Gear Package

[Blue 5]

Just getting into umpiring. I was hoping to find a deal on a used gear package that others may have around, upgraded etc. Not interested in old/outdated stuff that has been in your attic. Prefer decent stuff that you no longer need. Let me know and thanks 

[BlueRanger]

What size shoe do you wear? What's your t-shirt size? And what's an approx. height/weight? This helps us know if the stuff we have will fit you.

I have a number of items that I was about to post for sale, but I'm happy to let you have first crack.

Feel free to shoot me a DM here and we can exchange numbers if you'd like.

[Blue 5]

Hey all! Very sorry about that. After posting, I said it would probably have been better posting sizes.. lol. 

So, I need the whole set up. Head to Toe. I'm brand new and not sure how my umpiring will go abs did not want to go all in at first. 

Shoes: Size 9

Shirt: Large 

Need at minimum a lightweight windbreaker and possibly the heavier fleece type zip coat.

All jackets and shirts should be navy with red/ white shoulder stripes

Pants: 34-36 with at least a 28 inseam or longer. Need Heather Grey.

Shin Guards:Found All-Star were more comfortable than Champro for me.

Mask: I'm open but did like the Champro Metal with the Dri-Fit type material over leather pads. 

Chest Protector:I liked the Champro with the plastic buckle clips over the metal D ring type fasteners. 

Also need a cup with compression shorts but unless that is new in box, think I'll splurge on that. But never know if someone has a spare. 

Also need counter, brush, ball bag, hat etc. 

[umpstu]

6 hours ago, Blue 5 said:

Just getting into umpiring. I was hoping to find a deal on a used gear package that others may have around, upgraded etc. Not interested in old/outdated stuff that has been in your attic. Prefer decent stuff that you no longer need. Let me know and thanks 

Where do you live? Maybe your local hs association might be able to help you out.

[834k3r]

If you're a veteran, check out Battlefields 2 Ballfields. They provide equipment scholarships (I got Champro mask, CP, and LG; my 3N2 shoes I quickly upgraded to NB) and pay for your NASO dues.

[BT_Blue]

Plus there have been a rash of guys hanging it up lately. @wolfe_man do you have anything still laying around

[Blue 5]

Thanks for the tips. I would not have access to the program mentioned above. I sent my number to a few guys and waiting to hear back. Hopefully something good comes of it as it's a decent investment as far start-up goes for officiating. When I went looking, I was thinking, I should have took more interest in wrestling officiating (former wrestler) I still have my old shoes and would just need a zebra shirt as I already had a whistle! I'll post if I do get things so everyone isn't looking for nothing.

[SeeingEyeDog]

@Blue 5, you seem to be off and running here with some good tips from others. I would avoid buying a pre-packaged "starter kit" unless you are working very low level games and or you are not certain if umpiring is for you. Most of the pre-packaged starter sets include poor quality equipment that either won't last or won't fully protect you.

I would prioritize your cup, your mask, your chest protector and your shin guards. When I say prioritize, I mean buy the best of those items you can in that order. I have bought lots of used equipment here and only had one issue, which was a design of the piece of equipment. Nothing I did or the seller did wrong. All of the other equipment I have purchased here was in great condition, fairly priced and arrived timely. Caveat emptor and welcome to The Craft, brother.

~Dawg

[Blue 5]

Yes... thanks for the input. I'm not sure if it's for me just yet, as I found the process was less than smooth with my state officiating organization. But I've been told getting through the process is the hardest part. I'm through it all, passed and am awaiting my card and credentials. 

But I want to be comfortable regardless of the level I'm at. Which to start will be JV and lower and summer ball of all ages. I'd rather have better used gear than cheap stuff that's making me uncomfortable. 

One question I did have was I've seen the dry fit type pads for mask, which seem comfortable to me but still many guys wearing leather pads. Any advantages to either??

[The Man in Blue]

@Blue 5, I think somebody asked (and I can understand if you don’t want to say), but where are you?  May be some folks on here who can better help you get going.

Baseball and softball are some of the hardest sports to get started in simply due to the cost of entry barrier.  I know we have an extreme shortage of wrestling officials around here, but I know nothing about startup costs past that.  The cheapest sport to get into that I am aware of is volleyball.

One of my criticisms over the years is that we complain about the shortage of officials, but we don’t do enough to help people actually get in, get games, and get training.  A few years back, a local org here was offering to fully fund people getting started into football and set them up with a full schedule.  Baseball and softball seem to still be stuck in the good-ole-boy days in many areas.  Older guys don’t want to help younger guys get in because it will push them out.  I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard, “I’ll give the assignor your number” followed by radio silence rather than: “Here is the assignor’s number.”  

[Blue 5]

Now funny you mention that...I actually was given my assigner's number by an ump (Ole timer) two years ago at one of my kids games. I took two years for me to attempt this.  Basically because my barrier was the conduct of fans and coaches. Coaches not so much as fans but that was my sticking point to my start up. 

[JonnyCat]

15 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

One of my criticisms over the years is that we complain about the shortage of officials, but we don’t do enough to help people actually get in, get games, and get training.  A few years back, a local org here was offering to fully fund people getting started into football and set them up with a full schedule.  Baseball and softball seem to still be stuck in the good-ole-boy days in many areas.  Older guys don’t want to help younger guys get in because it will push them out.  I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard, “I’ll give the assignor your number” followed by radio silence rather than: “Here is the assignor’s number.”  

This exactly. They still have that mentality that I don't want to lose games! I can't speak for other HS associations, but ours is just like that and has a SH*#ty recruiting and training program for the new entries. Unfortunately, it all starts at the top, and there is hardly any impetus for change. Veterans want to keep the status quo and get their games, recruits treated like crap both on the field and off, same lousy pay for anyone regardless of ability, and governing bodies like the California Interscholastic Federation that doesn't do SH*#!

CIF in California does absolutely nothing for its officials. They are silent on behavior standards, don't do any coaches training or behavior training, and don't address the shortage of officials in any way. They could easily be proactive and on the forefront of Behavior Standards with training, outreach programs, and setting the tone for change. Instead, they are the epitome of a good old boys network. 

Everyone on this planet knows that coaches and fans behavior are the number one reason why there are no sports officials, and it's been that way for at LEAST the past 10-15 years! What the Hell has CIF, or FED for that matter, done about it? Absolutely nothing.

[JonnyCat]

12 hours ago, Blue 5 said:

Now funny you mention that...I actually was given my assigner's number by an ump (Ole timer) two years ago at one of my kids games. I took two years for me to attempt this.  Basically because my barrier was the conduct of fans and coaches. Coaches not so much as fans but that was my sticking point to my start up. 

Behavior is the biggest obstacle. That and pay.

It would be real easy, say for the local governing body, (in my area the San Diego CIF section) to schedule mandatory coaches meetings where we as officials can talk about on field behavior, fan behavior, and player behavior. We could easily set some standards and educate people on what really is the problem of dwindling officials numbers. DUH, coaches and fans behaviors!

But do our local umpire associations, section associations, state associations, or national associations even TRY to do something? Hardly if anything, and certainly not collectively.

We just keep bouncing down the same road hoping something will magically change. Good luck with that.

[kylehutson]

10 hours ago, JonnyCat said:

They still have that mentality that I don't want to lose games!

I'm on the other end of that. By the middle of the season, I'm saying to my assigners "really, you don't have anybody else that can work these games???"

[BT_Blue]

@kylehutsonsame here! As the year wore on, I would want to work less and less.

[concertman1971]

Action i personally think HS organizations could take to help the younger (in games worked, not age) is the following:

1. All umpires are required to work at least one frosh, one jv game per season.

2. Penalty for not accepting or turning back the F/JV games is no post-season. 

3. Offer gear to 1st year guys. We have all see the gear dumps of veteran guys and then the other "veterans" take it because they are too cheap to buy their own new gear. Encourage the vets to give up old uniforms and get something new. (We all know the vet with the pants so faded they are pink, and the "black" shirt that is now chocolate in color)

I'm guessing the behavior of the coaches at the f/jv games would greatly improve if some veteran umpires reigned them in by restricting/ejecting when the behavior warranties. Young umpires are worried about 75 things all at once, and often each situation is the 1st time they are seeing it. Additionally,this would open up some V spots for these guys to get some instruction from other vets. 

Just my $0.02

@Blue 5 good luck this season

[BobUmp]

On 1/21/2023 at 2:00 PM, Blue 5 said:

Yes... thanks for the input. I'm not sure if it's for me just yet, as I found the process was less than smooth with my state officiating organization. But I've been told getting through the process is the hardest part. I'm through it all, passed and am awaiting my card and credentials. 

But I want to be comfortable regardless of the level I'm at. Which to start will be JV and lower and summer ball of all ages. I'd rather have better used gear than cheap stuff that's making me uncomfortable. 

One question I did have was I've seen the dry fit type pads for mask, which seem comfortable to me but still many guys wearing leather pads. Any advantages to either??

I find the leather pads are softer and more comfortable in the colder weather - say less than 45 F. They are like soft cushy warm couch cushions for your face. I use both ALL-STAR and Wilson leathers, and both seem to do OK in protection (I do HS Varsity and JUCO in the cold portion of spring).

Once the weather warms up, I switch to Team Wendys - they are super-protective (anti-concussion), comfortable and stay soft in warmer weather, and they wash up in the washing machine, with an overnight air-dry, and look like new!

Dry Fit is a valid option, but to me its a compromise on both leather and TWs - not as protective as TWs, not as soft as leather in the cold nor TWs in the warm.. So ultimately I traded dry-fits away. 

[umpstu]

3 hours ago, BobUmp said:

I find the leather pads are softer and more comfortable in the colder weather - say less than 45 F. They are like soft cushy warm couch cushions for your face. I use both ALL-STAR and Wilson leathers, and both seem to do OK in protection (I do HS Varsity and JUCO in the cold portion of spring).

Once the weather warms up, I switch to Team Wendys - they are super-protective (anti-concussion), comfortable and stay soft in warmer weather, and they wash up in the washing machine, with an overnight air-dry, and look like new!

Dry Fit is a valid option, but to me its a compromise on both leather and TWs - not as protective as TWs, not as soft as leather in the cold nor TWs in the warm.. So ultimately I traded dry-fits away. 

Agree about leather pads.  Love the All Star pads.