Sharpening the Zone

[cowbyfan1]

one of the things I do is I will grab a 45 lb weight and drop into my stance holding the weight and "visualize" in my head a pitch coming in, working my eyes to the "extreme"

This builds me up strength and endurance wise and gets me to working my eyes. Anything down the middle of the plate is easy to track. It is the outer edged stuff that some umpires will stop tracking and zone the pitch. After about 100 "pitches" you will feel it. It also helps me avoid some of the early season fatigue that can set in.

Other than that cage work as suggested, not only with the video tape but with a partner, and work as many scrimmages as you can. Maybe that D1 ump will take you under his wing and work with you.