Getting started (a spinoff from "I Think I'm Done")

[The Man in Blue]

I am totally uncertain as to why that thread was locked, but I really wanted to address a post from @StrikeToWin ...

I was a member of my local association for HS ball. I do have an issue of not being able to get to early starts but even when I made myself available a couple of nights per week, I wouldn't get scheduled. I gave up trying to get off early to be at games and now don't call HS ball at all unless it's summer ball or showcase ball. I also chose to take time off this year after a fall ball game that I got yelled at for calls that were very easy and not even controversial other than they went against little Johnny's team. After that game, i went to the assignor and told him I was done for the fall season and wouldn't be available for the spring season either. Just tired of the BS. I will probably start umpiring again later this year, but the time off has been nice.

This is very real and frustrating to new officials.  My first year registered to do high school ball I received NO games.  My second year I received quite a few phone calls.  I wasn't any better, I hadn't worked any games.  However ADs in the area (at the time) didn't like to hire "first year" umpires (even if they have actually been umpiring for years in other orgs).  Essentially, you had to pay your dues for a year.  Somehow being on paper a second year made you better.

We are fortunate that many schools back home do their own hiring.  Sometimes it is hard to get a foot in the door with them, but once you do you should be in good shape.  Particularly with tournaments, many will offer you a contract for the next year at the current one.  A few schools do use assignors and, as @MadMax pointed out, the old boy network still plays heavy with the assignors.  I have found this is especially true with trying to get into college ball.  Back home, most of the college opportunities are JUCO.  Through my previous job, I've encountered and talked to a few of the coaches and a couple of ADs who have been complaining for years to the assignor they use about sending the same people over and over.  Specifically, they have been wanting new people being brought in but the assignor hadn't been doing that.  Our state high school association makes the same claims: they want new people in the post season, but then they keep assigning the same ones over and over.

I hate to say it, but unless you have a strong local association that actually recruits and trains, you just have to make friends to get in and advance.  I wish I had done more of that to help my career advance, but I'm a stubborn old fart who holds on to the romantic notion that working hard and improving my skills will pay off.

[Mudisfun]

In our HS unit here in Orange County, we are on the opposite side of the game counts. With the low number of umpires available, we have lots of 1st year guys assigned 20,30 even 40 games if they are available. They may be solo, Freshman/JV level games for the most part, but if you sign up and have availability, the assignor will work you until you cry mercy.

 

[umpstu]

2 hours ago, Mudisfun said:

In our HS unit here in Orange County, we are on the opposite side of the game counts. With the low number of umpires available, we have lots of 1st year guys assigned 20,30 even 40 games if they are available. They may be solo, Freshman/JV level games for the most part, but if you sign up and have availability, the assignor will work you until you cry mercy.

 

We're in the same situation in the Coachella Valley unit.   I hope we'll have more people next year.