New Ump in Oregon Westside Youth Baseball

[ErichKeane]

Hi all-

I got recruited this spring to umpire my town's youth baseball games, NFS ruleset modified by "JBO".  Ages are ~4th grade to 8th grade across 3 different divisions (only 1 man I believe).  Seemingly the ump-shortage here has resulted in the individual towns needing to provide umps to games as the regional organization cannot guarantee umps, so I'm primarily going to work out of the fields down the street from me!  Last year apparently they had a couple of cancelled games due to lack of officals (and did some last moment facebook recruiting for anyone willing, and I picked up a game last year!).

SO, after a brief umpire seminar held at a local school, roughly 3 hours of work, and a few hundred bucks in gear/equipment, I'll be covering the plate a few nights a week starting next month.  I'll likely be mostly lurking here, but wanted to say hi anyway!  Any folks on Oregon's west-side with advice/etc is obviously welcome and appreciated

Hobby wise, I've got a decent hobby machine shop that I play in, and a sports car that I tinker with ('90 300zx TT), plus play softball 1 or 2 nights a week. 

so, all!

 

 

[Richvee]

Welcome. 

[ErichKeane]

Looks like I'm finally going to get a pair of games tomorrow!  I haven't done any yet, but a Brest Cancer tourney needs a base ump for some games on day 1 of the 2 days. 

I still haven't had my pants hemmed, so they'll be safety pinned, and I don't have base shoes, so I"ll be wearing plate shoes, but at least I'll be getting some work.

[Velho]

  Base shoes don’t have to be anything special, short of them not being bright colored 🤣

[ErichKeane]

11 minutes ago, Velho said:

  Base shoes don’t have to be anything special, short of them not being bright colored 🤣

I've been trying to think about it, but all I have are brown steel toe boots, and my blue softball cleats!  I actually haven't worn sneakers in a few years, so my plate shoes might just be the most appropriate shoes I have.

[umpstu]

4 minutes ago, ErichKeane said:

I've been trying to think about it, but all I have are brown steel toe boots, and my blue softball cleats!  I actually haven't worn sneakers in a few years, so my plate shoes might just be the most appropriate shoes I have.

Don't wear plate shoes on the bases.  Break down and buy a cheap pair of black tennis shoes.  And since this is your first season get out to your local high school and try to catch a couple of games and watch the umpires.  There are also videos on youtube.   Some things are different nowadays,but basics are basics.  

 

[ErichKeane]

I didn't have time to go out for shoes, but found a set of old gym shoes that were mostly black.  HOWEVER, when I went to the field, the other ump was mid-way through 4 games, so let me just do the plate for both of my games!  So I just was able to use my plate shoes, and had somehow forgotten my mask!

I learned quite a bit, both on things I need to be better at, and things I needed to learn about my equipment (and undershirt and long under-pants aren't optional!), so it was a good first day!

In general, I had only a couple of iffy calls (particularly LH hitter outside side of the plate), and had to keep catching myself from over-explaining balls, and a few mechanic things (using the LEFT hand on the mask is strange to me having been a RH catcher my whole life!), but I think I didn't do too bad! 

Anyway, surprisingly wiped out for only running 2 games! 

[conbo61]

6 hours ago, ErichKeane said:

I didn't have time to go out for shoes, but found a set of old gym shoes that were mostly black.  HOWEVER, when I went to the field, the other ump was mid-way through 4 games, so let me just do the plate for both of my games!  So I just was able to use my plate shoes, and had somehow forgotten my mask!

I learned quite a bit, both on things I need to be better at, and things I needed to learn about my equipment (and undershirt and long under-pants aren't optional!), so it was a good first day!

In general, I had only a couple of iffy calls (particularly LH hitter outside side of the plate), and had to keep catching myself from over-explaining balls, and a few mechanic things (using the LEFT hand on the mask is strange to me having been a RH catcher my whole life!), but I think I didn't do too bad! 

Anyway, surprisingly wiped out for only running 2 games! 

I am always more tired after a plate game.  Its the non-stop concentration that wears you down more than any physical exertion.

[ErichKeane]

Looks like they either liked me, or they are desperate for umps!  I got a call offering me a tourney next weekend for 11U AAA, 6 games at <2 hrs a piece next Sunday!

[ErichKeane]

As an interesting data point for those who are interested, I went through my credit card statement/etc and figured out my 'total costs to get started'.  I'm sure this is not all necessary, and others have done a better job at this, but I figured some might enjoy nit-picking it :

Costs:
Ump-Attire Gear:	229.99
Manuals:	59.76
Plate Shoes:	35
Bag/Brush/Indicators:	24.99
Belt:	14.95
Watch:	19.75
Underarmor pants:	28.8
Underarmor shirt:	19.99
Cup:	29.99
Duffel Bag:	34.99
Hat1:	20.99
Hat2:	19.79
Ump Shirt:	22.9
Ump Pants:	59.99
Black Knee-Socks	5.99

Total:

627.87

 

 

Gear Set I ended up with was the "ChamPro Varsity Umpire Set", which I probably should have shopped around better and saved ~$50!  Even Ump-Attire lowered the price since I bought it, but they are significantly more expensive than everyone else. 

For the manuals: I bought the NFHS Rule Book, illustrated Rule Book, Case Book, and Umpire Manual.  I find the Rule Book and Case Book to be necessary, the Illustrated Rule Book is fairly worthless, and the Umpire Manual is sorta worthless as well.

For the Plate shoes, I got lucky and found some lightly used 3N2s in my size on ebay, so I saved a bunch there.

For the "Bag/Brush/indicators", the gear-set was SUPPOSED to come with this, but it wasn't in the box.  Ump-Attire sent out a set of them, but shipping was slow enough i was afraid I was going to be without for a game, so I bought some separately.

I needed a watch with a stop-watch for time-keeping, so i just got a cheap casio digital that is waterproof and has a 10 year battery.

Underarmor shirt/pants I ordered after my 1st time, I found that having clothes under the gear is a necessity!

I bought a cheap SUPER LARGE (TOO LARGE!) duffel bag) to carry all my gear.  Just a cheap one on amazon that looked like it would work.

For hats, I bought a 4 and a 6 stitch one.  I used the 4 behind the plate, but thought it would be too small of a brim for the field.

 

I got $100 for my 2 games so far ($55/game, minus 5 a game for 'umpire dues', which amount to 35 in the end).  After tax (including a HIGH Oregon income tax!), I'll probably end up at around -$570 at the moment.

Seems pretty clear to me that getting 'new' umps is likely tough in part due to pretty darn high startup costs!

[LMSANS]

On 4/25/2022 at 12:43 PM, ErichKeane said:

As an interesting data point for those who are interested, I went through my credit card statement/etc and figured out my 'total costs to get started'.  I'm sure this is not all necessary, and others have done a better job at this, but I figured some might enjoy nit-picking it :

Costs:
Ump-Attire Gear:	229.99
Manuals:	59.76
Plate Shoes:	35
Bag/Brush/Indicators:	24.99
Belt:	14.95
Watch:	19.75
Underarmor pants:	28.8
Underarmor shirt:	19.99
Cup:	29.99
Duffel Bag:	34.99
Hat1:	20.99
Hat2:	19.79
Ump Shirt:	22.9
Ump Pants:	59.99
Black Knee-Socks	5.99

Total:

627.87

 

 

Rule book and case book are $7.50 each.get a combo hat to begin with. You don't need the duffle bag right out of the box. Most of the items you purchased will last multiple years, so don't compare one year earnings to long term expenditures. As you go along, you will upgrade or add additional items. I budget about $300/year to upgrade/add to my equipment. I make between $3k and $4K for about 50 games. I could easily make $10k - $15k, if I wanted to work that much.

It all depends on where you are and who you know. If you're in this for the money, you're in it for the wrong reason or you need to get to pro school in January.

[ErichKeane]

10 minutes ago, LMSANS said:

Rule book and case book are $7.50 each.get a combo hat to begin with. You don't need the duffle bag right out of the box. Most of the items you purchased will last multiple years, so don't compare one year earnings to long term expenditures. As you go along, you will upgrade or add additional items. I budget about $300/year to upgrade/add to my equipment. I make between $3k and $4K for about 50 games. I could easily make $10k - $15k, if I wanted to work that much.

It all depends on where you are and who you know. If you're in this for the money, you're in it for the wrong reason or you need to get to pro school in January.

I was more judging 'start up costs' more than anything.  I recognize this will be amortized over time, but the problem in general is how much money you have to spend before making any money. For me, when I considered this a few years ago, it was tough to justify ~$500 for a 'new hobby'.  I thought it would be useful to share. 

[ErichKeane]

As an update to my above numbers... I ended up having to spend another $70 on a navy and baby-blue ump shirt.

Additionally, on the Champro gear set:

1- The ball bag is kinda meh
2- The brush is a wood one, but the handle is huge
3- The clicker is the ones made of cheap sheet metal, so not a huge fan.
4- The chest protector is pretty nice, it has quite good protection and is light, and seems to be comfortable.
5- The shin guards have good protection, but aren't particularly comfortable.  "Some day" I'll invest in the Force3 shinguards.
6- The mask is kinda bad.  Its nice and light, but visibility is mediocre and I don't feel particularly well protected in it.

For 1-3, I ended up with other stuff when I was originally shopping. For #6, I got a Force3 V2 Defender on here today for another $160, so it brings my total costs pretty high so far 😕  I still need to spring for another $120 for the shinguards, but then  I think I'm pretty good for equipment.

[MadMax]

1 hour ago, ErichKeane said:

I ended up having to spend another $70 on a navy and baby-blue ump shirt.

This is a d@mn3d f#çk!n travesty! They – whoever "they" are – should be giving away these two variations of shirt! 

Heck, ya should have said something about needing shirts... I would have sent you at least two, in these colors, of any size ya need. We have _piles_ of them. Not worth it to even take them to Goodwill.

[ErichKeane]

The problem is the league has a "wear whatever color you want, as long as you match!" Rule. I did a tourney as a "floater" which requires that I can step in at any moment, so I needed a shirt to match anyone, which meant making sure I had all 3 of the standard colors.

They were a little more expensive because I had to buy them same day at a local store.

If you have a bunch of shirts in all the colors, perhaps there is some use sorting them into sizes in groups of the 3 colors and seeing if you could make them available or new umps?

One thing that shocked me, and why I made the initial spreadsheet is how expensive it was to start. I considered myself lucky to find a gear set for $200, not realizing everything else that needs buying and how quickly it adds up!

 

I spent more than I had to, and it might be nice to have a "beginners buying guide" somewhere to save folks from my fate

[Velho]

10 hours ago, ErichKeane said:

One thing that shocked me, and why I made the initial spreadsheet is how expensive it was to start. I considered myself lucky to find a gear set for $200, not realizing everything else that needs buying and how quickly it adds up!

I'm saving up now for once my son's is done with baseball (and no longer taking 3 days a week off my schedule) and my work schedule gets adjusted, if not removed . Not for gear though. Saving up for flowers and dinners with my wife.

[ErichKeane]

Welp, I went spending again!  I had two absolutely MISERABLE days of games in wet weather (on turf, so they try to get the games in anyway), including some freezing hail that made my days awful.

I opted to spend another ~$92(shipped!) for an umpire fleece jacket.  I figured I would NOT want to go through that again. 

Mothers day was 3 9U games (Solo) with a crowd full of soaked and grumpy mothers, and a field full of kids!  I opted to let the kids skip stepping on home-plate when it wasn't close, and instructed coaches to towel-off balls and swap them out every time we got a chance. 

Nice part of the weather is the mother-peanut-gallery (which I've discovered is worst for 9U!) was basically silent

[BLWizzRanger]

9 hours ago, ErichKeane said:

Nice part of the weather is the mother-peanut-gallery (which I've discovered is worst for 9U!) was basically silent

But.... 9U Mothers should be at peak attractiveness.  That should have given some visual relief... 🤣

[ErichKeane]

2 minutes ago, BLWizzRanger said:

But.... 9U Mothers should be at peak attractiveness.  That should have given some visual relief... 🤣

I'd prefer ugly-yet-quiet moms   Plus, at 9U you gotta keep your head on a swivel to avoid getting hit by a ball/bat/etc at every moment.