I have to add that in the past, there were problems with umpires coming from smaller associations that don't service the top classification schools working with umpires from the bigger associations.

Umpiring is no different than playing ball in this regard: If you want to be your best, you have to work with the best, and feel some pressure to perform! With 154 guys, there is a pretty good chance that amoungst the younger guys, there will be a few that can move up quickly. EVERY YEARS we have at least a couple of new guys that will move up quickly. If I want to keep my current level of assignments, I have to stay on top of my game, because there are some 5th year guys that would love to be getting my schedule, and are basically skilled enough to do so. I am not going to sit here and tell you how good I am. But, I have a lot of confidence in my abilities, and year after year, evaluation after evaluation, have proven that I should continue to work the level I do.

I do not see the same kind of competition in the smallest associations, and also just don't see those guys having the benefit of having guys with pro experience, nor an influx of talented guys that just missed the PBUC cut. My association has all of that. We draw off of a very talented pool of umpires. Simply, I think percentage wise, the association Tim and I belong too has the highest talent level, and that feeds upon itself. Our association requires more training hours per year out of our members than any other baseball association in the state, and that training is conducted by some of the top umpires in the region!