I'm probably not in the majority here but I tend to shy away from the more competitive games. I find them to be very stressful. Is there anyone else out there that prefers less competitive games like myself? In the spring time, for example, I do a lot of Middle School games by myself. The baseball is horrible but the the kids are having a great time! Also, the time limit is 1 and 1/2 hours and I get the same pay for doing one of these games by myself as I would doing a very competitive varsity high school game. I have never been insulted by a coach at the middle school level. It feels good to be appreciated- an appreciation that you rarely receive in a varsity game, whether you do a good job or not. Nevertheless, I do agree that more competitive games make you a better umpire while less competive games can often make you better understand the rules(more balks and weird situations in general occur)
Greg
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