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Originally Posted by JRutledge
The intensity rises. The game is faster. You have to anticipate more because players will make plays that HS players will not make. You need to show confidence in your ability and look the part. If you are new the coaches and players are looking for anything to pick you apart. Players will likely talk more to you (not disrespectfully) at that level.
Ultimately you have to experience this to know what it is truly like. Just understand that many things that you do at the HS level will not work. Good luck and most of all have fun.
Peace
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The coaches will test you, certainly. They're used to seeing the same guys year in and year out and you're fresh meat who they need to get to know. My first season working college ball in Wisconsin, I had a coach ask me about a DH situation. I gave him a quick, but concise answer and found out later from my partner that this coach is one of the few to know the rule inside and out. I've had no problems with this guy. It was a test.
One of my regular HS partners slipped in his first year and said "DH for the pitcher" during the lineup exchange and, well, that pegged him as a HS umpire. Same if you ever say a word about re-entry. He's an outstanding umpire, but for that particular coach he's going to have problems for a while, likely.
I'm in my fourth season here now and I feel I finally "fit in" completely -- that is, I can go to any of the schools in the three conferences I work and not be the "new guy" anymore. Part of that is that there's been some coach churn, part is due to conference realignment, and part is due to me working the past 3 seasons.
But the biggest part is knowing my stuff and showing up and recognizing that it's just a baseball game and I just need to work it to the best of my ability, confidently.
Call strikes. High strike, strike at the knee, both corners. This ain't D-I and don't expect the pitching to be stellar all the time.