[JRutledge]

I do not feel that it is a prerequisite at all. But it helps when you have played the game to umpire or officiate it. Not that you have to have played very long, but if you at least played at the varsity level of a sport, you can usually understand things about the game that someone that never played would understand. I think it takes someone a little longer to understand the tidbits that go on in the game when they never played. But once you become an official/umpire, you totally have to learn a different aspect of the game. Most players do not know the rules the way it is required of an umpire. So it is one thing to play, but another thing to umpire. But when you understand the strategy of the game, it helps you officiating the game. Just that simple in my opinion.

Peace