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moblue

By moblue
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moblue

moblue

Posted
Posted

I just enrolled to go to the Jim Evans Umpire Academy in January. I've been wanting to go for several years, and things have managed to work out perfect for me. I'll be graduating college in December, then heading to the academy about two and a half weeks later. ;)

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sdix00

sdix00

Posted
Posted

I just enrolled to go to the Jim Evans Umpire Academy in January. I've been wanting to go for several years, and things have managed to work out perfect for me. I'll be graduating college in December, then heading to the academy about two and a half weeks later. ;)

Moblue - Please start a JEAPU thread and blog your activities and lessons two or three times per week. Really interested in reading about your experiences in real time!

Read 'As they see em' and 'Narrowest Door' before you go if you haven't already.

;)

Chris Hickman

Chris Hickman

Posted
Posted

If you are looking to go to PBUC, DO NOT blog or write on message boards!! Instructors @ both schools read these boards. Keep a low profile, keep your ears open, and ur mouth closed. If you have a burning question that you need answered, WAIT!! Out of the 100 + guys there atleast 1 of ur classmates that will have the same ??. Let them ask it. If you want the inz and outz of Jimmy's school PM me. It would have been nice in 1999 if I had advise about school. Good luck....

moblue

moblue

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I picked the Evan's School because of all the good things I heard on this site. Also, their website was more informative about their school.

I'm curious though as to why posting on the internet is such a big deal. I mean, unless we're giving away all the information we're taught, I don't see what the problem is. Now, after we've been selected for the PBUC camp and/or signed to work MiLB, I can understand. But as long as we aren't posting negative comments during the school, why would it matter?

rodatc

rodatc

Posted
Posted

Good luck and do exactly with Hickman said. Use the advise from those who have been through this. Especially if you want a job. Its a 5 week job interview. Feel free to PM me was well. Thanks

RR

mazzamouth

mazzamouth

Posted
Posted

Im going to Harry's.. I dont plan on writing anything on here.. I will read, but not post.

I will say if you have no desire to go to PBUC, then who cares if you post. But if anyone is trying to get a "job" then stay away.

UmpTTS43

UmpTTS43

Posted
Posted

While at Jimmy's, you will be surprised at how little "free" time you actually have. Class starts at 8, meaning you are there no later than 7:45. Leave the complex at 5 on average. Back to the hotel to meet with your cage group to work on homework, count on 2 hours. Continued studying. You will have about 14 rules tests in the five weeks. Total of about 730 questions. I believe Harry's has 20 tests with about 250 questions. Jimmy's tests are some of the hardest you will ever come across. The only day of is of course Sunday. Rest, laundry and relaxation time. Don't worry about these forums. Work on your studys and building relationships with the guys you meet. They will last a lifetime. If you have any questions, just ask.

  • 2 weeks later...
kcfan102

kcfan102

Posted
Posted

I plan to keep a blog during my stay at JEA, but I won't publish it until I am done.

Maybe there can be a special part to the Articles section where I can post it?

38 days left!

dumbdumb

dumbdumb

Posted
Posted (edited)

Just some history I found on a competing forum (sorry Warren) for those who want a "job" in pro umpiring. If you do not want a job like the lady (Fiona) who wrote the article in this forum, go ahead and blog all you want.

Personally, from reading (and think Rob Drake here), and like some others have said, if I wanted a job (IMHO only) this year or even if I thought about going back if I missed, I would not blog about the experience, and I would not even want to get caught by a roommate keeping a log or even looking like I was blogging. The time spent blogging should be spent trying to get a job by going over your classroom material, situations you've been taught so you don't make the same mistakes twice, reading your rulebook and the red book and getting to know your classmates and talking baseball.

The forum and blogging have their place, but this is not it IMHO. If you go for a job and miss, and decide pro ball is not for you, then go a second time to the school, just to blog the whole time if blogging about the whole experience is still in your blood. You can use the school as a blogging experience as you soak up the florida sun.

For those of you going to the school, read this carefully and follow (IMHO) all the advice which includes the one I found interesting, which in my own words, says not to try and play stump the pro with rules questions (Ask the apprentice instructors questions while waiting in line, that's what they are there for. Do not, however corner them and try to trick them with strange situations---they will talk about it with senior staff and it will come back to haunt you).

This was by Tom Clarke who instructed at the JEUA at one time. I do not know if he is still there, but I would still listen and follow his advice.

Default Re: Getting ready for school...

Copied and pasted from a post last year.

The thoughts are rambling, but there are some useful tidbits in there. Hope it helps somebody.

If you have a suit, or sport coat and dress pants, get it out and ready for the trip, as it is the proper dress for the banquet. Wear it on the plane on your way down. It will save it from getting wrinkled in your luggage and may make a good first impression on the instructors when they pick you up at the airport. YES, those are instructors that pick you up from the airport. They won't identify themselves as instructors, cuz your evaluation as a person has already begun. There have been guys that have shot themselves in the foot before they even got to the hotel to check in. I speak from experience.

Expect a phone call at the airport to try and locate you. Have your phone on and handy. It is chaos on arrival day for the apprentice instructors as they scramble to get everyone picked up, so be patient! There are a ton of guys arriving and only 2 or 3 shuttles running to try and get everyone.

Be polite at the hotel. Again, those guys helping with the check in process are instructors. Don’t make a bad name for yourself. Be patient with this process, too. DON'T complain about your roommate. You share a room with your partner in A ball, and you don't get to pick him. Roommate quarrels will be a part of your evaluation if you have problems.

After you get settled, make friends with someone that has a car and go to Wal-Mart (this is also necessary to get yourself to class each day.) To get to the Wal-Mart, go out of the hotel to the right and keep going. It’s 4 or 5 miles down on the left. Get shoe cleaning stuff and some cheap towels or rags. If you use the hotel towels to clean your shoes they will charge you. Jimmy usually gives out some red rags for shoe cleaning, but they shed and leave red fuzz on your shoes and on the floor in your room. Get some of your own. Get a few gallons of drinking water, cuz the Florida water is not good.

Take note of stuff around you on your trip. Just past the Wal-Mart there is a laundry place on the left (near the Sonic) that will do your laundry for you or you can do it yourself. You’ll pass a Hess station that is good in the morning or after class for random stuff you may need. Also, if you don't have Firehouse Subs where you live, make a point to visit it while you're down there. They’re grrrrrrrreat. It’s located down near the Wal-Mart. (If you're feeling adventurous when it’s laundry time, there is another laundry place if you go out of the hotel to the left a few miles. It's behind the Walgreens. That place is my favorite cuz they have a huge talking parrot that lives inside.)

As for on the field stuff...do your best not to get down on yourself. Take everything the training has to offer in stride and use all of it to better yourself as an umpire. The instructors do not discriminate between those that are competing for a job and those that are just there to get better. The training is the same for everyone. They will get on you, and they will try to expose your weaknesses on the field and use them against you. It is very easy to get discouraged, but, it is much better to have your weaknesses exposed during the training than to have it happen out in the real world.

Everything that happens is done to make you a better umpire. Do not be afraid to make mistakes in the first few weeks. It is 100% true when Jim says that the discussion about who's going to PBUC doesn't start til the 4th week. It’s ok to screw things up. It’s expected and encouraged, as long as you learn from it. You will hear many times that guys are making day 2 mistakes on day 5 or something along those lines. Make day 2 mistakes on day 2, learn from them, then don't make them again.

Ask questions if you need to, but don't jump ahead of the training. Jim covers EVERYTHING and he has an order in which he does it. Most likely your question will be answered before you need to ask it, but it may get answered a couple of days down the road. Write your questions down and then ask them later if he doesn't answer it when you get to that section of the training.

Work on "proper use of eyes" starting right now. Take a balled up pair of socks, lie on your back, throw it up in the air and catch it. Track it the whole way up and down only moving your eyes. If you go out for a ride in the car with someone else driving, track stuff with your eyes and keep your head still. Track passing cars, passing signs, anything. Try to train your eyes to move independently from your head. Continue the sock training at night in the hotel. He won't start you on tracking until late in week 2 or early week 3, but you'll be way ahead of the game if you start exercising your eyes now.

Keep you uniform neat. Press your pants in your room once a week or more. Clean your shoes. Shave. If you don't have a pair of real umpire pants, buy a pair now. Have them shipped to the school in you need to. You only really need one if you go on Sunday and wash them. You just shelled out 3 grand, another 50 bucks isn't going to break the bank, and you should look the part. While we're on that subject, get a real belt, too, if you don't alreay have one. Wear black socks, black shoes, and wear a navy blue undershirt if you are an undershirt type of person.

Help your group out as much as you can. After a while it will start to become obvious to you who the likely front runners for jobs are. If you have a likely candidate in your cage group, do whatever you can to help him without badgering him in the process.

Learn from everything. Watching the drills can be even more beneficial than doing them. Use the time waiting in line for your turn to see what other guys do right and wrong. By the time your turn comes, you will have seen 50 reps of the same thing. Ask the apprentice instructors questions while you are waiting in line, that's what they are there for. Do not, however, corner them and try to trick them with strange situations. They WILL talk about it with senior staff and it will come back to haunt you.

STRETCH! Stretch in the morning, at lunch, when you get home, and before going to bed. Sitting in the classroom will tighten your muscles up without you even realizing it. There is time built in for stretching before beginning the outdoor activities, but extra will benefit you as the weeks wear on.

Buy stuff from the store in the classroom! The apprentice instructors run that store and the profits from it make up about half of their pay. They really are “apprentices” and are only paid about 800 bucks for the month. They do all of the grunt work. Help them out by buying their stuff, and spread the word to other students!

Bring a cheap VCR if you have one, or split the cost of a cheapo from Wal-Mart with your roommate. There is a video review room (which you should make use of cuz it's staffed with instructors to answer questions and give advice) but it's only open a couple of hours each night. It’s great to be able to watch your video whenever you want, and you can have your whole cage group come over and watch them together.

Do not expect much, if any, positive reinforcement. "Not bad" means you're probably doing a good job. Jimmy’s philosophy is tough love. The instructors are not there to coddle you. Also, if they tell a guy "good job" a bunch of times and he ends up not going to PBUC, that may result in issues. You won't hear them say good job very often, though it does slip out every now and then.

Learn the instructors' names. They don't wear name tags. After a couple of days their pictures will be posted in the back of the classroom. You won't be quizzed on it, but you should study it a couple of minutes each day. Don’t call them sir, or Mr. _____, or any nickname you may hear them calling each other. Use their first name.

Do not ask questions during breaks. Breaks are breaks and the instructors need them! The apprentices have to set up their snack bar and the older guys have to use the bathroom, get a drink, or plan the next activity. They are only 10 or 15 minutes long and they need every minute of it.

For those of you that have heard the instruction compared to basic training...there are some similarities, but there really isn't any comparison. The mechanics and positioning are really the only things that are totally broken down to be cookie cutter. It’s the easiest way to evaluate guys…make everyone look the same and then evaluate performance instead of style. It works at school and it's what PBUC wants the first couple of years. There will be time near the end of the 5 weeks where you will work a little bit on style.

If you go out at night, do not get in trouble. Everybody in the area knows who you are. The school goes on every year and there is an influx of guys that have "the look." People in the area know who you are and where you're from and if crap happens it will get back to Jimmy.

If you go into a bar and see instructors, leave. If you go to a specific destination (Howl at the Moon, Cowboys, Church St., etc) and there are instructors, stay and have fun, but stay away from them. Don’t buy them drinks, don't go hang out with them. If you must pass them, a simple hello will suffice.

Don’t hang out in the hotel bar if you want a job. Do hang out in the hotel bar if you want to hear war stories from Jimmy and you are not looking for a job.

Sorry that this was all over the place, thoughts just kept popping into my head. Feel free to ask any specific questions you may have and I will answer them to the best of my ability. For those of you that are headed down there, you will have the time of your life! Have a blast.

__________________

The poster formerly known as squeaky...

Edited by dumbdumb
dumbdumb

dumbdumb

Posted
Posted (edited)

Just thought I would share a question to Tom and the response concerning going to JEA as a follow up to my first post, especially to those going now (yes, you can still opt out, but I do not know if you can get the down-payment back) and in future years. I have marked up what struck me as probably the most important line from Tom, the first line, IMHO from all the reading about the school and the profession on the net. Also, from the ordeal in 1999, I believe I read something (believe it was Bill Hohn, but do not quote me on that) that said, "there are not many jobs in the paper for unemployed umpires", concerning the "fall back on" situation. One must also be thinking of the fact, that there could be a career ending injury, just like a player, when it comes to needing that "fall back on" job.

Dan Bellino is one of the "call-up" umpires. He is an attorney in Illinois. He worked his first MLBU game in 08, 32 games in 09, and well over 100 games in 2010. Now, everyone does not have to be an attorney on the side, but the point is that he has that fall back profession if he does not get the call or if he were to have a career ending umpiring injury. That injury would not necessarily have to be life threatening or anything, just one that would knock you out as an umpire such as a knee injury or back injury, but it could also include much more serious injuries such as a class 4 concussion, or a series of concussions in the minors, and you are advised by the doctor not to continue to pursue your career, which has happened to several hockey players.

There are 23 umpires that will have over 25 years seniority in the next 8 years by 2018, and 4 that will have 22 years at that time. That is also the year that the other 22 umpires hired in 1999 will have 20 years under their belt. ""If""" those hired in 99 decide to work 25-30 years, it would seem (don't really know), that there would be fewer openings during that stretch of time, 2019-2028 than normal, whatever normal would be, although there are few openings in any given year anyway.

Now Doug Harvey was the last ump not to attend umpire school and I do not think there are any left from the old George Barr School or Bill McGowan school. Doesn't seem like there are any left from the first Specialized Umpire Training Course in 69 that Jim Evans and Joe Brinkman attended either. Here are the umpires on staff and the year they went to school up to about 1985. Left out Barrett since he did not go to school till 89.

Reilly-72

Cousings-73 ----------------- Darling-80

Davidson-74 ---------------- Tschida-81

West-74 -------------------- Scott--81

Davis-74?---------------------Hernandez-81

Hirschbeck-76 ------------- Vanover-81

McClelland-76 ------------- Winters-82

DeMuth-77 ----------------- Meals-83

Hohn-77 -------------------- Bell-84

Welke-77 -------------------- Rapuano-85

Layne-78 ---------------------Kellogg-85

Joyce-78----------------------Danley-85

Cedarstrom-79---------------O'Nora-85

Hallion-79 --------------------Culbreth-??

Of course there are some recent retirees Crawford (67), Marsh (68), Montague (72), Reed (73), Young (78), Meriwether (79). Rich Reiker in the front office retired after injury went in (83), and Greg Bonin on permanent disability went in (79).

OK, here is Tom's response to a question below.

Quote:

Thanks for posting tips on how to get the most out of professional umpire schooling. While I was thinking of going in winter semester of 2009, I might end up going once I have finished (school.) One part of me wants to not interrupt school, the other part really wants to get down there and learn things sooner as opposed to later.

So a few questions. How often is it that an umpire will go to school more than once? What is the cameraderie like? Do guys tend to be supportive, or are there bitter rivalries? I find it amazing that anybody would consider going to the hotel bar knowing that Jim Evans would be there. How could anyone think sitting in on him and the veteran instructors and listening to their war stories would be a good idea? Wouldn't that just bug them? There must be umpires who are the laughingstock of the class because of their unprofessionalism. How much down time can one expect to get?

first, if you have started post-high school education and you are going to umpire school looking for a job finish your education first. only 1% of guys that start in profrssional ball make it to the show, so you need something to fall back on.

there are always a few guys in each calss that have attended before. i was one of them. there are many reasons why they come back. i got hurt my first year and missed to much time to be considered for a spot to PBUC. other guys may be slower to pick things up but feel that they had come on strong at the end of the session and think they may be able to get a job if they attend again. others are simply dillusional. whatever the case may be, if you are a second year student, you are expected to be head and shoulders above the rest. day one of training for everyone else is day one of week 6 for the second year student.

the camaraderie is what you make it. i made life-long friends at umpire school, both as a student and as an instructor...and both professional umpires and guys that didn;t make it. my roommate my second year was 50+, was married, had a family, and was just there to better himself as an umpire. i have remained in contact with him. his family has come to visit me on the road, he sends care packages, and things like that. if you want to make friends, you can make ones that will last forever. everybody that attends the school shares the common bond of the love of umpiring.

as far as being supportive or seeking out rivialries is concerned, it is, again, what you make it. there is evidence of both every year. jimmy repeatedly uses the analogy of trying to climb up a ladder. the guys that climb at a slow, steady pace make it to the top quicker than the guys that take time to try and kick the people behind them down off of the ladder.

i, too, find it amazing the number of guys that sit in the bar at the hotel every year. while i'm sure it makes for great story time with jim, you aren;t there for story time, you're there to get a job. if, however, you aren't there to get a job, the yarns he spins during these sessions would likely be of interest. veteran instructors do not hang out in the hotel bar. in fact, it's often tough to find the instructors at night if you don't know exactly wjere to look. if you did happen to know where to look, you are probably doing the wrong thing.

there usually are a couple of "that guys" each year. don't be "that guy." sometimes they know who they are, and other times they are so oblivious to the fact that it's even more amusing.

the down time issue is another "what you make of it" type of thing. class starts promptly at 8am. if you arrive at 8, you are late. you have an hour at lunch, and then class gets out between 5 and 6. dinner is served at the hotel from 6-7:30. the video review room is open from 7-9 or 7-10. you don't have to use the review room if you don't want. there is no structure to the evenings. once you leave the complex, you are on your own until 8am the next day. you usually will have some homework to do, and there is always studying to keep you occupied, but there is time at night to do other things if that is what you want to do.

__________________

"To dee chowers!!"

Edited by dumbdumb
ump81

ump81

Posted
Posted

moblue, went to Evan's in 2011 was a JV umpire at best working for some varsity low level schools, within 2 years was HS varsity, withinn 5 years state champiionship HS and NCAA div 2-3, now NCAA div I, II and III with HS playoffs each season. It was the best resume boost any amateur umpire could get. Start running and get in the best shape you can ASAP, they take no more fatties in minor league ball. The camp games and heat in Florida were a problem for some who were not in shape. Dont get into party mode, my roommate missed a few morning sessions at the end due to hangovers, it was the difference why he was an alternate not a PBUC selectee. Remember you are being judged on attitude and demeanor also, we had a good umpire but was a prima donna, always harping about the food, service and general crappiness of the hotel. The younger A level instructors stayed in worse places during the season and no one wanted to recommend a guy who could not live out of a hotel for a month. They live in hotels for 6-9 months some seasons. Just keep a positive attitde, hustle and listen to Jim and his crew, even guys with no experience at all, were good umpires by the months end, at least mechanically and rules wise. Good luck. ump81

mazzamouth

mazzamouth

Posted
Posted

I have a umpire buddy who went to school, not ever umpiring before in his life..He finished right outside of going to PBUC ( i think he said he was 28, out of 25)

then he worked at the Texas League Collegiate wood bat league, and 2 yrs later he is a Conference umpire in the Missouri Valley which is DI...

So you can see what the school can do for you, or open doors.. Pretty soon the only way to get to DI is to have a Pro School diploma with you.

moblue

moblue

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm looking forward to going and am trying to get my gear together. I finally have an excuse to order some of the things I have been putting off.

dumbdumb

dumbdumb

Posted
Posted

I have a umpire buddy who went to school, not ever umpiring before in his life..He finished right outside of going to PBUC ( i think he said he was 28, out of 25)

then he worked at the Texas League Collegiate wood bat league, and 2 yrs later he is a Conference umpire in the Missouri Valley which is DI...

So you can see what the school can do for you, or open doors.. Pretty soon the only way to get to DI is to have a Pro School diploma with you.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I would imagine your buddy incorporated all that he learned at the pro school with their mechanics and OBR, and was able to quickly learn the rule differences and mechanics for the NCAA and worked very diligently to become the best he could be at that leval.

I would also imagine that he kept his nose to the grindstone and did not come back from the school all full of himself as one of "those guys" and try to tell all the local guys how they didn't know anything about umpiring at all, and put them down like he was the king of the local group now.

I am also just guessing the above scenario could become a problem for some of those coming back from school. They get the big head and try and push their local association or group around. It would probably be best if they just spoke when asked a question and why it was done "that" way at the school, but of course there are several differences in OBR, NCAA, NF, whatever, and one must be able to adapt to the rules and mechanics of each and not try and "force" what they learn at JEA on everyone.

One must still work within the local organization when returning and trying to work up the ladder, but it seems like keeping your nose to the grindstone and using all that you learned at the school without trying to come back and boss everyone around would be the best approach. Don't know if the above scenario has ever happened before, but maybe it has. If so, just a warning to those coming back from the school, with a lot of knowledge about good umpiring in general, not to "force" what you have learned on those who haven't gone. Just tell them about the differences and let them decide for themselves.

Once again, don't know if the above has ever happened, but it just kind of came to my mental midget mind, and I thought I would throw it out there. Others, may have more knowledge as to whether this has ever happened before, and whether someone was held back in their group because they came back from the school and acted like a total jerk.

Glad your buddy seems to have his head screwed on right and has enjoyed the fruits of going to the school and advance not only his umpire training, but his accelerated climb up the ladder.

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