Musing about becoming a newbie

[SoCal Lurker]

As some may know from my posts, I'm a soccer referee and a baseball dad who likes to understand the rules.  Now is not the time for me, but I sometimes ponder umpiring at a time when my life gets less chaotic.  (Shh.  Don't tell my wife . . . )   If I do, I'll most likely volunteer for the less affluent LL's in the area.  If I do, what am I really looking at for an initial outlay for equipment?  (I'm 6'4" -- is that going to make it harder/more expensive to get equipment?)   Just wondering.

[blue23ll]

Warning, umpiring will become habit forming. Your life will not be less chaotic, but will be very fulfilling and enjoyable. As far as equipment, you won't have any problems finding things that fit you. Your initial investment might be in the $300 - $400 range. Getting cheap, poorly made equipment is not recommended. Search the threads here on equipment and you will get an idea what you need to get.

 

Good luck and welcome!

[Mike Prince]

Your height won't make equipment choices too hard.  I am also 6'4" and have few issues finding stuff to fit.

 

Lots of threads on here about good values in appropriate equipment, I will let you find those on your own.  When I started I bought mostly new equipment and probably spent around $400 (which would have been lower if I knew what I know now).  Biggest choice would be whether to buy used or new.  Buy the right stuff the first time and you will be happy.

[Stan W.]

never met a serious umpire who wished he had started later in life..... the fact you made this post tells me you have already decided to join us.......its true baseball umpires have the most costly outlay to get started.......but its extremely doable........6'4 is an advantage not a disadvantage.......(so sayeth the gospel according to St, Stan W. who liveth in the 5'6" world)

 

pull the trigger already......

[SoCal Lurker]

never met a serious umpire who wished he had started later in life..... the fact you made this post tells me you have already decided to join us.......its true baseball umpires have the most costly outlay to get started.......but its extremely doable........6'4 is an advantage not a disadvantage.......(so sayeth the gospel according to St, Stan W. who liveth in the 5'6" world)

 

pull the trigger already......

 

Thx all!  The responses give me what I was looking for in info . . . for the moment, kids and reffing soccer takes up the time I have available, but in the next few years, I'm likely to take the plunge -- until then, I'll keep lurking . . . baseball was never my game (though I umped a year of LL minors as a teenager (I think they paid $3.50 per game ....) -- which was much less pleasant than being a teen soccer ref), but my son deeply loves baseball, and I have found myself enjoying the game more and more as I watch him -- and becoming intrigued by the rules along the way

[BigUmpire]

These numbers MAY be a bit on the high side BUT feel free to compare.

I am 6'9" and have trouble getting my eyes down to the top of the strike zone in some age groups.

Plus is that most RATS don't screw with guys our size.

 

 

 

Regristration Fees $177.00 Insurance $114.00 Mask $100.00 CP $130.00 Shin guards $70.00 Plate shoes $130.00 shirts (2) $80.00 Pants (2) $90.00 BallBag, brush and indicator $25.00 Field shoes $90.00 Cup and tights $30.00 Undershirt $20.00 Equpiment bag $60.00 Total $1,116.00

[maninblack69]

Glad to hear you're thinking about joining the club! Anyway, you shouldn't have too much of an issue finding gear to fit at 6'4. I just got back into umpiring last year myself. Here's what I got and the total cost for it all:

 

Hats (2 black, 1 navy)

Shirts (Black, Pro Blue, Powder Blue, Navy)

Jacket (Black with white trim)

Pants (Smitty charcoal plate and base - GD charcoal plate and base)

Belt

Ball bags (Smitty: 2 black, 1 navy, 1 charcoal)

Card Wallet for lineup cards

Indicators x2

Plate brush

Plate shoes (Reebok Zigs)

Base shoes (Reebok Zigs)

Wilson Dyna Lite mask with Doe skin wrap around pads

+POS ZRO-G mask with black TW's

4 1/2 inch throat guards x2

sun shield for mask

Wilson Platinum West Vest

Wilson Platinum Shin Guards

Cup and Jock

Association/Insurance dues

 

I think that's pretty much everything, but between buying some things new and others used, my total expenditures have been roughly $900. Realistically you can do with less gear, but like others have said, I wouldn't skimp on the quality of the gear. You could probably get a set of decent gear with fairly good protection in the $400-600 range. Just takes some looking around. Craigslist and eBay usually have some pretty decent deals on gear.

[Chris Hickman]

Maninblack69 forgot to list his bottle of pain meds and the stuff from his Finnery Bucket... Good grief!!

This post is dedicated to midamump!

[zm1283]

Check eBay and your area Craigslist a lot. You can find steals on chest protectors on Craigslist. Skimp on the shin guards for the first few years. Get a good CP, mask, and plate shoes.

[maninblack69]

Maninblack69 forgot to list his bottle of pain meds and the stuff from his Finnery Bucket... Good grief!!

This post is dedicated to midamump!

Just wanted to show you can get a decent amount of stuff without completely breaking the bank so to speak. At least I didn't post pics of everything ;-)

[Dannytheman]

Hi and welcome. IF you get involved in your local Little League they might set you with some gear.  As I brought in umpires I would, upon making good on their assignments, give them gear along the way.

Shoes and pants on you. But shirts, hats, gear can be bartered for time donation. 

[MadMax]

I'm a soccer referee and a baseball dad...

If I do, I'll most likely volunteer for the less affluent LL's in the area.

If I do, what am I really looking at for an initial outlay for equipment?  (I'm 6'4" -- is that going to make it harder/more expensive to get equipment?)

 

[paraphrased where relevant]

 

Soccer referee? So that means you're used to insults and phrases of contempt being hurled at you constantly, eh? I still _play_ soccer in a semi-quasi-competitive level (we have to pay to play, so it must be) as a centerback, and one can tell pretty quick between those referees who care and those who have given up and are just coasting. You'll find the same in baseball, but so much more so with baseball... make a call if/when you see something.

 

While volunteering is completely honorable, consider offering your services at a "mow your lawn" type of cash compensation. The only real benefit to volunteering, completely without compensation (as far as I _know_) is Little League, because that allows you to elevate to Williamsport if you would like to pursue that in the future. Otherwise, if appearing on national TV in Williamsport doesn't appeal to you, then you're free to value your time in any way you wish. I got into umpiring via a baseball dad who was a co-worker, asking if I could umpire for his kid's team scrimmage, since he knew I had been a catcher since I was 8. I wore my catcher's gear, with my black basketball zip-away pants and a black polo shirt. At the end of the scrimmage, the dads pitched in (ugh, bad pun) about $20 to cover my gas and time, and I've pursued becoming an umpire ever since. Fast forward several years, and that community team is my primary sponsor for Cooperstown Dreams Park. I'm their umpire, and they want it no other way.

 

Because of that, word-of-mouth spread the notice that I was an umpire-for-hire, and in the early years of my umpire participation (and development), I would get many phone calls from a frantic coach who had a game scheduled (usually making up for a rain date) and the assigned umpire bailed and the association had no available fill-ins and so-and-so gave him my name, etc. Going out to do a 2-hour game for $40 is much more enjoyable than just sitting around on a weekday evening (at least for me).

 

Besides, you can turn that cash into newer / better / more gear!

 

On the gear note, there are just a couple of things you'll want to keep in mind...

• (Try your best to) Look the Part. Appearing as a cohesive umpire buys you a degree of credibility. Granted, your performance will absolutely be the major component of it, but your appearance will _get_ you to that critical point with far less grief and bias (on the part of the participants). There are an endless number of perspectives and bits of advice from the umpires here.

• At your height, you're going to want to look for 16"-17" shinguards (at least).

• Never buy retail. There are _always_ outlets online that will offer gear of a better quality, more appealing fit, and at a lesser price. And like a Classic Cars Forum, there will be an _endless_ number of options (and opinions thereof) for gear – brands, models, varieties, ad nauseum. As long as you keep to a plan – like the one ManInBlack69 listed out, brands and models aside – you'll be fine.

 

Don't feel that you have to buy Wilson, just because someone said to.

 

You will not regret this decision to be an umpire. 

[SoCal Lurker]

Thx all.

[umpstu]

Check eBay and your area Craigslist a lot. You can find steals on chest protectors on Craigslist. Skimp on the shin guards for the first few years. Get a good CP, mask, and plate shoes.

Why would you want to skimp on shin guards? Spend $70.00 for a good pair that will last you for years. Those 58 feet fastballs off the ankles aren't fun.

[LRZ]

If you join a local association, perhaps for hands-on training and mentoring, you might be able to pick up decent second-hand gear (and I agree with the advice to not go cheap) from other members. As you may be able to tell, umpires are gear junkies, always looking to buy ("upgrade" is how we defend this habit) new toys, making one's old gear available.

[BigUmpire]

If you join a local association, perhaps for hands-on training and mentoring, you might be able to pick up decent second-hand gear (and I agree with the advice to not go cheap) from other members. As you may be able to tell, umpires are gear junkies, always looking to buy ("upgrade" is how we defend this habit) new toys, making one's old gear available.

Great advice.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tldavis19]

 

These numbers MAY be a bit on the high side BUT feel free to compare.

I am 6'9" and have trouble getting my eyes down to the top of the strike zone in some age groups.

Plus is that most RATS don't screw with guys our size.

 

 

 

Regristration Fees $177.00 Insurance $114.00 Mask $100.00 CP $130.00 Shin guards $70.00 Plate shoes $130.00 shirts (2) $80.00 Pants (2) $90.00 BallBag, brush and indicator $25.00 Field shoes $90.00 Cup and tights $30.00 Undershirt $20.00 Equpiment bag $60.00 Total $1,116.00

 

These figures a little on the high side. Of course different areas do things differently. I was able to get up and running with good equipment under $500 including my state dues. Look for sales and things of that nature and you can get away with good stuff without breaking the bank. Also, some sites offer starter packages that include everything you may need including the smaller things for an overall discounted price. Searching will be your biggest ally.

[bluegorilla]

As mentioned above , join a association . I bought all new gear last year and sold my old stuff to a newbie this year . West Vest Platinum chest protector and shins Wilson Dynalite mask ...... $80 . I know I practically gave the stuff away , but It helped a new umpire get started and he could spend his money on unis etc.