Offseason

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by kylejt

Come to San Diego. There is no off season

About the only time there isn't some kind of high school, wood bat, men's league, scout ball, JUCO scrimmage, etc., is the few weeks before and after Christmas. This makes a year of umpiring seem like two years. I don't even do all I can, and I do over 100 games anyway, just because all the leagues have fall and winter ball, and I almost never lose a game to foul weather (two all year of any kind). Throughout the summer, I'll do two 18-inning doubleheaders every weekend. Throughout the high school season, I'll do a twin-bill every Sunday.

So I guess you can't really go stale here.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

About the only time there isn't some kind of high school, wood bat, men's league, scout ball, JUCO scrimmage, etc., is the few weeks before and after Christmas. This makes a year of umpiring seem like two years. I don't even do all I can, and I do over 100 games anyway, just because all the leagues have fall and winter ball, and I almost never lose a game to foul weather (two all year of any kind). Throughout the summer, I'll do two 18-inning doubleheaders every weekend. Throughout the high school season, I'll do a twin-bill every Sunday.

So I guess you can't really go stale here.

This is why I had over 3,400 games between 1986 and 2006.

[DonInKansas]

I don't get near the ball I used to. Getting married and having two small kids have pretty much done that. I used to be a 120 game a year guy, now I'm lucky to get into the 50s. It makes for more not so sharp days than I'm used to and that blows. Maybe when the kids get schoolage I'll be able to get back into a schedule I'm happy with.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by DonInKansas

I don't get near the ball I used to. Getting married and having two small kids have pretty much done that. I used to be a 120 game a year guy, now I'm lucky to get into the 50s. It makes for more not so sharp days than I'm used to and that blows. Maybe when the kids get schoolage I'll be able to get back into a schedule I'm happy with.

Noooo ... then you'll be coaching Little League [or girls' softball--whatever].

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

This is why I had over 3,400 games between 1986 and 2006.

I could have that many, but my job got in the way.

[Rich]

I have my first HS football game tonight, another tomorrow, and 4 games on Saturday.

I don't burn out or get stale mainly because I separate the seasons and I don't really cross-over. When football starts, baseball is done. A month after football we have basketball, and I have a month off before baseball starts up here.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

I could have that many, but my job got in the way.

Mine didn't. I got off work in time to get to the games, like everyone else. That, or I was working the graveyard shift. Or was self-employed at the time, as I am an entrepreneur. I always do more than one job at a time. I do graphic design, make custom golf clubs, umpire baseball, and work at conventional jobs at times. Contrary to your belief, I haven't always been in front of a computer posting on forums all day long.

And that's only an average of 160 games a year. Sometimes I would work 200, sometimes only 120, depending on the leagues carried by our association. It's not as if I worked baseball 365 days a year.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

I could have that many, but my job got in the way.

If you really, truly want to umpire that many games, you'll arrange your work around it. That's what we all do.

Sometimes, by keeping my commitment to do a game means turning down work that would pay three or four times as much as that game, with no expenses.

But the game is usually way more fun and fulfilling, which is why I make the trade-off.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

I could have that many, but my job got in the way.

Perhaps it's time for a job that allows you a little more freedom?


Tim.