Offseason
 

Many of us will be starting or have already started our offseason. What do you do to stay sharp when you're not umpiring as frequently or for months in a row?

I read every post on this forum because they are all filled with incredible tips, knowledge, and wisdom.

Come to San Diego. There is no off season

I finally renew my MLB online subscription and start watching for some 4 man hints. Oh. nevermind, they usually start with the battery view. Hey I got it, I'll learn about balks from MLB. Nevermind. I just watch it and try to learn something.

I try to read as much as possible.

Just going to be starting my season the first weekend of September.

I officiate basketball and ready the forums regularly (for both basketball and baseball). How does this help me? It keeps me in the officiating frame of mind. And by the end of basketball season I'm looking forward to baseball

-Josh

I play as much golf as I can get away with, and spend time with my wife and kids. Basically, decompress from baseball for awhile. Read the forum(s) occasionally. Watch the pros for mechanics that are sound.

It doesn't take that long to get back in the groove in the spring for me.

Spend at least one night a week reading the rule book and then find a camp in February. You'll pick up great tips and most camps get you into a cage so you will see some pitches before the spring.

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.

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].

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

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.