Off-Season

JJ · #1 (**permalink**) Wed Sep 19, 2001, 09:31pm

Back to Baseball. The off-season is rapidly approaching (if not here already), and I would like to solicit thoughts on what you do at the end of your season. Do you officiate other sports (football, basketball, volleyball - you know, those things that take up time until baseball starts!)? Do you change your workout routine (if you have one), or start a new one? What does it consist of? Do you "veg-out" and not jump again until someone yells, "PLAY BALL!"? I listed a few ideas on my website - http://www.4umpires.com - things that I intend to do. Some of those things will actually get done! How about you?

GBA

#2 (**permalink**) Thu Sep 20, 2001, 11:37am

I work Soccer most of the off season. Baseball around here starts the third week of Feb. I'm still doing a few games a week of fall ball. During the outdoor season of soccer I work about 15 games a week. It keeps me in decent shape. BAseball is still my favorite sport.

JohmPMiller · #3 (**permalink**) Thu Sep 20, 2001, 01:31pm

Off season??? Come to Southern California and umpire 12 month a year. Never out of practice.

JJ · #4 (**permalink**) Thu Sep 20, 2001, 04:13pm

My Midwest existence is both a blessing and a curse. It forces an off-season - that's good and bad, for I fear if I lived in a warmer climate I probably would have broken down or burned out years ago! The long cold winters give my body time to heal and my mind a chance to look ahead and anticipate a new season -

[Edited by JJ on Sep 20th, 2001 at 04:20 PM]

PeteBooth · #5 (**permalink**) Fri Sep 21, 2001, 07:34am

Originally posted by JJ

Back to Baseball. The off-season is rapidly approaching (if not here already), and I would like to solicit thoughts on what you do at the end of your season.

JJ I am a little late to look into officiating football or basketball which I thought I might take up, but even in the east baseball is a long season. In fact I have a game this Saturday and a double dip on Sunday weather permitting.

Here in NY, the HS season starts in March and ends in May. Also, you have LL / Babe Ruth and Summer / Fall Ball. While we do not play all year round it's pretty close. March through the end of October (8 months). So even in the east I umpire roughly 80 - 90 games a year.

While contemplating joining the officials in Football and Basketball, I read an article (I know it's taboo) in Referee Magazine about Offical Burnout. Perhaps when my children are older and on their own (whenever that may be), I will take up the other sports, but for right now baseball is enough and frankly I look forward to the break.

In the winter time, I'm on a bowling team to get out of the house and relax with the guys for a few hours. Also, in the off season I read the various OBR / FED materials more, especially on plays which I wasn't too sure of during the season so that I am better prepared next year.

Pete Booth

Charlie B · #6 (**permalink**) Fri Sep 21, 2001, 09:52am

I'm in Pennsylvania, and I only work baseball. My offseason runs from November through mid-March, when HS ball starts.

I use the offseason to work out, since I don't have time when I'm doing games. I have a pretty serious, 7-day-a-week program that alternates cardio and overall strength training. It takes about 1.5 hours a day. In the past, I've done it at home, but this winter I'm going to try the fancy machines at the gym. I've found it takes me about 8 weeks to get to what I consider to be a good strength and cardio baseline.

Other than working out, I use the offseason to review rules and mechanics, go to clinics, etc.

Charlie Breuninger

rex · #7 (**permalink**) Fri Sep 21, 2001, 10:57pm

I drinks alot of beer. But less than during the season. I sits on my a$$ and watches TV. The closest I come to reading a rule book is the NET.

Give me a break, if you are as intense as me you need a break. Burn out comes fast enough, without doing it 12 months a year.

Me other sport is taking a gun for a walk in the woods.

rex

Charlie B · #8 (**permalink**) Mon Sep 24, 2001, 09:18am

Good for you.

So we've established that some of us have offbeat notions about fun and relaxation. What I do works for me.

To each his own, big guy.

BJ Moose · #9 (**permalink**) Fri Sep 28, 2001, 02:21pm

It's not a "Sport" unless the Bear or Elk has a gun, too!

xoo xoox
Moosey
World Record Holder For Rebanishment From BU, only took 14 seconds!!

Quote:

Originally posted by rex

Me other sport is taking a gun for a walk in the woods.

rex

Gee · #10 (**permalink**) Sat Sep 29, 2001, 07:52am

Got two more weeks of Fall ball which ends on October 14.

Then off to Cape Cod for a couple of weeks to watch the World Series, play golf and a few OTHER things.

Hang out for a while and then off to the Sun in Feb and/or March. Come back, fully refreshed, and start HS ball April 15th. What a wonderful world, it is nice to be retired. G

Ranger · #11 (**permalink**) Fri Oct 05, 2001, 05:33pm

You guys may consider yourselves lucky to have a definite off season. My off season is less than 2 months and I think that that is all I need.

My last games will be in early November. In mid November I will be at a high level 3 Man Umpire camp in Florida for a whole week. The NCAA and many of the DI conferences will be having meetings as early as the second weekend in January in Texas. Many association leaders and instructors will be starting to get in shape in January and starting to work NCAA games by early February. There are numerous camps and clinics and umpire schools in January and February. Our conference NCAA umpires will be working in cages in January and February to be ready for those first assignments.

If you like the long lay-off, that is okay. But if you don't want the lay-off, execute a training and umpire development plan during the winter. Who knows? It could actually pay off with the dream schedule you have always wanted.