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I liked the four stages of umpiring. I did baseball for about 5 years, three of those I worked HS JV and a few Varsity games. I always worked some LL and Pony league as well. I believe towards the end I fluctuated back and forth between stages 2 and 3. There are bad JV umps out there but I have seen very few, if any, bad Varsity umps in my area. They all call a decent game and always look like they know what they are doing out there. I never felt that I was anything better than a good JV umpire. Never could get the feel of being really consistent with my strike zone and that is part of the reason I gave it up. I didn't want to be one of those guys who people hate to see show up to work a Varsity game. I also work basketball, do a lot of Varsity games and feel very comfortable with that sport. There is, in my opinion, a world of difference between working a Varsity game vs a LL game. The expectations on you are much higher at the Varsity level, from both the coaches and the players. Most folks are just happy to see an adult in uniform behind the plate at a LL game. I consider guys that umpire for a living real umpires.
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