Oh, and in NYS, new sports officials have to submit fingerprints, and a form. We got lucky, as they grandfathered all existing officials. And it does cover you all though the state for all sports.
But it still makes it even more difficult to find new umpires. Our clinic fee is $75...membership 1st year $75, then they have to pay in MAY for the next year another $75, PLUS all the gear, and now ANOTHER $60-75 for fingerprinting. No wonder we can't get people to start umpiring.
And just FYI, the starting level school fee around here is $68 this year, so someone has to work about 10 games the first year - just to break even!