School question

[Publius]

If you're serious about immersing yourself in training, that's all you'll have time for.

[JJ]

Yes, there are guys there who have no aspirations of becoming a pro umpire. Some just want to be better "local" umpires. Some have been sent by a local association to learn what they can to share back home. Umpire schools are for umpires to learn to be better umpires. Only the BEST get a shot at pro ball.
Go, have a good time, but don't expect a vacation by any stretch of your imagination. You'll be working hard, and you'll come back in better physical condition than you think. Matter of fact, if you aren't in shape now, NOW is a good time to get a head start on school. Work the legs - you'll be on your feet a LOT!

JJ

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JJ

Yes, there are guys there who have no aspirations of becoming a pro umpire. Some just want to be better "local" umpires. Some have been sent by a local association to learn what they can to share back home. Umpire schools are for umpires to learn to be better umpires. Only the BEST get a shot at pro ball.
Go, have a good time, but don't expect a vacation by any stretch of your imagination. You'll be working hard, and you'll come back in better physical condition than you think. Matter of fact, if you aren't in shape now, NOW is a good time to get a head start on school. Work the legs - you'll be on your feet a LOT!

JJ

So if the OP is one of the best he'll get a shot at pro ball?

I doubt it if he's 43.

[HokieUmp]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

So if the OP is one of the best he'll get a shot at pro ball?

I doubt it if he's 43.

And no bookie would take that bet. As I said, looking at it objectively - not trying to talk myself up OR down - I harbor no illusion that I would make the short list, and even get a look, much less an actual offer. And if the numbers in MiLB are such that they'd reach that far down to me - say, a meteorite hit their annual meeting site, for instance - I'm no longer interested in working for poverty line wages; I've got enough financial obligations to be uncomfortable with that level of income. Would I like to? Sure. But there's too much reality in between me and that dream - reality of all types.

I'm just curious if it will be decently enjoyable. In Australia, in 2003, I went to Adelaide for their national school, which was an eight-day school, and it taught 2-man mechanics from the red book. (Although I've learned this year with my new association that either things have changed, or the Aussies simply do some things differently.) That school was a nice mix, but then again, there were no job offers involved; there's no pro system there, and you were going to umpire "back home." If you were good enough, and part of the system enough, you could get picked to do national school-age tournaments or represent Australia abroad, but that was it.

Thanks for the answers so far.

[bobbybanaduck]

at some point in the first few days of school jimmy will ask the group at the end of the day to break into two groups; those that are interested in pro jobs, and those that aren't intersted. in my experience, the first time he asks this there are only a couple of guys that identify themselves as not being candidates for pro ball. if you are interested even in the slightest, stay with the big group. whichever group you choose, your training will not differ. i think he does this just to make a point that will be evidenced a few weeks down the road.

sometime in week 3 or early 4 he will ask again and you will see a difference in the number of guys that move to the non-candidate side. that is the time to make that decision, as that is when the evaluating begins. there is truth to what he says about the evaluation process. the instructors don't start discussing who to send until the last week and a half of school.

with all that being said, the answer to your question in the OP is yes. there are always guys there that are not interested in pro ball and are just there to improve. from my history of teaching there, those guys were some of the best to work with. they garner a lot of respect for making such a huge commitment to being there to improve themselves as umpires.

finally, if you decide that you want to pursue a job in pro ball, don't let the naysayers bring you down. if you demonstrate you are good enough, the instructors will send you to PBUC. getting out of PBUC, however, is another story altogether...

[Richard_Siegel]

Originally Posted by HokieUmp

..... (Although I've learned this year with my new association that either things have changed, or the Aussies simply do some things differently.) .....

I have heard that they run the bases clockwise in Austrailia, is that true?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Richard_Siegel

I have heard that they run the bases clockwise in Austrailia, is that true?

You're thinking of the toilets.

[justanotherblue]

If you want to go to become a good umpire, then by all means go. You will be working hard throughout the school. Don't plan on going to go have fun down in the sun, you won't have time! Not if you truly want to improve and learn to be a good umpire. If you have all your work done, Sunday would be your only day to go about sight-seeing. I was 48 when I went, the oldest "old guy" was 68, so go forth young man, and take advantage of a great learinig experience.

Oh yeah, and start training NOW! Your thank those of us stressing this when you return.