[wadeintothem]

College umpires come mostly from ASA. Sometimes they are the cream of the crop, sometimes they are not. I've worked with good ones and I can think of two absolutely horrible NCAA umps right off the top of my head.

College umps typically are more dedicated and better trained that an average umpire, but not always.
The college umpires system is not limited by a policy of catering to a low common denominator of ump (as ASA does) which makes for a overall better umpiring program.

In the past two years they have really thought outside the box and I think it shows. ASA is still boxed by old school umpire leadership. It wasnt too long ago NCAA umpires were the robots..they've moved on and left us watching.

But one cannot doubt that ASA is at the core of the NCAA program, that is where umpiring at any appreciable level starts. Any umpire who states otherwise is in never never land.

Some downsides are:

College is limited by who can participate just based on lifes reasons.

College Umps around here are organizing really well under the leadership of moz..but NCAA umping still requires a lot of *** kissing of coaches. I'm sure its worse where there is entirely no organization. Coaches, not umpires, truely decide your fate. That is why an organization would be nice.