[kellerumps]

The reason I question the santioning bodies is because of our story.

My wife and I are both NCAA Div 1 Umpires who work major conferences but never much summer ball due to where we live. A couple of years ago, we were contacted by a local UIC to see if we were interested in working states. We said sure, we just want to call some ball.

Anyway, that spring, the advanced clinic that umpires must attend every year to be eligible to work states was held on the first Sunday of our college season.

We were told point blank by our State UIC that if we didn't attend this clinic then we could not work states. I understand that you must have a way to evaluate umpires, but in our area, sometimes I believe that they are to hard core in their stances.

Is that the sactioning body??? Or is it the State UIC??? Don't know....I just know some people over our State UIC came to our defense and helped us out.

If an umpire is good enough to work states, then use them!!!! Don't hold a $30 clinic over their head or at least offer the clinic in the fall or late January BEFORE some of us get going.

Do we want the good tournaments...You bet...We both have goals and doing the good tournaments will help achieve them. If nothing else, it will keep us sharp for our college stuff.

This past summer our ratings were good and right now, we already have our schedules for next summer's state tournaments. We will fill in with local stuff now.

Is our situation an isolated incident???? Maybe, but I know of alot of good umpires who are not used in states because they didn't attend a clinic for whatever reason.

Don't get me wrong, we are not bitter....We just want to call some ball!!!!!