When is it Time

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

I've never done lower level yet, so I look forward to the small diamond when the legs no longer vault me forward.

I am always puzzled by this. Here in San Diego, you don't just start right in doing upper level baseball. They make everyone here pay their dues by working youth ball first, then a little JV, then finally Varsity. I was well into my 2nd year umpiring before I got Varsity games, then only sporadically. My 3rd year I was full-time Varsity and adult ball, but the first two years were brutal with the LL minors, majors, and horsey-ball.

[Kevin Finnerty]

First year: Fr, JV, small-school varsity, men's American wood and metal, scout ball, HS winter ball

I got recruited to join one of the HS units (there are several in L.A.), and then became an associate member of the larger unit later on. I did the men's ball right away because they were short of umpires for the older divisions. Between scout ball, men's ball, winter ball and by doing all hardball, I got in a lot more games, and essentially got three years' worth the first year. So I was able to move up pretty fast.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

First year: Fr, JV, small-school varsity, men's American wood and metal, scout ball, HS winter ball

I got recruited to join one of the HS units (there are several in L.A.), and then became an associate member of the larger unit later on. I did the men's ball right away because they were short of umpires for the older divisions. Between scout ball, men's ball, winter ball and by doing all hardball, I got in a lot more games, and essentially got three years' worth the first year. So I was able to move up pretty fast.

You're lucky. Our HS group (back when I joined there was only one, now there are two) also did the bulk of the youth ball throughout the county, so the rookies and 2nd year umps drew those assignments. And my assignor would tell tales of the real old days (the 50's and 60's) when you didn't get a sniff of high school ball until you had been a member in good standing of the SDCBUA for at least 5 years. At the time I started, my getting varsity my 2nd year was the exception rather than the rule.

[njdevs00cup]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I am always puzzled by this. Here in San Diego, you don't just start right in doing upper level baseball. They make everyone here pay their dues by working youth ball first, then a little JV, then finally Varsity. I was well into my 2nd year umpiring before I got Varsity games, then only sporadically. My 3rd year I was full-time Varsity and adult ball, but the first two years were brutal with the LL minors, majors, and horsey-ball.

Steve,

That's great that you were confident enough to pick up varsity games two years in. I spent five years umpiring in the lower levels before I knew I was ready for varsity ball. Just wanted to see the plays happen and not just read about them. The downside is that I picked up some bad mechanics from either working by myself or partners who had good intentions, but were not well trained themselves.

Cheers,
Matt

[PeteBooth]

Steve I can understand working your way up but an official who is HS certified should start at the modified level (mostly 7th / 8th graders) as that is what is done in my association.

Working LL minors/ majors can only lead to bad habits. Also, LL does not use FED rules so IMO it would be a detriment starting there.

Pete Booth

[d26]

Time to (re)start... After about 7 years of kiddie ball, my youngest turned 16 so we joined the local HS group and got in some dues paying worse than rec ball JV games this spring. The younger, faster, and better vision umpire of the family now wants to know how to block partners as he did not like working with a hat backwards guy the other night in a rec league game.

Not a bad way to spend quality time with a teenager (traveling to meetings, talking ball, traveling to games, etc.). With creative scheduling and make up work at lunch, he only missed 4 or 5 of his last period classes because of our shared "illness".

While we are paying our dues with the games no one else wants, we do remind ourselves how much fun we are having and how much we would miss it.

[IowaMike]

I work basketball and just got back into baseball this year. I walked away from both sports in the past. I worked baseball for about five years, three of those years in the middle doing HS games and gave it up about six years ago for two reasons; I had kids playing and no longer really had the time, and I wasn't having much fun anymore. I also walked away from basketball two years ago strictly because I got burned out on the travel and again, I felt like I was having more nights where I wasn't enjoying it than those where I was. I stayed out of basketball for one season and found that I missed it a lot, particularly the cameraderie of my fellow officials and the feeling of doing something well that most people are afraid to do. I got back into basketball this past season and enjoyed it again and really have a different attitude about working games. I appreciate the opportunity more.

It remains to be seen how baseball will pan out. I have a son who is a senior this year and I am working in games around his schedule. I've only worked two doubleheaders so far and have another on Friday. So far so good, although I always liked working basketball better than baseball even though baseball is my favorite sport. I intend on working a full schedule in baseball next year.

I hope that if I don't realize when my skills have eroded to the point I can no longer call a decent game someone I know will tell me. I don't want to hang around too long because I have seen and worked with some of those guys and it is kind of a sad spectacle. I don't want to embarrass myself out there or have people pity me. On the other hand, based on my personal experience I would encourage everyone to stay at it as long as they can still call a good game and are enjoying it. I really missed officiating once I left it; it really does get into your blood.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by PeteBooth

Steve I can understand working your way up but an official who is HS certified should start at the modified level (mostly 7th / 8th graders) as that is what is done in my association.

Working LL minors/ majors can only lead to bad habits. Also, LL does not use FED rules so IMO it would be a detriment starting there.

Pete Booth

I started in 1986. The association that did high school required new umpires to work LL games. It was SOP. We were well-versed in OBR as well as FED from day one, so by the time I started doing HS ball, I was ready to go. I don't see necessarily how LL minors/majors leads to bad habits. Besides, I had already been working softball, basketball and football, and was a Physical Education major at San Diego State when I started. Also, I was taught mechanics and positioning by a combination of MLB, MiLB and pro school graduates, as our association was thick with them back then. No shortage of good education for the troops.

[ozzy6900]

I called my HS season back in January because I still had not recovered from the abdominal surgery. I was not up to speed on running but I could cheat through that. The big problem was that I was unable to dress for the plate due to the surgery. After thinking long and hard about it, I decided that I was not going to burden my fellow officials with not being able to perform fully. I also couldn't be caught without a partner as our association forbids calling the games from behind the mound.

[DonInKansas]

Maybe you could recruit a GLM to help you dress, Ozzy....

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by DonInKansas

Maybe you could recruit a GLM to help you dress, Ozzy....

Dooohhh!

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by DonInKansas

Maybe you could recruit a GLM to help you dress, Ozzy....

Then he would really think long and hard about it!