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Don.......
Steve gave you some fantastic advice on journaling....
I started a journal late in my 2nd year of umpiring in FP.......I now have 3 full years plus a little of my 2nd written down.
I wish I had started from the beginning.......thats when all the STUPID stuff I did was really obvious.
I do know that in my first year......I called a no catch on a dropped ball on a voluntary release by the fielder (dropped when preparing to throw...no one complained).........I blew a few base awards......and called out a BR for interference BEFORE she reached the 45' running lane......and those are just the ones I can remember.
I started umpiring because I wanted to put my money where my mouth was.......I thought that if I wanted a good supply of officials in our area.......I should be willing to put my neck on the line.
I know how hard it is to really be a good umpire NOW........I have really studied hard these last few years and after calling hundreds of games (it will be awhile before I reach the magical 1000 mark)........I think I have finally gotten the hang of it.
Guys like Steve, Mike and Roger (who have many more years of experience than us) did not have the luxury of the internet to bone up on their skills and rules knowledge.....
They got it in what my Dad used to call the "School of Hard Knocks".......they studied what was available and absorbed things by years of experience........
I hope that I have the longevity that they have shown (I plan to, because I really enjoy it).
Joel
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