I have been involved with our sport for 20 years, I have been a coach, tournament director and official. I think that you could compare paying your officials by looking at it as paying by the hour. Maybe $20 an hour. The head official, maybe $25. If you think that this is too high, try to work an all day tournament, it is hard mental and physical work. Your officials are probably the highest expense for a tournament, but are key to a successful tournament.
Example: Official will be onsite at 8:00 AM for an 8:30 start.
Official could leave at 3:00 if they are lucky.
7 hours @ $20 an hour - $140.
The longer or larger the tournament, the pay should increase accordingly. I know that I have been in gyms until 5:00 or 6:00. This a long, hard day for an official, the pay should reflect this. If you write checks in advance, get with your club officers and head official to discuss extra pay.
Things to keep in mind:
Work with an experienced, head official, have them obtain all of your officials or help you find officials.
Always get contracts. If mailing contacts, send an extra copy, send a stamped , self addressed envelope. The head official could do this.
Contact the officials the week of your event to confirm. The head official could do this.
Try and have 4 officials for every 3 wrestling surfaces. (5 officials for 4 surfaces might work, officials need breaks), use this number, then get 1 additional official, this could be your head official. Your head official should be on the mat and watching other officials during the day.
If there is an official that has not shown up for your tournament, and you have a signed contract and the head official contacted them, this is a signal not to use this official again.
If you state in your contract that there is a monetary fine for not showing up, (without a valid excuse), contact the head of official for the state to coordinate the collection, dont use the official again. If you do not have signed contract this could be difficult.
Sorry for the long winded explanation, again these are just my thoughts and observations.
Keith Ashpole
