[BigTex]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Oh, I'm working the state tournament starting Saturday, too. I don't see it as over-qualified, BTW. I see it as "they will get the best umpiring available" for their game tonight.

I've been in Europe the last three summers during the Majors tournaments. I've worked a Regional at the Senior level and States at all the levels we have (11, 12, 13-14, 15-16) with the exception of the 12s. We hosted last year (six districts rotate, so we don't host again until 2013) and I was in the Netherlands that week. Next week I'll stay in a hotel and take a few vacation days and work about 12 games or so.

I'm not involved at the local league level anymore. The local leagues use teenagers for most of their games. They would get eaten alive during the All-Star tournaments and, frankly, aren't really qualified to do the games during the tournament. All-Stars is a whole different experience than the local league games. We take it seriously -- this isn't where we load up the fields with Smittys and have a good chuckle.

Once the kids stick with it a few years and show commitment and demonstrate ability, they are invited to join the District umpire staff. One of those kids went on to be a PBUC Honor graduate and was offered a contract in the Northwest League right out of school (during the strike year), but had to turn it down due to a medical condition and the fact that the short A leagues didn't win insurance during their strike. Now he works HS and college ball and still works LL.

I was by no means questioning wether or not you were able to work those games. I now understand that the guys working all summer are not qualified, and that is a fair answer. I hope they are at the games watching and learning. Congrats on the State tourn. I am sure they are going to miss you in the Netherlands this summer, nice gesture on giving up miles so someone else can go.