Breaking in .....

[Thunderheads]

All,

I just searched the "collegiate" area and didn't see anything here ....so ......

 

I was wondering what the best / proper path is to breaking into and doing collegiate baseball?

 

I'm just going to leave it at that and see where it goes because basically, that's my generic question

 

Thanks in advance

 

OH, and also, ...if there IS a thread somewhere and I missed it, please let me know and I'll join in there....

[maven]

Jeff: are you available during the week in March and April around 1pm? If so, then you can work college baseball!

[Thunderheads]

Jeff: are you available during the week in March and April around 1pm? If so, then you can work college baseball!

I guess that's a compliment, ....you've never seen this hack work!! LOL

 

Anyhow, yes I could do that,....., but not every day

[noumpere]

Your in Michigan -- go to the Grand Rapids clinic.  Join the CBUA.

[gnhbua93]

If you trust someone in your HS group that works college ask him about what he did to get there.  That should give you a very good idea.

[grayhawk]

I've gotta think it's different everywhere.  They recruit at our high school unit here in Orange County, but all that means is that they want you to put a resume together and submit it.  I would guess there is then an evaluation process where they probably want to see you work plate and bases multiple times, and have very good references.

 

I know the preference at the higher levels (D1) is to find guys that used to be MiLB umpires as they have all passed the Kobayashi Maru (geek reference!) and cut their teeth on the most brutal fields in baseball.  Other guys make it to D1, but it's more difficult.

[Fittske24]

Jeff.... Here is a copy of post I made about a year ago. Still applies today......

First of all.... I would ask, what are you aspirations and/or personal goals when it comes to college baseball? If your goal was just to make it into college baseball, then congratulations! You did it…try not to piss anyone off and you will be fine.

But…. if you want to work D1 games, join a conference, get assigned a regional, or make it to the CWS? Your journey is just beginning.

Inventory your look…

Dress like the level in which you are trying to achieve. If you don’t have poly wools go out and get some. Make sure you get them tailored properly. Make sure your uniform is “TV-Readyâ€. Keep your shoes shined, pants (and caps) creased, and shirts wrinkle free. Chances are there will be no more parking lot dressing, so make sure you have a gear bag with wheels that you can easily go from car to locker room./.

Be prepared to travel a lot your first few years….

Expect to work a lot of Juco, NAIA, and DIII level games your first few years. Work every game with the utmost professionalism. Treat every game like it’s the 7th game of the world series. Coaches in these leagues can either jump start or break your career. Unlike high school, these coaches have been hired for the sole purpose of running the baseball program. They are not teachers and they don’t care about lesson plans. They care about wins and losses, plain and simple. If you have a good game, they are not afraid to let you know about your work. If you have a bad game they are not afraid to let you and your assigner know about it as well. So work hard, look good, hustle and above all else know the rules!

Find out who the top assigners are in your region…

All of the top D1 conferences in your area will have a conference assigner. Most of these guys will also assign smaller NAIA, DII, DII conferences. Some of these assigners will use these conferences as feeders for the D1 conferences. Get to know these guys. The top Coordinators will usually promote try-out camps and clinics through your local assigner.

Advancement happens in the summer, fall and winter.…

The best way to move and get seen is during the summer and the fall. Find out if there is a college summer league in your area. It will be easier to work with some of the D1 guys during the summer. The D1 guys will have great feedback for what it takes to work at the D1 level. Also if you do well, it can help you get on the radar for getting assigned to some higher level games assigned by your association. Also the summer is usually a more relaxed environment.

Plan to attend a College camp or clinic in the fall…..Usually these camps are attended by assigners responsible for D1 Non-conference assignments, as well as conference umpire appointment. Most of these camps/clinics will have cage work, rules application, and live games. Same rules apply just as they do in the regular season…. work hard, look good and hustle when it’s your turn to shine.

Attend your Local NCAA superclinic….This will ensure that you are up on all mechanic changes and rule changes for the upcoming season. This is also a great opportunity to network with all of the Top college umpires, assigners, and evaluators in your region. Don’t be afraid to talk to and introduce yourself to them. This clinic is also required for post season assignment for all of the NCAA divisions.

Once you complete this in year 1. Wash, rinse, and repeat....

Good Luck!

[hckyosgood30]

I will mirror everything that Fitts said.  Yes it does vary region to region on how fast you can go up the ladder.  But a few things to add...

 

1. Network with guys and be willing and wanting to get feedback! 

2. Once you have a network have a core group of friends and a mentor to be your arbiter and that won't bs you.

3. Camps, summer leagues, NCAA regional clinics will all help you.  But a failed test will sink you. Know the rules!

4. Understand your place in the locker room.  Know who and when you can add.  Every CC is different (see 1&2 to figure out how to know)

5. Don't try to move up until your honestly comfortable at the level you do.  Remember it's better to be a year to late then a year to early.

6. As you go up remember the guys that helped get you there.  Let them know you appreciate them and how they helped you along the journey.

7. Be humble, be humble, be humble.  We all need some ego to do this job.  But be thankful that you get to do what others are still fighting their asses off to get to.

8. Finally support other guys, and don't be a back stabber.  This will catch up in the end.  Friendly competition is ok between brothers.  But this is still a brotherhood and support guys that might get an assignment over you, speaks to your character as a man and an official.

 

just my $0.02 to add to Fitts

[Thunderheads]

WOW, ....thanks everyone, I  appreciate the feedback.

Firstly, no D1 stuff for me, that's certainly not my goal or my aspiratioin.   I know age doesn't matter, but, ...I'm 47 with a full time job, umpiring for me is entertainment, and fun, ...something I enjoy, a hobby/release, well, you know the story     That said, ... in general, my goal would be doing quality baseball games, and I figured doing some college baseball would achieve that.  Therefore, I'm just looking at any college level, ... JUCO, NAIA, DIII [DIII would probably even be a stretch].     What I should really focus on first I guess would to being a well respected High School official.  (That's funny, using 'well respected' when it comes to me )....but seriously, that's probably step 1 at the end of the day.  Moreso, focus on post-season HS assignments, and THEN look to taking another step.  I would think I'd need many more Varsity games and a post season assignment or 2 before I should look to college ball.

 

Regardless, once again I really appreciate the honest feedback!

[BigUmpire]

All of us here wish you the best.

Your knowledge and wisdom shows on this forum.

At 47 you should be in the prime of your life for umpiring, good mix of experience and training.

Too bad about the full time job, work always gets in the way of umpiring.

[Thunderheads]

All of us here wish you the best.

 

Your knowledge and wisdom shows on this forum.

 

At 47 you should be in the prime of your life for umpiring, good mix of experience and training.

 

Too bad about the full time job, work always gets in the way of umpiring.

Big,

I appreciate this sentiment, but .... my knowledge and wisdom literally pales in comparison to most people on this site.  If I had a ton of knowledge and wisdom, I wouldn't be asking how to break in to college  ball          I'm just a local hack who posts mlb videos here, ...don't glorify my existense here although it's appreciated!

[BigUmpire]

I was asked this question long ago:

 

If you won the lottery OR had a trust fund that equaled your current income with benefits that would continue until you are 65 would become a full time umpire and what would be the highest level of umpiring you would want to attain?

 

Dangerous question.

[Thunderheads]

I was asked this question long ago:

 

If you won the lottery OR had a trust fund that equaled your current income with benefits that would continue until you are 65 would become a full time umpire and what would be the highest level of umpiring you would want to attain?

 

Dangerous question.

VERY GOOD QUESTION....not dangerous ................

 

I'd probably be happy with being a well respected Hight School umpire, and/or maybe do some lower level college as well ........

[BigUmpire]

 

I was asked this question long ago:

 

If you won the lottery OR had a trust fund that equaled your current income with benefits that would continue until you are 65 would become a full time umpire and what would be the highest level of umpiring you would want to attain?

 

Dangerous question.

VERY GOOD QUESTION....not dangerous ................

 

I'd probably be happy with being a well respected Hight School umpire, and/or maybe do some lower level college as well ........

 

Interesting reply.

[BigUmpire]

 

All of us here wish you the best.

 

Your knowledge and wisdom shows on this forum.

 

At 47 you should be in the prime of your life for umpiring, good mix of experience and training.

 

Too bad about the full time job, work always gets in the way of umpiring.

Big,

I appreciate this sentiment, but .... my knowledge and wisdom literally pales in comparison to most people on this site.  If I had a ton of knowledge and wisdom, I wouldn't be asking how to break in to college  ball          I'm just a local hack who posts mlb videos here, ...don't glorify my existense here although it's appreciated!

 

Your posts here shows most of us you are better than that.

[Thunderheads]

 

 

I was asked this question long ago:

 

If you won the lottery OR had a trust fund that equaled your current income with benefits that would continue until you are 65 would become a full time umpire and what would be the highest level of umpiring you would want to attain?

 

Dangerous question.

VERY GOOD QUESTION....not dangerous ................

 

I'd probably be happy with being a well respected Hight School umpire, and/or maybe do some lower level college as well ........

 

Interesting reply.

 

How so? What makes it interesting?

[BigUmpire]

 

 

 

I was asked this question long ago:

 

If you won the lottery OR had a trust fund that equaled your current income with benefits that would continue until you are 65 would become a full time umpire and what would be the highest level of umpiring you would want to attain?

 

Dangerous question.

VERY GOOD QUESTION....not dangerous ................

 

I'd probably be happy with being a well respected Hight School umpire, and/or maybe do some lower level college as well ........

 

Interesting reply.

 

How so? What makes it interesting?

 

My mentor asked me that same question long ago and my response was similar to yours.

I sort of backed off of umpiring after pondering his question.

He stated that you should always want to move to the next level in everything.

Passion fuels most successful people, reality just gets in the way.

Passion ruined my life after 9-11 because I did not see the reality of what I was doing.

You sound very grounded and pragmatic on your decisions in umpiring.

I am still trying to figure things out at 58.

[Thunderheads]

I know my limits I guess, and it's not that this is going to be a career for me, so it's actually a simple question to answer in my eyes.

I don't believe that you should ALWAYS WANT to move to the next level in everything.  I can validate that wanting to be 'better' is within consideration, but necessarily 'moving to the next level' ...no, ...I don't agree with that.

[LMSANS]

Now back to work Jeff...get those videos posted!

[Thunderheads]

Now back to work Jeff...get those videos posted!

workin' on it Larry!!

[Haid D' Salaami]

Jeff: are you available during the week in March and April around 1pm? If so, then you can work college baseball!

Not true.

[johnnyg08]

 

Jeff: are you available during the week in March and April around 1pm? If so, then you can work college baseball!

Not true.

 

 

 

I would say that if you're looking to break in, it's unlikely you're going to start out working conference weekend series.  So being available during those times would be pretty important if you want to get into college ball.  IMO a big part of working college baseball involves having a flexible work schedule for your "A" job to be able to umpire. 

[slo8140]

Jeff: are you available during the week in March and April around 1pm? If so, then you can work college baseball!

Not true.

 

 

I would say that if you're looking to break in, it's unlikely you're going to start out working conference weekend series.  So being available during those times would be pretty important if you want to get into college ball.  IMO a big part of working college baseball

involves having a flexible work schedule for your "A" job to be able to umpire.

+1

I started working in a group that does Juco, DIII, and some NAIA. Being available is key. Most of teams are JUCO, they play conference games on Wednesday and Saturday. Being a minister, Wednesdays are hard for me to get off, hurt my schedule, but it was just my first year. I am hoping for a few more games next year. Working on conditioning, and rules knowledge this offseason. Calling in a college summer league helps as well.

[Thunderheads]

thanks Johnny08 and Slo8140!

[Haid D' Salaami]

Still have to be able to umpire some... is all im saying..