Dang, I remember when our assignor assigned me to two MLS Next games that were on Father's Day. Got absolutely nothin for it. Our area actually consolidated multiple leagues under one "league" for this season and they actually did negotiate a pay raise... it was only like $5-10 more per game but I guess it's something. Maybe it's a start. Obviously I can't do anything about it as a single ref and I'm not going to talk to anyone about this. But what is the usual rate for these games around the country? Like ECNL is firm across the country at $60-75 for a center and $40-50 for an AR, is this normal for your guys youth games?
In my state ECNL rates trail prevailing youth rates a few local clubs pay above the stated ECNL rates so that they get referees on their games
In my state we just got a pay raise for the first time in years. We're now at 35/25/25 for U11-U12 up to 60/50/50 for U17-U19. Technically I think this applies to the state league games, but in practice all friendlies and tournament games pay the same rates. Some regional leagues may pay slightly more.
If you're interested in what were making in the youth Game, here are the fees. There is no league negotiations etc from this. The only thing that pays different is MLS next and those kinds of national leagues. https://www.epysa.org/referee-fees/
Here is an example of our local traveling youth leagues. 2021 Fees Age Center Ref AR 1 AR 2 U9 $34 n/a n/a U10 $34 n/a n/a U11 $42 n/a n/a U12 $42 n/a n/a U13 $54 $35 $35 U14 $54 $35 $35 U15 $69 $48 $48 U16 $69 $48 $48 U17 $79 $58 $58 U18 $79 $58 $58 U19 $79 $58 $58
Interesting that fees work differently in different locales. All fees here are set by the individual clubs. The one I primarily work for is one of the better paying clubs: U9/U10 30 U11/U12 35/25/25 U13/U14 45/35/35, 50/40/40 U15/U16 55/45/45, 60/50/50 U17/U18 65/65/65, 75/75/75 U19 75/75/75, 80/80/80 The second set of fees for U13+ are for the “premier” level matches. On all 90 minute games ARs get the same as centers.
My club pays like: U10 30/25 U12 40/30 U14 50/35 U16+ 60/40 I'm pretty good locally but a couple neighboring clubs' rates have me wanting to get an increase passed. The variation here is significant. I have kids from other clubs who make out like bandits doing my games, and from other clubs who won't come unless I match their home rates.
I should have said that while the rates I posted are pretty common amongst my local leagues' clubs, there is one local club that has quite high rates. Regular Comp: U13:$50/35 U14-16 (play same half length): $65/45 U17: $85/60 U19: $90/65 NPL : U13:$65/40 U14-16: $70/50 U17+: $90/65 Funny thing is that despite these really high rates and with NPL teams at nearly every age group for M/F, it's a pretty unknown club and the refs are honestly not that good. The other local clubs with lower rates are the clubs that have experienced, even regionals on their ref list.
For Classic in NC which is the highest level of youth travel below the ECNL/NPL/MLS Next leagues, we apparently have quite low pay. U11/12 - 40/22 U13/14 - 46/28 U15/16 - 54/35 U17-19 - 60/42
Exactly. In PA-West: Cup/Classic leagues are the 'spensive clubs, USYSA div 1-3. Some of these 'spensive teams/clubs (or at least their A teams) may from year to year do the whole USYSA National League or USClub NPL thing, GA, etc. Our USL team (Riverhounds) has a youth program in the ECNL. These teams all travel (some of them TRAVEL), but we save the term "Travel" for the community clubs which comprise divisions 4-6 of our USYSA leagues.
Okay that's too confusing to follow the specifics. In my experience, teams who don't "travel" are usually recreational level teams who play teams within their own club but even they "travel" maybe 10 miles at most into neighboring towns, because they aren't playing to go long distances, just for a run around the field. In our state/region, any competitive level team (not just NPL/ECNL/GA/EA level) would be a "youth travel" team because they travel decent distances for regular league games to surrounding cities. These teams traveling 30-50 miles each way is common.
I find it fascinating that PA-East has the same rates for everyone while PA-West works with each individual clubs setting rates. I have never - until now - thought about the fact that there would be people choosing an assignor because of the pay rates his club pays. Our system would probably save you a headache or two!
My next 4 weekends go like this: Games per day (Sat/Sun): 3/3 4/2 4/2 3/(no games this Sunday yet) Oh, I also have multiple Wed and Fri with 2 games. Ref shortage indeed.... not sure if I'll last...
When rec season starts, I will have 2 games a night (7v7 or 9v9) every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I am already assigned 40 games (Rec, Academy, USYS Mid South, etc) between Sept 9 and Sept 30.
Our local USL team is doing a thing to recruit more refs, from a Tweet: New Mexico United (@NewMexicoUTD) tweeted: Soccer needs referees at every level to help grow the beautiful game in our state! We're hosting a referee recruiting event at the United Team Store on Tuesday Sept. 14th from 5-7pm for anyone interested in becoming a referee. More info down the thread #NewMexico #Soccer #Love https://t.co/Ke1C9C1PCC Cheers, Mi3ke
We're fighting through a massive shortage here. I did a 1-man HSB VAR on Wednesday. Two smaller schools, non-conference, on a pitch that is uphill one way. It was a decent first half, but 2nd half blowout, shortgamed with 2 minutes left (of course). If either team had been crazy it could have been bad, but everyone was really nice and supportive. I probably missed an offside or two, but sure I made it up with a phantom offside or two. Two, tiny, rural, non-conference teams - 9/10 if you're fit and fast. Two teams conference - 2/10 (1 point for the great sprint workout) Every day I get messages from club assignors, middle school ADs, and HS Admins looking for refs. Honestly, if I knew `100% I'd get through it uninjured, I'd work 25 matches a week to help get them in, but I'm being smart and managing my rest days. We're no good to anyone injured from overuse.
It's kind of like we're first responders. They don't jump out of the truck and race into the fire. The first thing they do is put on all of their protective gear because there's no one to take care of them or the victims if they get hurt.
A couple of days earlier, there was a brief discussion on BBC. Listen in from about 5:30 onward to 21 minutes. Turn your ears to https://bbc.in/3yXZNlm. There (England) they have adopted creative ways to get the numbers of referees up. However, the shortage did not start this year, nor in the recent past. The shortage was a long time in the making. Neither the leagues, who improved their numbers of players and coaches, nor the referee association, who kept on using the same methods of instruction, helped to rectify what was clearly a situation leading to current shortage.
First games of the fall season on Sunday, I'm only taking one day a weekend cause I'm busy. CalSouth sends out a message to all referees and assignors reminding them to never use two man system, get a club linesmen when you can. I see less and less of a reason to do that, especially on lower level games and I'm wondering when they're going to wake up. Apparently we're 40% less than we were before the pandemic, but still holding on to old "Traditions".
There has been a shortage of referees in England essentially forever. Only limited adult matches (other than the professional levels) have 3 officials, and certainly none at all at the regular (non-cup) youth levels. They are lucky to get even one qualified referee. PH
I don't have much experience with the two man system, but when I have used it, it's pretty terrible. But it's a hell of a lot better than the completely useless club linesman. I love the ones who I tell specifically they can only call ball out of play and they still try to signal GK/CK/offside and then I go over and take the flag from them. In other ref shortage news, my area has a handful of MLS Next games tomorrow that aren't going to have full crews. MLS Next games. So I guess if I have to do one solo, I will have to track their sub rules, plus the fast-paced game, video recorded to go on the MLS Next website where all the offside calls I don't make will be on full display for anyone watching and the coaches involved. This blows.
One cause of shortages that I don't think gets mentioned enough: the assignor. Some assignors are very professional, take interest and initiative in a referee's development, are highly thoughtful in how they assign games, are organized, communicate clear instructions, and always ensure complete payment on time. Other assignors assign by constantly blasting emails looking for anyone with a pulse to fill games, have no organization or thoughtfulness in their assignments, don't participate at all in referee development, and have payment issues. Guess what kind of assignor keeps referees around? And when you're in an area where you don't really have a choice in assignor, sometimes it's easier to just quit. I think US soccer assignor certification is lacking in it's standards. Given that it's something that can be relatively lucrative, and that assignors can have a monopoly in some areas, I think there's lots of room for improvement.
That's ridiculous, I could handle solo games but I wouldn't be confident at all that I got a lot of those offside calls correct regardless of my experience. That would just be a test in my ability to control a game, nothing to do with technical ability and it would look awful. Two man system isn't great at all, but I prefer it over One whistle one flag and some Parent I can't trust not to yell at the players. I can see this league season going quite badly if we don't change the way we look at this. I don't see why our state can't just go against USSF, not like they can ********ing do anything about it if we decide Two Man is acceptable during a PANDEMIC!