Stan W.

Ive been around the block on this one over the years and now it seems time has settled it for me. I never really got offended by being called blue/ump in my early days and when it happens now, I just let it pass. In my higher level games, the coaching carousel turns pretty slowly where I am and after a few years, its hard to find a "coach who gets paid to win" who doesn't know my name or I, his..... To that end, we remind our new umpires the names of the local legends...for the most part they earned their respect and we give it to them and it seems, they do the same to those of us who have been there a while.....I use the term coach only for assistants... and mainly because they seem to come and go more often and my interactions with them are more seldom.

Outstanding! Best of luck!

Unless you have a fear that you may not stick with our avocation, I say without a doubt get your own gear......so many variables on fit, size, protection level and personal needs.......lots of posts here to help guide you..... But from the gear junky crowd of which, I am a member..... buy the best gear you can afford......it will save you money in the long run

welcome to the site!

welcome to the avocation, and to this site!.......

1. No Umpire wants to be wrong....but some don't do enough to prevent it. 2. When doing an evaluation on new umpires, put more value on how they handle error and disappointment than success...character shows in hard times. 3. Confidence for an umpire is shown by making the right call at the right time for the right reason. 4. There are no secrets to umpire success...it is the result of preparation, hard work and the ability to learn from past mistakes. 5. Some of the best Umpire lessons learned are from our own past mistakes. errors of the past are future successes 6. Beware of "good enough" umpires...what someone else decides is good enough for them rarely is good enough to advance your career... 7. Every Umpire you work with is a teacher, the lessons learned can be valuable.....especially what "not to do" 8. Work with 2 different umpires, emulate the good attributes of one and correct the bad of the other in your own game....lessons learned either way 9. Being challenged in umpiring is inevitable...being defeated by that challenge is optional...... 10. If an umpire does not put in the work in the off-season, they rarely have any reason to complain about not being selected for the post-season...... 11. The difference between umpire education and experience is education is what you get when you study...and experience is what you get when you don't... 12. Don't get older...get better....don't get comfortable, get experienced...don't get jaded, get focused..... 13.The secret to well umpired games lies in the 3 C's of Umpiring.....Confidence, Composure and Concentration 14. We are not amateur Umpires....we are professional umpires of Amateur games.....there IS a difference....show that difference every game..... 15. Each game teaches a lesson...Each play is a Pop Quiz...Study enough to pass the tests the game gives........ 16. As an umpire don't worry about being recognized for your ability....But strive to be worthy of that recognition...... 17. Wear any heat you get from parents and coaches for enforcing safety rules like a badge of honor...player who go home uninjured are your trophies... 18. We cant fight the bad umpire stereotype if we aren't trying every day to be the example that shows how wrong that image is...... 19. If you are selected to umpire a championship game, reflect on how you earned it and thank those that helped you along the way... 20. Don't invent personal rules and mechanic interpretations.....its the same as owning a pet rattlesnake....eventually you are going to get bit........ 21. In tourney time remember that its the amount of games you do well, and not the amount of games assigned that counts...... 22. Umpire word of the week........MORE....as in Care more...prepare more...study more...hustle more...Succeed More..... 23. Divide your umpire career into 3 stages...What was...What is....and what will be.... 24. take what you learn from your past games, and use it in today's game for better games tomorrow....... 25. There is no shortage of games for a good umpire...

Fitbit for me me too...down 40 since November...............avg 14-16 K per day

That just looks like a flake came off the side......the bat shows other grain separations due to age...........

Outstanding!!.................

I polish all "leather" shoes..............synthetics I clean......

cant beat that! good start! and well done.

well, it looks like we have seen the last of the one knee stance in MLB...........it was thought that last year when he spent the year ion the disabled list that his back injury might end his career.....but hey, 33 years?. .......good run.....

welcome to the site!

yes, but somewhere in the great NW..........Ole Tim C. is smiling...................

I think we have had most of these ......let me give it a shot... Fashion impairment- bad uniforms/wrong uniforms/shorts/wrinkled/torn/smelly= No games- there are associations who need warm bodies, point them in that direction Track marks- OUT.....we cut loose the nephew of our biggest dog for rolling up to a game stoned.... Sexual predator convictions- we require background checks- No pass, No go...... No sense of humor- got a few of these, they stay, but they don't seem to advance... Morbidly obese- if you cant do your 90' responsibilities, you cant do games up here...... Rules knowledge of a cat- we offer training and clinics, you might get through your probationary year, but not much further.... Visible weaponry- visible is a red flag...we have peace officers and concealed carry members...we advise rules and regs....carrying weapons on school property etc....brandishing?.........OUT Crappy ride- Cant depend on you getting to your game assignments?. sorry no game.....and those who "need a ride" need not apply as our territory is large...we dont hire "hometown only" umpires.... Mommy issues- Hey...leave my mom out of this!

I wear the Platinum........its not low profile....and that's not why I wear it.......I wear it because for its superior protection, if I look a bit like "roboump"...well so be it.....I will be sending it off to be TW refitted and as many state that refit will affect some of the bulky part as the TW padding is thinner...... I will be wearing the +POS until my plat returns......

Over the years we have debated these sort of things (internet and local assoc) and the consensus usually comes out that the only issues that come up is when extreme expressions of "personal individuality" are being discussed... I have not had an experience with a tattoo causing any concern.....now that being said, I'm sure that there would be if those tattoos were of an offensive nature, or placement on the neck or face......... I do think full sleeves would be limiting if higher baseball would be your goal. But to be honest we have more trouble with basic items than any regarding tattoos.....as maven stated, clearly facial hair has been an issue for higher associations for years.......I cut off my mustache years ago when being told that the assoc I wanted to join had a no facial hair policy..... I'd have to put Tattoos way down the "limiting" list behind: Grizzly Adams Beards Ponytails Mulletts unshaved body odor bad uniforms general unhygenic Tobacco use

I enjoyed every minute...and many thanks for doing this......from someone who will most probably never get to attend it was a wonderful insight into pro school...I appreciate it!....great job! and congrats!

I have aa work/umpire colleague in osaka, they love MLB gear......but everything over there is crazy priced......this Plat has the JPBB league logo.....figure maybe they think we have the same illness?........i picked up an old plat from a guy retiring....pretty hard worn...and sent it to him in osaka....he was thrilled...

Never underestimate the power of a young person with a plan......... in your future, don't equate changes or setbacks with failure, just see them as course corrections to your ultimate goals..... have faith, ...and you will always have support here.....

keep the shins for now, dump the CP asap...........I would not do any level with that CP...........for the majority of the levels I do, I only trust my WV Platinum...... my backup until recently was my old Honigs K1....but now replaced with a +POS zero G....

This guy has a series of coach videos as well..........all for comedic value.....

everyone deserves a sabbatical..............best wishes on yours..........I hope that you will return here and to the avocation, even if not to umpire, but to pass on your skills and experiences...........best of luck, hurry back.....

welcome to the site......congrats on going to pro school!.....we are glad to have you.

I watched my boy from age 5 through 4 years of NCAA ball, here is my advice........go to the third base line beyond the stands.....watch your boy from there.....stay out of the stands, once the parents know you are an umpire they will ruin any enjoyment you could ever have watching your kid play.......