First game on the dish...ever

[kylejt]

How do you start out doing JV ball? No Little League, PONY, anything?

I can't do high school ball because I have day job, but is this normal? I mean, you start out with 16 year old kids throwing 85mph? I mean in most respects it's easier than little kids ball, but these games count for something.

It just seems odd.

[ToGreySt]

Originally Posted by kylejt

How do you start out doing JV ball? No Little League, PONY, anything?

I can't do high school ball because I have day job, but is this normal? I mean, you start out with 16 year old kids throwing 85mph? I mean in most respects it's easier than little kids ball, but these games count for something.

It just seems odd.

I've been playing baseball for as long as I can remember, but I've never done any umpiring at any level. The high school association here in New Hampshire has a 6 week clinic to get new umpires ready for the season. does everybody start out at lower levels then worked their way up to HS? has anyone started at HS?

Joe

[briancurtin]

Originally Posted by ToGreySt

does everybody start out at lower levels then worked their way up to HS? has anyone started at HS?

Joe

i started when i was 14. i would work out with the assignor of LL that if i played a morning game(s) i could work an afternoon game or double header for him. if i played in the afternoon, id umpire early games, and i tried to pick one up during the week as well. thats how i started, but im sure there are some that jumped in later on

when i started out and for the first bunch of years, i was just a kid out there wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, thats how we all did it. i dont know that really counts in my umpiring "resume" - thats just my first years

[Clint Lawson]

I have never seen a JV pitcher throw 85mph.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Clint Lawson

I have never seen a JV pitcher throw 85mph.

I'm glad somebody said something.

[moorg]

Originally Posted by Clint Lawson

I have never seen a JV pitcher throw 85mph.

I generally subtract 15 from anything that I do not see on a JUGS gun for myself.

[kylejt]

Originally Posted by Clint Lawson

I have never seen a JV pitcher throw 85mph.

There was a twelve year in my town throwing 81mph. Perhaps you caught his 18 K's in six innings on TV. That's 81mph from 46'. I did most of his games last year, and they were, ah, interesting.

Kyle

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Clint Lawson

I have never seen a JV pitcher throw 85mph.

The JV right fielder that had never pitched before who took me out of the game (only time ever) with a fastball directly to my left elbow, was throwing well over 85 mph. He had no clue where the ball was going and the catcher was so overmatched he couldn't get a glove on the ball.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ToGreySt

I've been playing baseball for as long as I can remember, but I've never done any umpiring at any level. The high school association here in New Hampshire has a 6 week clinic to get new umpires ready for the season. does everybody start out at lower levels then worked their way up to HS? has anyone started at HS?

Joe

I worked my very first baseball game behind the plate in a varsity non-conference double header. I read two books from Carl Childress published by Referee Magazine. I read both books cover to cover in order to get a step up on my first game. Fortunately I did work a full season of football and basketball so I was prepared for the type of "people" issues that I was going to face on the baseball diamond.

In my state all you have to do is get a license by passing a test and passing a background check and receiving references from people associated with the IHSA (coaches, administrators and officials). If someone wants to hire to HS games it is up to the assignor. Of course you might not start out at the varsity level like I did, but you can still work games at the HS level in my area from the very beginning.

Peace

[Thatballzlow]

Originally Posted by ToGreySt

I've been playing baseball for as long as I can remember, but I've never done any umpiring at any level. The high school association here in New Hampshire has a 6 week clinic to get new umpires ready for the season. does everybody start out at lower levels then worked their way up to HS? has anyone started at HS?

Joe

Has anyone started out at HS level? Of course they have. You want two good stories...? Well, you're getting them anyway...

I had umpired a little softball, mostly slow pitch...but never a baseball game. I went to umpire school and my first games were a Division III NCAA DH...how bout them apples?

Best story...A friend of mine who went to umpire school with me had never seen a pitch in his life...softball, baseball...curling...synchronized swimming...lol...never officiated in his life....went to umpire school...made it to AA before getting married and deciding to quit...even though he was one of the next promotions to AAA. Now that's a quick move up the ladder.

Not trying to rub it in...just thought I'd point out there are all sorts of places to start...it all comes down to confidence...

I wish you the best on your first plate job...just remember...rules-schmules...don't become a rule book lawyer...just use common sense...you will remember the rules without focusing on them...take your time and let them know you are there to give them 100%!

And remember...thatballzlow...nah...call it a strike!

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by kylejt

How do you start out doing JV ball? No Little League, PONY, anything?

I can't do high school ball because I have day job, but is this normal? I mean, you start out with 16 year old kids throwing 85mph? I mean in most respects it's easier than little kids ball, but these games count for something.

It just seems odd.

I know, when I started we were given LL and PONY, then some JV mixed in. By the middle of my second year I started getting Varsity, but usually low-level Varsity. Not until my third year did I start getting the top-tier games.

Nowdays I think many areas are experiencing a shortage of umpires, so 1st year guys are working JV and Frosh ball.

[BamaBlue]

Originally Posted by kylejt

How do you start out doing JV ball? No Little League, PONY, anything?

I can't do high school ball because I have day job, but is this normal? I mean, you start out with 16 year old kids throwing 85mph? I mean in most respects it's easier than little kids ball, but these games count for something.

It just seems odd.

At the 2 umpire schools in FL they prefer folks with NO umpiring experience. These guys get their first taste at the semi-pro level and have no bad habits to correct.

[Peruvian]

Originally Posted by PWL

Join a High School association. That's what I did. I actually worked a few varsity games my first year. Now, depending on what's available I work about half and half. JV/Varsity DH's mostly. I just don't get bent out of shape working a low level game like some people.

Me neither. The low-level stuff can be a nice break sometimes.

[bossman72]

Get that confident swagger behind the plate. Like others said, act like it's not your first game and take charge. If you get afraid, you'll psych yourself out.

Have a blast!

[ToGreySt]

Just got back from the game, a couple of comments...

1. the one thing I felt I was doing all day was the one thing that everyone told me not to do, SQUEEZE THE ZONE. I corrected it a couple of innings in, but I still feel I let a few go that could easily have been called strikes.

2. 1 out runner on 2nd, B1 hits a deep ball to center that's caught by F8. R2 doesn't tag up until the ball is heading into the infield and I hustle over to pick up the call in case my partner gets out of posisiton. I look over and he's planted ready to make the call. the ball comes in at the same time as the runner, I didn't have a very good angle on it. my partner makes no call, he just stands up and starts to walk back to B. all the coaches are looking at me asking what the call is. I point at my partner who just looks back at me dumbfounded, then nonchalantly signals safe. the way I saw it, and the way the coaches saw it, it was a real bangerand could have gone either way. My main question here, he does need to make a signal, but if he doesn't, is it my job to make a call?

3. 1 out runner on 1st. ball hit to deep center for 2nd out, R1 tags up and goes to 2nd. F9 throws the ball back into the infield. I look down to reset my indicator and I hear screaming by the other team "he got him, he got him!" I look up and F6 had held onto the ball and waited for R2 to step off the bag and tagged him. but neither myself or my partner saw the play. No out, the inning continued.

overall, nothing too exciting, which is good. I knew my zone was off, but as the game went on, the fact that i knew it was off made it even worse...if that makes any sense

thanks for the encouragement and I know it will get better.

Joe