First Game Experience

[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.