Organizations

[DaveASA/FED]

I really think it depends on what you want out of your umpiring. Are you there to make more money? Are you there to advance your skills and be assigned to (enter name of the highest level tourney for your org. here)? Do you want to become a UIC or association rep?

You have to do a little soul searching to really determine what you want once you know what you want then that will help steer you on what to do. I personally care more about developing myself as a better umpire than I do making the most money I can. I do this as a hobby and want to be the best I can be, the money.....we (or the wife does) spend it don't get me wrong but for me it's a bonus not something I HAVE to do to pay the bills. So I stick with the organization I started with, the one that has the only real training program in my area so I can continue to get critiqued and find help in making myself a better umpire. That's what's important to me so that's what I do, if I wanted or needed the money there are other organizations that pay more and have more work, but that's just not my focus.

Politics are various but in my mind it all boils down to what do you want, then figure out what is the best way to get it. Do you want $$$ then work whatever whenever however. Now if you don't work for ABC you won't get another tourney for a year (political impact) then you might want to work for ABC this weekend for $20 a game instead of XYZ for $25 since there are more ABC tournies coming up. Again your specifics will be different but figure out what you want out of umpiring then weight in the politics and do what will be the most likely to get you where you want to go!

Good Luck!