Umpiring questions

[kcs_hiker]

Hi everybody... I have a couple of questions that maybe you all can help me with.

1) I'm 46 and just now breaking into umpiring. I've coached and played for many years, but my body (and family)is finally telling me to find a less physically stressful way to enjoy a sport that I love. Over the next 15-20 years, to what level of ball can I reasonably aspire to reach... assuming that I am a reasonably good umpire?

2) Is umpiring an art or a science? What I mean is, can I be a great umpire by working hard, studying, going to clinics and schools etc ... or is there a natural talent component that I may or may not possess?

3) Right now, I'm working high school softball, and will work baseball in the spring. I'm considering going to Jim Evans 5 day school over christmas break this year. Assuming that I do well in school, will that get me in the door for collegiate and/or semi-pro level games? I live in NW Missouri and am pretty close to a number of division II (MIAA) and juco schools, as well as the Northern independant semi-pro league.

That's good for a start... hope you all can help. Thanks.

kcs