[PeteBooth]

Ah the rating system. This is one issue that comes up each and every year at the HS association meetings. There is no UTOPIA here.

Here's how our system works.
1. Each Umpire rates their partners

2.The coaches also rate the umpires.

3.You have to work a minimum number of games I believe at least 5 to be considered for promotion to the next level.

4. The president or his assistant will attend certain games and rate the umpires for that day, especially for the new guys.

All these factors are waited and you receieve a numerical rating. A rating of 1 would mean you are eligable to umpire all levels. By all levels I mean Modified right up through Varsity.

In reality, AVAILABILITY more than ABILITY gets one to the next level. If you are always available, for some reason the association looks favorable on this and you will get plenty of work.


The down side to all of this is:
If a HS coach does not want you to umpire any more of their games, guess what? You WILL NOT umpire any more of their games. I personally do not like this but that's the way it is. Hey life isn't fair either.

The main reason I got HS certified was for Summer / Fall Ball. In order for one to umpire in the Summer / Fall, one has to be certified. There is plenty of Summer / Fall Ball and the games start at 6PM and under the lights so at least for me availability isn't a problem when it comes to Summer / Fall Ball.

Pete Booth