College Umps....

[topper]

Andy is right about some of the coaches at the college level. I try to keep in mind that, unlike JO ball, these people’s jobs may depend on making the conference tournament, having a winning season, or even winning their next game. While this doesn't necessarily have anything to do with you, it can raise their stress level and affect how they approach things.

Also, there are players whose scholarships may be at stake based on their performance, kids who wouldn't be in school (or at least the one they're attending) were it not for softball money, and parents who wouldn't have been able to afford college without their kid’s scholarship. I know, I'm one of them.

These factors shouldn't affect the way we call a game per se, but keeping them in mind should encourage us to prepare for these games better than we might a JO/HS game.