Professional School?

[theloyd]

I love baseball and only recently have gotten into umpiring. I feel as though I'm doing very well, have had great reviews from my evaluators, and now have this thought in my head that I would love to make a living as an umpire. I am, however, 29 years old. Is that considered too old to try and get started as a professional umpire? I know I'd have to go to the Jim Evans Academy or Harry Wendlestet's Umpire school. I also know that these cost roughly $5000. Obviously, my largest aspirations would be to do it at the MLB level but I know how long and difficult that process can be. I live in Colorado and NCAA D-I baseball is not an option here (no teams). I know that this may be a pipe dream but I thought I'd ask for some advice. I AM married without kids (yet), though I know that they are not too far in the future.

Any thoughts?

[RWPatten]

I would try to talk to anyone I know that has been to pro school and/or is calling in the minors or majors. Try to get as much experience as possible at any level you can in CO- HS, NAIA, JUCO, DII or DIII. I don't think 29 is too old, but if calling pro ball is your aspiration, then now is the time.

Each of the schools is around $3000 and a quite a committment in January and February. If this is what you want to do, get as many games as you can in the next few years. I f you can get the money and have the time, go for it. Just remember that very few make it to call in the minors and even fewer in the majors.

Myself, I would like to call Big 12 baseball and football before I retire. I am 29 as well.

[mazzamouth]

I love baseball and only recently have gotten into umpiring. I feel as though I'm doing very well, have had great reviews from my evaluators, and now have this thought in my head that I would love to make a living as an umpire. I am, however, 29 years old. Is that considered too old to try and get started as a professional umpire? I know I'd have to go to the Jim Evans Academy or Harry Wendlestet's Umpire school. I also know that these cost roughly $5000. Obviously, my largest aspirations would be to do it at the MLB level but I know how long and difficult that process can be. I live in Colorado and NCAA D-I baseball is not an option here (no teams). I know that this may be a pipe dream but I thought I'd ask for some advice. I AM married without kids (yet), though I know that they are not too far in the future.

Any thoughts?

Well the Air Force Academy is DI....

Evans is about 3500 with a room and meals added.. is it worth .. Hell yes... It will open a lot of doors for you. This past year they (PBUC) picked up a guy who was 43 to umpire minor league ball... So your window is still open.

Also i umpire College ball now and with one of the pro schools in your pocket, it will help you. I know the Pac-10 and WCC, you will be a conference umpire with out one of those pro schools, they want guy with that type of training.

Edited August 6, 2009 by mazzamouth

[Nate]

Before you pick a school you should know what one you want to go to. There is a big difference.

Wendelstedt Umpire School:

Harry Wendelstedt believes that all umpires should be at least 6' 2" and built athletic. If you don't make those minimum requirements, I'd suggest you to go to Evan's. This school also focuses more on field presence and experience, something like the good ol' boy system. You do a lot of live games during your time at the school to gain experience and cage work. What they do lack is coverage of the rules because of the time spent on the field presence.

Jim Evans' Umpire Academy:

Jim Evans believe that umpires come in all shapes and sizes. Jim Evans himself if a smaller sized man about 5' 10". He believe that knowledge of the rules is part of the game, and that anyone can umpire and be right 95% of the time, he teaches the other 5% that one would not know without proper training. Jim Evans' school involves long rule training classes, training in the cage and simulated situations with the instructors.

I am 5' 10", 18 years old, and plan to go to Evans' Academy after college. The thing that swayed my opinion more was the wealth of knowledge that Jim had when I called and actually spoke to him. When calling Wendelstedt no one picked up, and after sending an email, Hunter Wendelstedt got back to me about 2 weeks later.

Just be forewarned, if you get selected for the PBUC Camp, it doesn't mean you have a job, you'll have to spend about a week doing Spring Collegiate games at the PBUC stadium and umpire your way to a job.

Good luck!

Nate

[Umpire in Chief]

I say if it's what you want to do then go for it. What is the worse that will happen- you go to school learn a lot and are a better umpire back home.

I will disagree to an extent with what Nate wrote about the Wendelstedt School in terms of the stature they are looking for. They are not only going to put through the big more athletic guys, BUT MLB has placed a higher emphasis on the look and build of umpires overall and want guys who are more athletic looking and have a stonger presence on the field.

As for age your nearing the upper limit of the age of guys they pick up on average, but they want quality first just like any other organization.

The number one question would be would you be able to live in abject poverty for the 8-10 years it generally takes to make it through the MiLB system being on the road 8 or more months out of the year living out of a crappy rental car and less than 4 star hotels.

There will be a ton of naysayers out there trying to tell you the odds are too small and give you other discouraging information, but by all means if that's what you want then go for it.

[nolanadair]

I plan to go to Jim Evans after I get out of high school (2011) or after I go to college. I am leaning towards going after college because if I do not make it as an umpire, then I need something to fall back on.

[frenchblue]

i plan to go to jim evans after i get out of high school (2011) or after i go to college. I am leaning towards going after college because if i do not make it as an umpire, then i need something to fall back on.

absolutly!!!

[BT_Blue]

I wish I had gone when I was planning to. I was in college but not enjoying myself and honestly not putting in the work I should have for my education. But life gets in the way. I met a girl and decided to go after her rather than go after being a pro umpire. Sadly the relationship didnt work out and I have still yet to go to pro school!

[nolanadair]

absolutly!!!

Of course you would say that.

HAHA.

[rth54]

Nate was pretty hard on Wendelstedt (perhaps rightly but hard to tell). Any one else have opinions on the two schools.

[mstaylor]

I have worked with guys from both schools and either will make you a pretty danged good umpire. I have never heard that Harry likes taller umpires. He does do more live games than Evans but not to the detriment of rules knowledge. Harry has more guys working pro ball the Evans and his instructors are more experienced than Evans. Jim believes in using younger guys that are either still using two man or is just out of it. Evans also prefers to use the instructors and students to simulate game situations.

There are advantages to both points of view.

[Aging_Arbiter]

Now I am not being biased becasue I attended an Evans clinic, but maybe, JUST MAYBE I could be considered old fashioned, based on the info provided in the post (alone).........Evans answered the phone, Wendlestat didn't. And didn't respond to an email until a couple weeks later?? C'mon folks. I want to deal with someone who wants to deal with me. You hesitate on answering the phone? You hesitate to respond to email? HA! I hesitate in endorsing this type of professional behavior and I damn sure hesitate in writing that check!

[mstaylor]

On the other side of the coin Evans doesn't run a website for the masses or destribute his manual to the general public.

I don't think you can go wrong in either choice but Evans is a great instructor. I understand Harry is too but I don't have personal experience.

[ump81]

Gentlemen, I went to Evan's in 2001. it was the most thorough and intense umpiring experience I ever had. Evan's is more focused on camp games and simulated situations, Wendlestedt does more actual games. Looking at guys in PBUC one winter at Cocoa while doing a youth tourney there, I did not notice any differnece in the candidates on the field and they usually end up almost 50-50 between the two schools every year. As I meet and work with guys from each school it is apparent to me that Jim's guys have a better rules knowledge and ability. It is a lot more on the individual to get the training out of it you want. Jim was a fantastic instructor, his rules knowledge is impecable and world known, and he kept me interested all 5 weeks, I went out very few times and did the homework and video review. I was not going for a job but mostly to improve and get into college ball, which I have done and am very happy with the training I received. You as a student must be in shape, motivated, willing to listen, and open to all instruction. I can't tell you guys enough about the slackers and maligners who were injured every time a stressful simulation came up and some folks actually did break down physically or mentally. We graduated 115 out of 127 at the start. It is an intense time frame, all about baseball and umpiring, you must be ready to give total concentration and effort to the training. My roommate was a young guy about 23, was doing some JUCO and NAIA ball, had decent talent but needed to improve, he started out as a ball of fire. The staff all noticed his talent and raw ability, as the training went on he became a partier, he came in at 3-4 am each morn drunk, very loud, and generally acting like a "frat boy". It was apparent to me he was away from home for the first time and sowing some wild oats, as 20 years olds will do! He missed a few mornings due to "sickness" and quickly went from top 10 in class to an alternate at selection time. He was shocked and a bit bitter at Jim, I tried to explain to him his immature behavior and that the staff knew of his ways, we all stay at the same hotel and they look for maturity issues. Next day Jim gave a two hour talk on traveling, money matters, personal bahavior and professionalism, so its not even all about how you do on the field. My roomie cleaned out his stuff and disappeared. You are investing almost $4000 in the training, get all you can out of it. The instructors will give you all they have to offer and break you down and build you up again, it is almost military in their approach. I have great respect and admiration for the instructors and Jim personally, you as students must be prepared to give the same measure of dedication to your learning and to the game.

[mazzamouth]

I have worked with guys from both schools and either will make you a pretty danged good umpire. I have never heard that Harry likes taller umpires. He does do more live games than Evans but not to the detriment of rules knowledge. Harry has more guys working pro ball the Evans and his instructors are more experienced than Evans. Jim believes in using younger guys that are either still using two man or is just out of it. Evans also prefers to use the instructors and students to simulate game situations.

There are advantages to both points of view.

I think the difference in the schools and the "games" at Evans it is a game like situations, so you get to see every situation.. ( I did at his clinic in New Jersey).. at Harry's you do get real games..So what if in your "real" game you get 1 inning behind the plate, and in that inning you have 2 strikeouts, 2 ground outs and 2 pop outs? you had a super easy inning and look good right? and Evans you get thrown into those situations to see how you"ll handle it?...

How many people know the right mechanic for CI on a guy stealing home?.... we went over it about 5 times each guy, and Evans himself was throwing the pitches at the batter...

[rodatc]

Had good friends go to both and both get jobs. Each loved it. So can't go wrong either way. But I will be heading to Evans' in less than a month. Can't wait!

Rick

[mstaylor]

I know I sound like I am pushing Harry's school, and I'm not, but 5 of 6 WS umpires were Harry grads, 4 of 5 are instructors. I believe, without checking, that he counts grads from the school's previous owner.

[Chris Hickman]

I know I sound like I am pushing Harry's school, and I'm not, but 5 of 6 WS umpires were Harry grads, 4 of 5 are instructors. I believe, without checking, that he counts grads from the school's previous owner.

Don't read too much into that... Jimmy did not start his school til 1989. Jim bought out Joe's school some years back, so he counts his student's successes. I have been to Jimmy's 1.7 times**.... Great facilities and a great teacher..and friend.

** long story

[rth54]

One of the umpires that I will be working with went to both Evans and Wendelstedt, and when I queried him yesterday he said unequivocally that he preferred Wendelstedt based on the quality of the instruction/ instructional staff.

[HokieUmp]

Don't read too much into that... Jimmy did not start his school til 1989. Jim bought out Joe's school some years back, so he counts his student's successes. I have been to Jimmy's 1.7 times**.... Great facilities and a great teacher..and friend.

** long story

I was there for the 0.7 time you were there in '08. Never heard the long story, but it IS a long off-season - is it worth telling on the forum??

[BT_Blue]

I was there for the 0.7 time you were there in '08. Never heard the long story, but it IS a long off-season - is it worth telling on the forum??

Ok Chris. You started it, someone has to finish the story. I know you and I have never heard it. So what happened with the 0.7?:smachhead:

[rth54]

Now I am not being biased becasue I attended an Evans clinic, but maybe, JUST MAYBE I could be considered old fashioned, based on the info provided in the post (alone).........Evans answered the phone, Wendlestat didn't. And didn't respond to an email until a couple weeks later?? C'mon folks. I want to deal with someone who wants to deal with me. You hesitate on answering the phone? You hesitate to respond to email? HA! I hesitate in endorsing this type of professional behavior and I damn sure hesitate in writing that check!

This is an interesting point. I certainly want to be trained by someone interested in training me. That is often evidenced in the degree of professionalism (or lack thereof) exhibited in communication and other business transactions (ie. product sales etc).

I guess what I am ultimately trying to discern is which of the pro-schools is most interested in, and, committed to, training those of us without professional aspirations.

[BT_Blue]

This is an interesting point. I certainly want to be trained by someone interested in training me. That is often evidenced in the degree of professionalism (or lack thereof) exhibited in communication and other business transactions (ie. product sales etc).

I guess what I am ultimately trying to discern is which of the pro-schools is most interested in, and, committed to, training those of us without professional aspirations.

Well for me, not having gone to either school yet, Jim seems to be the type to get out and about to teach people. An example is his one week camps in Arizona and Florida along with his weekend clinics he puts on all over the nation (and example would be the much publicized, both on here and the ABUA forums, clinic he put on in Portland last March).

Just my thoughts on the thing.

[mstaylor]

Both are very good and are interested in advancing their knowledge.

http://www.umpireschool.com/local_clinics.html

http://www.umpireacademy.com/training.php

These are links to their offsite training clinics.

[mazzamouth]

Both are very good and are interested in advancing their knowledge.

http://www.umpireschool.com/local_clinics.html

http://www.umpireacademy.com/training.php

These are links to their offsite training clinics.

Wendelstedt's there is a lot of clinics that are being offered during Jan.... who is gonna teach these with the 5 week course going on at the same time?

Also wendelsted's is having alot of weekend clinics...LOL wow I mean alot.