying to staff games with fewer officials. And what used to be money for golf, boating or vacation is now paying car notes, fuel costs or grocery bills. I worked four baseball games yesterday and I would have handled multiple games today had it not have been for work commitments. Staying at the same site for multiple games becomes problematic when dealing with coaches, players and fans, but our changed economic realities have made this an unavoidable evil.
Where do the solutions come from? With higher costs for everyone involved in youth sports, asking for more money hardly seems as a plausible remedy.
Only one conclusion is certain: It's strange times to be an official in Michigan, to be sure.
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