Proud Papa.
 

This past Saturday, Mark, Jr., attended a college softball umpire's clinic. When the clinic was over the chief clinician who assigns NCAA Div. II and III, NAIA, and jr. college softball for all of Michigan and most of Ohio told Junior that he was going to put him on his staff for the 2015 college season.

:D :D :D

MTD, Sr.

Congrats.

to Jr ;)

congrats
that's a good step to make

What does a staffer do once on the staff of a clinician/assignor?

Not being sarcastic here... Trying to understand some of the who does what behind the scenes.

Thanx.

Umpiring.

MTD, Sr.

So, essentially that same things he was doing before being a staffer?

Any extra pay? You obviously are proud of him, but why? Are you a staffer as well? Ever been one? Should every Joe Umpire aspire to be a staffer? Why?

Thanx.

MTD, Jr. got "picked up" to do college ball. He was essentially "recruited". He now joins the "staff" of, oh let's say, 100 other "staff members" who umpire college ball for Div II and III in Mich/Ohio.

Extra pay? Yes. It's like going from playing independent league ball to going to the AAA. It's a big jump in pay and responsibilities. Most college assignors will not just pick anyone to join their "staff". To work college ball, you have to be seen and be a pretty decent to good umpire.

He's proud of him because that's his son! And, while every Joe Umpire shouldn't aspire to be a collegiate umpire, they should all aspire to be the best they can be.

I hope that helps.


On a related note - I go for my formal evaluation this Sunday to work collegiate level ball for several DII conferences and in some of my other evaluations last weekend and the one before, have been starting to get noticed and asked if I have interest in pursuing DI ball. If all goes well this weekend, it will be a major step in moving in the right direction toward my ultimate goal - to be the best umpire I can be and to work postseason big time games at the highest level.

And to you I say, "good luck and congratulations." Its a wonderful feeling when you know you are reaching personal goals you set for yourself.

The clinician/assigner that MTD Sr. referred to is one of the 41 NCAA Conference Coordinators who assign umpires for the NCAA's 44 DIII and 24 DIII softball conferences nationwide. Additionally, there are 17 Conference Coordinators who assign umpires for the 31 NCAA DI conferences. Many of these Conference Coordinators assign for multiple conferences and at multiple levels…DI, DII, DIII.
The coordinators have rosters (or if you will, staffs) of umpires for each conferences they assign. During the summer and fall they attend camps, showcases, and in some instances, conduct their own formal tryout/evaluation event (you go there to get a job) in an ongoing effort to continually to be on the lookout for new talented umpires to add to their rosters; and to observe/evaluate umpires currently on their roster.
So come spring, yes, MTD Jr. will be umpiring NCAA DIII and DII (along with some JUCO and NAIA) softball.
MTD Sr. has every reason to be a proud Papa. MTD Jr. has every reason to be proud of his accomplishment progress a young umpire.
I wish him the best of luck on his first step on his next road of his umpiring journey.

Now that I understand the process a little better, I'll offer my congratulations to both as well. Had I taken up an invitation to work in the college arena a few years ago, I might have had a better idea of how things worked. But I couldn't make that commitment at the time.

So good luck to Jr., and happy for Sr. to see his son advancing.