[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

First year: Fr, JV, small-school varsity, men's American wood and metal, scout ball, HS winter ball

I got recruited to join one of the HS units (there are several in L.A.), and then became an associate member of the larger unit later on. I did the men's ball right away because they were short of umpires for the older divisions. Between scout ball, men's ball, winter ball and by doing all hardball, I got in a lot more games, and essentially got three years' worth the first year. So I was able to move up pretty fast.

You're lucky. Our HS group (back when I joined there was only one, now there are two) also did the bulk of the youth ball throughout the county, so the rookies and 2nd year umps drew those assignments. And my assignor would tell tales of the real old days (the 50's and 60's) when you didn't get a sniff of high school ball until you had been a member in good standing of the SDCBUA for at least 5 years. At the time I started, my getting varsity my 2nd year was the exception rather than the rule.