NC-Soccer Forum - Ask The Ref

Quote:
Originally posted by VincentNC

When you calculate our hourly rate, other than actual time on the pitch or commutation -- there's still more: tomorrow, I and 50 other colleagues will spend six hours being re-certified -- those are 'free' hours that go into the denominator when you're doing the hourly rate calculation (noting that of course the 6 hour recert actually costs us $67 out of pocket -- or just about 2 1/2 games of pay for a normal weekend).

In preparation for the recert, I and my two sons sat at the kitchen table tonight to review the LOTG and the ATR -- chalk up another hour (plus the equivalent right before each season starts). Now, I'm certain that there are some ref colleagues who might not mirror what me and my boys do, but most of them do, so let's just agree to pareto it. And if you're lucky enough (like I am) to have an assignor who strives for excellence and will get someone like Sandra Serafini to run a mentoring/education session for you, then you'll spend another 3 (more) hours just trying to absorb the wisdom that she's sharing. So I'm compelled to agree with the posters here, especially 951 -- few do this because of the pay and few would do it without pay...what I do know is that it's very rare, nearly non-existent that I come across a fellow ref who I don't respect for his integrity, effort and desire to be as good as he/she can be despite the flaw of just being human.

Vincent

Quote:
Originally posted by jm951

Quote:
Originally posted by juicebox

Don't the ref's fees vary depending on the level of play?

Yes- and by age group as well

Quote:
Originally posted by stormtrooper

that a CR gets $32/hr and AR's $18/hr ? Yes, it's classic, but it is still just a game, for 10 yr. olds...

What you don't see that goes into this is travel time (often 30 min+ to AND from the venue), gear cost (uniforms and more often shoes), cost of recert clinics, and other misc costs. I worked it out once for a U12 Challenge match and IIRC the actual per hour rate worked out to a couple bucks over minimum.

If you think we're raking it in, go ahead, get certified, buy the 10 jerseys, shorts, several pairs of socks, shoes (you'll trash about 1 pair/year), thermal layer shirts for those chilly games, flags, and all the other misc stuff a ref carries and join us. You'll quickly find that most adults aren't in this for the bucks.

Sure the bucks are nice, but most of us do it for the love of the game and to see young players develop. It's pretty cool to see a U10 player develop in size/speed/ability as he/she ages up into the U18 brackets. Sometimes that kid will decide to get into reffing, and hopefully the kid will stick with it. Those that do are some of the most dedicated refs in the community.

But back to the OP, as much as I love this crazy game, would I ref for free?? Not hardly. Would you lay out the cash for cert clinics and all the stuff that goes along with the ref territory and then go out on a hot/cold field to get harassed by a bunch of loud mouth boors who disagree with every call and have virtually no accurate knowledge of the game? Didn't think so. If that were the case, I'd just as soon go back to playing.