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Football Officiating => National Federation Discussion => Topic started by: NEWOFFICIAL on April 23, 2019, 04:27:02 PM
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Interested in knowing what each state pays for varsity football . Florida pays $65, often there is a little extra in the form of travel . What does your state association pay ?
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See this kink.
https://www.ghsa.net/sites/default/files/documents/officials/Appendix_F18-19.pdf
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If that one does not work, try this one.
https://www.ghsa.net/game-fee-chart
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We don't really have a set statewide rate in OH, except for playoffs. Each conference/metro area negotiates (read: dictates) that separately. And central OH is notoriously the lowest of the 3 large metro areas, especially in the non-revenue sports.
For football, we are at $68 for varsity, $47 for JV, $42 for freshmen/MS. No travel fee except for playoffs, if going over 50 miles.
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We are finally getting a significant raise next year!
FOOTBALL
Varsity (5 person crew) - $110/official
Varsity (7 person crew) - $100/official
Jr. Varsity - $65/official
Jr. High - $55/official
Clock (Game and Play Clock) Operator Varsity - $55/official
Clock Operator Jr. Varsity - $40/official
Clock Operator Jr. High - $35/official
Chain Crew - $30/official
Playoffs 1st Round (5 person crew) - $125/official, Alternate Clip - $80, ECO - $60
Playoffs 1st Round (7 person crew) - $115/official, Alternate Clip - $80, ECO - $60
Playoffs 2nd Round (7 person crew) - $125/official, Alternate Clip - $90, ECO - $60
Playoffs Quarter-Finals (7 person crew) - $130/official, Alternate Clip - $100, ECO - $60
Playoffs Semi-Finals (7 person crew) - $135/official, Alternate Clip - $110, ECO - $60
State Finals (7 person crew) - $150/official, Alternates and ECO - $80
Playoffs Chain Crew if Officials - $40/official
TRAVEL
Total miles are based on one way (not round trip) from each individual’s address listed in Arbiter. Arbiter lists the total miles from the officials address to the address of the competition site.
0-60 miles – No additional travel compensation
61-120 miles - $25 travel for each official
121-180 miles - $50 travel for each official
181 and above - $75 travel for each official
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We are finally getting a significant raise next year!
FOOTBALL
Varsity (5 person crew) - $110/official
Varsity (7 person crew) - $100/official
Jr. Varsity - $65/official
Jr. High - $55/official
Clock (Game and Play Clock) Operator Varsity - $55/official
Clock Operator Jr. Varsity - $40/official
Clock Operator Jr. High - $35/official
Chain Crew - $30/official
Playoffs 1st Round (5 person crew) - $125/official, Alternate Clip - $80, ECO - $60
Playoffs 1st Round (7 person crew) - $115/official, Alternate Clip - $80, ECO - $60
Playoffs 2nd Round (7 person crew) - $125/official, Alternate Clip - $90, ECO - $60
Playoffs Quarter-Finals (7 person crew) - $130/official, Alternate Clip - $100, ECO - $60
Playoffs Semi-Finals (7 person crew) - $135/official, Alternate Clip - $110, ECO - $60
State Finals (7 person crew) - $150/official, Alternates and ECO - $80
Playoffs Chain Crew if Officials - $40/official
TRAVEL
Total miles are based on one way (not round trip) from each individual’s address listed in Arbiter. Arbiter lists the total miles from the officials address to the address of the competition site.
0-60 miles – No additional travel compensation
61-120 miles - $25 travel for each official
121-180 miles - $50 travel for each official
181 and above - $75 travel for each official
Must be nice to have enough officials to also cover the clock and chain crew. Our are always parents or teachers from the home school. Occasionally you'll have a retired or former official but that's rare.
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PA is based on each individual school. Each school pays what they want to pay.
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Must be nice to have enough officials to also cover the clock and chain crew. Our are always parents or teachers from the home school. Occasionally you'll have a retired or former official but that's rare.
In my section of the state, we never have officials on the chains for regular season games. They are required for playoffs. ECOs must be registered officials, but schools are allowed to provide their own PCO if he/she is certified by the state. Very few do so.
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In Maine....
$ 76.60 varsity game + $ 0.44/mile for first 125 miles, $ 0.22/mile thereafter.
80% for clock operator
Post -season playoff : 125% game fee
State championship : 150% game fee - 7 officials
4- man chain crew + asst. clock operator (all officials) $30.00 each.
IMHO, not bad for a hobby! I believe that Texas officials are still paid by share and would be interested in hearing from them.
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Last I heard, TX was paid as a %age of the gate.
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Not so much a "percentage" as it is based on a schedule, kinda like IRS taxes. I attached a sample TASO invoice, which shows the fee "schedule" at the bottom of the page.
Some folks will brag about regularly getting $500 checks, but I think that is mostly brag. But, I do know that some Championship games can get in that range. I got $250 for a playoff game - not a championship game - at Texas Stadium (before they tore it down - around 1995).
To get to $500, the gate receipts would have to be something like $82,000. Not at all unrealistic, if ticket prices are $10 each. That's just 8200 people. If tickets are $5, that's 16,400 people. Many of us have worked regular season games with crowds in excess of 20,000 (Permian, Midland Lee come to mind), never mind playoff games.
Hmmm. Doing the math, I think we've been getting screwed. Not surprised.
Robert
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Our average human (not counting 'skeeters & and real animal mascots) attendance at a regular season game ranges from 5-6000 (note I didn't say 5000-6000). I think I like our fixed-rate better! ;D
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Here in the Chicago area I believe the person selling tickets in the ticket booth gets more than we do. We got a whole $1 raise for 2019 to $77 a varsity game. Game fees are set by a committee to keep things consistent throughout the area. Clock operators are provided by the school, so we deal with home cooking clock situations some times. No mileage at all during regular season, can't speak for the downstate guys that probably travel more than I do. But getting from the northern suburbs to a south suburb game can take me close to 2 hours sometimes on a Friday night.
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NC just authorized an increase for varsity 5 man from $76 to $90.00 for next season. No word yet on other levels.
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We had a game one year where the host only had 4 of our 5 checks before the game. He said he would try to find the 5th check. At halftime he came in and said he found it with the checks for the security officers. When he opened the envelope he discovered the check was for twice what we were paid. He jokingly told our white hat he wouldn't be there the next week because he just learned the security people (off duty police officers) were paid twice what the officials were paid.
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We had a game one year where the host only had 4 of our 5 checks before the game. He said he would try to find the 5th check. At halftime he came in and said he found it with the checks for the security officers. When he opened the envelope he discovered the check was for twice what we were paid. He jokingly told our white hat he wouldn't be there the next week because he just learned the security people (off duty police officers) were paid twice what the officials were paid.
One time we had one of our official's checks written out for the check number in the corner, which was $1,047. All of the other checks were the normal $85. He ended up getting his check re-issued, but said later that year, he got a 1099 from the school with the original bad check + the $85 check. Had to call and get it all cleared up.
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WOW !!!!! Some of you guys get game checks at the game :o ? We work for 19 schools and only 2 still do that. Most checks arrive via snail-mail in a week or two. PayPal, or whatever you hi-tech guys :) call it, is still a decade or two from reaching the Maine woods. A "wrong check" story that I recall from my murky past came to mind. Umping baseball then was $45 (today it's 66), the AD gave us our checks pre-game and we shoved them in our wallets. Later, at home I took out my check and noted it was only $35. Soon the other umpire phoned with the same problem ???. The following morning the AD phoned and admitted that his assistant incorrectly made out our checks with softball rates of $35 and the softball umps got $45 :o ::). He said he had already talked to one of the softball umps and the response was : "TO BAD, WE DESERVE AS MUCH nAnA".
I responded : "She probably right, she can keep my fee and I'll keep hers yEs: " The AD then informed me that the "she" was a HE.
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Illinois has just formed a partnership with Arbiter. An officials' fee increase for next year will include use of Arbiter for assignments by all assignment chairman paid for by the state. Currently each assignor or assignment group creates their own relationship with Arbiter and then charges officials to join their group. Depending on how many sports you work and how many assignors you work for, you may be a member of many many Arbiter groups and have to pay to join each one. Next year the state will pay for assignors Arbiter access (theoretically) removing the need for officials to have to pay to join each Arbiter group. I would also expect all game fees to eventually be paid through ArbiterPay. That has already started as the state pays all playoff officials through ArbiterPay and a few conferences have begun to pay all officials through ArbiterPay as well. Has some interesting tax implications.
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Arkansas has a minimum suggested pay scale. I think almost all schools are paying more than this, but I'm sure some are still paying the minimum.
members.ahsaa.org/public/userfiles/AOA/AOA_SuggestedPayScale.pdf (http://members.ahsaa.org/public/userfiles/AOA/AOA_SuggestedPayScale.pdf)
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Has some interesting tax implications.
Yep, the $600 per school rule will not apply if you use ArbiterPay for all of your assignments. If more than $600 goes through ArbiterPay for you (regardless of which school it comes from at any level), you get a 1099.
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Yep, the $600 per school rule will not apply if you use ArbiterPay for all of your assignments. If more than $600 goes through ArbiterPay for you (regardless of which school it comes from at any level), you get a 1099.
Only an issue if you don't currently claim all your officiating money.
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Only an issue if you don't currently claim all your officiating money.
:thumbup :thumbup :thumbup
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Only an issue if you don't currently claim all your officiating money.
And is not that big of a deal if you keep your receipts and a record of your travel. My expenses and travel always offset my wages.
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I know Texas does not use NFHSA rules but if you want to know what public schools pay for Varsity and sub-varsity in Texas check out the following link:
https://www.uiltexas.org/athletics/officials-fee-schedule
In summary, Varsity pay per officials is paid a based on the total amount taken in at the gate including a provision for season ticket holders. And there is a minimum amount paid for those games where there is little to no gate received. Travel pay is included based on the distance to the Stadium from a predefined center-point for the local chapter working those games as defined by the State governing entity (UIL). Not perfect but there is no one-size-fits-all method in Texas anyway. I have heard of cases in some of the large 6A level Varsity championships where crews of 7-officials have received over $1,000 per game. Albeit these are limited cases.
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This is very interesting . It would be useful to know what other states pay as well. It appears as though many states are now paying $100 or more for varsity football while other states are paying significantly less in the $60s and $70s. If your state has not responded on this thread please post your states fees.
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In my neck of the woods, the Oklahoma City area, we generally get $90 for a varsity game. $100 for a Freshman JV Double-header. $40 per game for JR. High, usually a 7th/8th double.
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In Mass: Varsity $91, clock op $56, JV $68 no clock.
Thanksgiving $107 clock $64
Playoffs Sectional $110 clock $83
Finals $120 Clock $89
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On this, what would guys think is a fair wage for working a game? (total game + travel?)
Certainly different metros have different costs of living...
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On this, what would guys think is a fair wage for working a game? (total game + travel?)
Very interesting question Steve. We get a total of about $75 per game, including travel. I work in a densely populated area, with about 25 high schools within 30 miles of my house, so travel time really isn’t an issue for most of us.
Getting paid is nice, and more is certainly better than less, but I bet most guys who are reading this forum in early May aren’t officiating for the money.
Of course we never know in advance, but if you offered me a competitive game, cleanly played, with reasonable coaches, I wouldn’t need much money to work that and I might even do it for free. On the other hand, if you offer me a blowout with lunatics on the sidelines, and trash talking and after-the-play BS all night, I wouldn’t take that game for $75, or even some of the higher numbers posted above.
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SC varsity game fees are $92 for big schools, $80 for medium schools, $68 for small schools. $43 for JV and $33 for 7th/8th grade games.
For all games we also get 45 cents per mile travel fees with a minimum of $9. Travel is calculated center of zip code to center of zip code.
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On this, what would guys think is a fair wage for working a game? (total game + travel?)
Certainly different metros have different costs of living...
The one thing all the discussions have proven is there is a shortage no matter how much officials are paid. I believe it's Colorado that is in the $60 range for a varsity game and Georgia is over $100. Officials will say money is the reason they are leaving the avocation but it's more likely something else and the money isn't enough to overcome that issue. I think it's important us to get paid as much as possible, but that's not why most of us are doing this. We also have to recognize the organizations we are working with at the HS level and below are generally working on very tight budgets and have a large variety of expenses. We are a necessary evil or the contests would be chaos.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but if we get paid for mileage it's reported as income which is taxable. You can't then deduct mileage as a business expense because they've already paid you for it. Any tax experts out there?
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Please correct me if I'm wrong, but if we get paid for mileage it's reported as income which is taxable. You can't then deduct mileage as a business expense because they've already paid you for it. Any tax experts out there?
I am no expert by a long shot, but the mileage reimbursement in SC is less than the IRS allowable, and is from midpoint to midpoint in the involved zip codes. This is almost always less than the IRS allowable. True, the reimbursement will offset the deduction, but not totally. Keep up with your exact mileage and calculate the difference between what mileage reimbursement you receive and the 54.5 cents/mile allowed by the IRS. The difference is deductable.
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I am no expert by a long shot, but the mileage reimbursement in SC is less than the IRS allowable, and is from midpoint to midpoint in the involved zip codes. This is almost always less than the IRS allowable. True, the reimbursement will offset the deduction, but not totally. Keep up with your exact mileage and calculate the difference between what mileage reimbursement you receive and the 54.5 cents/mile allowed by the IRS. The difference is deductable.
I believe that's correct. For playoff games we are paid 25 cents per mile round trip from home to school. I know that is slightly less than half but to keep it simple I only include half the mileage to the school from my house in my deduction. I always wondered though if that made the other part really considered income. I couldn't think of a way to not include it in income. My football income generally comes out fairly small so it doesn't have a huge impact on my overall deduction.
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Reimbursements for actual expenses, mileage included, are not taxable under the current IRS tax code. They should always be identified on the actual payment as such. You should be calculating your actual mileage deduction per IRS guidelines then subtracting the mileage allowance actually paid. The unpaid remainder is still a valid deduction. Specific information on this is available on the IRS website.
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A couple of considerations that may go into official's fees may be :
(1) popularity of sport (Maine has 79 football schools);
(2) travel (schools pay $ 0.50/mile round trip, 2 cars max. - some travel $$ exceed game fee);
(3) formula for game fees - each sport is rated on : Length of game, responsibility ,physical activity (1-10);
Football's rating :
Length of game 9.25 (baseball tops)
Responsibility 10.0 (at tops with basketball & ice hockey)
Physical activity 8.0 basketball, ice hockey & soccer tops)
IMHO, our fee system and mileage seems fair and transparent.
IMHO, would I work for free ? NO!
IMHO, would I work for more or less ? ---YES, I LOVE OUR GAME tiphat: z^ z^ z^ z^ (5-MAN CREW)
IMHO, THE FIELD TURF ALWAYS LOOK GREENER.....
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Please correct me if I'm wrong, but if we get paid for mileage it's reported as income which is taxable. You can't then deduct mileage as a business expense because they've already paid you for it. Any tax experts out there?
I'm no tax expert either, but I do believe that if you are paid a mileage, that part of your game fee is not taxable.
So, if you have a $100 game fee, and $65 is a game fee and $35 is mileage reimbursement, then you'd only be taxed on $65, not $100.
I'm definitely not positive if this is right or not.
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I'm no tax expert either, but I do believe that if you are paid a mileage, that part of your game fee is not taxable.
So, if you have a $100 game fee, and $65 is a game fee and $35 is mileage reimbursement, then you'd only be taxed on $65, not $100.
I'm definitely not positive if this is right or not.
It is non-taxable only if you do not claim a deduction for the travel to the game. It works like this.
I traveled 70 miles round trip for the game. If I used the IRS mileage rate rather than actual expenses the IRS will allow me to take a deduction of $38.15 from my income.
So $65 gross income less $38.15 Travel expense equals $26.85 net taxable income.
However if I am reimburse $35 for travel that must be deducted from my Travel expense.
So $38.15 IRS allowed deduction less $35 travel reimbursement equals $3.15 allowable travel deduction. $65 gross income less $3.15 travel expense equals $61.85 net taxable income.
So while the $35 is not included in gross income it is accounted for by lowering your travel expense deduction. So travel reimbursement is included in Net Taxable income but not included in Gross income. The only practical difference this makes is if you work in a place where local taxes are based on gross income not net income.
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It is non-taxable only if you do not claim a deduction for the travel to the game. It works like this.
I traveled 70 miles round trip for the game. If I used the IRS mileage rate rather than actual expenses the IRS will allow me to take a deduction of $38.15 from my income.
So $65 gross income less $38.15 Travel expense equals $26.85 net taxable income.
However if I am reimburse $35 for travel that must be deducted from my Travel expense.
So $38.15 IRS allowed deduction less $35 travel reimbursement equals $3.15 allowable travel deduction. $65 gross income less $3.15 travel expense equals $61.85 net taxable income.
So while the $35 is not included in gross income it is accounted for by lowering your travel expense deduction. So travel reimbursement is included in Net Taxable income but not included in Gross income. The only practical difference this makes is if you work in a place where local taxes are based on gross income not net income.
Thanks! I need to do a better job of tracking the fee and mileage part of the playoff checks because I've been including the full check amount in my income. It's only a couple checks per year so it's not a big issue. But every little penny helps!
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So $65 gross income less $38.15 Travel expense equals $26.85 net taxable income.
However if I am reimburse $35 for travel that must be deducted from my Travel expense.
So $38.15 IRS allowed deduction less $35 travel reimbursement equals $3.15 allowable travel deduction. $65 gross income less $3.15 travel expense equals $61.85 net taxable income.
For those of us who get a game fee but no travel allowance:
The total check was $100 (gross income). IRS travel deduction=$38.15. Net taxable income=$61.85.
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For those of us who get a game fee but no travel allowance:
The total check was $100 (gross income). IRS travel deduction=$38.15. Net taxable income=$61.85.
Don't overlook the other travel related expenses that you have as an integral part of maintaining your professional qualifications. Travel to board meetings, seminars, training sessions, on-field workshops, etc. Mileage for those at the IRS rate is a valid deduction against related income. And even meals where applicable are deductible at 50% of the total cost (I would check the IRS guidelines for meals to be sure that they fit the requirements). College guys, especially if they have to travel the night before a game, could probably give a very detailed primer on income vs. deductions.