Texas Clinic Information 2022? College hopes?

[Guest 210Guest]

I have started to take umpiring pretty seriously and joined a TASO chapter in the San Antonio area. First and foremost I was wondering if other Texas umpires know of any good camps/umpire evaluations to get seen by higher-level umpires (preferably in the central/south texas area). Being that I would like to umpire college baseball in the near future, I would be interested in even going to 3 or 4 man camps. I would appreciate any recommendations. 

 

With that being said, I am constantly working on improving my mechanics and rules knowledge to provide my best for every game - I would assume most serious umpires are. So what are some of the things that separate a college-level umpire as far as decorum and perception on the field? Additionally, what are some of the steps you would recommend for me to take off the field so far as moving up in my association or establishing/maintaining connections with game assigners in collegiate leagues?

[dumbdumb]

2 hours ago, Guest 210Guest said:

I have started to take umpiring pretty seriously and joined a TASO chapter in the San Antonio area. First and foremost I was wondering if other Texas umpires know of any good camps/umpire evaluations to get seen by higher-level umpires (preferably in the central/south texas area). Being that I would like to umpire college baseball in the near future, I would be interested in even going to 3 or 4 man camps. I would appreciate any recommendations. 

 

With that being said, I am constantly working on improving my mechanics and rules knowledge to provide my best for every game - I would assume most serious umpires are. So what are some of the things that separate a college-level umpire as far as decorum and perception on the field? Additionally, what are some of the steps you would recommend for me to take off the field so far as moving up in my association or establishing/maintaining connections with game assigners in collegiate leagues?

go over your taso stuff from the internet or you tube.

mid american umpire clinic kansas city in september. dont know if this is same one Major Dave mentioned a while back.

black and blue umpire camp riverside california

if you have the time and money, you might just go a first time to more or less proctor the class even if you dont feel if you are ready yet, other than to be a rookie right now.

you will have to step up many times on your own, many areas are not helpful to guys that want to advance, why should they, they lose you to someone else.

it is in your hands. just dont be a "that guy" no matter where you go and how high you advance.

good luck. if you ever go to the pro camps, just to help with your NCAA knowledge and development although it is not required, there was an old post from a former instructor on what they are looking for from day one. if i can find it i will go back into this post and add it in at the bottom of this post.

good luck in your development and may the force be with you.

 

[GreyhoundAggie]

Welcome to umpiring fellow texan.

The Mid-American put on by Jason is a great clinic. I've only done the 2 man but im sure the 3 man is fantastic too.

For local clinics, John Brammer puts on great clinics in the DFW area. He has multiple D1, and former MLB/MiLB umpires on his staff. He does 2 man and college level clinics. Check out the website here https://www.nationalumpirecamps.com/

 

[SH0102]

I am nowhere near Texas so no help there, but as someone working my way up in the college ranks, here is some advice that has helped me:

1.  Eyes open, mouth shut…if someone gives you advice you do not jive with, just thank them, process it, and then use it or lose it. Do not argue or tell them their advice is poor

2. You asked what separates college umpires from HS and below; not really one definitive answer bc there are lots of quality HS umpires who could do college but choose not to, due to travel requirements, or what not.  But from someone who learned from college umpires working hs level games, thing that stood out to me were professionalism and attention to detail.  No disrespect to HS coaches but 98% of them are teachers, counselors, etc and coach for a couple thousand bucks.  College coaches lives depend on it, they feed their families with that job, so handling situations and coaches and game management are crucial, and I was blown away when I worked with college umpires (before I was one) in how they handled the game outside ball/strike/safe/out.  Attention to detail meaning they rarely miss a rotation, always signaling, communicating, they know I’ll be at third on a first to third rotation but I would hear about it if I didn’t yell “I’m here, I’m here” or “I’m at third”. So many little things that probably no one else notices, they did, and it’s made me a lot better.

3. Don’t worry about 3 and 4 man camps. You won’t touch 4 man games until you are high level D1 (even mid major D1 uses 3) or get post season championship games, which take time.  3-man, unless your area specifically uses it, also is generally a D1 thing. Last year with covid a lot of D3 went three man but it’s back to 2 now, at least in my region.  D2 was two man even during covid, and JUCO and NAIA also are always two man.  You need to be a master of 2 man before taking on 3 man; so focus on perfecting that

4. Finally, do not worry or stress about “moving up”. Enjoy the games, enjoy getting assignments, and if you do well, time will come.  I got my first D1 game this season and it’s already been canned. I could cry about it or ask to be put on another one, but I’m just thrilled I was even considered for it and it makes me want to work even harder this season at my JUCO, D3 and D2 games so when my number is called again down the road, I’ll hold my own.

 

hope that helps a little

[HokieUmp]

7 hours ago, Guest 210Guest said:

I have started to take umpiring pretty seriously and joined a TASO chapter in the San Antonio area. First and foremost I was wondering if other Texas umpires know of any good camps/umpire evaluations to get seen by higher-level umpires (preferably in the central/south texas area). Being that I would like to umpire college baseball in the near future, I would be interested in even going to 3 or 4 man camps. I would appreciate any recommendations.

In theory, there are three chapters that sort-of qualify as "the San Antonio area."  If you're in the one specifically CALLED the SA chapter, then we've likely been in the same meetings, and may work together at some point.  There are a lot of good umpires in the chapter itself, but for clinics, I'll second John Brammer's camps up in Ft Worth - I went to one of his in late '20, and it was worth the trip (even though I-35 is its own special KIND of bullSH*#).

[Guest 210Guest]

Wow some really informative replies on here I really appreciate the guidance. I will definitely be checking out the clinics in the DFW area as mentioned by Greyhound. What exactly is meant by being "That Guy"? I have an idea from some of the umpires I have encountered in the past, either being extremely arrogant and speaking in a condescending manner with no justification or being complete brown-nosing yes men to the assigners or "power group". I make it a point to service the game as best as I can instead of trying to be the know-it-all umpire trying to flex my skills. 

 

@SH0102Its funny you mention attention to detail and professionalism because thats exactly what I encountered. About a year ago I was scheduled another random summer league 18u game and I had a partner who texted me several hours before to check in on plate/base (he took the plate) and uniform colors which was surprising given the summer league trend. Then when I got to the field this guy shows up with shoes gleaming, pants and hat creased to a tee - just looking and carrying himself exponentially more authoritative and cooler than I was. Fast forward to the game and he's signaling EVERY play, hauling ass to 3rd on EVERY rotation (another first for me at that time) and communicating too. That left a lasting impression on me to be more like that guy.

How long have you been umpiring? Could you give a rough idea as to the path you took to get into the upper-level position you hold at the moment? 

[SH0102]

3 hours ago, Guest 210Guest said:

Wow some really informative replies on here I really appreciate the guidance. I will definitely be checking out the clinics in the DFW area as mentioned by Greyhound. What exactly is meant by being "That Guy"? I have an idea from some of the umpires I have encountered in the past, either being extremely arrogant and speaking in a condescending manner with no justification or being complete brown-nosing yes men to the assigners or "power group". I make it a point to service the game as best as I can instead of trying to be the know-it-all umpire trying to flex my skills. 

 

@SH0102Its funny you mention attention to detail and professionalism because thats exactly what I encountered. About a year ago I was scheduled another random summer league 18u game and I had a partner who texted me several hours before to check in on plate/base (he took the plate) and uniform colors which was surprising given the summer league trend. Then when I got to the field this guy shows up with shoes gleaming, pants and hat creased to a tee - just looking and carrying himself exponentially more authoritative and cooler than I was. Fast forward to the game and he's signaling EVERY play, hauling ass to 3rd on EVERY rotation (another first for me at that time) and communicating too. That left a lasting impression on me to be more like that guy.

How long have you been umpiring? Could you give a rough idea as to the path you took to get into the upper-level position you hold at the moment? 

“That guy” is the guy no one wants to work with. It isn’t one specific reason. Never wants to do the plate , is an a-hole to coaches or players (yes once in a while they deserve it but we should always be the most professional people on the field), you mentioned the shoes and clothes, if your partner shows up all raggedy, what is your impression? What do you think coaches impression will be? Guess how that means YOUR day is going to go too?  Probably the worst sin is throwing your partner under the bus.  Imagine being PU, borderline pitch you call strike. 1B coach asks your partner, “man; that was a strike??” And your partner says “yeah he missed that one” or “I’ll tell him between innings to bring it up some in the zone”.  Wanna work with that guy ?  Even if you did miss it, we understand that like players who make errors, coaches who send a kid home gets thrown out by 30 feet, no one is perfect. “Yes coach, he had it a strike so it’s a strike. No way you or I have a better view over here”

As for camps and “my path”, I’ll say that if you go to esteemed camps where college assignors are watching, make sure you’re ready.  A fellow umpire who is very good and gets some big D1 games (power five non cons) and who i respect tremendously thinks very highly of me, I got four MLB draft league games because he recommended me to the assignor, but I mentioned a camp where the top dogs are at, I mean ACC, big ten, etc, and he said “give it a year or two”.  Not because I stink, but bc if you make a bad impression, it’s very hard to change their perception of you.

I was fortunate to have spent 4 years working HS travel games and tournaments with a core group of college umpires. Someone I did some hs games with was in the group and one weekend they were short and I got asked to fill in, I did a good job for an amateur but I was ripped apart on mechanics, timing, etc. but the thing is, I listened. My first weekend I did 4 games with the head of the group and he said his game 1 shredding of me made me better by games 3 and 4, he said I already had heeded his advice and was improved, and that impressed him.

Fours years later I took the college test, went to two camps, and impressed the assignors bc I was ready and looked like a college umpire even though I wasn’t yet.

This will be my 3rd year in college (2nd if you don’t count the covid shortened year) but like I said, when the assignors saw me, I was well prepared bc of the umpires I was fortunate enough to be around, and now we have a new batch of “kids” that I’m happy to help along too. 

[kylehutson]

8 hours ago, SH0102 said:

3-man, unless your area specifically uses it, also is generally a D1 thing. Last year with covid a lot of D3 went three man but it’s back to 2 now, at least in my region.  D2 was two man even during covid, and JUCO and NAIA also are always two man.

Depends on the area. Around here, NAIA and D2 both use 3-man for conference and 2-man for non-con.

[SH0102]

3 hours ago, kylehutson said:

Depends on the area. Around here, NAIA and D2 both use 3-man for conference and 2-man for non-con.

Good Point, I love 3-man, wish it was used more at those levels around here.

[Donny7]

Got a GREAT one for you!  Follow the link below, click on Camps and Clinics... BOOM 

Doug McClure - Triple Play Umpires

https://tripleplayumpire.com › the-coordinator

Been to 3 of his camps, one was right in your backyard in Georgetown... At the oldest college in Texas. Southwestern University. Another one in a new Minor League Complex in Cleburne and a third in the Houston area. 

As well as being excellent instructional camps... All of these are just what you said you are looking for. Live tryouts for recruiting college officials. 

Tell him Donny sent you ⚾

 

[GreyhoundAggie]

I forgot about Doug McClures camps. Good call Donny. I've heard solid things about his clinics.