Are you still umpiring?

[Dutch Alex]

Originally Posted by Steve M

Mid Jan, there's the indoor cup over your way, Sander. And I think I saw Spencer's name on the list, too. Are you going this year?

I've seen the list also. Spencer is coming! But my name isn't on it. I'm planning to go see some games, though. If one umpire has to call off, mostly a dutch umpire wil cover. So I'm still not saying that I'm not going.
I've had a wonderfull tournament this year (Cup2007) with Sonny P and Larry W and others...
On the list is also the name of the dutch umpire who will go to the Olympics (Rob Veldkamp)

[BBUMP99]

gotta love Florida! we have tournaments scheduled just about every weekend right up until spring season starts

[MNBlue]

I haven't participated yet - I plan to do so soon, but our indoor season started late October/early November, depending on when the leagues could get Dome time.

There are a handful of domes up here that have winter leagues. Mostly conditioning, experimenting and 'playing up'. It helps everyone keep in shape until we can get back outside.

[Dakota]

Just down the road from Mark, so same thing for me. Fall season ended late Sept. I've never gotten involved in dome ball, although I've thought about it from time to time. I kind of enjoy the off season, so that is one reason I haven't really embraced dome ball. It is also a reason I am not envious of our southern colleagues who have no off season. But, the few games I have called in a dome (HS scrimmages plus a tourney game or two that were trying to escape the weather and to actually finish the tournament), the dome is not "real" softball - too cramped behind the plate, too cramped outside the foul lines, short outfields, overhead obstructions, sometimes goofy "ground rules", etc. I just didn't enjoy it much. Maybe the mind set is better for an actual dome season rather than the situations above. Dunno.

Anyway, off season until clinics begin in Feb or so.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Dakota

the dome is not "real" softball - too cramped behind the plate, too cramped outside the foul lines, short outfields, overhead obstructions, sometimes goofy "ground rules", etc.

Wouldn't that be "floor rules"?

[NCASAUmp]

We just finished our last fall league games last week, I believe. Finally, my evenings are free again!

Thank god it finished when it did, too. It's starting to get colder in NC.

[3afan]

yes - 4 big tourney's in the Dallas area this weekend, more in 2 weeks

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Wouldn't that be "floor rules"?

Well, maybe "rug rules." I'm not sure what is under the fake grass.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by BBUMP99

gotta love Florida! we have tournaments scheduled just about every weekend right up until spring season starts

About the same in Phoenix....three more weekend FP tournaments on the schedule before the end of the year, we will start right back up the first weekend in January, pretty much straight through the first part of August with HS and travel ball.

SP around here never stops, from what I've been told......

[CecilOne]

I guess you know how we envy you, too colds to play and apparently not far enough north for indoor domes. Nothing since late July, start again in March.

[WestMichBlue]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

I guess you know how we envy you, too colds to play and apparently not far enough north for indoor domes. Nothing since late July, start again in March.

Same here, except no envy for southern counterparts. My season always ends the first weekend in August with an ASA tournament in Northern Michigan. At that time I am in transistion (clinics, rules meetings, etc) to VB which starts the end of August.

Now that VB has ended, I am enjoying the retired act, sleeping in mornings, having every night and weekend free to do inane things like typing on softball forums in the middle of winter.

I come out of hibernation in January as ASA/NFHS clinics and meetings start to fill the schedule. A couple scrimmage games late March, and on the field ready to go the first of April.

With respect to officiating, I have nothing left to prove. I don't give a da mn about ratings or evaluations or being selected for state or national tournaments. I simply enjoy being on the fields and courts with the kids - and the money fleshes out the retirement income. Life is good!

WMB

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by WestMichBlue

With respect to officiating, I have nothing left to prove. I don't give a da mn about ratings or evaluations or being selected for state or national tournaments. I simply enjoy being on the fields and courts with the kids - and the money fleshes out the retirement income. Life is good!

WMB

Very disappointing. Since you have nothing to prove, does that mean your approach to the game and mechanics change? Not saying that it does, just sorta sounds like it could.

[WestMichBlue]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Very disappointing.

Why?

Because my attitudes, beliefs, and/or opinions do not match yours?

Since you have nothing to prove, does that mean your approach to the game and mechanics change?

If you knew me, you would know that is an insulting and degrading question. Whatever I do in life, I strive to be the best. In officiating it means that I still pay (money and time) for clinics and rules training, even though, having been a trainer, I could do a better job than many of the clinicians I see. When I go on the field or court, I still intend to be the best official out there. When asked by my partner what position I want (plate/bases - SB or Up/Down - VB) I usually pick the position that I am having some difficulty at that time so that I can improve my mechanics.

But I don't go on the court or field to please the coach or evaluator so that I can advance to some higher level. I only have to answer to myself.

So I only take on enough schedule each year to have fun and for it to be an enjoyable diversion from my regular schedule. I only do girl's sports because I don't want to put up with the crap with boy's or adult sports. Because then it is a job, not a fun leisure activity.

My pride is the only motivator necessary; I don't need coaches or evaluator's approvals to push me to do a good job.

WMB

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by greymule

Last game was Nov. 4. All my stuff's put away.

A couple of years ago, I did a doubleheader in one of those "domes" the day after Christmas, so maybe that will happen this year, too.

Yep, put all my stuff away..it was rainsoaked, so had to wait for it to dry. A good christmas tourney would be fun.