Umpire camps
 

I was considering attending the week long ASA FP in OKC this year, but first I was just wondering if anyone would like to share their opinions on the various ASA National Umpiring Schools/Camps. The one that is held in the DFW Metro area is a weekend long, pretty informative, and costs $75.00 plus the two nights you have to stay in the hotel.

I noticed for the week long FP camp the fee is $400, plus five nights in a hotel which brings the total bill up to right around $800. Before I sign up for this, I was wanting to hear from people who have done both the two day school and the week long camp. Is the cost/time differential really worth it?

I have attended both clinics. I found the advanced clinic the most benefical and well worth the money for the following reasons:

a. The quality of umpires at the advanced camp is better than at the weekend camp. Normally very experienced umpires;

b. The instructors at the advanced camp of all on the national staff;

c. The instructor to student ratio at the advanced camp around 1 to 10 versus the weekend camp it was more like 1 to 30.

d. The most benefical component of the camp is that over the weekend, the instructors will watch ever game you umpire and debrief you at length after the game. The debrief is very useful because it is both positive and negative. The negative comments, at least at the camp I was at, was more to understand your thought process and if necessary to correct that process.

My assessment was that I would never attend the weekend camp again, but would attend the advanced camp every 4 to 5 years.

How many games a day do you work?

When is the OKC camp?

I do not recall, but the camp was attached to a 18 Gold Regional Qualification Tournament.

It had to be at least 4 games a day.

June 9-14. It is on the ASA wesbite here.

This has been discussed in depth fairly recently:
http://forum.officiating.com/showthread.php?t=49802

For a newer and less experienced umpire, the weekend National Umpire School is an appropriate level and tool. For someone more experienced, has already worked at a Qualifier, State, Regional, or ASA National level, that is often a weekend spent with minimal gain. In our state, that is one of several "continuing education" opportunities that are required annually to be eligible to work a National. It is a fairly minimal expense, minimal time demand; fairly minimal return after reaching a certain level. You get local face time, some local hob-nobbing.

In comparison, the Fast Pitch Camp (and Slow Pitch Camp) is intended for the more advanced umpire. The top staff members in ASA, live game critique, more advanced students for a higher level of learning. It is a serious time commitment, a serious overall expense, and for the umpire that is serious about moving into the highest levels in ASA. If you want to be on that list that is considered for 18 Gold or Men's Major, or Women's Major Nationals, you need to do this. Even if you don't want those, but want to be considered at that level, this is where you go to show your stuff.

To work NCAA D1, you need to go to an evaluation camp. You need to be seen by (in your area) Lurline H., Dora M., Walt S., Kevin D. To work Regionals, Super-Regionals, you need to be seen by Emily A., Ed C., Kathy S. In ASA, if you want 18 Gold, etc., you need to be seen by KR, JJ, and JC. This is how and where you do that; and, you will learn from that group (although some is contradictory to the NCAA way).

Thanks for making the correlation between this and the NCAA stuff. This pretty much answers my question.

Who would Walt S be? If you mean Walt Sparks, he would be a great help for ASA, but not for NCAA

My mistake, then; I thought he was involved with some coordinating, perhaps NJCAA or NAIA. After all, lots of umpires just look to get an opportunity, then move into NCAA. If not, I stand corrected; after all, I'm in Georgia, and can't be expected to know all the details in Texas.

But, I think I made my point to Scott.

I think Scott can use a few pointers, but he is coming along quite nicely.:D

I knew Georgia was backwards, but I didn't expect y'all to backpedal too!






;):D:p

See you in OKC? :)

Hey! I resemble that comment!!!!