Higher umpire pay, higher tournament cost and higher fees

default · Oct 22, 2009

Rumor has it that umpires are getting a raise again this year. Anyone that has looked in to tournaments for the 2010 season can see the average tournament cost is going up as well. Softball organizations set their fees based on cost, so fees are either going to go up or orgs will lean more on sponsorship and fund raising.

Questions:
1 Why would umpire cost go up now? (are they?)

2 Is this why tournament costs are going up?

3 Does this open up avenues for (lesser known) sanctioning bodies with cheaper tournaments?

4 Where do the entry fee hikes stop?

My take;
As a parent, coach, org. board member and tournament director I may be biased.
A big part of entry fees are based on umpire costs. Don't get me wrong umpiring is not an easy job but I believe it pays pretty well. With the economy the way it is, my boss would laugh at me if I asked for a raise at my job (actually everyone took pay cuts). If there is a shortage in umpires due to the amount of tournaments, I would think that some of the 10% of unemployed Ohio workers would be interested in umpiring. Don't get me wrong putting on a blue shirt does not make one a good umpire, it does take skills to be a good ump. In the end the last thing any family needs is to pay more money for fees in this economy.

It may not seem like much but last year's avg tournament was around $350 and this year it seems to be at least $400. If you play in 10 tournaments that is $500 extra paid this year per team.

I am a big fan of ASA and USSSA and I respect their product, but.... If cost continue to go up it would be irresponsible of me not to look at alternatives. I have never entered a team in an IFA or NAFA tournament but that may change if they can offer some competitive tournaments at a cheaper cost to the org/parents.

Other than the questions above I was wondering what others thought about this? It would be nice to hear from all sides parents, orgs, players, TDs, sanctioning bodies and umpires. What do you all think?

default · Oct 22, 2009

If one sanction raises the umpire fees, then I believe that the others would have to follow suit or they risk losing the good umpires who will follow the money.

TDs will be tempted to use just one umpire for pool games but that leads to unhappy teams.

Teams/organizations will have to take an honest assessment of just what level do they want their team/organiztion to play at and then set the team fees to be able to play in the appropriate tournaments.

Some families may not be able to afford the increase. Teams will have to be creative in fund raising or the teams will fold due to players dropping out because of the price.

default · Oct 22, 2009

The thing is, most umpires do it as a supplement to their regular job.

I agree it could put a strain on organizations who have based their budget on tournament costs from last year - on average. If all organizations said they were not going to raise umpire fees, then they would have to make a choice between working for what is offered or missing out on the extra income - and in this economy who would pass up extra income?!

So, should we - as parents, fans, whatever - expect more from umpires if they are continually being given pay bumps? Should we expect them to call an illegal pitch when it occurs? Should we expect them to be in position to make the call all the time? Should we expect them to earn the amount of money they are receiving?

I think we should... but some tournaments have been cheated what they spent in the past.

default · Oct 22, 2009

We found out at our tournament by the ASA commissioner that as of 1/1/10 any Qualifier "Must" use 2 umpires during pool play and elimination or they will not be allowed to award berths because the tournament will be Disqualified.

Ouch !

Something to look out for this summer.

default · Oct 23, 2009

The increase in tournament fees is based on the simple economic theories of cost and margin. TD's are trying to maximize profit through testing us (the consumer) on the price we are willing to pay for their service, including all associated costs.

Cost of an item or service is what we are willing to pay to get that item or service. In microeconomics, it takes the community or industry to decide the cost of an item or service. If the community or industry decides the cost is too high and obtains an item or service elsewhere, then the provider with the high cost must reduce it's price for that product or service to remain competitive or go out of business. So, what am I trying to say..........

1. Umpires (or their association) have determined their "economic value".

2. TD's have determined their margin for their tournament, net of their associated costs for running the tournament.

3. Now, it is up to us, the fastpitch community, to determine if we are willing to pay the requested amount of money for that service.

If the tournaments get filled, then we as a community have determined that the cost of the service is valid, no matter how loud and often we complain. If the tournaments do not get filled, then the umpires, TD's, equipment suppliers, etc. have to re-think their price points, all costs, and margins to determine if they can reduce their cost or whether it is worth continuing to provide their products and services to our community.

Len

default · Oct 23, 2009

We have been at outdoor tournaments with one umpire on Saturday and didn't think there was much difference. I would rather have one good umpire instead of 2 average ones.

default · Oct 23, 2009

Higher umpire fees for what! These guys basicly call balls and strikes, make simple calls at first and occasionally have to make a tough judgement call. In the end its no different than when you designated that unlucky kid in the play ground do be the umpire at that Saturday morning game in the local park as a kid. In the end its one of the biggest scam's going today, $45.00 to call a girls softball game......;&

default · Oct 23, 2009

VALLEY_STORM said:
We found out at our tournament by the ASA commissioner that as of 1/1/10 any Qualifier "Must" use 2 umpires during pool play and elimination or they will not be allowed to award berths because the tournament will be Disqualified.

Ouch !

Something to look out for this summer.

Interesting! Was the umpire pay the same?

default · Oct 23, 2009

There are all ready some very good points.

I think all organizations had to use last year's tournament cost to set membership fees for the 2010 season. I believe our fees fall about $40/50 short per player of covering team cost. If you do the math that is a direct reflection of the increased tournament entry fee. This money will have to come from additional fund raising and community support.

As the scheduler for 13 teams this season, I will have to consider looking in to tournaments that we may have not considered last season. We will not short our kids by passing on the "staple" tournaments but the others may be in jeopardy of loosing our business. JMO

default · Oct 23, 2009

I wish someone would have told me umpire costs are going up. My group is not getting a pay raise.. I know that for sure.

Of course, you have to have two umpires in a qualifier... it's crazy to think differently.

Doing a game by yourself is hard. I did some and just told both coaches.. ball beat runners on a steal to second...she's out. Plain and simple.

SDS had that wonderful tournament where the teams got in free and one umpire worked the games..... not one word was said by the coaches. My goodness, it was a FREE tournament.

default · Oct 23, 2009

What you'll start to see is more and more tournaments going to round-robin or single elimination to avoid all of the extra games in the losers bracket. For example a 12 team double elim bracket is 22 games + 1 "if game" and that is only a 2 game gaurantee. Add two pool games on top of that and you have a possible of 35 games.

Now do a 12 team 5 game round robin and you have only 30 games. You save 5 games at $80 for $400 and you offer 5 games instead of four.

Now, I definately prefer double elimination over any other format but the economics may change what we see in the future. The Stingrays are going to single elim next year (please correct me if I'm wrong, I swore I read that). What other premier events are going to reformat.

default · Oct 23, 2009

TheRinger said:
What you'll start to see is more and more tournaments going to round-robin or single elimination to avoid all of the extra games in the losers bracket. For example a 12 team double elim bracket is 22 games + 1 "if game" and that is only a 2 game gaurantee. Add two pool games on top of that and you have a possible of 35 games.

Now do a 12 team 5 game round robin and you have only 30 games. You save 5 games at $80 for $400 and you offer 5 games instead of four.

Now, I definately prefer double elimination over any other format but the economics may change what we see in the future. The Stingrays are going to single elim next year (please correct me if I'm wrong, I swore I read that). What other premier events are going to reformat.

You are correct, Stingrays went to single elimination, but they went to 4 pool games instead of the 2 they had in the past. The intent is to get more visibility for all of the participaying girls. If they did 4 pool games and double elinimation, tjhey would have to go to a 4 day tournment.

A little bit of a different dynamic in work here but I do agree that tournaments will probably have to go to single elimination in order to hold down costs.

default · Oct 23, 2009

What is everyone's thoughts about going old school and doing a true double elimination tournament for allot less cost? This is a shortage of games for the teams as a whole but the tournament could still offer a three gg.

Maybe this will help teams stay with-in their budget or even pick up an additional tournament this year.???

default · Oct 23, 2009

YAHTZEE said:
What is everyone's thoughts about going old school and doing a true double elimination tournament for allot less cost? This is a shortage of games for the teams as a whole but the tournament could still offer a three gg.

Maybe this will help teams stay with-in their budget or even pick up an additional tournament this year.???

I'm confused. How is a true double elimination tourney offering a 3gg? I thought a true dd tourney was 2 losses and you're out......

Len

default · Oct 23, 2009

wvanalmsick said:
You are correct, Stingrays went to single elimination, but they went to 4 pool games instead of the 2 they had in the past. The intent is to get more visibility for all of the participaying girls. If they did 4 pool games and double elinimation, tjhey would have to go to a 4 day tournment.

A little bit of a different dynamic in work here but I do agree that tournaments will probably have to go to single elimination in order to hold down costs.

GAPSS is evaluating this approach, not from a money perspective but to prevent teams from having to play too many games right before Nationals and to give college coaches a more predictable schedule to watch players.

Mike Wilson
GAPSS TD

default · Oct 23, 2009

Umpire fees aren't something I give a lot of thought to. It's cool that folks want to pay me to do something I consider a fun hobby- not a vocation- but I don't really give it much thought if one tournament wants to pay $5 more or less per game than another one. I'll get along fine if they decide to give us a raise, I'll get along just as well if they don't, and will try to do my best possible job either way.

As an umpire, I guess you could say that I have a horse in this race, but I don't really care if my horse wins!

So, I'll just throw out a couple of random thoughts about umpire fees:

- There are dozens of regional or local umpire associations throughout the state and there isn't a "one size fits all" pay scale. Each individual association negotiates their own fees. What umpires are being paid in one area can be altogether different from what they're being paid in another.

Some group somewhere might be lobbying for a pay raise, but I can tell you that my particular association is not.

- An interesting observation from this past season was that the one tournament I worked that charged the highest entry fee ($600 per team) and had the longest time limit for games (1 hour 40 minutes) also had the lowest pay rate for the umpires ($25 per game).

Obviously, the tournament entry fees are not always a good indicator of what the umpires are being paid.

default · Oct 23, 2009

lol Bretman.... on the highest fee.. longest time limit and the less pay.

TD's have to come up with their own solution.. and not be bashing the umpires over pay. You get what you pay. The "market" is the "market" in anything in life.

I just wouldn't want to be the TD come Monday morning reading the OFC about how terrible the umpires were at your event because of what I call "others". Others are attitude umpires that believe you should be happy I'm here thoughts in their heads.

I know, 1:10 or 1:15 (where ties can happen in pool play.. pays a little less and that is usually fine with ALL umpires. It's the 1:10 - 1:15 games with ties that go to ITB and they last 1:30 and 1:40 that upsets an umpire who is taking less money and the game turns into a full blown full games plus.

I talked a certain park into tie in pool games. Serves two purposes... a) games stay on time and b) games stay on time.

default · Oct 23, 2009

Derek, George sent you the best he had and called me when he looked like he was going to have to use "others" and I sent you the best I had... even too the point that a certain age groups begged for them to do the Sunday games as well. Not one complaint about umpires.

Good umpires do their job.. because they realize they are there to do a "job" and getting paid for it.

My umpires are MUSTY APPROVED... ain't that right MUSTY ? Can I use that in the OFC section for umpire associations....lol

default · Oct 23, 2009

ohioquakerman said:
I talked a certain park into tie in pool games. Serves two purposes... a) games stay on time and b) games stay on time.

Booo Hiss! Save the ties for Sokk3r. There's a reason we keep score - even if it's pool play. JMHO

default · Oct 23, 2009

TnTs_Dad said:
Booo Hiss! Save the ties for Sokk3r. There's a reason we keep score - even if it's pool play. JMHO

Then you are unique sir. Becuase after about five rounds of pool play with ITB happening on three fields for two or more games... and your 6 pm game is now starting at 8 pm or even later .. and a team can't play on field #1 because they haven't played on Field # 3 yet.. then you listen to the other parents complaining about games being late.

But, in reality, TNT... I like your thoguht. I'm the only TD I know that likes to play full games... but then again, I'm probally the only TD that doesn't care about my pockets being full when I leave the park on Sunday night after picking up the bases.

If a TD is so worried about teams getting their money's worth - and softball tournaments are indeed a "consumer driven business" I have a solution. Play full games with less teams in the event.... works for me.

Higher umpire pay, higher tournament cost and higher fees

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