How does your association work?

[grayhawk]

Was going to post this in the "High School games today!" thread, but didn't want to hijack:

Here's how it works in our association:

To be a "Qualified" member (meaning you can be assigned games), you must meet the requirements:

Must attend a certain number of meetings (5 for 1st and 2nd year guys, 4 for everyone else)

Must pass the qualification exam.

Must pay the association fee and not be delinquent with your assignor fees.

Must attend at least one qualified mechanics clinic.

Must be in good standing with respect to ethics, etc.

First year guys (no matter how long you have been umpiring elsewhere) - All games are one man and the games are either Freshman or Frosh/Soph. Everyone starts out with a 600 rating. Everyone is supposed to be evaluated at least once in their first season (though this is often driven by the individual member).

Second Year guys - Based on your rating (from your first year evaluation), you can move up as far as JV - no varsity. All games still one man and most will be JV (possibly some freshman or frosh/soph). Most of the good second year guys get a 400 rating.

After that, it's all ratings based. You have to have a 300 or below to work varsity. Some guys have been around for 5+ years and never sniffed varsity. In other cases, there are 3rd year guys doing varsity and even some playoffs, but that is very rare. I'm sure there is some "good ole boy" stuff still going around, but generally, when you are good you get noticed and when you are bad you get noticed.

All varsity is, at a minimum, 2 man. There is a "Trinity League" which are private schools that pony up the extra money for 3 man.

There are various ratings requirements to work the different levels of the playoffs, with the 100 rated guys getting the most important games.

Funny to hear guys talk about Middle School. Middle Schools don't have teams in SoCal. High School is grades 9-12, Middle School is grades 6-8. I don't know if any districts still have Junior High (grades 7-9). That seems to be something that has been phased out in most areas.

How does it work in your area/association?

[mstaylor]

We have to pass the test, attend a number of meetings and clinics and attend the state meeting. There is no absolute number rating. The staff is rated by the BOD, years of service has nothing to do with it. We rate ability to umpire including rules knowledge, game management and appearance. We had a guy graduate HS, go to pro school and come back and work varsity. New umpires will get a beginning slate of JV but we will evaluate them in the clinic and early games and adjust accordingly. So a dead new guy will probably stay in the JV level, a transfer could get a full varsity schedule once we know his ability.

I hate groups that have a good umpire but because he is new to the group they won't move him up. Transfer can be tricky. I have seen some that come in and can really work. I have seen others that come from bad groups that just aren't very good and don't get better.

[gobama84]

Not a good system for an umpire that might have gone to a good camp and was just starting HS umpiring.

I was doing playoff games in my 2nd year. :wow:

[Umpire in Chief]

I have associations which do things very differently.

I've attached NC's which is the same state wide.

In my VA association here's how it works:

Level 1

Shall be assigned to Division I conference series or games assigned by EOA as a regional booking agent for Division I conference assignors in addition to all other games assigned by EOA. Must be fully knowledgeable of two-, three-, and four-umpire mechanics and must prepare to serve as the crew chief for conference series. Must attend all EOA clinics and meetings as designated by the commissioner. Annually must attend an approved NCAA clinic, generally held in January. Shall serve as primary or participating clinician as determined by the commissioner or the baseball committee. Should volunteer to serve as a rater for the EOA evaluation system.

Level 2

Shall be assigned to Division I non-conference games assigned by EOA as a regional booking agent for Division I conference assignors in addition to all other games assigned by EOA. Must be fully knowledgeable of two-, three-, and four-umpire mechanics and must be prepared to serve as the crew chief for NCAA two and three umpire crews. Must attend all EOA clinics and meetings as designated by the commissioner. Annually must attend an approved NCAA clinic, generally held in January. Shall serve as primary or participating clinician as determined by the commissioner or the baseball committee. Should volunteer to serve as a rater for the EOA evaluation system.

Level 2A

Shall be assigned to all college games assigned by EOA below the Division I level in addition to all other games assigned by EOA. May be assigned to non-conference Division I games as needed by the commissioner or as part of the EOA umpire development process. Must be fully knowledgeable of two-, three-, and four-umpire mechanics and must be prepared to serve as the crew chief for Division III two umpire crews. Must attend all EOA clinics and meetings as designated by the commissioner. Annually must attend an approved NCAA clinic, generally held in January. Shall serve as primary or participating clinician as determined by the commissioner or the baseball committee. Should volunteer to serve as a rater for the EOA evaluation system.

Level 3

Shall be assigned to all AAA high school varsity contests in addition to all other scholastic and recreation games. May be assigned to Division III games on an emergency fill-in basis when needed by the commissioner. Should be familiar with three-umpire mechanics and must be fully knowledgeable of two-umpire mechanics. Must attend all EOA clinics and meetings as designated by the commissioner. May serve as participating clinician if determined by the commissioner or the baseball committee. May volunteer to serve as a rater for the EOA evaluation system.

Level 4

Shall be assigned to high school junior varsity contests, some A or AA high school varsity contests, and all recreation games. May be assigned to AAA high school varsity contests on an emergency fill-in basis when needed by the commissioner. Must understand two-umpire mechanics. Must attend all EOA clinics and meetings as designated by the commissioner.

Level 5

Shall be assigned to all recreation games and scholastic junior varsity games as determined by the commissioner. Must be familiar with two-umpire mechanics. Must attend all EOA clinics and meetings as designated by the commissioner.

Level 6

Will be assigned to recreation games as determined by the commissioner and may be assigned to scholastic junior varsity contests on an emergency fill-in basis. Must be familiar with two-umpire mechanics. Must attend all EOA clinics and meetings as designated by the commissioner.

NC Ratings..pdf

[UmpTTS43]

Was going to post this in the "High School games today!" thread, but didn't want to hijack:

Here's how it works in our association:

To be a "Qualified" member (meaning you can be assigned games), you must meet the requirements:

Must attend a certain number of meetings (5 for 1st and 2nd year guys, 4 for everyone else)

Must pass the qualification exam.

Must pay the association fee and not be delinquent with your assignor fees.

Must attend at least one qualified mechanics clinic.

Must be in good standing with respect to ethics, etc.

First year guys (no matter how long you have been umpiring elsewhere) - All games are one man and the games are either Freshman or Frosh/Soph. Everyone starts out with a 600 rating. Everyone is supposed to be evaluated at least once in their first season (though this is often driven by the individual member).

Second Year guys - Based on your rating (from your first year evaluation), you can move up as far as JV - no varsity. All games still one man and most will be JV (possibly some freshman or frosh/soph). Most of the good second year guys get a 400 rating.

After that, it's all ratings based. You have to have a 300 or below to work varsity. Some guys have been around for 5+ years and never sniffed varsity. In other cases, there are 3rd year guys doing varsity and even some playoffs, but that is very rare. I'm sure there is some "good ole boy" stuff still going around, but generally, when you are good you get noticed and when you are bad you get noticed.

All varsity is, at a minimum, 2 man. There is a "Trinity League" which are private schools that pony up the extra money for 3 man.

There are various ratings requirements to work the different levels of the playoffs, with the 100 rated guys getting the most important games.

Funny to hear guys talk about Middle School. Middle Schools don't have teams in SoCal. High School is grades 9-12, Middle School is grades 6-8. I don't know if any districts still have Junior High (grades 7-9). That seems to be something that has been phased out in most areas.

How does it work in your area/association?

So if I was to move to where you are at I would have to wait 2 years before I got just into Varsity ball having pro, DI and down experience? I think I'll stay put. :beerbang

[dumbdumb]

I have associations which do things very differently.

I've attached NC's which is the same state wide.

In my VA association here's how it works:

Level 1

Shall be assigned to Division I conference series or games assigned by EOA as a regional booking agent for Division I conference assignors in addition to all other games assigned by EOA. Must be fully knowledgeable of two-, three-, and four-umpire mechanics and must prepare to serve as the crew chief for conference series. Must attend all EOA clinics and meetings as designated by the commissioner. Annually must attend an approved NCAA clinic, generally held in January. Shall serve as primary or participating clinician as determined by the commissioner or the baseball committee. Should volunteer to serve as a rater for the EOA evaluation system.

Level 2

Shall be assigned to Division I non-conference games assigned by EOA as a regional booking agent for Division I conference assignors in addition to all other games assigned by EOA. Must be fully knowledgeable of two-, three-, and four-umpire mechanics and must be prepared to serve as the crew chief for NCAA two and three umpire crews. Must attend all EOA clinics and meetings as designated by the commissioner. Annually must attend an approved NCAA clinic, generally held in January. Shall serve as primary or participating clinician as determined by the commissioner or the baseball committee. Should volunteer to serve as a rater for the EOA evaluation system.

Level 2A

Shall be assigned to all college games assigned by EOA below the Division I level in addition to all other games assigned by EOA. May be assigned to non-conference Division I games as needed by the commissioner or as part of the EOA umpire development process. Must be fully knowledgeable of two-, three-, and four-umpire mechanics and must be prepared to serve as the crew chief for Division III two umpire crews. Must attend all EOA clinics and meetings as designated by the commissioner. Annually must attend an approved NCAA clinic, generally held in January. Shall serve as primary or participating clinician as determined by the commissioner or the baseball committee. Should volunteer to serve as a rater for the EOA evaluation system.

Level 3

Shall be assigned to all AAA high school varsity contests in addition to all other scholastic and recreation games. May be assigned to Division III games on an emergency fill-in basis when needed by the commissioner. Should be familiar with three-umpire mechanics and must be fully knowledgeable of two-umpire mechanics. Must attend all EOA clinics and meetings as designated by the commissioner. May serve as participating clinician if determined by the commissioner or the baseball committee. May volunteer to serve as a rater for the EOA evaluation system.

Level 4

Shall be assigned to high school junior varsity contests, some A or AA high school varsity contests, and all recreation games. May be assigned to AAA high school varsity contests on an emergency fill-in basis when needed by the commissioner. Must understand two-umpire mechanics. Must attend all EOA clinics and meetings as designated by the commissioner.

Level 5

Shall be assigned to all recreation games and scholastic junior varsity games as determined by the commissioner. Must be familiar with two-umpire mechanics. Must attend all EOA clinics and meetings as designated by the commissioner.

Level 6

Will be assigned to recreation games as determined by the commissioner and may be assigned to scholastic junior varsity contests on an emergency fill-in basis. Must be familiar with two-umpire mechanics. Must attend all EOA clinics and meetings as designated by the commissioner.

So, in NC, one could be a Class 2 A official having an exam score of 95-100, and earned 85 points overall, but never worked a Varsity game? Your stuck waiting for someone to go down, so you can fill in, to get that other 5 points so you can become a Class 1 A official, which one would hope gets you a decent Varsity schedule (maybe not). Sad. Just asking.

[mstaylor]

I agree you have to have a system in place to rank your umpires but I hate to see it so rigid that guys that have good previous experience can't move through the system. I have seen groups that required to spend X years at each level with no regard to ability. I know a guy that was an AA CC that had to work JR college games when he went to join his regional college group. He opted out, not because he felt he was too good to work small college, he just didn't like the idea thee was no credit given for working MiLB and even instructed at Evans.

[johnnyg08]

So if I was to move to where you are at I would have to wait 2 years before I got just into Varsity ball having pro, DI and down experience? I think I'll stay put.

Isn't that crazy that guys can sit there and tell you that with a straight face? You'd probably be one of the TOP guys in the group, yet they're too obtuse to think that it could even be possible that number of years umpiring doesn't necessarily equal how great you are.

[yawetag]

I hate groups that have a good umpire but because he is new to the group they won't move him up. Transfer can be tricky. I have seen some that come in and can really work. I have seen others that come from bad groups that just aren't very good and don't get better.

This was asked last week to our backup assignor. He stated transfers are dealt on a case-by-case. When you complete the initial application, they look at previous experience and determine a course for the umpire. If he's got a lot of experience or pro school experience, they'll be put on games with our better umpires so he can be evaluated. If things go well, he's moved up at a faster pace than a newer umpire would.

As for newer umpires, I only know they have a ranking system based on experience and evaluations by higher-ranked umpires. We're not evaluated by every umpire, but our assignor will call partners if you're being looked at for moving up the ladder.

[LA ump]

If you check out the link below, it gives all the info how ours works.

http://www.salembaseballumpires.org/

[LMSANS]

So if I was to move to where you are at I would have to wait 2 years before I got just into Varsity ball having pro, DI and down experience? I think I'll stay put.

Isn't that crazy that guys can sit there and tell you that with a straight face? You'd probably be one of the TOP guys in the group, yet they're too obtuse to think that it could even be possible that number of years umpiring doesn't necessarily equal how great you are.

Can you TOP this ?

My association told a AAA umpire he would have to cadet for a year, and work 40 sub-varsity games over the next 2 years, before he could work varsity ball. He said no. Went to the college group & another hs group. He now coaches in our area and has very few things to say about the org.

[dumbdumb]

I agree you have to have a system in place to rank your umpires but I hate to see it so rigid that guys that have good previous experience can't move through the system. I have seen groups that required to spend X years at each level with no regard to ability. I know a guy that was an AA CC that had to work JR college games when he went to join his regional college group. He opted out, not because he felt he was too good to work small college, he just didn't like the idea thee was no credit given for working MiLB and even instructed at Evans.

Aren't there pre-season scrimmage games where the evaluators could watch a transfer before the season starts to see what level he/she could immediately handle.

It's a shame that in some areas, there is still the old----I had to work 5 years JV before Varsity even though I was good enough from the start or maybe after just 1 year, but since I had to wait 5 years anyone after me has to wait 5 years. Nobody breaks down the old crummy system that they despised when they get to the TOP. They just say, they did it to me now I am going to do it to you and you are going to like it or hit the highway. Somebody else can change things at a later time, but I had to suffer and now you have to suffer. Take it or leave it.

Pitiful.

And then some guys go right to College ball after minimal high school games or none at all like Dick Cavanaugh in his article this past month. Go figure.

[mstaylor]

I agree you have to have a system in place to rank your umpires but I hate to see it so rigid that guys that have good previous experience can't move through the system. I have seen groups that required to spend X years at each level with no regard to ability. I know a guy that was an AA CC that had to work JR college games when he went to join his regional college group. He opted out, not because he felt he was too good to work small college, he just didn't like the idea thee was no credit given for working MiLB and even instructed at Evans.

Aren't there pre-season scrimmage games where the evaluators could watch a transfer before the season starts to see what level he/she could immediately handle.

It's a shame that in some areas, there is still the old----I had to work 5 years JV before Varsity even though I was good enough from the start or maybe after just 1 year, but since I had to wait 5 years anyone after me has to wait 5 years. Nobody breaks down the old crummy system that they despised when they get to the TOP. They just say, they did it to me now I am going to do it to you and you are going to like it or hit the highway. Somebody else can change things at a later time, but I had to suffer and now you have to suffer. Take it or leave it.

Pitiful.

And then some guys go right to College ball after minimal high school games or none at all like Dick Cavanaugh in his article this past month. Go figure.

Yes there preseason games and that is what we do. We evaluate at the clinic, preseason and sometimes the first round of assignments. The problem is there isn't enough time to see several preseason games and get a schedule out. We assign the first couple of weeks then adjust.

The problem is some guys that transfer in come from groups that don't train well and being a TOP guy doesn't mean anything. Other guys come from groups that have time requirements or service requirements where they should have moved up but didn't. So transfers are treated with open arms but guarded optimism.

[Umpire in Chief]

So, in NC, one could be a Class 2 A official having an exam score of 95-100, and earned 85 points overall, but never worked a Varsity game? Your stuck waiting for someone to go down, so you can fill in, to get that other 5 points so you can become a Class 1 A official, which one would hope gets you a decent Varsity schedule (maybe not). Sad. Just asking.

Actually yes You can be a first year official and be thrown into a varsity game. Now my NC association only does Middle School, JV & Varsity. So there is no rec for them to develop in internally.

[JaxRolo]

So, in NC, one could be a Class 2 A official having an exam score of 95-100, and earned 85 points overall, but never worked a Varsity game? Your stuck waiting for someone to go down, so you can fill in, to get that other 5 points so you can become a Class 1 A official, which one would hope gets you a decent Varsity schedule (maybe not). Sad. Just asking.

Actually yes You can be a first year official and be thrown into a varsity game. Now my NC association only does Middle School, JV & Varsity. So there is no rec for them to develop in internally.

Last year was my first year working HS and out of 30 games 4 were Varsity.

This year there are 18 games on my schedule so far and 75% are varsity.

I am not sure how our association works but I see it as me moving up. Hopefully for my ability and not my availability. Maybe is a combination of both!

[mstaylor]

In my assoc when I joined I expected all JV and no plates. The assigner had seen me work and had invited, read insisted, me to join. I recieved a full schedule with a mix of plates and bases, JV. I also recieved several varsity bases. I was shocked to say the least.

[Guest]

How it works in Ontario (basically the same across Canada, though differences do exist from province to province):

First, a disclaimer - scholastic baseball is not (even close to) the breadwinner level of play. High school ball here is glorified house league and some schools can barely field a full varsity team, let alone a competitive one. Our best ball, hands down, is travel ball. Once you get to 16U - 18U, there are travel leagues that are high caliber and Elite leagues designed to showcase players to US colleges - to anyone who has worked at a PBUC camp, whenever you see an Ontario team down there, they belong to a league like this.

Every year, you have to attend a Baseball Ontario sanctioned one-day, 7 hour training clinic (5 hours of training, a 30 minute 25 question T/F exam and 1 hour for lunch and also two 15 minute breaks). They are open to anyone - no age restrictions.

If you're starting out, you start at Level 1. Paying your $20 registration fee and showing up at the clinic guarantees you a card. The exam is designed to establish the individual's weaknesses on mechanics, positioning, rules, etc. 2.5 hours of training are focused on on field mechanics and 2.5 hours of rules training. You have to be a Level 1 umpire for two consecutive seasons before you become eligible to move up; training focuses on umpiring the "Offense" one year and umpiring the "Defense" the next; while there is consistency with some of the training (ie standard mechanics) the sessions are tailored according to year. Level 1 umpires may work any level of house league / recreation baseball and up to and including Pee Wee (13U) travel ball.

Once you progress to Level 2, you have at least 2 years of experience under your belt. The registration fee is $40 and you need 60% (15/25) on the Level 2 exam, naturally more advanced than the Level 1 but still fairly basic to certify - if you fail, which I've never heard of, you drop to Level 1. One's time at Level 2 lasts three seasons - again, the clinics have rotating focuses, with more in-depth offense and defense years and the addition of a game management year - although, the GM program has a slim portion dedicated to ejections, only 2-3 pages out of 40 or so page guidebook. Certification at Level 2 allows an umpire to work up to / including Midget (18U) travel ball.

As you can imagine, trying to cram training into a 5 hour session is insufficient at the best of times but the L1 / L2 clinics are filled with kids, most of whom are more focused on playing ball then umpiring it, and they're just looking to get their mandatory card so they can make some pocket money. The material we are able to fit into a training session usually gets bogged down by teenagers acting like idiots and people who insist on trying to play 20 questions arguing with the instructor(s) over balks.

After 5 years, you are eligible to become a Level 3. Registration is $45 and you attend a clinic, held every three years, termed the "Level 3 SuperClinic", once every three years. 2011 was a SuperClinic year so the next SC year will be 2014. The training at the SC is broken into five 50 minute sessions with a quick, intense focus on rules applicable to the offense and the defense. There is a game management session where the focus is exclusively on ejections (I will say, the SC I was at last year was exceptionally well done, probably because we had a former AA umpire who worked the futures game in Detroit in '05 running it) as well as a session working with pitching machines to actually call pitches while focusing on plate mechanics and a fifth session that incorporates miscellaneous field work. In the non superclinic years, for the same reg fee, you write a 25 question open book T/F exam that is quite advanced and requires 19/25 to pass. However, it is the same 25 questions across the province. Being a Level 3 gives you the key to the city with provincial ball, allowing you to work anything anywhere at any time - formally, up to and including Senior.

As soon as you achieve Level 3 status, you are eligible for consideration into the Level 4 program. To be invited, you must pass one base and one plate evaluation. Standards to pass are very tough at the moment due to the large number of umpires in the program, but not impossible. A few years ago, it was much easier, as there were not enough umpires in the program to meet the delegation Baseball Canada asked of Ontario to assign to National tournaments. The Level 4 clinic is held a few weeks into the season (to account for any L4 umpires in university - thank you OBA) over a full weekend in a central location. At the end of the weekend, a 50 question T/F exam is administered. It used to be a closed book exam, however, for the same reason that they relaxed standards for entry for a few years, it is now an open book exam. Passing an evaluation, attending the clinic gives, and writing (not passing) the exam gives an umpire Level 4-B status. Failing the exam does allow you to remain in the program but removes you from consideration for a National championship assignment. As long as you are a 4-B, you must take the exam and do an eval every year. Passing the exam makes you eligible for a National the following season. So, for instance, if you pass the exam at the L4 clinic this year, you would not be eligible for a National until 2013. Usually the waiting period between admission and first National assignment is two years (so continuing to use my example, 2014)

Once you are assigned your first National, you become a 4-A. This allows you a 5-year exemption to writing the exam and a 3-year exemption to being evaluated (every game at a National is evaluated by at least one, and up to 3, supervisors). These exemptions renew every time you are assigned a subsequent National, either as an umpire or a supervisor.

Subsequent classifications are all based on what you have and haven't been assigned to. After 4-A comes 5-C. To gain 5-C, you must have worked 3 Nationals, one of which is a "Major" National - 21U, Senior, Baseball Canada Cup / Canada Games.

5-B classification is probably the highest most umpires will go and it is a doozie - you need to have worked at least 3 "Major" Nationals. When working these Nationals, 5-B umpires are chasing after their "International Checkmark" - in lamens terms, they are seeking to perform at a level where the head supervisor at that National finds them worthy of consideration for an international assignment.

5-A classification is the most exclusive there is and belongs to umpires who have worked at least one IBAFF sanctioned international assignment (Olympics, World Baseball Classic, World Cup, etc)

Now, if TTS decided that he wanted to bring his pro and D-I experience up here, he could contact the supervisory committee and get an exemption and start right at Level 3. Other umpires who demonstrate extreme proficiency on the field can skip Levels of certification - a friend of mine did one year of Level 1 and two of Level 2 before being allowed into the 3 program - skipping years requires a letter of recommendation from a local supervisory umpire and consideration by the provincial committee.

Card levels are only a guideline for assignors (which I'll get into next) - a starting L1 isn't going to get tossed on a 13U plate for their first game. Technically it is possible to work above and below your certification. For instance, if you have one L3 (or higher) available for a 21U game on a Sunday night long-weekend game, you're not going to use one umpire; you'll put a trustworthy L2 on the bases. I worked my first 21U game when I was 15 as a Level 2 because of that exact situation. Nor does the higher certified umpire carry any extra clout on the field. I've done some assigning before and had a L2 paired with a L3 and told the L2 I want them on the plate instead of the L3. But as far as a rating system goes, the only thing an assignor has to go by, aside from card level, is their opinion of you.

Now, in terms of local associations, 98% of the time, umpires are not independent contractors who form their own organization like you guys. Each town has its own organization which runs a house league program and sponsors travel ball teams. Each organization will also appoint a prominent local umpire, though sometimes the choice is slightly more political than that, to be the Umpire-in-Chief. Though, Director of Umpiring would be a more appropriate title IMO as they are responsible for everything relating to umpiring. In associations that have massive amounts of baseball to look after, the UIC may appoint assistants to assist with scheduling and handle administrative duties at the lower levels of play. Usually good standing is all that's required to get games from an assignor - for instance, if I have an unusually light schedule, I can e-mail UIC X of Town Y and say "Hi X, I'm ump_24 from just down the road, I'm a Level (whatever) with experience working M, N, and O and looking for some work" and typically get plugged right into games of an appropriate caliber for that Level. The major issue with this system is that umpires are technically employees of the baseball association. If you want games, you're going to keep the baseball association happy. As such, every year it seems there are issues with 10, 11, 12U coaches trying to bully their 14, 15, 16 year old umpires at home games in hopes of buying a call or two. Unless your UIC has good pull with the league's BoG, if a coach reports you, don't expect to get any more games.

This happened to me last year actually - working an 18U Elite game, my partner and I both called a balk on a pitcher - total no doubter, F1 threw to F3 with R1, problem was F3 was 25 feet behind 1B. The coach argued relentlessly that this was not a balk, got dumped, believed the ejection to be unfounded, then came to me and demanded I overturn the ejection. When I told the coach no, get off the field, he yelled he'd be reporting us and blah blah blah. To make a long story short, I had them again the next week, the coach refused to shake my hand at the plate meeting and then called the assignor and said if he ever saw one of the two of us at his games again, he'd fire the assignor. Slightly different scenario because this team was independently hiring their own umpires but you get the point.

Now, we do have associations on par with your associations, but they're rare. Hamilton has one, which I belong to; Windsor, London, and Niagara are some others that come to mind, but for the most part, umpires are employees of the league.

Most divisions of Senior baseball though, and I mean competitive Senior and not beer league, use their own exclusive staff of umpires, governed by a supervisor(s) who is accountable to the board of the league (as opposed to an individual association) for which you most often only get in if you are "scouted" by the supervisory committee.

[grayhawk]

I should check with the assignor to see if they make exceptions based on experience. I made the statement because there were guys in my first year class that said that they had been umpiring for 10 years, or had been in a different HS association. I would guess if there is a real gem, they would evaluate him and give him an appropriate rating based on his skills.

How associations handle advancement may partially be due to the number of members. There are 250 umpires in the Orange County HS unit, and getting 15-20 games/season is pretty common. Not sure how that compares to other associations in terms of number of officials. Also, everything is 1 man here until varsity, whereas other areas of the country sound like 2 man in JV and even below in some cases. Budgets are very tight here, so schools just can't afford 2 man crews until varsity.

[MidAmUmp]

We use 2 words... COMMON SENSE

If you can work, we'll figure it out and assign you where you need to be. If you lie, we'll figure that out quickly and you're screwed.

We have training for our new recruits - 3 rules meetings, 2 mechanics sessions, cage work & pre-season scrimmages.

We obviously have some hoops to jump through to work at the college level - join CBUA, attend clinics and scrimmage games to get your foot in the door.

With the Arbiter and technology, we don't see a real need to have a bunch of meetings where all you do is sit around and have a bunch of "veterans" conduct a biggest peter contest and tell everyone how good they used to be. I just send out some e-mails with updates and am starting to put together some videos which should make all meetings unnecessary. This will allow our members to spend more time at home during the off-season.

[hckyosgood30]

Gray,

My HS unit is much like OC. I believe we're the 2nd largest to you. We have a rating system, and base your rating on years of experience, test score, and evals. The scale runs 500-100. Your considered at 500 until the board see's otherwise. We do have a mentors program for guys during the summer/fall to get looks and instruction. However if you have past experience and a reference from another unit and you transfer in you get a first look. I was given a rating of 500 when I first walked in the door. But I let the board know of my experience and I was looked at during a scrimmage and clinic and was moved up and received varsity game and even got playoffs my first year. Most units, even if they're archaic in their ratings system will use some common sense if a guy can work. If they won't then I'd simply go somewhere else. If you believe you can do more then fog a mirror for an association then ask to be evaled. Your work should be able to speak for itself.

[Richvee]

We have no set rules for getting games and moving up. We have a cadet school to get started that runs once a week from Jan-March including a cadet clinic. You are not eligible for Varsity that first year because you take the state test in April which is too late for that season. However for the following season you take the refresher test and can then be assigned Varsity games. I went through cadet class in '09 and received a handful of sub-varsity games. Last season I had a full slate of sub-varsity games. No Varsity at all. This year I have another full slate. Most JV, one or 2 Frosh and 2 Varsity. I'm content with the progression. You have to take into account a "full Slate" for me here in the north is 2 or 3 games a week (due to my availability) for an 7 week season. but I'd like to see some kind a standards and ranking set up.

[LMSANS]

Here's the progression in my association:

Cadet - 10 classes, miss more than 2 you're out. Mechanics clinic (this is state wide) is mandatory for cadets. Your cadet year is sub-varsity only and doesn't count towards moving up. You can be with an experienced official or another cadet, mostly 2 man. Closed book test at the end of the class.

2nd year & up - Sub-varsity only, mostly 2-man games, can be one-man. You must have 40 SV games (any combination of baseball & softball) and 2 years as a member (cadet year does not count) to do varsity.

Schools submit a list of up 25 preferred umpires for each varsity sport. Assigments are done off the list first, then availability.

There are no evaluations, but you must pass the open book test. They have only used the FED test once in the last 8 years.

My first year of varsity eligibility, I was assigned 8 varsity softball games. The funnything is, I had only worked 4 subvarsity softball (and 50+ baseball) games in the 3 years prior.

We have over 250 members. Some are softball only, some are baseball only and some do both. You do both because it only adds a few dollars to your registration fee and doubles the number of potential games. We have a 40 schools that have both softball & baseball teams at the V & JV level. A dwindling number also have freshmen teams.

The association only does high school games.

[spiritump]

Here's the progression in my association:

Cadet - 10 classes, miss more than 2 you're out. Mechanics clinic (this is state wide) is mandatory for cadets. Your cadet year is sub-varsity only and doesn't count towards moving up. You can be with an experienced official or another cadet, mostly 2 man. Closed book test at the end of the class.

2nd year & up - Sub-varsity only, mostly 2-man games, can be one-man. You must have 40 SV games (any combination of baseball & softball) and 2 years as a member (cadet year does not count) to do varsity.

Schools submit a list of up 25 preferred umpires for each varsity sport. Assigments are done off the list first, then availability.

There are no evaluations, but you must pass the open book test. They have only used the FED test once in the last 8 years.

My first year of varsity eligibility, I was assigned 8 varsity softball games. The funnything is, I had only worked 4 subvarsity softball (and 50+ baseball) games in the 3 years prior.

We have over 250 members. Some are softball only, some are baseball only and some do both. You do both because it only adds a few dollars to your registration fee and doubles the number of potential games. We have a 40 schools that have both softball & baseball teams at the V & JV level. A dwindling number also have freshmen teams.

The association only does high school games.

what do schools know what or who is a good umpire

[LMSANS]

Here's the progression in my association:

Cadet - 10 classes, miss more than 2 you're out. Mechanics clinic (this is state wide) is mandatory for cadets. Your cadet year is sub-varsity only and doesn't count towards moving up. You can be with an experienced official or another cadet, mostly 2 man. Closed book test at the end of the class.

2nd year & up - Sub-varsity only, mostly 2-man games, can be one-man. You must have 40 SV games (any combination of baseball & softball) and 2 years as a member (cadet year does not count) to do varsity.

Schools submit a list of up 25 preferred umpires for each varsity sport. Assigments are done off the list first, then availability.

There are no evaluations, but you must pass the open book test. They have only used the FED test once in the last 8 years.

My first year of varsity eligibility, I was assigned 8 varsity softball games. The funnything is, I had only worked 4 subvarsity softball (and 50+ baseball) games in the 3 years prior.

We have over 250 members. Some are softball only, some are baseball only and some do both. You do both because it only adds a few dollars to your registration fee and doubles the number of potential games. We have a 40 schools that have both softball & baseball teams at the V & JV level. A dwindling number also have freshmen teams.

The association only does high school games.

what do schools know what or who is a good umpire

the theory is you worked a game & they liked what they saw.

In fact, the coach knows you, you're on the list.

I am on a few lists, not because I know the coaches, but because they saw my name & recognized it or saw me earlier as a fill in or just filled in the list.

[dumbdumb]

So if I was to move to where you are at I would have to wait 2 years before I got just into Varsity ball having pro, DI and down experience? I think I'll stay put.

Isn't that crazy that guys can sit there and tell you that with a straight face? You'd probably be one of the TOP guys in the group, yet they're too obtuse to think that it could even be possible that number of years umpiring doesn't necessarily equal how great you are.

Can you TOP this ?

My association told a AAA umpire he would have to cadet for a year, and work 40 sub-varsity games over the next 2 years, before he could work varsity ball. He said no. Went to the college group & another hs group. He now coaches in our area and has very few things to say about the org.

And I suppose the group gets off on this? Telling a respectable transfer D1,D2 or State Tournament HS umpire or forbid a former MiLB umpire that they have to start at the bottom and stay down on the farm so to speak and laugh about it. Many in these groups worked LL (I'm not busting on LL either)years ago and paid their dues this way before getting into D1 or pro and many HS umpires never worked LL at all. This speaks volumns in a negative way about this group above. Guess they need the money and outsiders dig into their cut. Very Very sad state of affairs.