Offseason

[cc6]

Ah yes the offseason. While it is just a few weeks away for me, I try to enjoy all my assignments without thinking about the season's end. Once umpiring ends, I:

-First of all, try not to think about umpiring at all, including not even visiting forums. This normally works for a month or two.
-Read rulebooks and positioning manuals.
-Practice plate mechanics indoors. Some people here flame me for it, but I have actually found it to be a great way to work on things. Better to work on stuff alone than to learn through trial and error during games.
-Look at online catalogues for equipment and uniforms.
-Study video taken of me umpiring.
-Wish the season was longer than 4 months.

[RogersUmp]

My last game was July 26th. I have some time now to spend with family and watching son play football until Fall Baseball starts Sept 13th. Five consecutive Sunday triple headers and then offseason until the first week in April (barring snow-covered fields like we had in 2008). I did 78 summer games and should pick up 15 more this fall. Not as many as a lot of you guys. Our assignor racked up almost 200 games in addition to his assignor duties.