Headed to O.U.T.S. March 21-30.

[NCAAump2]

If I didn't have a 1 year old at home, I'd be up there in a heartbeat. But alas, I can't see myself away from that little booger for that long.

[yawetag]

If I didn't have a 1 year old at home, I'd be up there in a heartbeat. But alas, I can't see myself away from that little booger for that long.

Give it another year or so. :)

[NCAAump2]

Haha that's probably true...but I still think I can make more than $1,500/month umpiring down here than I can up there. Granted, it would definitely be an experience I would never forget.

[hckyosgood30]

1,500 a month seems low for a sunshine state umpire if your good.

[yawetag]

1,500 a month seems low for a sunshine state umpire if your good.

We're the Show-Me state. :)

[BT_Blue]

1,500 a month seems low for a sunshine state umpire if your good.

We're the Show-Me state.

Show me what? Not sure I want to know! :fuel:

[NCAAump2]

Arrived in Cocoa Beach, FL late last night. 7 of us actually arrived a day earlier than we needed to (found cheaper flights). Bob greeted us at the hotel, and already I could tell that I made the right choice on attending this camp. He doesn't sugar coat anything, tells it like it is, with many jokes and great stories thrown in there as well. The rest of the umpires come into town at some point today, and we've got a meet and greet at the Sandbar Sports Grill (the unofficial "headquarters" of O.U.T.S.) later on tonight. Good group of guys so far (2 out of the 7 here worked the Northwoods League last year.) The instructors are all VERY approachable, which I find really nice. Time to start picking their brains!

[Bob Bainter]

I am in the exact same boat as ukce.

Please post as much as you can about the camp. I too have been eyeing this camp.

Almost all of the Northwoods League ball is played in my backdoor. Honestly, I'm annoyed that I would have to fly to Florida for 9 days to work baseball my backyard this coming summer. It seems redundant that a person with relevant experience and training would have to attend yet another school for a couple of months on the road. I've been called to fill in for Northwoods umpires before as well as other guys in our group.

That being said, good for you for being able to go down there for it. No doubt, you will have a great experience.

To be honest, it sounds like a two week paid vacation in Florida for the NW league supervisors.

That is my opinion, I'm not disparaging those of you who are going...go for it, if you don't know anything about the NW league, it is very good baseball. The only rule I have is that if you get in and we've been talking on here, make you we meet up at a NW game or two.

Frankly, I'm a little offended that anybody would think that is just a paid vacation for the instructors. Considering I'm the owner of the program, I can tell you that I don't feel like I had a vacation at all.

The reason that people who have "relevant" experience are encouraged to attend is because as the new supervisor of umpires for the Northwoods League, I have to make sure I know who I'm hiring. OUTS is NOT a tryout camp. I think a lot of those who attended probably thought it was. It's an extra added benefit that I also hire umpires for the NWL. As I explained to the umpires who attended: if I don't find what I'm looking for while I'm here, then I'll have to find umpires the old fashioned way.

The truth is, and from meeting several umpires over the years, that many believe they have the relevant experience to work in different circumstances, but they don't have the personality, the demeanor, or the professionalism necessary to succeed at the level I expect from my umpires. There were some umpires in attendance that could call ball, strike, safe, and out correctly more often than not, but didn't understand the game inside the game.

We don't teach just umpiring at OUTS. We teach life and umpiring. Baseball mimics life in so many ways. I strived to not only be a professional umpire through my 10 year MiLB career, but I wanted to be a professional person more than anything. I saw a lot of good people while we were there, and a couple of people, had I hired by resume alone, I would have regretted hiring.

Not blasting anybody or your post...just wanted to get my two cents worth in. We had a great time, and next year will be our fifth. I can't wait until spring 2013!

[NCAAump2]

I can echo everything that Bob just said. He repeated over and over that it wasn't a tryout camp for the NWL, but that if he found 16 umpires capable of working NWL baseball AND the kind of person he was looking for, he would hire them. For me, OUTS was about WAY more than just umpiring. Yes, I learned a hell of a lot from some of the best people AND umpires I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. But I also learned how to treat people, interact with others, and balance my personal life with my umpiring ambitions.

Bob, I just want to thank you, Mark, Marty, Greg, and James again from everything OUTS gave me. I worked the plate on a HS varsity game on Saturday, the day after I got back, and it was literally night and day. I felt so much more comfortable back there, my mechanics and timing were much more crisp, and it was just a great experience. I can only hope to give back some of the information I learned at OUTS to the umpires here in STL.