Problems with assigners

[AmackNH]

Just a quick what would you do...

 

My primary association is a GREAT association.  Large, very competent membership with a pretty good number of leagues. 

 

Recently an email came out from the assigner stating that "some other group" was trying to get umpires to work games for them in a league that we were offered last year.  We turned down the account and they didnt bother asking us again this year, just went with this other association.  I have made clear I want a fuller schedule and have been told its not a matter of ability, but that there arent enough games to give me anymore.  I decided (as did a few other members of the assoc) to also work games for this other group.  I accepted only games that they offered on dates that my current assoc had already scheduled past.  Meaning, it wouldnt put me in a spot where I took a game from the new group at the expense of my old group.  Now the assigner has sent an email saying the expected response to anyone asking us to work for them is "I ONLY ACCEPT ASSIGNMENTS FROM XXXXXX ASSOC". 

 

I could care less about the politics of battling umpire associations.  I just wanna work as many games as I can.  Am I nuts in thinking my primary assoc is overreaching?

[grayhawk]

Of course they are overreaching.  You are not an employee, you are an independent contractor.  The question is, would they limit your schedule (or take it away altogether) if they find out you are accepting games from the other association - even under the circumstances that you describe?  If that is the case, then you have a decision to make, which is exactly what they are trying to force.

 

Of course, if enough of the membership is dissatisfied with these thuggish tactics, then those on the board are putting themselves in jeopardy if losing future elections.

 

Hard to believe that associations can be so insecure.  Is this for high school?  Travel?  Other?

[johnnyg08]

Yeah, they're overreaching.  BUT I do think there should be some sort of association loyalty.  I assign and I don't expect my umpires to not try to fill their schedules...but if I have a busy weekend on the horizon and I ask the guys to keep that weekend for me if they plan on umpiring that weekend, I expect them to do that.  Then on my end I give them the games and some playoff time when the assignments are running thin, I remember who helped me when I needed the help...not just the "what have you done for me lately guys"

 

Yes, you're not an employee...but to think that you're going to end up w/ a butt load of games just because w/o playing some politics and doing some networking, you'll notice your schedule getting smaller and smaller.  That is the reality.  

[AmackNH]

Of course they are overreaching.  You are not an employee, you are an independent contractor.  The question is, would they limit your schedule (or take it away altogether) if they find out you are accepting games from the other association - even under the circumstances that you describe?  If that is the case, then you have a decision to make, which is exactly what they are trying to force.

 

Of course, if enough of the membership is dissatisfied with these thuggish tactics, then those on the board are putting themselves in jeopardy if losing future elections.

 

Hard to believe that associations can be so insecure.  Is this for high school?  Travel?  Other?

Its everything except high school.  Pony, LL, Legion, AAU...

[AmackNH]

Yeah, they're overreaching.  BUT I do think there should be some sort of association loyalty.  I assign and I don't expect my umpires to not try to fill their schedules...but if I have a busy weekend on the horizon and I ask the guys to keep that weekend for me if they plan on umpiring that weekend, I expect them to do that.  Then on my end I give them the games and some playoff time when the assignments are running thin, I remember who helped me when I needed the help...not just the "what have you done for me lately guys"

 

Yes, you're not an employee...but to think that you're going to end up w/ a butt load of games just because w/o playing some politics and doing some networking, you'll notice your schedule getting smaller and smaller.  That is the reality.  

I guess this is my issue...I have clearly articulated that they come first.  IMHO the problem is that the assigner is overwhelmed.  He has schedules from these leagues for the entire season...its not abnormal to get assigned for something on less than 24hrs.  This other assoc is assigning into June and July...am i supposed to turn that down just in case i maybe get something from my primary?  I looked at my games from last year.  I basically got on avg 3 games/wk.  I can and want to work 3-5/wk.  The assigners message is "have faith, we always give you the games"...which is only partially true.  I get games, but not as many as I want.  I find it ridiculous that they expect me to turn down other games if they cant/wont give them to me. 

[JaxRolo]

Assignors can't get along which makes it problematic for the umpires

[Richvee]

I've got two assignors I work with for my non high school games. My primary gives out games weekly. My secondary will go weeks in advance and sometimes within 24 hours when need be. What I do is I'll take a max of 2 weeknight games from my secondary ahead of time, then block out the rest for my primary who assigns weekly. I'll always leave Sundays and Saturday nights open for my primary because I'm guaranteed games there. Then, after I get my games from my primary, if any night is open, I'll open them up for my secondary in case he gets some more games or givebacks. 

[noumpere]

Of course you can work for the other group.  But equally "of course", your current assigner can put you at the bottom of his list.

 

Only you can decide if its worth it.

[blue23ll]

When I lived in California, I worked for 3 different associations. One was High School baseball/softball and some youth, the other was strictly High School baseball and the third was youth baseball. My primary association got priority and I used the other HS association to fill in the gaps. The third youth group was for summer ball. The 3 assignors all got along and actually worked games for each other on occasion. The fact they communicated made things much easier on us umpires.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

When I lived in California, I worked for 3 different associations. One was High School baseball/softball and some youth, the other was strictly High School baseball and the third was youth baseball. My primary association got priority and I used the other HS association to fill in the gaps. The third youth group was for summer ball. The 3 assignors all got along and actually worked games for each other on occasion. The fact they communicated made things much easier on us umpires.

 

In my state, you may only register with one HS association in any sport. You may work for another association with the approval of your association's President or assigner, and the "borrowing assc. must ask permission each time. Those that violate the restriction are subject to suspension by the state. One of my guys was caught double-dipping a few years ago, and received a one year suspension IN ALL SPORTS.

[johnnyg08]

 

When I lived in California, I worked for 3 different associations. One was High School baseball/softball and some youth, the other was strictly High School baseball and the third was youth baseball. My primary association got priority and I used the other HS association to fill in the gaps. The third youth group was for summer ball. The 3 assignors all got along and actually worked games for each other on occasion. The fact they communicated made things much easier on us umpires.

 

In my state, you may only register with one HS association in any sport. You may work for another association with the approval of your association's President or assigner, and the "borrowing assc. must ask permission each time. Those that violate the restriction are subject to suspension by the state. One of my guys was caught double-dipping a few years ago, and received a one year suspension IN ALL SPORTS.

 

 

Sounds more like an employment agreement.  I don't think that would ever hold up in court being able to suspend a guy from working...they don't have to assign him of course...but it must be nice to have such a surplus of officials that they can suspend an umpire from working at all.

[KenBAZ]

I work for 4 assigners plus the AIA. One I've worked for the longest so I will block out tournament weekends for. Another has the most games by far, schedules weeks ahead and just asks I keep my Arbiter up to date. A third just has a men's league that I work Sunday nights. The fourth gets my availability each week and just uses me when he needs coverage. During the HS season I could work those games 5 days a week. Right now I'm working about 12-15 games a week. I just try to be up front with everyone and try to represent all my assigners well.

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[Kevin_K]

First come, first served. I make that clear to anyone I work for. I don't give games back and I never mail it in during in a game.

 

My schedule is always filled and I know there plenty of umpires around.

 

It works for me, and apparently the guys I work for.