Payment issues are keeping CNY’s larger school soccer players off the field

MARCELLUS, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)–Soccer players and coaches in Baldwinsville and Cicero-North Syracuse are among the first to feel the impact of this fight over how refs are being paid. \

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Boy’s varsity and JV games were called off for those districts on Thursday, Sept. 19, and officials are refusing to call the games.

Six other of the area’s larger schools’ soccer schedules are in limbo because of a new electronic way they’re paying officials. Many refs don’t like this new method and refuse to officiate games for these schools.

Luckily, East-Syracuse Minoa JV girl’s soccer coach Mark Vinette’s squad was able to play its game at Marcellus, but he understands why officials are they’re deciding to do other things. The JV coach also comments, “And on top of that, we have some other issues politically that are causing some stress. And it’s going to be hard to find good officials I think.”

The refs claim they’re concerned about electronic payments being hacked and were never consulted about being paid electronically.

“If I were a parent, I would be upset, you know. I’m scheduling my week and I look at the schedule and expect a game to happen and it doesn’t happen,” said Vinette.

But who it affects is the students and their families, with every canceled game being time when players are not able to be on the field doing what they love, and parents are not able to see their child’s hard work pay off.

“I hope it doesn’t come to that. I think cooler heads are going to prevail and we’ll get it done,” Vinette said.

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