Putting the Game in Blues Hands

[L.G. Dorsey]

I got into umpiring 10 years ago almost exclusively to make some extra money. I had just come off of one season of coaching basketball (7-9 year olds) and wanted to try the officiating end of sports. The more I umpired, the more I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the interaction with the players (good and bad), coaches (bad ) , and the feeling of making decisions in a flowing environment.

I still umpire because I enjoy it. I choose to limit my schedule because I now have a career and a girlfriend neither of which I had when I started 10 years ago. But would I do it for free ? Not hardly. By the time I add up my gas, uniforms, equipment.. I probably break even with the pay I get each year (which is OK) but I couldn't afford to work and not get paid. I only worked once for free and it was while I was in grad school. We weren't allowed to have side jobs so I donated my game checks back to the association. Needless to say that was not my idea.

Thankfully I haven't reached the point of Tim C., but I understand his reasons. When I first started oi Raleigh NC in 1991, I was lucky if I got to work and 11-12 yr old game. However, by 1993 they were sending guys fresh out of clinics to do 13-14 and 15-16 games. I became the senior man in may cases. I've moved a bunch since then and only in one instance have I been shorted work. Most places are happy to get someone with experience who is competant.

I guess where all this leads is that we as umpires aren't growing in numbers, yet we know more leagues are forming and more kids are playing. What can we as a vocation do to recruit young umpires ? Is money the only thing ? or are there other factors? (Tim C. did a good job listing some in his post)..

Lawrence