[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by Toadman15241

Tim,

Was I a great ump at 11? No, and would never claim to have been so, but I was as good as a lot of guys who had been doing games for years because I had attended the mechanics/rules meetings and always to improve. By the time I was 14 I was doing 80' ball (the local association was so short on guys and a few of the senior guys had watched me do LL games). I started doing 90' ball at age 16. I also got a copy of J/R, Evans, BRD, CCA, and the PBUC manual at that time so I could learn more. Now it did take time to adjust to the move up to big field ball, but I had learned a lot in those 5 years. When I turned 18 I started doing FED ball and was asked to help with rules/mechanics this past year, even though I am only 19.

I think the fact that I am an "internet umpire" shows that I wanted to go out and learn as much as I can. I started surfing these boards when I was 14, although I did not post. I was just trying to absorb as much as I could from individuals such as yourself, Steve, Papa C, and Dave Hensley just to name a few.

I have never, and won't for decades, claim to have a ton of experience. In my book, the ~1000 games I have done (~500 big field) pales in comparison to the 5000+ games that many posters here have called.

JMHO.

Well you sound OK to me, kid!