UIL Statement Regarding Officials’ Pay

Date: Jan 15, 2009
Category: Athletics

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN, TX— The following is in reference to ongoing concerns regarding the fee paid to baseball umpires by UIL member schools.

Since October 2007, the UIL Legislative Council has revised the TASO officials’ pay scale for every sport in the customary manner.

The Council approved a flat fee scale for Soccer and Baseball and gave the other divisions of TASO officials the five-dollar across the board raise they requested.  Additionally, meal and mileage reimbursement was modified as TASO requested.

The flat fee for baseball approved by the Legislative Council ensured that no official would leave their home to call a baseball game for less than sixty dollars ($60) for one game and one hundred dollars ($100) for two games. The fee scale also included a sliding scale for distance, which collectively, represented an increase in fees for baseball officials.

Subsequently at the Legislative Council meeting two months later, representatives from TASO and the baseball division proposed that the prior revision to the pay scale be modified again to be based on gate receipts and have the five-dollar increase that was provided to the other divisions of TASO.  The Legislative Council approved this proposal in January 2008.

There is no negotiation allowed in the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules regarding officials’ pay.

Schools that pay more than the allowed fee for officials will be considered in violation of UIL rules and subject to sanctions as outlined in sections 27 and 29 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules.

Should TASO chapters refuse to schedule and/or work baseball games for schools who are not allowed to pay fees in excess of the allowed amount, schools will be given permission to secure and utilize non TASO officials for any and all games.

UIL intends to continue to work with and communicate with all stakeholder organizations, including schools and officials associations. 

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