First Game Experience

[Toadman15241]

Originally Posted by tiger49

Steve I agree with both you and Tim. I was one of those who started working games at a very young age (9). I didn't realize what real umpiring was like until I stepped onto a full-size diamond for my first competitive game (college bound seniors) at 15, and was even more in shock doing my first semi-pro game at 17.

Umpiring at a young age (11-15) gives you the basic 90% of the rule book (out/safe, ball/strike, fair/foul) however you don't get a feel for the situations as well as game flow, speed of game etc. that you do at the higher levels.

I would agree that you can not get a feel for game flow and speeed of game until you are doing kids aged 16+. I would, however, disagree about the rule book. I knew that long before I stepped foot onto a big field. Now of course, knowing what a balk is and being able to call it in an instant are two differnt things.

[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by Tim C

"I was 11 years old when I called my first game on the bases. It was a 9-10 year old game and I knew every single player and coach."

. . . and therein lies the "internet" problem with umpires:

At 11 years old you were not umpiring. It doesn't count on your resume and, in my personal opinion, shouldn't even be considered as "umpiring."

We get guys all the time that say they have "14 years experience" and we find that they are 21 years old. Something doesn't fly.

This is one of the reasons that I "hold in contempt" small diamond umpires.

Regards,

I don't hold small diamond umpires in contempt because some guys count their experiences at 11 as meaningful umpire experiences, but otherwise I'm with you. I hold those who tout their "20 years of experience" when they're 31 years old in contempt.

[DG]

I was a League President hanging around the concession stand when it became apparent that the umpires were not going to show up. The equipment (mask, balloon, shin guards) were in the equipment room so I went out to do a game with a fan/parent on the bases.

In retrospect, the strike zone was not big enough for these 11-12 year olds, and the game lasted too long because of it.

So my first game was behind a balloon, with whatever clothes I had on at the time.

After that I started doing more games, sort of part time. We had an umpire that everybody complained about named Bob. So everytime anyone wanted to start an argument I would say "this could be Bob behind the plate" and the discussion would end immediately. Yes, I was throwing Bob under the bus, but that's where he belonged.

[Toadman15241]

Originally Posted by Tim C

. . . and therein lies the "internet" problem with umpires:

At 11 years old you were not umpiring. It doesn't count on your resume and, in my personal opinion, shouldn't even be considered as "umpiring."

We get guys all the time that say they have "14 years experience" and we find that they are 21 years old. Something doesn't fly.

This is one of the reasons that I "hold in contempt" small diamond umpires.

Regards,

Tim,

Was I a great ump at 11? No, and would never claim to have been so, but I was as good as a lot of guys who had been doing games for years because I had attended the mechanics/rules meetings and always to improve. By the time I was 14 I was doing 80' ball (the local association was so short on guys and a few of the senior guys had watched me do LL games). I started doing 90' ball at age 16. I also got a copy of J/R, Evans, BRD, CCA, and the PBUC manual at that time so I could learn more. Now it did take time to adjust to the move up to big field ball, but I had learned a lot in those 5 years. When I turned 18 I started doing FED ball and was asked to help with rules/mechanics this past year, even though I am only 19.

I think the fact that I am an "internet umpire" shows that I wanted to go out and learn as much as I can. I started surfing these boards when I was 14, although I did not post. I was just trying to absorb as much as I could from individuals such as yourself, Steve, Papa C, and Dave Hensley just to name a few.

I have never, and won't for decades, claim to have a ton of experience. In my book, the ~1000 games I have done (~500 big field) pales in comparison to the 5000+ games that many posters here have called.

JMHO.

[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by Toadman15241

Tim,

Was I a great ump at 11? No, and would never claim to have been so, but I was as good as a lot of guys who had been doing games for years because I had attended the mechanics/rules meetings and always to improve. By the time I was 14 I was doing 80' ball (the local association was so short on guys and a few of the senior guys had watched me do LL games). I started doing 90' ball at age 16. I also got a copy of J/R, Evans, BRD, CCA, and the PBUC manual at that time so I could learn more. Now it did take time to adjust to the move up to big field ball, but I had learned a lot in those 5 years. When I turned 18 I started doing FED ball and was asked to help with rules/mechanics this past year, even though I am only 19.

I think the fact that I am an "internet umpire" shows that I wanted to go out and learn as much as I can. I started surfing these boards when I was 14, although I did not post. I was just trying to absorb as much as I could from individuals such as yourself, Steve, Papa C, and Dave Hensley just to name a few.

I have never, and won't for decades, claim to have a ton of experience. In my book, the ~1000 games I have done (~500 big field) pales in comparison to the 5000+ games that many posters here have called.

JMHO.

Well you sound OK to me, kid!

[GarthB]

I know of a young umpire who began working PONY mustang and bronco levels when he was 12. He was student of mechanics and rules and studied the NAPBL 2 man mechanics and the OBR nightly.

By age 14 he was working the 12-14 year old levels and was assigned to the Bronco State tournament.

At 15 he was Washington state's youngest certified varsity umpire. At age 17 and again at 18 he worked the Washington State Colt (15/16) championship game. At 19 he attended Jim Evans Desert Classic and worked Legion A and AA District tournaments. That same year he was also one of the association's lead two man mechanics instructors.

At age 20 he worked the FED state tournament and American Legion's District and State tournaments. He is currently 21 and plans to attend Evans' school in January.

He says that he has umpired for ten years, but that he has been an umpire only since the Evans classic.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by GarthB

I know of a young umpire who began working PONY mustang and bronco levels when he was 12. He was student of mechanics and rules and studied the NAPBL 2 man mechanics and the OBR nightly.

By age 14 he was working the 12-14 year old levels and was assigned to the Bronco State tournament.

At 15 he was Washington state's youngest certified varsity umpire. At age 17 and again at 18 he worked the Washington State Colt (15/16) championship game. At 19 he attended Jim Evans Desert Classic and worked Legion A and AA District tournaments. That same year he was also one of the association's lead two man mechanics instructors.

At age 20 he worked the FED state tournament and American Legion's District and State tournaments. He is currently 21 and plans to attend Evans' school in January.

He says that he has umpired for ten years, but that he has been an umpire only since the Evans classic.

And I'm guessing your son will adjust that thinking after he attends pro school to say that he only became an umpire after pro school. Yawn.

I don't care how many years anyone umpires at any level. I've worked with 30-year college umpires who still think a balk's an immediate dead ball in a college game and have a strike zone the size of a coffee can.

I've also worked with 2nd year umpires who have impressed me with ability and desire.