School question

[Richard_Siegel]

Originally Posted by SAump

Is there a more friendly, "non-combative" MLB umpire rules and mechanic clinic out there?

Yes. They are called weekend clinics.

The "big-shcools" are designed to train professional umpires. Teaching the umpire candidates to be mentally tough is a critical skill. Most rookie professional umpires are in their early 20's with no experience at all on the professional level. These young umpires are going to step onto a professional field where the managers and coaches may have more years of professional experience then the umpire has been alive. These coaches and managers know all the tricks, and all the ways to press the right buttons to piss off the umpires. If they don't get tough at umpire school they'll get eaten alive on the job.

If you want to get training without the mental challenges of professional school then go to the weekend clinics like The Southern Umpires Camp, or one of Jim Evans' Classics.