Rookie Umpire

[boboman316]

I'm getting into my first year of umpiring baseball in Illinois. Anybody have any helpful resources, websites, or additional information that would help a rookie like myself. All help would be appreciated. Thanks,

[bob jenkins]

Join an association, go to as much training as you can before the season.

[Cub42]

Join your local HS Group

[Kevin Finnerty]

That's good advice. Get your chops with freshman and JV and your ascent will be more rapid. Listen to everything your fellow umpires say and nothing anyone else says and it'll go even quicker.

[SethPDX]

I'll agree with what the first three have said: Go to all the training classes you can, and when you are there, listen to what your instructors have to say.

It probably will not take you long to find out who the respected veterans in your association are. Don't hesitate to ask them questions on the situations you encounter. All the experienced umpires I have worked with have been more than happy to talk umpiring with me and the ones you meet will be glad to do the same for you.

Good luck--I think you've made an excellent decision!

[aschramm]

Welcome!
You probably want to get in contact with your state high school association to get licensed, and they can most likely give you information about officials associations in your area.

Other than that, read the rules and casebooks, and get as many games as possible (within reason, don't burn yourself out like I almost did this summer), and just keep improving every game.

[UmpJM]

boboman,

All good advice in the posts above.

One opportunity you might want ot consider is a clinic being held in Wheaton this spring called "Blue School". They run six 3-hour sessions on Sunday afternoons from 3-6PM. Dates this year are 3/8,15,22,29 and 4/5 & 19 (consecutive, but they skip Easter). A bit of a drive from Crestwood, but at least the traffic tends to be pretty light on Sundays.

I have not personally attended (though I may this year), but I have heard very favorable comments from a number of acquaintances who have. The cost is $175 ($150 if you sign up with a "buddy") which strikes me as very reasonable.

In addition to the instruction, you might very well meet some folks from your area who could help you find an association or assignor who can help you get started working games in the spring.

You can read about it and find contact information here:

BlueSchool 2009

Of course if you're really serious about doing this, just go to the Jim Evans Florida Classic at the end of December:

Umpire Training Conducted by Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring

When I was in your shoes, I went to the Desert Classic and I believe it was the best thing I could have possibly done to get my umpiring career off to a good start.

Regardless, best of luck.

JM

[DonInKansas]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Join an association, go to as much training as you can before the season.

Originally Posted by Cub42

Join your local HS Group

...or assigner if there is one. Some of us don't have this luxury and have to cold call schools.

Slow down, have fun, don't get in a rush.

[bbsbvb83]

Originally Posted by boboman316

I'm getting into my first year of umpiring baseball in Illinois. Anybody have any helpful resources, websites, or additional information that would help a rookie like myself. All help would be appreciated. Thanks,

Assuming you will be working high school baseball, you should be sure to attend an IHSA clinic. Clinics are classified as either Level One or Level Two. If you have never umpired baseball before, the Level One clinic would probably be the way to go. The Level One clinic covers most of the basics, as well as two - person mechanics. The IHSA recently made clinic attendance mandatory for all first year officials in a given sport. A list of upcoming IHSA baseball clinics can be found at the following address:
IHSA Officials Clinics

[gordon30307]

Originally Posted by boboman316

I'm getting into my first year of umpiring baseball in Illinois. Anybody have any helpful resources, websites, or additional information that would help a rookie like myself. All help would be appreciated. Thanks,

If your doing high school go to ihsa.org and get info. on how to be an official. IHSA has free clinics that can be found on the website. I'd attend them before you pay $175 for Blue School. If you go there they would be talking about stuff that you would not understand. At the free clinics you could learn the basics. Also on the web site there is info. on local organizations that you can join. The only assignor that I'm aware of at Blue School assigns West Suburban Conference. Great conference but driving to games from Crestwood would not be worthwhile.

[SAump]

Originally Posted by boboman316

I'm getting into my first year of umpiring baseball in Illinois. Anybody have any helpful resources, websites, or additional information that would help a rookie like myself. All help would be appreciated. Thanks,

Work on 3 things:
1) quality uniforms and equipment
2) field mechanics, signals and decorum
3) knowledge of the rules and its finer points