Former Umpires Coming Back?

[ilyazhito]

Are there umpires out there who used to umpire, stopped doing it, and then came back?

 

I'm curious, because I started umpiring in 2017, stopped after COVID, but I have thought about coming back to the diamond. I currently officiate high school and college football and basketball. I tried out for college baseball, but my high school assigner at the time told me I had no chance, because of the high amount of ex-pro umpires in the college ranks. I also realized that umpiring baseball would be incompatible with a full-time job, because baseball games start early (as early as 2:30, most commonly between 3:30 and 4:30), especially on fields without lights. 

If you or anyone you know, came back to umpiring, how did it work? How difficult was it to brush up on the rules again, get equipment all over again, and re-start?

I have thought about doing it, because my former association, MAC-NVBUA apparently has a shortage of umpires. When I was working a HS soccer game (in VHSL, soccer is a spring sport), I noticed that the baseball umpire was working by herself. If this is a typical occurrence, I feel bad for the umpires.

I am an accountant, so the early part of the spring season will overlap with busy season. Luckily, a lot of VA baseball games start at 6 PM or later, because VA baseball fields are lighted, unlike fields in MD. If it won't be too difficult to get back into baseball, I might do it after I get my CPA. 

[Umpy]

I umpired for awhile ~15 years ago, and got back into it last year because my nephew's Little League had no umpires.  It all came right back and I'm finding doing exclusively Little League games is a lot lower stress than doing adult and high school age groups.  The quality of baseball is not there of course, and its more fun than profitable, and other umpires look at me like I'm nuts not taking high school games, but its nice to have it as just a hobby.

[tpatience]

If you can do it, do it. On another note, unless you’re looking to get picked up in a major D1 conference, you should’ve gone to whatever tryout your college group was having. Lower levels of college ball are hurting for umpires. Now is the best time to get looked at 

[ilyazhito]

4 hours ago, tpatience said:

If you can do it, do it. On another note, unless you’re looking to get picked up in a major D1 conference, you should’ve gone to whatever tryout your college group was having. Lower levels of college ball are hurting for umpires. Now is the best time to get looked at 

I was trying out. The problem was that my high school assigner, who also assigned MD JUCO baseball, said that I don't have a chance working college baseball because of the amount of ex-pros. I might try out again if I get back into HS baseball (and if I get a job that will allow me to take off early to work NCAA and/or NJCAA baseball). 

[FranklinT]

Took a few years off about ten years ago - 2014 to 2016 (worked a small amount of high school in 16) then took some more time off and came back to a full high school schedule and few days a week summer in 2019.  Some of it was due to work and the difficulty of sacrificing so much to make $65-70 a night and give up so much.  I missed it and came back and have been working a semi regular HS schedule since then.  For us amateur guys, I say take it or leave it and you only make it a priority if you want to.  If you have family obligations or just want to sit around the house and not work, thats a personal choice.  Gotta prioritize yourself.

[Richvee]

6 hours ago, ilyazhito said:

I was trying out. The problem was that my high school assigner, who also assigned MD JUCO baseball, said that I don't have a chance working college baseball because of the amount of ex-pros. I might try out again if I get back into HS baseball (and if I get a job that will allow me to take off early to work NCAA and/or NJCAA baseball). 

I've been doing Juco and D3 in NJ for 5 years. I don't see many ex- AA-AAA-MLB guys doing JUCO/D3. 

[tpatience]

6 hours ago, ilyazhito said:

I was trying out. The problem was that my high school assigner, who also assigned MD JUCO baseball, said that I don't have a chance working college baseball because of the amount of ex-pros. I might try out again if I get back into HS baseball (and if I get a job that will allow me to take off early to work NCAA and/or NJCAA baseball). 

The ex pros are going straight to the SEC, ACC, BIG 10/12. Unless you’re trying for that, there are plenty of spots

[ilyazhito]

Thank you for your support. I'll need to figure out if baseball will fit in to my work and offseason commitments to my two collegiate sports (I am a women's JUCO and NCAA D3 football official). If it does, I would love to come back, and perhaps work college baseball if I get that opportunity.

 

Then I might be one of those few officials who works 3 college sports. Bill Vinovich and Gene Steratore worked both NCAA basketball and Division I-A (FBS), later NFL football. 

[JSam21]

On 11/20/2024 at 6:25 AM, ilyazhito said:

I was trying out. The problem was that my high school assigner, who also assigned MD JUCO baseball, said that I don't have a chance working college baseball because of the amount of ex-pros. I might try out again if I get back into HS baseball (and if I get a job that will allow me to take off early to work NCAA and/or NJCAA baseball). 

You have ample opportunity to work college baseball. High level D1... maybe not with the umpires coming out of pro ball. I have ZERO professional experience and work D2 baseball. D3, NAIA, JUCO... if you can work, there are opportunities to work.

 

And @tpatience can attest that I am mediocre at best. 

[BigBlue4u]

I don't agree with your high school assigner.  There are a number of umpires who are working D1 without the benefit of professional baseball or professional umpire schools.  The classic example is the umpire who finished number one at one of the, then, two major umpire schools.  He lasted one year. Some ex-pro umpires don't make it because of various issues including attitude and the inability to manage the college game.  Today's non-pro people are working D1 because they took the time to attend as many clinics as they could. They also worked as many college scrimmages as they could. If possible, have someone with D1 experience take a look at you and tell you what he thinks. When I was working, I was an observer for our association which worked all levels of college ball from small college to D1. Believe me, I could tell in about one inning if a person was a possible candidate. Some take less time than that. Like the guy who placed his mask on home plate prior to the home plate meeting, .......ah .. no thanks.

[MadMax]

On 11/20/2024 at 6:25 AM, ilyazhito said:

On 11/20/2024 at 1:41 AM, tpatience said:

 

I was trying out. The problem was that my high school assigner, who also assigned MD JUCO baseball, said that I don't have a chance working college baseball because of the amount of ex-pros.

There’s another possibility here; granted it’s a bit backhanded and insidious, and I wouldn’t state that these are this man’s intentions without more evidence… 

but… 

Perhaps that HS assigner is trying to dissuade you (from college) so he doesn’t lose your availability for HS and JuCo under his purview. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Don’t know maybe so? 
Not everyone has your best interests in mind, or bereft of some sort of interest served to their own part.