National Umpire School in NC

[NCASAUmp]

For those who are going to attend, I spoke with Phil King (NC UIC) today about the weather at about 3 PM. NC is expecting some possible bad weather (well, bad for this area, anyway) on Saturday.

However, according to what he said to me at 3 PM today, the National Umpire School is still going to be held. We'll most likely be indoors, but the school will still be held.

Just thought I'd relay that bit of info to those who plan on attending.

[MA Softball Ump]

So..... what happened & did it go well??

[NCASAUmp]

I think it went very well. We had 55 umpires from around the US - NC, SC, GA, TN, and even one from NY, plus Phil, BJ, and Tony. Larry and Dick taught the class, and put us through our paces. We stayed indoors the entire time due to the weather outside (the fields were nowhere near being in condition), which made it a little difficult to get the feel of just how far to be to call the play. However, I don't think it would take much for any umpire to take that experience and use it well on the field.

It even gave a SP-only umpire like myself the chance to get in behind a catcher and call some FP/MP pitches, exposing myself to the FP/MP slot. How often does an umpire get the chance to do so without being in an actual game situation?

It was my first NUS, and if given the opportunity, I'd gladly do it again. I think it's well worth the relatively minimal cost. If any umpire has the opportunity to go to a National Umpire School, and they're on the fence about it, I say, "GO!" You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

To the instructors, if you're on this forum - you're welcome back anytime, and we all appreciate the hard work and energy you put into making the school happen!

To all the organizers who made it happen - a huge "thank you!" These schools don't happen by themselves.