FINALLY ... got first HS game under my belt

[Thunderheads]

As my first year in HS ball, ...my first 2 games were rained out (DH), so yesterday afternoon was game 1.

I'm very glad to get this monkey off my back and get it over with, but it went fantastic. I had the dish, ...my zone felt good, I hit my spots and hustled, and got a "very nice job today blue" from the VC .... very happy with HS game 1 :D

[Fittske24]

Congratulations! Are you guys just now starting HS season up there?

[Thunderheads]

Congratulations! Are you guys just now starting HS season up there?

No...it starts late March. I was a little late in registering, and being my first year, they let you wade in the kiddie pool first ....I had games scheduled the last Sat of April but it that DH got rained out. Yesterday, tomorrrow, and next Monday are what they assigned me , ..all JV. This is fine with me, being first year and getting a taste of things. I'm sure next year will be more with Varsity games thrown in ....

Thanks Fittske!

[Mike Prince]

Congrats. JV or Varsity?

[Thunderheads]

Congrats. JV or Varsity?

Thanks Mike...

All my games this first seaon for me are JV

[Fittske24]

Cool.... Just do your best, work hard and look sharp. You'll be rocking a full varsity schedule before you know it!

[Thunderheads]

Cool.... Just do your best, work hard and look sharp. You'll be rocking a full varsity schedule before you know it!

Thank you sir!!

[cyclonehokiece]

Some associations are faster at getting you varsity than others (know this from experience from floating through a couple of states and multiple associations) but if you work hard, you will be rewarded, more than likely faster than the "normal" umpire.

[Mike Prince]

One way to get better assignments is to be available (on call) for them. If your assignor calls you to cover a game at the last minute and you can, do it. That can get you on his short list as quickly as anything else.

[Richvee]

Congratulations! Are you guys just now starting HS season up there?

No...it starts late March. I was a little late in registering, and being my first year, they let you wade in the kiddie pool first ....I had games scheduled the last Sat of April but it that DH got rained out. Yesterday, tomorrrow, and next Monday are what they assigned me , ..all JV. This is fine with me, being first year and getting a taste of things. I'm sure next year will be more with Varsity games thrown in ....

Thanks Fittske!

I hope you do get some Varsity. This is my 3rd year doing high school. I was assigned my 1st 3 varsity games this year. All 3 late in the season, so I basically had 3 years "cutting my teeth" with JV and Frosh ball. I'm real glad it went this way. Thinking back to what I must have looked like and how I felt on the diamond 3 years ago compared to now is night and day. My 1st varsity game was last week, I knew my partner well but never worked with him. He's the assigner for all the travel and LL tourney in my area. The game went well. I had the bases. In our post game I of course asked for a critique. He said I did great, looked comfortable and confident like I've been there. He said no one would ever guess that was your 1st Varsity game. Two things he told me.

1. Bases empty triple. Start moving towards home as soon as you're sure BR isn't coming back to second.

2. Keep my "safe" call high. I was too low with my hands.

Bottom line, no substitute for experience. Good luck with next year's high school schedule! I hope I get more varsity too. The level of play is so much better!

[Thunderheads]

Congratulations! Are you guys just now starting HS season up there?

No...it starts late March. I was a little late in registering, and being my first year, they let you wade in the kiddie pool first ....I had games scheduled the last Sat of April but it that DH got rained out. Yesterday, tomorrrow, and next Monday are what they assigned me , ..all JV. This is fine with me, being first year and getting a taste of things. I'm sure next year will be more with Varsity games thrown in ....

Thanks Fittske!

I hope you do get some Varsity. This is my 3rd year doing high school. I was assigned my 1st 3 varsity games this year. All 3 late in the season, so I basically had 3 years "cutting my teeth" with JV and Frosh ball. I'm real glad it went this way. Thinking back to what I must have looked like and how I felt on the diamond 3 years ago compared to now is night and day. My 1st varsity game was last week, I knew my partner well but never worked with him. He's the assigner for all the travel and LL tourney in my area. The game went well. I had the bases. In our post game I of course asked for a critique. He said I did great, looked comfortable and confident like I've been there. He said no one would ever guess that was your 1st Varsity game. Two things he told me.

1. Bases empty triple. Start moving towards home as soon as you're sure BR isn't coming back to second.

2. Keep my "safe" call high. I was too low with my hands.

Bottom line, no substitute for experience. Good luck with next year's high school schedule! I hope I get more varsity too. The level of play is so much better!

Thank you sir!

Yes, that's what I realized. It's just a nicer overall experience, period. Yesterday (JV DH) was games 2 and 3, and they went well also! It's a more quiet atmosphere. Sure, there's a little chatter, but overall I experienced a more quiet field. And guess what?? Yesterday was game number 1 with a WORKING scoreboard!!! :yippie:

[Mike Prince]

Don't get too excited about the scoreboard. While it may be working, the operator may not be. Expect it to be wrong as often as it is correct.

[Thunderheads]

Don't get too excited about the scoreboard. While it may be working, the operator may not be. Expect it to be wrong as often as it is correct.

It was wrong a good portion of the time, but the fact remains....I did a game with a functioning scoreboard ....not scoreboard keeper! :D

[Richvee]

Congratulations! Are you guys just now starting HS season up there?

No...it starts late March. I was a little late in registering, and being my first year, they let you wade in the kiddie pool first ....I had games scheduled the last Sat of April but it that DH got rained out. Yesterday, tomorrrow, and next Monday are what they assigned me , ..all JV. This is fine with me, being first year and getting a taste of things. I'm sure next year will be more with Varsity games thrown in ....

Thanks Fittske!

I hope you do get some Varsity. This is my 3rd year doing high school. I was assigned my 1st 3 varsity games this year. All 3 late in the season, so I basically had 3 years "cutting my teeth" with JV and Frosh ball. I'm real glad it went this way. Thinking back to what I must have looked like and how I felt on the diamond 3 years ago compared to now is night and day. My 1st varsity game was last week, I knew my partner well but never worked with him. He's the assigner for all the travel and LL tourney in my area. The game went well. I had the bases. In our post game I of course asked for a critique. He said I did great, looked comfortable and confident like I've been there. He said no one would ever guess that was your 1st Varsity game. Two things he told me.

1. Bases empty triple. Start moving towards home as soon as you're sure BR isn't coming back to second.

2. Keep my "safe" call high. I was too low with my hands.

Bottom line, no substitute for experience. Good luck with next year's high school schedule! I hope I get more varsity too. The level of play is so much better!

And guess what?? Yesterday was game number 1 with a WORKING scoreboard!!!

Yes! An added plus at the varsity level!

Just got another varsity game added for tomorrow. My local assigner must have put in a good word for me with the high school assigner. It's a Tech school league playoff game. Not the highest level of varsity ball, but it's still varsity and it's still a playoff game. I gotta be happy with that

There's no doubt I owe a great deal of thanks to this site. I seem to learn something here almost on a daily basis. I know I'm a better umpire because of it. :beerbang

[Umpire in Chief]

I think as you move up the ladder umpiring becomes easier to an extent. They make the expected plays more often and execute their plays better. On the flip side the game is much quicker. The players are faster, have better arms and things you use to think were bangers are not, now you get real bangers.