Solo umpire game fee rates across the country

[catsbackr]

I am curious what game fees are being charged for working MS/HS games solo?  Our local association may be faced with assigning some games solo and is looking for help regarding rates.  All help is much appreciated.

[umpstu]

2 hours ago, catsbackr said:

I am curious what game fees are being charged for working MS/HS games solo?  Our local association may be faced with assigning some games solo and is looking for help regarding rates.  All help is much appreciated.

In SoCal the fee is $83.  Have no idea about middle school fees.

[Scissors]

Any game we work solo is the normal game fee+1/2. So a $70 game becomes a $105 game.

[wolfe_man]

Don't come to OH...

HS Varsity is $55/game + 1/2 for solo

JV is $42/game + 1/2 for solo

Freshmen and MS is $40/game + 1/2 for solo

In other words, if you don't get assigned a HS Varsity game, then you may as well go and do some early season Babe Ruth for $50/game if you're doing it for the pay, because the rates are not good.

[dumbdumb]

double pay sounds more fair. oops i forgot, somebody has to lose. $135 then.

waiting for connecticut group to chime in.

added 11/6.

So, for the most part, i am hearing the umps (plate and base umpire) normally get the same fee per game, but for 1 person, you only get 1/2 the base umpires work fee (which equals time and a half the PU), when you are working, making all the same calls/amount of calls the base umpire would work/make if they were there.

So, why not just make the base umpire work for 1/2 what the plate umpire makes to start with when you work 2 man. since, by 1 man standards that is all they feel the base umpire is worth anyway. then it would make sense to get 1.5 pay when working 1 man, or you could say, when your partner does not show up for the game at all, but you play the game anyway working by yourself (same thing).

oh yeh, when you do start paying the BU 1/2 the PU, i would agree to let the BU start in the B position for the whole game and never go to the A position. i would assume this been done before anyway, like in a double header when the PU took a ball off the instep like a batter, and is really hopping around/can hardly move for the second game.

What a crime.

 

 

[rcjhyman]

South Jersey one man MS $84. Our fee schedule doesn't show a rate for one man varsity or JV, but I know in 2021 we did have some JV one man games. I believe the fee was 1.5 the normal for two man JV: So, $63 x 1.5 = $94/95.

[cjroman]

We get $95 for solo HS level games. 

[catsbackr]

4 hours ago, cjroman said:

We get $95 for solo HS level games. 

What state are you in?

[Kevin_K]

I have never worked a varsity game solo in North Jersey. 2021 fees were $86 per game.

[cjroman]

13 hours ago, catsbackr said:

What state are you in?

Southern Maryland. 

[catsbackr]

What is everyone’s thoughts, when working solo, to working the game from behind the mound?  My reasoning is because you get good looks at balls and strikes, plus your about 70 feet closer to all of the base call.

[noumpere]

1 hour ago, catsbackr said:

What is everyone’s thoughts, when working solo, to working the game from behind the mound?  My reasoning is because you get good looks at balls and strikes, plus your about 70 feet closer to all of the base call.

Three words:  Don't.  Do.  It.

[umpstu]

10 hours ago, catsbackr said:

What is everyone’s thoughts, when working solo, to working the game from behind the mound?  My reasoning is because you get good looks at balls and strikes, plus your about 70 feet closer to all of the base call.

I did it in a college summer league in Palm Springs and it was 115.  No way I'm going to work solo on astroturf on the plate.  I did it for like 4 straight weeks.  Couldn't get any umpires.

[catsbackr]

9 hours ago, noumpere said:

Three words:  Don't.  Do.  It.

@noumpere, why?

[catsbackr]

24 minutes ago, umpstu said:

I did it in a college summer league in Palm Springs and it was 115.  No way I'm going to work solo on astroturf on the plate.  I did it for like 4 straight weeks.  Couldn't get any umpires.

The fatigue factor is the primary reason I'm wanting us to work behind the mound.  We may have to do a 7th grade/8th grade DH or 9th grade/HS JV DH with 1 umpire.  Asking us to work 2 straight solo games behind the plate is not something I'm going to ask our umpires to do.

 

I'm anxious to hear from @noumpere as to why he says "Don't. Do. It."

[ousafe]

@catsbackr I mostly agree with you, but fair/foul is a big problem from behind the mound. Getting up/down on curveballs was harder, but my problem area, out, was easier...so tradeoffs. Things you use your ears for (hbp, ci, very slight fouls) could be harder.

[noumpere]

15 hours ago, catsbackr said:

The fatigue factor is the primary reason I'm wanting us to work behind the mound.  We may have to do a 7th grade/8th grade DH or 9th grade/HS JV DH with 1 umpire.  Asking us to work 2 straight solo games behind the plate is not something I'm going to ask our umpires to do.

 

I'm anxious to hear from @noumpere as to why he says "Don't. Do. It."

You are (imo, of course) overstating the advantages and understating the disadvantages.

 

If one could see the pitches just as well, we'd work from behind the mound always.  You give up fair / foul.  If you hustle, you can get an angle on plays on the bases.  If you start in the middle, too many plays happen "behind you."  IF you are in shape, you can work two or three behind the plate (yes, you'll need water and a break between the games).  You can manage the game better behind the plate -- have "less obvious" discussions with the catcher / batter / coach.

[catsbackr]

6 hours ago, noumpere said:

You are (imo, of course) overstating the advantages and understating the disadvantages.

 

If one could see the pitches just as well, we'd work from behind the mound always.  You give up fair / foul.  If you hustle, you can get an angle on plays on the bases.  If you start in the middle, too many plays happen "behind you."  IF you are in shape, you can work two or three behind the plate (yes, you'll need water and a break between the games).  You can manage the game better behind the plate -- have "less obvious" discussions with the catcher / batter / coach.

@noumpere,  I value your opinion or I wouldn't respond to your post.

 

I don't think I am overstating or understating either the advantages or the disadvantages at all.  I believe  I am weighing the advantages and disadvantages and choosing to go with the mechanics that give us the most advantages.  These will primarily be Middle School games being worked solo, we are somewhat forced into this due to a reduction in our association of about 50%.

 

I continue to need as much game fee information from other states as possible.  Thanks in advance for everyone's help with this.

[noumpere]

I worked plenty of middle-school-aged games in my day, and all (except for playoffs) solo.  Never from behind the mound.

[dumbdumb]

13 hours ago, catsbackr said:

@noumpere,  I value your opinion or I wouldn't respond to your post.

 

I don't think I am overstating or understating either the advantages or the disadvantages at all.  I believe  I am weighing the advantages and disadvantages and choosing to go with the mechanics that give us the most advantages.  These will primarily be Middle School games being worked solo, we are somewhat forced into this due to a reduction in our association of about 50%.

 

I continue to need as much game fee information from other states as possible.  Thanks in advance for everyone's help with this.

cat man

connecticut-2021.  98 game fee, had a verbal notation for 1.5 times if working solo.

Massachusetts (2019) had 2 fees spelled out= section 4 was 92 game fee and 138 for solo. section 3 was 105 game fee and 158 for solo.

Alabama 2021---80 game fee with no mention of one man.

it looks like 1.5 will be the main (maybe some places higher/lower) going rate for solo.

maybe?? will look for some other states if i can find them and edit and add them to this post.

 

P.S. Mr. Klem (solo) would have told us a long time ago if there was 'any' other position (greatest thing since sliced bread), other than home plate to work solo if it were true and so great, just like son, Mr. Hornsby will let you know when that pitch is a strike.

[Mudisfun]

So Cal official HS rates are set by CIF. Last years rates were $84 varsity (mainly 2 man, occasionally 3 man) and $83 JV and below, which is almost always solo. I think they both go up a buck this year. Other baseball is typically $60-$80 per game, quite often solo. Some tournaments were $65/$70 per umpire so far this year, but many of these were 2 man. I have not heard anything about an umpire receiving 1.5 the rate for being solo... wish is was so!

We are so short on officials in So Cal at the moment... my email and phone is buzzing almost daily with assignors, TD's and even other umpires looking for guys to come out.  

What I find sad with the scarcity of officials is that the game fees have not gone up. The supply/demand cycle we are seeing in almost every other industry with prices skyrocketing is not making its way to what we do, but until as a group we say we want to be compensated better, the prices will stay where they are. 

Perspective: Water Polo refs in my area make on average $50/game with typically 2 officials. Games are 4 quarters and run roughly 45-60 minutes. Most often the officials work a minimum of 2 games, sometimes 3, (Varsity, JV and then Frosh Soph.) In 2 hours, the H2O Polo guys earn $100 or $150 in 3 hours for 3 games... walking next to a pool. Compare that to a HS BB game where we earn $84 with an indefinite end time. Maybe your game will be 1:45, or like what happened several times to me last season, over 3 hours long. 

Bottom line? Our collective rates are way too low.

 

[wolfe_man]

9 minutes ago, Mudisfun said:

ted better, the prices will stay where they are. 

Perspective: Water Polo refs in my area make on average $50/game with typically 2 officials. Games are 4 quarters and run roughly 45-60 minutes. Most often the officials work a minimum of 2 games, sometimes 3, (Varsity, JV and then Frosh Soph.) In 2 hours, the H2O Polo guys earn $100 or $150 in 3 hours for 3 games... walking next to a pool. Compare that to a HS BB game where we earn $84 with an indefinite end time. Maybe your game will be 1:45, or like what happened several times to me last season, over 3 hours long. 

Bottom line? Our collective rates are way too low.

 

Totally agree... when minimum wage at a lot of places is $12-15 per hour, I can sometimes make more flipping burgers than I can umpiring a game.  Plus, no rain-outs, no expensive gear to buy, no association fees, no hat/uniform requirements for each association (uniform usually provided for employees at most places) and so on.  Yes, we get sunshine and get to be outdoors, but we also get to deal with angry parents/coaches too. 

I do this because I like the sport and enjoy interacting with the kids, but I'll be honest, as costs rise and our rates don't, I cut back and do less games each year and wonder each winter if this (past) year was my last or not.

[Mister B]

Wow, Oregon fees suck. This year a varsity game gets you $69.25/official, with JV at $52 (x1.33 if solo). 

And we are seriously hurting for officials. Last season, the association that handles the Portland metro area high schools was down to 35% of the umpires they had 2 years ago. JV games were either solo or cancelled. 

During fall ball, one of the 14u leagues, decided to stop playing double headers and go to a 9-inning format. But instead of making $120 for the D/H, I was getting $70 for the 9-inning game. The games were slightly better, because there were only 2 innings left when they ran out of pitching. But it was still a really long game. I did back-to-back solo behind the plate. Morning games on a south-east facing field, suck for fly balls when working solo. 

[Thunderheads]

On 11/5/2021 at 7:26 AM, wolfe_man said:

Don't come to OH...

HS Varsity is $55/game + 1/2 for solo

JV is $42/game + 1/2 for solo

Freshmen and MS is $40/game + 1/2 for solo

In other words, if you don't get assigned a HS Varsity game, then you may as well go and do some early season Babe Ruth for $50/game if you're doing it for the pay, because the rates are not good.

Michigan is similar

[cyclonehokiece]

Wisconsin- officially you need 2 umpires for any high school baseball.  Period.  So you will never work an official game solo.  

If it’s a scrimmage the officials requirement goes away.  This has been done for subvarsity during the current shortage (Wisconsin is down 39% in number of officials registering in all sports from 2019).  So you can do one of these solo.  Fee goes from 1.5 normal fee to you get both fees they would of paid if they could of gotten two.