Beginning career, what level should I start at?

[JSlater2006]

Attended Umpire School this past January after umpiring two summers of youth baseball and softball.  Played baseball my whole life and decided to give umpire school a try, without much knowledge of how the selection process worked.  After being told by umpire school I showed good instincts and knowledge of the game I just  need experience I came home and joined a local high school association.  I've attended a few meetings and the assignor says he'll watch me do a JV game or two and then probably move me up to varsity.  Just got off the phone with another local assignor who says while umpire school is great and he agrees I probably learned a ton, beginning your career at too high a level can be a huge mistake if your not ready for it.  I am hoping to get thoughts on this from experienced umpires.  I am taking this very seriously and cannot wait to get out on the field, but after thinking about it I feel like this guy might be right.  Maybe I should make damn sure I'm comfortable at JV before even thinking about stepping on a varsity field.  Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

[johnnyg08]

Attended Umpire School this past January after umpiring two summers of youth baseball and softball.  Played baseball my whole life and decided to give umpire school a try, without much knowledge of how the selection process worked.  After being told by umpire school I showed good instincts and knowledge of the game I just  need experience I came home and joined a local high school association.  I've attended a few meetings and the assignor says he'll watch me do a JV game or two and then probably move me up to varsity.  Just got off the phone with another local assignor who says while umpire school is great and he agrees I probably learned a ton, beginning your career at too high a level can be a huge mistake if your not ready for it.  I am hoping to get thoughts on this from experienced umpires.  I am taking this very seriously and cannot wait to get out on the field, but after thinking about it I feel like this guy might be right.  Maybe I should make damn sure I'm comfortable at JV before even thinking about stepping on a varsity field.  Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

 

It sounds to me like you've been given great advice.  I would start doing JV and see where it takes you.  

[cyclonehokiece]

Most associations/assignors will want to see you work some JV (even one year of a JV only schedule) to see you work.  You can be in control from there.  I have moved multiple times, and when I moved to VA, it didn't matter with my experience, I had to do one season of JV.  Pay your dues, hustle, listen to others, and you should move up the ranks fairly quickly.

[umpstu]

Nothing wrong with varsity ball if you can do it. 

[Dannytheman]

Well I started as a young dad at Little League. I was wearing shorts and using a raft chest protector and wore my hat backwards. I got saved by a nice older man who mentored me to the professionalism of baseball umpires. The next year that league sent me to LL umpire school, the next year I took a class at the community college. I passed my PIAA test and started working LL and Jr high ball games. So I was on 90 footers in the afternoon and 60 footers in the evenings. That lasted a couple years and I remember sewing velcro on my shirts so I could swap out patches from PIAA, to LL to a paid association that did legion and community college. I carried like 6 or 8 hats. I had 2 of every piece of gear and replacement parts. But what I remember was the amount of games I did each year, and the difference in those games as the level increased was SPEED.

At each level the game got faster. I finished doing High School and Community College games when I couldn't do afternoons anymore. Then with 4 sons, I coached and umped little league again.  Now I ump 50 to 65 games of LL and feel good volunteering my time.

So from me to you. Hussle, learn always, critique every game of yours, Oh, and Don't suck! 

[JaxRolo]

I suggest you do start with jv. Since it sounds like you need some experience. Pro school is a great start for you. Don't be in a rush to move up. I'm sure you will do fine.

[Umpire in Chief]

First Welcome!

 

After coming out of umpire school, I would bet you're ready for JV to start and just be patient and let your assigner determine where you best fit. Don't worry too much if you don't agree with their decision. Just keep on giving them your best some times breaking into the network is as important as your ability. 

[Mike Prince]

Welcome and I agree with the above.  Let your association's assignor and your partners determine where you go your first year.  Translation:  work hard on mechanics, know the rules inside out, hustle, take constructive criticism well and learn where appropriate from your partners and you will be doing varsity in no time.  One tip is to ask to be evaluated in your rookie season - very few will request this because they are afraid they will be criticized and they lack the confidence for this.  

 

Once you get games with the "top" umpires in your association more good things will happen as long as you keep improving and learning every single game.  Often it is one of these guys who has JuCo or NCAA connections and can help you get to the next level if that is your goal.

 

Edit - one other tip, if your assignor calls with an emergency assignment, take it whenever you can.  Carry a full set of gear at all times so that you can go on short notice.  Bailing your assignor out is a sure-fire way to get better games.

[Jocko]

I say call whatever games they give you. It's no more difficult to call a JV game than a Varsity game. Often, the schools have players that do both JV and V. The rules are the same, the fields are the same. When people say you need experience, what they mean is situational management. You only get that by calling tons of games. Most games will end without the funky factor. Then BANG. Something funky. It's how you handle the funk that separates the good from the great. And you're more likely to have the funky situation doing MS where coaches aren't as good as the players they coach.

Lay down the funk. I gotta have that funk. I'm hearing Bootsie Collins and George Clinton in my head now.

FLASHLIGHT! FLASHLIGHT!

[yawetag]

The next year that league sent me to LL umpire school, the next year I took a class at the community college.

 

I'm intrigued. Your community college has an umpiring class?

[Jocko]

The next year that league sent me to LL umpire school, the next year I took a class at the community college.

 I'm intrigued. Your community college has an umpiring class?LL Ump clinic. CC basket weaving. Same/Same :fuel:

[BalkHawk]

HEY! I majored in basket weaving at my community college... Until I dropped out.

Call the best games they will let you. Be sure to fool 'em all and act like you belong. However, make sure you work the little kids too. This is where you get to practice all the funky funk that rarely happens with the big boys. Its easier to get away with a screw up in a LL game, and if you can get through a tough one down there, you'll be fine when you get to the level where the players make baseball plays.

[semper_fi_72]

 

The next year that league sent me to LL umpire school, the next year I took a class at the community college.

 I'm intrigued. Your community college has an umpiring class? LL Ump clinic. CC basket weaving. Same/Same

Careful there.

I haven't been but I am told the week long umpire school put on at Western Region is one of the best and a great value for your money.

[mstaylor]

I agree Semper, they are modeled on the JEA model including many of their interps. As far as levels, work what the assoc assigns and trust the leaders to put you at the level you belong. 

[BalkHawk]

trust the leaders

HAHAHAHAAA

[mstaylor]

trust the leaders

HAHAHAHAAA

Ok, I'll give you some groups tend to protect themselves. We tell guys if they want the big games then get better than the current best guys, and we will help you do it. The reason I prefer to not see a recent pro school guy work varsity first is because they have trained you to be a reda$$ and that needs to be tempered at the HS level. If you plan to be in the area, it is best to make your first impression with the varsity coaches a good one. So straight out of schoo; I suggest JV or go straight to college. The college guys are making their living as a coach so the reda$$ sells better there. 

[JSlater2006]

Reda$$$?

[mstaylor]

It means takes no crap, toss first, ask questions later. That has to be tempered in HS baseball. You still don't have to take crap, you just need to more user friendly. We had a kid straight out of school with three ejections in his first week or so back. A kid drew a line on a PU but the umpire didn't see it. BU banged him from the bases. Not a bad ejection but I think he "boomed" him. Plus there are different rules in Fed that better to get wrong in a JV game than a varsity game. 

[JSlater2006]

Oh I got you. Yes they did teach not to take any crap but they also say try everything you can to keep players and coaches in the game

[JSlater2006]

As far as going right to college, the college assignors have told me I need to work high school before they'll consider me.

[Umpire in Chief]

I wouldn't be too quick to jump into college games. You need to gain the experience and exposure to situations you get further down the food chain. I would highly suggest getting a healthy dose of HS before doing college.

[Stan W.]

Just go along with where they assign you for now.....its time to get experience with games where the players shave and coaches get paid to win......and fired if they dont....JV/Varsity....its all subjectve to the area where you are calling......I've got some schools were the HS Varsity level isnt as good as the JV level at another district.......and some HS Varsity programs that can beat the local CC college teams....

 

Use all your pro schooling to work as professional as you can regardless of the level you are assigned............best of luck......    

[FearNot]

Well I started as a young dad at Little League. I was wearing shorts and using a raft chest protector and wore my hat backwards. I got saved by a nice older man who mentored me to the professionalism of baseball umpires. The next year that league sent me to LL umpire school, the next year I took a class at the community college. I passed my PIAA test and started working LL and Jr high ball games. So I was on 90 footers in the afternoon and 60 footers in the evenings. That lasted a couple years and I remember sewing velcro on my shirts so I could swap out patches from PIAA, to LL to a paid association that did legion and community college. I carried like 6 or 8 hats. I had 2 of every piece of gear and replacement parts. But what I remember was the amount of games I did each year, and the difference in those games as the level increased was SPEED.

At each level the game got faster. I finished doing High School and Community College games when I couldn't do afternoons anymore. Then with 4 sons, I coached and umped little league again.  Now I ump 50 to 65 games of LL and feel good volunteering my time.

So from me to you. Hussle, learn always, critique every game of yours, Oh, and Don't suck! 

Great advice!

[FearNot]

Patience and work hard. Try doing travel ball  or rec leagues to get some workouts

[Dannytheman]

The next year that league sent me to LL umpire school, the next year I took a class at the community college.

 

I'm intrigued. Your community college has an umpiring class?

It did 25 years ago. I have a certificate in Basics of Baseball Umpiring 101.   I will try to scan it and put it on here.  Frome Delaware County Community College!