When is it Time

[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.