Very New Umpire

[Rich09]

What gear would you recommend to a new umpire. I currently have nothing looking to buy in the next week and I need everything.

[MadMax]

Anything with the words “starter” and/or “kit” in it, avoid like the plague. 

Where are you located, and what levels will you be doing your first season in? 

[Rich09]

16 minutes ago, MadMax said:

Anything with the words “starter” and/or “kit” in it, avoid like the plague. 

Where are you located, and what levels will you be doing your first season in? 

Starting out in Little League and wanting to move up to higher levels. I live in the Fredericksburg area of Virginia.

[Richvee]

Plenty will chime in on their favorite chest protectors, masks, etc. Buy the best within your budget. There’s plenty quality chest protectors and masks out there that vary greatly in price. 
One  place I personally don’t think there’s any option is shin guards. Get the force 3 and never worry about another pair again. 

[Velho]

1 hour ago, Richvee said:

Get the force 3 and never worry about another pair again. 

I second and third this on shins. I went from spending just a little to start with low-end Diamond but got tired off too little coverage. Overcompensated with Wilson Platinum and now went to the Force 3. Don't feel like I'm wearing anything plus the padding and design is so good I don't need to wear tights or long socks. Strap over mid-calf socks only with no issues. Helped eliminate another layer and keep cool.

[Ump242]

17 hours ago, MadMax said:

Anything with the words “starter” and/or “kit” in it, avoid like the plague. 

Where are you located, and what levels will you be doing your first season in? 

I don't like starter kits, some of those starter sets are trash bro,. I would recommend that you get the best you can afford as it will be with you for a while.     

1) diamond dmf-xi3 mask https://m.epicsports.com/baseball/p/5521/index.html is light and inexpensive around $80 and you can wash the pads... 

2) I would recommend a Wilson chest protector, but that new champro looks good too. https://www.ump-attire.com/Products/CPAMT/Champro-Air-Management-Plated-Umpire-Chest-Protector. This actually looks legit and resembles a Wilson gold at about 60% of the price

3) for shin guards there are alot of options, honigs has a nice pair that are about $65 retail.  https://honigs.com/honig-s-elite-2010-leg-guards-reg.html ... But I prefer the Wilson gold myself, I have friends that swear by the force3 gaurds

3) I use the shock doctor aluminum alloy https://www.bobwards.com/shock-doctor-y-titan-alloy-flex-cup-201874?color=GRAY&size=M&cid=837522421&aid=49714429184&keyword=294682000766%3A%3Apla-294682000766&kid=294682000766&gclid=CjwKCAjwi6WSBhA-EiwA6Niokw_xYY_utBt5r8kUGaPAcGWHFBXYnSkx5eqTRY-wpYq5nJXBpapmzBoC2ywQAvD_BwE cup, the nutty buddy failed me and I felt the full brunt of a foul ball last week

4) plate shoes, go new Balance if you can afford them, if not go one size up on 3n2s, they're as athletic as the reeboks (which are no longer available, and in my opinion, THE BEST) https://www.ump-attire.com/Products/7345/3N2-Reaction-Pro-Low-Umpire-Plate-Shoes

For uniforms, get charcole grey smitty poly-spandex pants, check eBay before anywhere else, they retail at $60ish but you might find em cheaper else where, Gerry Davis are too expensive for my taste, they breath better than poly-wool and you don't die in the summer

Smitty shirts are good, the pin vertical strip and the mlb panels are the mainly used shirts get 1 black and 1 blue for starters, but if you can't afford those the old school black collar shirts are super cheap and acceptable

For caps, I'd recommend a 4 stitch for behind the plate as if your mask gets hit, it wond imprint the bill on your forehead, but I know that the MLB umps use a 6 stitch for everything. Richardson makes various types of hearts, the will are the most all around absolutely, but the mesh are nice for hotter months

Belt: patten leather (looking) or matter leather with a silver buckle (1 1/2" thick) usually about $27

black socks (double sock for comfort and small rock have a harder time getting in your shoes)

Indicator of your choice, I prefer Mizuno indicators https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00831ZSBO/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_DBTG76D04GNYW6AAFMWE?psc=1

I would recommend Smitty ball bags, but any black ball bags will do really. Adams actually has a nice but slightly smaller set of ball bags that have a zipper on the inside where you can put your keys or phone if you need to

An ump's note pad/line up holder, This is the one I like best https://www.ebay.com/itm/264658577143

You can get a flip coin, but I rather just use a quarter or a random number on my indicator

Red pens for you to write with, and black or blue for coaches, 

Chech out umpire classroom on YouTube for awesome videos on highschool rules 

...  That's all I can think of

 

I started with the diamond big league mask myself, I now use a Wilson titanium with the mesh black pads off of the Wilson aluminum mask, I put the all Star visor on it as it's like having 2 Oakley's on if you wear polarized sunglasses and the sun won't blind you, I now have the all Star cobalt chest protector, it's growing on me as I also have the Wilson Platinum protector and it covers your tummy a bit better as it's not as short.  I have the Wilson black shin guards and honigs elite as backups, I have various other masks including the honigs aluminum mask it's far lighter than any other mask I have, but my go-to is still the Wilson titanium I know it's a bit heavier, maybe two or three ounces at most.

My end all to be off mask that I want to get is the all-star magnesium mask though it does seem to be slightly heavier then the Wilson titanium by one or two ounces, only reason I know is because I have some friends that have one and I've tested the weight

I posted some items on OfferUp I've put up various umpire gear items for sale.

 

Edited...

My car is kind of a mobile locker room, so I'd recommend having air fresheners 🤪😅 my wife doesn't approve of the 'fragrance'

Also, they're between $9 and $30, I would recommend getting a mask bag, as you can see I have ho no it's, I think they're $10

 

[Ump242]

On 11/2/2018 at 5:03 AM, Thunderheads said:

there are only 2 schools ......... Wendelstedt, and the MiLB Umpire Academy.  Evan's school no longer exists.

There are many other schools that are locally run, to get into the minor leagues and maybe if you're lucky and talented and just good timing, you might get into the majors yes then wendelstadt is the school to go to, then they do have the advanced course if you pass the wendelstadt school.  Evans School turned into Peabody School and then closed.

However Jim Evans does run clinics throughout the United States. I took his San Diego clinic in 2019 it was a week and a half long and severely changed how I umpire. To the point where guys who I worked with regularly were like "what the hell? where did you go? what school did you go to because you've gotten drastically better."

From what I understand Jim Evans is planning on starting clinics again this year, and he did say he was on the road the last time I messaged him, so it's possible that he may already be running clinics. He is an awesome teacher a great orator and really really fun to learn from. He had two great assistance Nathan and Steven, I think it was.  

IIn California there was a school called Black and Blue run by a gentleman named Mike, but he is now in the NCAA rules committee, and so he had to drop that. However the umpires that helped him started a new school called umpire focus. It's new to this year 2022, should be sometime in October. There are several classes there's going to be a two-man week-long class, a three man beginners three week-long class, a three-man advanced week-long class, and a foreman class as well. I'm pretty sure if you search umpire focus that it'll come up I might even be umpirefocus.com .

TThere are also various other schools throughout the United States that are sister schools to windowstadt in the sense that the same instructors that are at wendelstadt, would be at those schools as well.  Windows that also runs an online prep School to get you ready for their courses at the physical school in Florida sometime in late November early December. Last year I believe it was about $600, so look out for that.

4 hours ago, Thunderheads said:

 

 

[eagle_12]

14 hours ago, Ump242 said:

There are many other schools that are locally run, to get into the minor leagues and maybe if you're lucky and talented and just good timing, you might get into the majors yes then wendelstadt is the school to go to, then they do have the advanced course if you pass the wendelstadt school. 

 

Straight from MiLb:https://www.milb.com/about/umpires

The first step to pursuing a career as a professional umpire is to attend a professional umpire training school. These schools traditionally run for a period of four-five weeks during January and February each year. At the end of the training, the schools recommend their top graduates to the Minor League Baseball Umpire Development staff. Minor League Baseball Umpire Development then extends a formal invitation to participate and compete at the Minor League Baseball Advanced Course to those graduates who meet the requirements and criteria. Graduation from one of these schools does not guarantee an invitation to the Advanced Course or a job in Minor League Baseball

 

 

However, if you are looking to move up in amateur baseball there are plenty of camps/clinics/tryouts in anyones local area. Individual regions will have youth ball, HS, college level camps. These will make you a batter umpire, but these are not routes into MiLB. 

[ArchAngel72]

I am of the opinion when it comes to mask

Buy once cry once.  Your head is the most important piece of equipment you have protect it

 

The CP and shins in LL you can skimp by with cheaper stuff , Oddly to me with my experience the better shins were more helpful then the better CP

Get a good fitting jock and cup You will need it DO not think you will not get wacked there

Couple decent ball bags and a couple indicators

plate shoes you can probably wait on but once you get into the higher ages YES get a decent pair  you are on your feet for 3 hours all told treat your feet well.

 

Try not to suck and call them if they are close

 

[Ump242]

@eagle_12 , as I was walking I was using voice to text, so my punctuation was lacking.
So yes it sounds like I'm saying that all those clinics can get you into the minors but that is not the case.

I was saying there are many locally run schools, or clinics if you want to say that, that can help you better yourself s an umpire amateur umpire or otherwise (pro).

A few clinics are "sister clinics" to the wendelstadt school and those have the same instructors will be there, and last about 1 week long.

wendelstadt also runs an online prep course, a 1 week long at the end of November to help you prepare for the school and goes over much of what will be in the class room. (I found out about find prep course, through the umpire inspired podcast and started in either 2021 or 2020).

"There are many other schools that are locally run," (this I meant as clinics)

"to get into the minor leagues and maybe if you're lucky and talented and just good timing, you might get into the majors(, then) yes(,) the wendelstadt (umpire school in Florida) is the school to go to," ( wendelstadt is the only school now, with the advanced course, being like a part two if you finish at the top of your class a and are invited to go).

I have seen advertisements online saying that they are going to be opening other locations throughout the states. As to where those are don't ask me cuz I don't know. But I have heard Tennessee or thereabouts, might host one of them.


"then they do have the advanced course if you pass the wendelstadt school."

(If at that point you complete the advanced course, you get the options) 1)then you would go to the minor leagues, 2)get out on reserve, 3)or better luck, come back next year, to my understanding)

"Evans School turned into Peabody School and then (into mild academy and then) closed" (by MLB due to lack of proper training, as guys that were graduation from there were not as well trained as guys from wendelstadt)... Or so I've heard.

To be clear, I went to Jim Evans 2019 San Diego week and a half long clinic. I started late when I was 42, I'm 46 now. I have not been to and in the future sometime I will try to make it attempt to go to the wendelstadt school just to get the experience and get any additional training to better myself, but that won't be for a few years.

I've heard there are a couple good clinics in Arizona, there's a clinic in Washington state, as some umpires I met at a perfect game torment in Huntington Beach CA mentioned it. Texas is also high into baseball and there are week long clinics there.

Clinics are too me where you start, then you can put it to use, work at getting better, then when you can go to the wendelstadt school. Don't go there unprepared. You'll only hurt yourself, it's like putting a kid in catcher's gear for the first time in a game. You have to give him practice before you put them behind the plate during the game otherwise he can get himself hurt, in my opinion this is the same for umpires.

I love umpiring, it's become a passion more than just a hobby to me. If I could do it full time I would. But those cards aren't in the stars for me as I started way too late in life.

My recommendation is to go to as many clinics as you can, gain experience, get better at your trade, and most of all gain confidence, before going to the wendelstadt school.

I have a couple of my friends that have gone to both the Wendell stead School and when it was open to minor league training academy, and one of the things that they were both ding dong was being confident. Confidence only comes from experience and knowing the rules and the mechanics that you have to use to be in the right spot to be able to make the right call. Hence go to as many clinics as you can and get as much experience as you can.

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[Ump242]

Couple decent ball bags and a couple counters

Please please please if you're an umpire do not call these "counters", they are indicators, when you go to any clinic you will get dinged on for calling them counters. That's what players and coaches call them, umpires call them indicators

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[ArchAngel72]

10 minutes ago, Ump242 said:

 

 

Please please please if you're an umpire do not call these "counters", they are indicators, when you go to any clinic you will get dinged on for calling them counters. That's what players and coaches call them, umpires call them indicators

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my apologies

 

tell him about the thing on foul tips vs foul balls too ...

[Ump242]

my apologies
 
tell him about the thing on foul tips vs foul balls too ...

I wasn't trying to be a jerk, sorry if I came off that way

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[ArchAngel72]

Just now, Ump242 said:

I wasn't trying to be a jerk, sorry if I came off that way

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No worries  I did feel that slap worse than Chris Rock did though 😁

[Ump242]

No worries  I did feel that slap worse than Chris Rock did though 

That was so set up!!

That's what I think though, nothing like drama to stir things up...

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[kylehutson]

22 minutes ago, Ump242 said:

Please please please if you're an umpire do not call these "counters", they are indi-clicki-counters

FTFY  

[Thunderheads]

20 hours ago, Ump242 said:

There are many other schools that are locally run, to get into the minor leagues and maybe if you're lucky and talented and just good timing, you might get into the majors yes then wendelstadt is the school to go to, then they do have the advanced course if you pass the wendelstadt school.  Evans School turned into Peabody School and then closed.

However Jim Evans does run clinics throughout the United States. I took his San Diego clinic in 2019 it was a week and a half long and severely changed how I umpire. To the point where guys who I worked with regularly were like "what the hell? where did you go? what school did you go to because you've gotten drastically better."

From what I understand Jim Evans is planning on starting clinics again this year, and he did say he was on the road the last time I messaged him, so it's possible that he may already be running clinics. He is an awesome teacher a great orator and really really fun to learn from. He had two great assistance Nathan and Steven, I think it was.  

IIn California there was a school called Black and Blue run by a gentleman named Mike, but he is now in the NCAA rules committee, and so he had to drop that. However the umpires that helped him started a new school called umpire focus. It's new to this year 2022, should be sometime in October. There are several classes there's going to be a two-man week-long class, a three man beginners three week-long class, a three-man advanced week-long class, and a foreman class as well. I'm pretty sure if you search umpire focus that it'll come up I might even be umpirefocus.com .

TThere are also various other schools throughout the United States that are sister schools to windowstadt in the sense that the same instructors that are at wendelstadt, would be at those schools as well.  Windows that also runs an online prep School to get you ready for their courses at the physical school in Florida sometime in late November early December. Last year I believe it was about $600, so look out for that.

 

Why are you quoting something I said in 2018 that has NOTHING to do with this post?  

[Ump242]

Why are you quoting something I said in 2018 that has NOTHING to do with this post?  

I was replying to this post... I'm confused, how an I quotting something from 2018, when it was a reply to my comment from this week in 2022?

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[Thunderheads]

1 minute ago, Ump242 said:

I was replying to this post... I'm confused, how an I quotting something from 2018, when it was a reply to my comment from this week in 2022?

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here is what you quoted ...........

information wasn't even in the thread/posts

[Ump242]

I got no clue dude, I replied and it posted here... I'm using Tapatalk app on my phone, maybe it cross posted me? Or.. I dunno dude



Edited:


I was replying to[mention=465]eagle_12[/mention] I thought I quoted them
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[Thunderheads]

I got no clue dude, I replied and it posted here... I'm using Tapatalk app on my phone, maybe it cross posted me? Or.. I dunno dude



Edited:


I was replying to[mention=465]eagle_12[/mention] I thought I quoted them
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Lol.... may be a tapatalk issue

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[Rock Bottom]

Everyone has their personal favorites - usually what they own, but as an umpire who is just starting their first year (although I got in over 500 games my first 3, a lot for some, not for others, but in the Chicago burbs that's pretty good), I can tell you as a semi-new ump what I recommend:

- as others have said, buy once, cry once - better to invest in the good stuff right away

- All-Star FM4000 facemask - only 0.2 ounces heavier than the FM4000mag; then upgrade to the mag pads, which they sell separately.

- No matter which mask you get - get the All Star Cobalt Skull Cap - no, it's not cheap, but it's likely the cost of a single doctor's office or ER copay.  Plus I find wearing the mask much more comfortable with the skully vs a reg cap (and you can save money not buying so many caps)

- Force 3 shins - as close to a unanimous decision as you'll get on ump equipment

- Chest protectors seem to have the widest variety of opinion from what I read and hear - personally I love my All-Star CPU4000/System 7 but I know many find it too tight in the neck, and it's almost impossible to find new now as it has been replaced by the Cobalt

- I like the Diamond MMA cup much more than the Nutty Buddy, and I really like the Nutty Buddy compared to the OLD cup designs of my HS days

Good luck!!!

[Velho]

3 hours ago, Rock Bottom said:

I like the Diamond MMA cup much more than the Nutty Buddy, and I really like the Nutty Buddy compared to the OLD cup designs of my HS days

100%. I newly found this and love it. I took a square shot one bounced fastball Sunday and was fine (as fine as you can be). The cup itself has some flex in it and I think that helps. Also, their jock strap design with cup holder is excellent.

[eagle_12]

34 minutes ago, Velho said:

100%. I newly found this and love it. I took a square shot one bounced fastball Sunday and was fine (as fine as you can be). The cup itself has some flex in it and I think that helps. Also, their jock strap design with cup holder is excellent.

So the diamond has a “pocket” for the cup and it’s not “trapped” between a layer and a traditional jock, a la the nutty buddy system?  The diamond has intrigued me and I’ve stayed away from NB because it’s not secured.
 

I know they, and everyone else says it doesn’t move when worn right, I just know my luck. 

[wolfe_man]

8 hours ago, eagle_12 said:

So the diamond has a “pocket” for the cup and it’s not “trapped” between a layer and a traditional jock, a la the nutty buddy system?  The diamond has intrigued me and I’ve stayed away from NB because it’s not secured.
 

I know they, and everyone else says it doesn’t move when worn right, I just know my luck. 

I have both and normally wear the Diamond.  I honestly really like both, but the Diamond jock is worth it's weight in gold.  The Diamond jock does. not. move.  It's designed for kicking and fighting, so the running and squatting we do as umpires is right in its wheelhouse.  Best jock ever.  Nice wide straps too that roll less than other brands.

I've taken cup shots in both and I have to say the NB is more protective of a cup. I have the old NB hard cup (non-flex) and while it hurt more along the insides of my thighs when impacted, the boys were completely untouched.  But, the cup shot in the Diamond irritated the boys more because of the flex properties of the cup (not hurt, but irritated).