SPORTS

Money may not be enough to grow ranks for high schools

Nancy Haggerty
nhaggerty@lohud.com
From left, White Plains' coach Marcel Galligani discuss a close play with umpire Ray Sarcone and his partner, during a game between White Plains and Mahopac at White Plains High School April 24,  2017.
  • Money talks in officiating, but teachers can make more money today tutoring than officiating.
  • One section 1 officials knows four colleagues who do multiple sports and take home up to $80K a year
  • Reasons include lack of time, explosion of non-school sports leagues and fans verbally attacking officials

Ongoing negotiations over pay rates for sports officials who cover public middle- and high school games in the Hudson Valley could affect how many games can be played in the coming years.

As supply continues to fall short of demand due to stagnant or falling numbers of officials — and where some officials are said to be taking home as much as $1,000 in cash per weekend for working non-scholastic club games — it's unclear whether local public school associations can fashion contracts to entice more people into refereeing their games.

It's a problem that is prevalent in Section 1, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association region that oversees all public secondary and some parochial school teams in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland and part of Dutchess counties; and Section 9, which covers the rest of Dutchess, Ulster, Orange and Sullivan counties.

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From left, Umpire Ray Sarcone talks with his partner before the start of a game between White Plains and Mahopac at White Plains High School April 24,  2017.

And the rate at which officials are paid for each game is just one of a list of concerns. The cost of training and daily travel, the fact that income from scholastic organizations is taxed, and the idea that older officials already fill spots at the more lucrative varsity level, are all factors officials have said can deter new recruits.

Section 1 Executive Director Jennifer Simmons characterizes the problem as “multi-pronged” and statewide.

In fact, the scope is national.

“From our perspective, it’s a pretty serious problem. It's kind of reached a zenith,” said Bob Gardner, executive director of the 94-year-old National Federation of State High School Associations, which began a national officials recruitment drive in April.

Ken Dronzek takes notes during a training session for people who want to become basketball referee at Sleepy Hollow High School on April 11, 2017.

“If we don’t pay more money, I don’t see how this gets better, frankly,” said Barry Mano, founder and president of the 22,000-member National Association of Sports Officials, 70 percent of whom cover high school games.

Mano cites everything from increased demands on personal time to the explosion of non-school sports leagues to fans verbally attacking officials (“We’re living in a world of second opinions”) as reasons for the shortage.

“There wouldn’t be a shortage if game fees went up 100 percent. But that’s not realistic,” he said. “School districts don’t have the financial resources.”

Nadia Duncan during a training session for people who want to become basketball referee at Sleepy Hollow High School on April 11, 2017.

What officials get paid 

Section 1 pays its varsity officials anywhere from $92 (cross-country) to $110 (seven sports) per regular-season game or dual meet. Lesser amounts are paid for junior varsity, freshman and modified (middle school) play, the latter generally paying $75 per assignment. Section 9’s fees are slightly lower.

But sometimes a few dollars (before taxes are taken out) is enough for an official to choose a Section 1 game over a Section 9 game, according to Chris Mayo, interscholastic athletic coordinator for Orange/Ulster BOCES.

"One of the issues we have is they'll go to (Section 1) Arlington for $4 more instead of (Section 9) Poughkeepsie. They'll do that," he said, noting, though, that the two sections work together to ensure varsity games are covered.

Simmons would not comment on negotiations, but some officials have suggested Section 1 has dangled a pay hike in exchange for reinstatement of fines for officials who accept assignments and then, sometimes as late as the afternoon of game days, notify the section they cannot work.

These so-called "turn-backs" have exacerbated scheduling difficulties.

“There’s just not enough officials to go around,” said Rich Leaf, who heads Westchester’s and Putnam’s boys and girls soccer officials.

Often, coaches sub for officials due to the shortage, he said.

Many cancellations are for legitimate reasons, including illness. Others come down to money.

Umpire Ray Sarcone calls a runner out during a game between White Plains and Mahopac at White Plains High School April 24,  2017.

Cash talks 

Public schools are not the only games in town, and that is a big part of the problem. Private and parochial schools, colleges and club programs also vie daily for officials, tapping the same limited pools.

Locally, private schools generally pay officials more than public schools. Both pay more than most clubs. But many clubs offer things schools do not — multiple games in a day and cash payments.

Section 1 pays officials in a lump-sum check after the season ends, first deducting taxes. Section 9 pays monthly.

They compete with club teams, including many Catholic Youth Organization squads, that provide cash on the spot.

47-year veteran high school sports referee  Howie Green.

“Coaches are giving you cash before you step on the court,” said Howie Green, a 47-year high school basketball referee who said refs can work 10 CYO games in a single weekend for a $500 score. Some cram in even more.

“I know guys who get $500 on a Saturday and $500 on a Sunday. They do CYO basketball and get paid in cash, unless they do it for a school that has vouchers,” said Lou Gaudio, a six-year Section 1 basketball referee and 15-year baseball umpire.

He said between club and school assignments, officials can pull down about $70,000 to $80,000 a year working year-round.

“Whenever there are cash games they’re going to go to that game instead of a game where they’re not paid for three or four months, especially when there’s no (turn-back) penalty paid. That’s a no-brainer,” Gaudio said.

Simmons, who said Section 1 follows "all the rules," remarked, "Unfortunately, we can't govern ethics."

"I think it's always going to be a hurdle," Mayo said of losing officials to cash games. "We do things the proper way."

John Barbezat takes notes during a training session for people who want to become basketball referee at Sleepy Hollow High School on April 11, 2017.

Shrinking pool

Teachers once populated officiating. But now they're shying away from both officiating and coaching, said Bronxville Athletic Director Karen Peterson.

Part of the problem is greater demands have been placed on young teachers, keeping them in their classrooms long after the final bell has sounded. New Rochelle Athletic Director Steve Young also noted that teachers can make more money tutoring than officiating.

And teacher salaries have increased to the point some don't need the extra income officiating provides.

Former ice hockey ref Rick Yarmy welcomed earning about $200 for a night doing back-to-back Section 1 varsity games at the Brewster Ice Arena. That money made traveling from his New Rochelle home worthwhile since Section 1 doesn't offer gas mileage reimbursement.

But the section has stopped allowing refs to do two games a night.

Simmons said the change resulted from coaches' worry that refs weren’t as sharp in second games. But that change, Yarmy argues, created an immediate shortage.

“The referees association was completely against it,” he said.

And while some sections in the state pay for travel expenses, Section 1 does not.

"An official would rather work five minutes away rather than an hour away," said Michael Cring, the first-year Arlington High athletic director.

Cring, a certified baseball and soccer official, formerly was principal and athletic director at upstate Cooperstown High School. He said in that area salaries were lower (about $83 for a varsity game) but officials were paid IRS-standard mileage, up to 100 miles per game.

Problems recruiting

With a large population of older, established officials, many say another problem is the inability of newer officials to get promoted, Simmons said. 

In many sports, officials linger for years in lower-level, lower-paying games.

Simmons said some associations limit the number of officials who may oversee varsity games. She wants that changed.

“Some younger officials have found it very frustrating to move up,” she said. “The ability to move up should be more open. They take pride and want to be able to move up. They get frustrated and do club or do college."

And the cost up front can deter a college kid from officiating as a part-time job.

Most officials' initial training courses run only about $50. Add in uniforms, equipment, periodic refresher courses and annual testing and the price tag rises.

Ray Sarcone, president of the Westchester County Baseball Umpires Association and the Westchester-Putnam Wrestling Officials Association, noted umpires invest $250-$300 in clothing and equipment. A wrestling referee’s uniform runs about $120-150.

State law also mandates sports officials be fingerprinted for about $115.

“Drawbacks are startup expenses for softball of around $500 for clinic fees, dues, fingerprinting cost, uniforms and equipment," said Jim Berger, chairman of the Westchester-Putnam Softball Umpires. "Financially, it is worthwhile, assuming the individual is available daily at 4 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays. Someone hoping to do it only a couple of days a week will find it not worth the effort, besides never becoming very proficient as an umpire."

Twitter: @HaggertyNancy