Getting ready?

[mazzamouth]

Alright I was suppose to have my 1st games this weekend, and Mother Nature decided that we were not ready..LOL ( too bad as the games was with the National Champions of D-II baseball).. So my question is what do you guys do to get ready for the season.

I have been working out for almost a month now, drinking a ton of water, cuting out sodas ( maybe a diet once a week), No more candy bars, watching what I eat. I have also started running and using the elliptical machines, and have thrown in the P9ox exercise videos ( which are outstanding) and that is a whole body workout. these workouts have a Plyometrics work out( or Jump training) it has a ton of squats, and I kind of modify it a little bit to were I get into my plate stance.

I have been to the local college to workout in the bullpens with the pitchers and catchers so I can look at some pitches,a s I dont want to walk on the field for the 1st time this year and the 1st live pitches i see are the 8 warm ups...LOL

So what do you guys do to get ready?

[Brett]

I started about a month ago 1.5 miles on the treadmill three days a week. Reading a page or two of rules everyday. Squats and stretches almost daily. Started looking at pitches last week, do more of that next week.

Unfortunately I don't have any games scheduled until mid March, although I am still waiting for my JUCO schedule, usually season opens 1st of March or so.

The NCAA tests got me going and feeling good about rules knowledge, passed it first time and took it again for the fun of it, did even better second time. I am more ready this year then any year prior.

[Umpire in Chief]

I need to get on this. I will admit I'm not as physically prepared for the season as I was last year. I'm going to go through my rule books again. Thursday I head to Atlanta for the Southern Umpires Camp, I have a clinic with my association tomorrow. I'll probably get back on the treadmill tomorrow. And when my wife and kids aren't around I'll get in front of the mirror and work on my calls. (Can't do it with the wifey around she'll mock be and bruise my delicate psyche) Then I have 2 scrimmages before getting any real games.

[BT_Blue]

I need to get on this. I will admit I'm not as physically prepared for the season as I was last year. I'm going to go through my rule books again. Thursday I head to Atlanta for the Southern Umpires Camp, I have a clinic with my association tomorrow. I'll probably get back on the treadmill tomorrow. And when my wife and kids aren't around I'll get in front of the mirror and work on my calls. (Can't do it with the wifey around she'll mock be and bruise my delicate psyche) Then I have 2 scrimmages before getting any real games.

My wife has asked me numerous times to show her my strike call and friends have always asked me to give a strike three call. I can never do it. Even though my strike call is just a straight hammer and strike three is just "pulling the chain" I still can not bring myself to do it for others unless I am on the baseball field, at a baseball meeting, or talking to other umpires.

Anyone else have this issue as well?

[dawg-man]

I joind a gym in Novmber and have religiosly gone 4 times a week. Walk three miles on the treadmill and a brisk pace and then pedal on the recumbent bike. I was having some hip issues last fall and the bike seems to have helped alot. Lift weights but not heavy weights, more reps. I think its our duty to stay in pretty good shape and besides, we get older every year but the teams we work with do not.

[Dean]

Getting ready for baseball, physically I have been refereeing basketball pretty much everyday for the last two and a half months, so it’s like running 1-3 miles every game, lifting weights (well using my handy dandy “Total Gym” – great product) and of course shoving snow, and then shoveling some more snow and yet even more snow. Studying the rules and mechanic books, reviewing my DVDs on balks, mechanics, etc…

[kylejt]

I go to the local batting cages, and get behind the net. It's good for tracking balls.

[capnumpire]

Thanks Kylejt;

That's a great idea to go to the cages and start tracking balls and strikes.

Where I live we have a great indoor facility and I know they're already practicing for the upcoming season. That may be a good way to spend a few evenings.

Thanks again for the tip.

[NFUA_44]

Scrimmages, and practices. Head out to practices, tell coach your working on getting ready, bring along a newer guy, don't charge anything, build some good will and start gettin ready! They'll also help you set up situations. Works for everybody.

[mazzamouth]

Like i said int he OP ,,,get with a local school.. I did and asked the coach If I can look at some pitches.. easy and a good way to work on your stuff.

[Chance]

As this is my first year umpiring i am really looking forward to getting started. Ive changed my workouts to more cardio and core training. I also am a week into the Insanity workout program, similar to the p90x but you dont have to buy the extra stuff (pull-up bar, weights, etc.) I also just picked up my pants from the tailor today. The drive home however took me out of the baseball mood due to the fact that there is still almost two feet of snow on the ground:bang:

[carolinablue]

Fortunately I have a son who plays varsity ball. The coach is always eager to let me call some pitches during batting practice. It helps the pitchers as well as the batters tune in thier eye. If I can get one of my fellow umpires he will also let us do a couple if intersquad games. It's a good deal all around.

[POLOGREEN]

Been getting ready for two months now...read EVERYTHING I can get my hands on...watch cd's on field mechanics and I've worked up to 1 1/2 hrs a day on the treadmill ... I'll lift one bodypart a day for appx. 45 min.

Want to get with a local HS to call pitches at their practices. I will attend a State Umpires Clinic on saturday...SO ANTSY I CAN'T WAIT !!!!

[LMSANS]

Been getting ready for two months now...read EVERYTHING I can get my hands on...watch cd's on field mechanics and I've worked up to 1 1/2 hrs a day on the treadmill ... I'll lift one bodypart a day for appx. 45 min.

Want to get with a local HS to call pitches at their practices. I will attend a State Umpires Clinic on saturday...SO ANTSY I CAN'T WAIT !!!!

I'll see you there. I always consider this clinic the real start of my season. I missed it last year because I had a wrestling match, didn't know what I was doing until April .

[POLOGREEN]

Larry,

I hope to meet yoou there, (I'll have a Skylands hat on) last year was excellent...worked outside in Three Man....some how I don't see us being outside this year.

Hank

Skylands Umpires Assoc.