What does everyone work during the summer and fall?

[orangebird]

Kind of a basic question, but I'm curious how everyone handles the months with baseball weather but without an NCAA and/or HS season taking place. Both of my youth orgs have fall ball so that'll occupy me for this year but definitely curious how people working higher levels with more experience than me approach the summer and fall

[JonnyCat]

11 minutes ago, orangebird said:

Kind of a basic question, but I'm curious how everyone handles the months with baseball weather but without an NCAA and/or HS season taking place. Both of my youth orgs have fall ball so that'll occupy me for this year but definitely curious how people working higher levels with more experience than me approach the summer and fall

I would imagine it depends where you live. In my area, SoCal, we have baseball year round with tournaments and travel-ball. There is almost always something going on. 

I think a lot of guys do other sports in the off season, particularly in cold weather states.

You might want to look whether your area has tournaments and/or travel-ball in the summer and fall. You may have adult baseball, too. I know there are a lot of adult softball leagues around, as well. Those might be additional opportunities.

Or you could just be a road warrior like @MadMax  

[Kevin_K]

🏐Volleyball! 🏐

[MadMax]

26 minutes ago, JonnyCat said:

in the off season,

What is this… off-season… of which you speak? 

I’m adjacent to baseball over 10 months of the year. From 2018 – 2023, it was all 12 months. I had my hip replaced in August of 2023, and took 6 weeks off for rehab. Then got back to doing baseball that October thru to Thanksgiving. Took December off, but was right back to baseball – in Southern California (Hi 👋🏼 @umpstu!) – in January, leading right into college and MiLB Spring Training in February. 

Now, and going forward, I’ll be taking half of September, all of December and half of January off so as to do productive work away from a baseball field. That may change, too, but that’s the projection for right now; I spend a lot of time on the Road; I have to go where the baseball is. 

I have also done soccer and hockey officiating, as well, but as I’ve been requested and invited to more baseball places, those opportunities have faded to the background. 

Honestly, I’d rather do a 10U soccer or hockey game than a 10U baseball game. Far less things being thrown at you. 

[orangebird]

9 minutes ago, MadMax said:

Honestly, I’d rather do a 10U soccer or hockey game than a 10U baseball game. Far less things being thrown at you. 

Literally or metaphorically? 

[MadMax]

On 4/27/2025 at 12:56 PM, orangebird said:

Literally or metaphorically? 

Yes. 

Since you walked down this aisle of the store, let’s talk metaphysically – if you’re aspiring to perfect your umpiring tools and skills for the lofty reaches of the collegiate and professional game, then why would you retard (the correct application of the word’s definition) your senses and awareness so as to do a limited-in-everything game… on a repetitive basis, especially? 

Would I use my $15,000 panel-cutting tablesaw and Japanese-made dovetail joinery saw – and handcut dovetail joints – to make a kid’s sandbox? Likely not. It would be a waste of my time and resources. And, in the case of that Japanese saw, it would blunt the blade. 

Same can be said here. Once you’ve been seeing and calling 90+ mph, and having to make the footwork – in a 60-90 field – to adjudge a DP being turned within 4 seconds where participants’ actions in this game matters (ie. there are careers or money at stake), on a daily basis, why would you handcuff yourself, and drag an anchor over the side to “turn down” your attention-to-detail? Why would you want to expand your strike zone, that you’ve labored hard to build? Why would you want to soften your tolerance of movements-that-could-be-balks? Why would you want to “turn off” your acquired, now-instinctual reactions to read a batted ball “this way”, and do “that” (perform a certain movement or mechanic)? 

Is someone who drives double-trailer OTR tractor-trucks with a CDL-A, routinely jumping into a delivery van, that doesn’t require anything more than a valid driver’s license? 

Waste of time, waste of resources, waste of skills. 

Let me be clear, I’m not speaking down, or belittling our fellow umpires who do youth baseball. If an assigner (who knows me, and I know them) is in a pinch, and cannot find anyone else to do a 10U game on short-notice, yeah, I’ll do it. But I’ve also had assigners move other guys around to do a 10U game, while they’ll put me on that now-open 16U or 17U game. Not a “better” skill-set; a more contextually effective skill-set. 

Development is gradual, but it does matter. I’d be a fool to say that I jumped right into College-level baseball. Instead, I started with 8U, and 9U, and 10U, just like most others. At some point, though, you step up and step through to the next level… but I say this realistically – you do not benefit from going back. Sure, there’s value in going back, so as to help an assigner you value, or the (baseball) community, or a developing umpire, but there’s no benefit to your tools and skills – only wear and tear. 

I’ve witnessed once-pro umpires reduced to mean, bitter, arrogant tyrants on a 11U baseball field (50-70), because some daddy-coach questioned their rules knowledge, or their strike zone, or their… you’re kidding me… “unapproachability” (“I’m only asking a question, Blue!”). 

In a literal sense, I’m far, far more likely to get hit by a wayward pitch, or a batted ball, or a (bad) overthrow, or a flung bat, or get stepped on (goodbye Japanese plate shoes!) in a < 12U game than I am in any higher-level game… except maybe 13U, playing on 60-90 for the first time. Scary. 🫣 

I keep my arsenal of gear and uniforms in great shape for a reason – because I need it to look impressive, and function flawlessly when I’m doing pro-level baseball. There are guys who advocate for, and themselves use, a raft (outside protector) when doing youth baseball. I’m not going to shun or shame them for doing so, but I myself never will while I’m calling games at the levels I’m working, because why would I want to change my engrained plate stance and mechanics for a raft? 🤔 

So! I’d much rather run around at a light jog, do some cardio, blow my whistle a few times, and say “Advantage! Play on!” for 60-90 minutes… and get paid for it. Easy. 

 

 

[SeeingEyeDog]

Once high school season ends, we have an extensive travel league schedule in my market (8U - 18U), men's leagues from 20+ to 80+ age groups, American Legion baseball, and then various college prospect showcases and various youth tournaments.

And then, the highlight of my year...I will spend a week at Cooperstown All-Star Village doing 12U on the intermediate field at $75 a game and about 15 games for the week. Cafeteria meals and bunkhouse accommodations included. They still need umpires: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=f3898e95-5584-4b60-ab47-a239dd63916a&ccId=19000101_000001&lang=en_US&source=EN&selectedMenuKey=CareerCenter&jobId=544786

~Dawg

[orangebird]

3 hours ago, Kevin_K said:

🏐Volleyball! 🏐

How'd you arrive at that sport? Feels a bit less mainstream than working soccer or basketball, etc 

(Not to dismiss it as a sport, just curious)

[The Man in Blue]

I work volleyball also.  For me, it was having daughters who played almost nonstop for several years, including one into college.

Guys that I umpired softball with got me into volleyball.  I thought, “I have watched thousands of games with my two daughters playing, I know this game!”  I remember my first game … middle school game … and I am not sure what sport I was watching.  I was clueless.  The game — whatever game — is very different from spectating to officiating.  I had been around baseball my whole life, so I didn’t notice the transition as much.

To the OP …

March starts high school season. (March, April, May)

May transitions to “summer” tournaments.  That used to mean switching to softball for me, but the local orgs fell apart while I was in Mississippi.  In MS, I only worked baseball.  After I came back, I found a good baseball outfit I like working for.  I try not to start that till school is out (June).  That will run through July.  Some years I try to travel, some years I try to stay home.  (Thank you for the reminder, @SeeingEyeDog!)

August begins middle school ball, and it runs to September.

September starts HS volleyball, but I try not to work much of that some years.  It runs to November.  I don’t work any club leagues.

Most of November and December off.  January start MS volleyball through February.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

When I was in Mississippi, it was baseball from March to November.  
 

My son is aspiring to make to the pros.  I am trying to convince him he needs to not come home after this summer, but instead stay out west or go south where he can work 9+ months out of the year.  I need to connect him with @MadMax for some mentoring.  😁

[Kevin_K]

Many moons ago I found myself teaching across the hall from a local baseball legend - coach, umpire, MLB scout - who was a career teacher. As such, he understood the unfortunate necessity of having many irons in the fire to keep the revenue stream consistent. He officiated volleyball in the off season from baseball.

He suggested that I give it a whirl and put me in contact with the local VB officials association. While enrolled in the cadet class I discovered that most schools in my area have girls volleyball in the fall. I found that I really enjoyed the game and the vast majority of the people associated with the game. As an added bonus, there have been no rainouts, the gyms are never too cold to play volleyball, and most parents have little real knowledge of the game.

I think I have had some success in the game. Over more then 20 years, I have had the chance to work multiple state finals, the tournament of state champions, and many other top level matches. This year my association elected me as its president and I hope to bring a lot of the same things I have learned in umpiring to volleyball that seem to be lacking - like nice looking shoes, clean shirts, and an attention to mechanics that offer everyone some credibility even if they aren't very good.

Over the last 10 years or so I have mixed boys volleyball into my spring calendar. I believe this has made me better as an umpire because I don't feel burned out from the day after day of calling balls and strikes because I almost never get a base job. The boys also make me a better girls volleyball official because the boys game is so much faster than the girls.

It is definitely not less mainstream around here and I think if more people watched or played volleyball they would find that it has strategies, teamwork, skill positions and competition that matches any other team sport. Find a volleyball group and join it! You will not regret it!

[dumbdumb]

4 hours ago, orangebird said:

How'd you arrive at that sport? Feels a bit less mainstream than working soccer or basketball, etc 

(Not to dismiss it as a sport, just curious)

just like something i heard about the air force, u will always have a roof over your head. volleyball, basketball pretty much yes, football, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, baseball no.

there is a lot of opportunity. middle school, high school, ncaa, olympic, usa travel. yes it is more women than men, but those women's scholarships can help good ole dad out. several others on here work it, and i think @yawetag from the old days was giving it a try, which is when i googled about volleyball.. i just like watching it, but you might want to try it like kevin k said. good luck if you do.

[umpstu]

10 hours ago, MadMax said:

What is this… off-season… of which you speak? 

I’m adjacent to baseball over 10 months of the year. From 2018 – 2023, it was all 12 months. I had my hip replaced in August of 2023, and took 6 weeks off for rehab. Then got back to doing baseball that October thru to Thanksgiving. Took December off, but was right back to baseball – in Southern California (Hi 👋🏼 @umpstu!) – in January, leading right into college and MiLB Spring Training in February. 

Now, and going forward, I’ll be taking half of September, all of December and half of January off so as to do productive work away from a baseball field. That may change, too, but that’s the projection for right now; I spend a lot of time on the Road; I have to go where the baseball is. 

I have also done soccer and hockey officiating, as well, but as I’ve been requested and invited to more baseball places, those opportunities have faded to the background. 

Honestly, I’d rather do a 10U soccer or hockey game than a 10U baseball game. Far less things being thrown at you. 

I'm thinking I work almost every  month with the exception of August and only half of September. It's way beyond being too hot. And I will not do travel ball or adult league ball.

[JSam21]

I am a dad during the summer and fall. I'm not home essentially every weekend from February 1st to the middle of May. My wife makes ton of sacrifices to allow me to be able to work the schedule that I do during the spring. This year the spring got extended a week. 

In the spring, the family works around my schedule. In the summer and fall, I work around my family's schedule. I have 7 open dates for the summer college league that I work with. I will start working those when we get back from vacation in the end June. 

That week's vacation is my "off season" because it will be right back into the gym to get ready for camps in fall. 

[AtlUmp]

When I was in Georgia we had all sorts of tournaments, adult leagues, and local travel teams from February through October. You just have to prepare for the summer cause some days may be fine but others will be 95-105, 70-80% humidity, no clouds, and no breeze. You also have HS umpires do softball in the fall.

Just moved to VA, I know there are plenty of adult leagues but not sure what else.

[grayhawk]

It's mostly tournaments for Perfect Game, Prospect Wire, etc. as well as the Area Code Games (the only games in the month of August here). These tournaments go on all summer, fall and into the winter here in So Cal. I will ONLY work 2 games/day max in these tourneys and they are all 2 man, so a plate and a base. There are also off-season scrimmages at the local colleges which are sometimes a pain because they want to go 12-14 innings often.

[834k3r]

On 4/27/2025 at 9:44 AM, orangebird said:

Kind of a basic question, but I'm curious how everyone handles the months with baseball weather but without an NCAA and/or HS season taking place. Both of my youth orgs have fall ball so that'll occupy me for this year but definitely curious how people working higher levels with more experience than me approach the summer and fall

Years prior, I would work the LL District/State tournaments. This year, I'm not working LL, so I'll probably work a lot of travel ball and Legion games. Up here, we don't have fall ball because of weather. 🥶

[BLarson]

I do NFL Flag Football games in the fall.   Every Sunday for 2 months...4-5 each Sunday.

[concertman1971]

On 4/27/2025 at 9:44 AM, orangebird said:

how everyone handles the months with baseball weather but without an NCAA and/or HS season taking place

1. Take a nap at 2pm on a Sunday

2. Ride my bike to the Pacific Ocean and back daily.

3. Sit by the pool and "work"

4. Take a nap on a Saturday.

5. Go to Happy Hour during the week with friends.

6. Have space in my trunk for things other than gear.

7. Drive places without the constant "ticking" sound of the dry cleaners pants hanger ticking on the glass of the driver side rear window.

8. Work 3 weekends in Nor Cal for the Pioneer League (on MY schedule)

Those are just a few