All;
When one enters the NCAA arena, it helps immensely to have played the game. The coaches respect umpires who appear to have knowledge of the game. Regrettably, only about a third of NCAA umpires that I know have NCAA or minor league playing experience. So while it is not prerequisite, it certainly helps. Those that do not have the experience can acquire some knowledge and fake it.
The former players/coaches have a leg up on those that have no experience at that level. I have stated in the past that I believe the reason that we do not see women umpires at high levels is that women have no experience in high level baseball and cannot fake it. I believe that it is no accident that the only women officials in pro sports are basketball officials. Women play high level basketball (NCAA and pro) on TV, unlike baseball, football, or hockey. Women have credibility with the coaches in basketball, which they can never achieve in baseball or football. True, many of the officials in pro baseball or football never played the game, but at some crucial stage of their careers they were able to convince someone otherwise.
One thing that you cannot do in NCAA baseball is coach and umpire at the same time even if it is in different divisions and different places. After one graduates above the level of 15 year old ball, one must choose, coach or umpire. The fraternities are simply too small to allow you to do both. Look at the animosity just in this thread. The same prejudices exist outside of the Internet as well.
Peter
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