2023 High School Fees Explained

2023 High School Fees Explained and Discussed

NMAA Announcement:

Officials Fees Increases beginning 2023-24

All game fees (referee and assistant referee, Varsity and JV) will increase $5 ($65 for Varsity, $50 for JV)
Travel Ring Fees are paid to all officials on the crew, replacing mileage for one person or split mileage for more than one. Travel rings are intended to compensate all officials on the crew for their time in travel
All officials on the game will receive the increased game fee, and an additional set rate based on the number of miles one-way from their home to the contest site
Here is the travel ring rate:
- 0-25 miles: $0
- 26-50 miles: $30
- 51-100 miles: $40
- 101-150 miles: $50
- 151-200 mile: $60
Officials are not required to ride share, but may do so for cost savings
People who choose to ride share are not required to compensate the driver.

Explanation and Commentary (Nigel Holman, SW Region Soccer Group Leader):

The increase in game fees is simple to understand and is sure to be appreciated.
"Travel Ring" fees are a new way to compensate officials who travel more than 25 miles to a game. It requires additional explanation:
- In previous years, when a venue was more than 25 miles from Las Cruces (the hometown of our Referee Group), the driver received a mileage payment (40 cents/mile). For longer distances, the other officials received a $10 "Rider Fee" and all three officials received a $10 per diem.
- Starting with the fall 2023 soccer season, all officials traveling 25 miles or more from their home will receive the new game fee plus the relevant Travel Ring fee.
There are positive things about the new framework:
- Overall, a crew of referees traveling to a venue will receive more total compensation in 2023 than they did in 2022.
- Travel Ring fees will be based on actual miles from your home. So, for example, if you live in El Paso, you will receive a Travel Ring fee when you referee in Las Cruces. Use Google Maps to determine the one-way mileage to your venues - the exact number only matters if you are at or near the thresholds (25 miles, 50 miles, etc.).
- For shorter journeys it may be more convenient and cost effective to travel alone and meet your crew at the venue.
But there are also some challenging aspects to the new framework as it applies to the venues that are most distant from where the majority of us live (Las Cruces and El Paso). I consider these venues to be Ruidoso, Silver City, Hot Springs, Alamogordo and Deming:
- Driving separately to these venues is not cost-efficient, but the Travel Ring fee framework compensates the driver and the riders equally. I think we can all agree that this is not fair to the driver - who incurs the cost ($0.62/mile according to the IRS) and who also has to concentrate on the road rather than snooze on the backseat.
- We can, however, make the new framework fair if:
  - We agree as a group to take turns driving, and/or
  - When we are a rider, we all agree to contribute a modest amount from the Travel Ring Fee we receive to the driver.
- In any local modification that we agree upon, I believe that youth referees (16-18 years of age) should never be expected to be required to drive to a venue.or contribute any part of their Travel Ring Fee to the driver.