From: Brian Hemelgarn (hemelgarn@ovr.org)
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 3:46 PM
To: OVR Professional Officials
Subject: OVR Officiating Memo: "6 Matches per day" clarification

[Sent by Brian Hemelgarn from the OVR List of Certified Officials]

Folks,

For most of you, this email does not apply -- you're doing the right
things already!  Thank you!!  For the rest, please read further...

OVR tournament guidelines indicate that referees are paid based upon
six matches per day at a rate of $165 (at $27.50 per match).  In the
Junior Tournament Procedures document, there is a clause which states
that "referees are paid $165 per day for six matches OR LESS."   This
clause is intended to protect REFEREES under a number of circumstances.
 For example, let's say you accept an assignment and for one reason or
another, a couple of teams do not show up. Each referee ends up working
only 4-5 matches, but you'll still be paid for a full day's work.  It's
not your fault the tournament didn't have a full schedule of teams.

There are also situations in which the tournament format (for example,
five refs on three courts OR some two-day tournaments) results in one
or two of the referees only working five matches, while the other
referees work six.  In this case, the  OVR Officials' Handbook (page
17) suggests that the officials who only work five matches should also
work as the R2 (or scorekeeper) on one of the finals at the end of the
day.  Most of  us are alreaady doing that, but some refs seem to be
fighting over "who gets paid for a full day but only has to work five
matches and then gets to leave early."

Come on, folks!  We are being paid for SIX matches.  Whenever possible,
all referees should work SIX matches.  That includes stepping in as a
second referee or scorekeeper. We are already being paid for the match,
right?  Why are we disputing this??

It wasn't so many years ago that ALL referees stayed until the end of
the  tournament, and we  ALL helped cover the final as LJs,
scorekeepers, etc., and we weren't paid extra for that.  We did it
because it was the right thing to do for the teams!

We need to stop being greedy and worrying about who gets the "short day
- full pay".  All of us need to plan on being at the tournament for the
entire day, and if we are the "lucky" one with only five matches, then
we need to start asking the head ref or tournament director which match
they'd like us to work as R2 (or SK) so that we get six matches in.

I will ensure that this clause is clarified in next season's Junior
Tournament Procedures, but for now, please understand that our intent
is for all referees to work six matches since that is what we are being
paid for.

If we can't all agree on this common-sense "good for the game" concept,
there are alternatives that the Board can consider -- and those won't
necessarily benefit the referees the way the current procedures do!

Sorry -- not trying to strong-arm anyone!!  We, as referees, do GREAT
things in the OVR, and the Board of Directors is very thankful.  But we
gotta quit arguing amongst ourselves or with tournament directors/head
referees over these trival things.  We're being paid to do a job, so
let's do it like we've always done!

As a last note, there is a difference when we are "required" to work
additional matches beyond six.  We should be paid for those unless we
are volunteering as R2/SK in order to get more experience in that
position.

If you  have questions about this, please drop me a note. I don't want
there to be misunderstandings with these policies.

Thank you!!

Brian