For Teachers Only

[David B]

Originally Posted by jkumpire

If I am not mistaken at this point, there are serveral guys here who train new umpires for their local associations.

How many hours in class and on the field do you send with your newbies? My state requires 25 hours of class/field work. I really feel constricted with that many hours. I find it hard to get through the FED rules in a detailed way and do any kind of decent mechanics work at all. How many of you get your new guys in a cage, or see live pitching before games and scrimmages?

How do you divide your time?

Thanks for your imput.

Its hard to get them to put in 25 hours, but its a good goal. We currently spend an hour for 8 weeks prior to the season going over rules/mechanics.

We have two mandatory clinics (mandatory for all with 3 years experience or less) that are held during scrimmages. (Usually about 3-4 hours each)

If there is time, I prefer to do cage work; but that's hard to work in sometimes. I feel that is the best time spent with a completely new umpire because usually their plate work is the weakest point.

With an umpire who might have worked "small ball" only, its more of spending time fixing the bad habits and teaching them to get out of the "rocking chair" and call the entire game.

Then we mentor our young officials by placing them with a veteran during their games during the season. This allows continuing education in the real'time setting etc.,

Thanks
David