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It sure sounds like a good plan. I agree with the " putting a little distance ..." When my son started calling at the age of 17, we were fortunate to have 6 good teaching umpires and we always worked a 2 man system. I was very specific when I asked the UIC who to place my son with. I wanted the other 5 to work with him for the first coupla weeks. I never wanted to be on the field until he had about 5-6 weeks of work under his belt. That's not to say I wasn't close to his field, doncha know. They didn't baby him or protect him. He took the heat when he blew the call, or the coaches thought he did, they would just step in when the discussion showed signs of influencing the players, game or my son. He didn't call any ASA, just PONY the first season. By the time the qualifying games were over in the summer, he was one of the most welcome umpires at any of the fields. Even today, he'll comment that calling with the other 5 guys was great and he'd recommend it to anyone. I just stayed in the distance and talked to him in between games, or at home, if he ever got there when I was.
I was just concerned he would want to rely on me too much to cover for him, or I would get a little too thin skinned when the comments were sent his way. Overall, I thought it went well.
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Rick
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