Newbie Starting Baseball on Tues..tips???

[nine01c]

Jeremy:

You sure are jumping right in there! No rule book yet?
Just a few thoughts after reading your post:
Regardless of what your partner is wearing, try to dress as professionally as you can. You will soon learn about gear and uniforms. Looking the part helps your confidence. Don't rely on a scoreboard (even if there IS one). PU is responsible for balls and strikes.
Scoreboards are often WRONG.
As far as your mechanics questions for 2 man, each situation has it's own placement of where umpires will start out and end up. It will be hard to learn and practice if you are not working with experienced umpires, or at least ones trying to learn as you are. I can e-mail you a good overview of the 2 man system if you want to provide your e-mail address.
Also, if you logon to amateurumpire.com there are good articles and teaching clinics, etc. there for beginners.
Lastly, if you make it through this summer (I'm sure you will) consider taking the classes next year at your local High School Association and pass the test to be certified.
Ask around and I'm sure someone can point you to the contact person.
Funny, I was a baseball umpire first, and took the basketball clinic so I could ref in the winter and stay in shape (for baseball). Now, I love officiating basketball as much as baseball (well, almost, until baseball season).