Varsity - your association's policy?

[SoCal Lurker]

No fricken way you can see the zone better from behind the mound. No fricken way!!!

 

Of coures not.  As every coach knows, the best view of the stike zone is from his dugout . . . 

[cyclonehokiece]

No fricken way you can see the zone better from behind the mound. No fricken way!!!

 

Of coures not.  As every coach knows, the best view of the stike zone is from his dugout . . . 

And every fan in the stands seems to have a better view than me behind the plate

[Replacematt]

For the OP...my association requires evaluations before joining. Every umpire that is accepted must be rated as being able to do varsity ball.

[D62 blue]

Gentlemen , the OP was about association policies and administration for you're particular part of the umpire world which i found interesting myself . This thread seems to have gotten of topic , can we get back to the OP ? 

 

play ball !!

 

marc

[nickseevers]

In the Sacramento area we have 12 classes Mid-January until Mid-March. You have to attend 10 of those classes, take the NFHS test and pass with 80%, attend one mechanics clinic, and attend at least one scrimmage where you get evaluated. In my first season I got one JV game per assignment sent out (I had 4 JV games last season, so 4 different assignments were sent out during the season). This season (my 2nd) we've had two assignments and I've had two assignments (1 per, both JV). Based on our instructors Varsity get assigned in the 3rd year. Another Association (run by umpires in the HS Assoc) control Babe Ruth/LL/Adult, in which your ranking is used from HS to allow you to self-assign on Arbiter. Last year I was able to work 80+ games and have 10 games so far this season. 

 

JV is one man pays $83, Varsity is two man pays $75 per umpire. The other association varies in pay from $50-$75 ranging from one to two man. The HS association has 250+ members, most over 5 years of experience (175 of the members are in level 5 classes, my level 2 is 15 people). Our rankings are not made public, though they are done by our instructors and you get your evaluation written out, you do not get your actual number ranking. 

[Welpe]

Here you need at least 2 years of high school experience. On your third year, you can pay for an evaluation to see if you're ready to move up to varsity. As I understand it, once you pass that you're eligible to be scheduled.

 

It'd be nice if you could request to be evaluated first, especially with how bad some of the sub varsity baseball is compared to other private leagues that umpires might have experience in calling but that's how it goes.

[JaxRolo]

WOW Pay for an evaluation?

[johnnyg08]

Who should pay the evaluator??

[Welpe]

The umpire being evaluated.

[Jocko]

:WTF

And I thought Alabama was :crazy:

[MT_Blue]

Our HS association words it as they would like to avoid putting newer officials called apprentices (the levels are Apprentice, Certified, and Master) into Varsity games, it can still happen depending on need (some regions are bigger than others with smaller official pools) but when it comes to tourney time, only masters can do them. the time between the ranks is dictated by years of service and games worked, you have to work for two years and work iirc 4 games (JV or V) to be eligible to test up. If you're like me something goes wrong for four years and you become the 4 year apprentice . For ASA/JO ball the level of play is decided by the assignor/UIC.

[maineump]

Our board in Maine pretty much does it by ratings and by experience.

First year - Rookie school - never meet with the veteran's until group mechanics session - do a total JR high schedule - not rated

second year - vote by e-board to become full member - mostly jr high schedule

third year (depends on evals) - start with a few JV games and veteran's work with them to work on mechanics & rules

fourth year - Mostly JV work

fifth year - start in varsity

 

These are not 'firm', but a basic schedule that it seems to work out to. Some of the young guys move up quicker, as the need arrises. The e-board asks senior members to work with the younger guys on the field to offer help, we have pretty good reception from them to help out. Before moving into a level 'by themselves' they are evaluated by a senior (respected) member. We need to see improvement game to game and year to year to have them move-up.

 

All of our members are required to attend a number of meetings (rules), take the NFHS test (closed book) and a field mechanic session annually.

 

Members can also 'move up' by working summer ball to improve their skills and they can be evaluated then as well.

 

Seems to work well, the only real complainers are the second/third year guys that KNOW they can do better work than the varsity guys (we all have them)

 

Our membership is <60 members, so there are days that all of us may get a non-varsity game.

 

Anyone coming in from the 'outside' starts at an appropriate level according to documented training and/or reccomendations from the previous board. They can start at varsity - they would work with an e-board member for the 'check-out'.

[Welpe]

And I thought Alabama was

Brother I could write volumes about what officiating is like in Houston and even Texas...

[BalkHawk]

you can pay for an evaluation to see if you're ready to move up to varsity.

get outta here.

[KLAH316]

The way it works here, the AIA assigns Varsity.  Smaller, independent associations take care of Middle Schools through JV.  I work games for 4 different assignors and each one has contracts for different school districts.....