Becoming a high school umpire

atg -- we have a number of umpires that participate in the Texas Forum, but you didn't mention what you mean by "in this area". If you mean North Texas, MMWS and/or SWAC can provide you with direction. If you are from South Texas, leftydad or H5AB can help. I admire your willingness to give back to the game in this way. We certainly can use another good ump --- we'll change your name to goodump#2.



Welcome to the message board.

I'm sorry. In Collin County around the Frisco/Plano border.

Interested in the structure, requirements, time commitment, pay, etc. Is there any training, or minimum requirements before starting?

Changeup?

Aroundthegame

Send a PM to MMWS or SWAC. MMWS is the president of the Collin County Chapter of TASO. SWAC Well . That would be your best bet is to contact one of those guys
You may also send me a PM and i can help you with the Dallas chapter of TASO.

You might Try Here
http://www.dallasbaseball.org/

Dallas Baseball Umpire Associaiton (DBUA) website. This site provides information about the Dallas Chapter of the Texas Association of Sports Officials - Baseball Division. The Dallas chapter provides officials for public and private school baseball programs for the Dallas Area.

quote:

Originally posted by aroundthegame:
I'm sorry. In Collin County around the Frisco/Plano border.

Interested in the structure, requirements, time commitment, pay, etc. Is there any training, or minimum requirements before starting?

Umpiring in NFHS states is set up basically the same... you have the state organization (TASO for you... PIAA for me) and local chapters....

Your state organization sets up the standards and administers the testing, sets policy, procedures, rules and mechanics standards and does your paperwork....

Your local Chapter will (or should) conduct meetings and provide your rules and mechanic interpretations and some actually book the games....

Time committment is pretty much what you can book.....if you have availabilty between 3:30 and 6:00 PM weekdays you can work all the time.....if not, you can still work HS baseball allbeit at a lesser schedule......

I do not know of an area that has TOO many umpires....and availability is the trump card, both good and bad......The bad side is that teams may not get the best umpire, just the most available umpire......

Pay is subjective as there is no national standard. It depends on many things and I would encourage you to reach out to your locals to get your information straight from the horses mouth. Just dont make it your first question........thats usually not met with much appreciation....

That being said, the pay can be as low as $45 to as much as $75, depending on your area.....In my area we get $50 for varsity and $45 for JV.

The training aspect is vital...Most umpires come into HS baseball from the youth umpiring ranks where they get the fundamentals.....It isnt impossible to go directly to HS baseball, but you will need training.....

HS and college coaches can get fired if they lose, so if you are lax in your rules knowledge and mechanics they will eat you alive......

You will need to study the NFHS rules and take a test to qualify. You should also study a mechanics manual to know where and how to umpire....

There are clinics offered by the state and other organizations and I recommend going to one every year.....

Of all the sports to officiate, baseball is the most costly......you will need uniforms and plate gear, registrations and in my opinion, liability insurance....

you can start here........

www.taso.org

best of luck.....

PM sent.

Briefly.........We meet for 2 hours every week in January & February for training. March is typically 3 meetings, with maybe 2 in April.

We also have a district wide clinic (4 chapters) on a weekend prior to the season starting. We also work scrimmage games for which you are not paid. We use these for more training.

There is a state wide meeting in January. Believe this year it's in Houston (or at least it was going to be.)

If you've called before you know the equipment isn't cheap.

You must have flexibility in your work schedule and family life. You will use a significant amount of your personal time from work.

As far as the pay..........Now THAT'S funny!!!!

quote:

As far as the pay..........Now THAT'S funny!!!!

I dont umpire for free.........But after you deduct all the costs for uniforms, registrations, clinics and isurance, I start off the season $300-$400 in the hole.........If you are in umpring for "the money" well....financially, you could do better as a greeter at walmart......

quote:

Originally posted by Mickey Mantle World Series:
PM sent.

Briefly.........We meet for 2 hours every week in January & February for training. March is typically 3 meetings, with maybe 2 in April.

We also have a district wide clinic (4 chapters) on a weekend prior to the season starting. We also work scrimmage games for which you are not paid. We use these for more training.

There is a state wide meeting in January. Believe this year it's in Houston (or at least it was going to be.)

If you've called before you know the equipment isn't cheap.

You must have flexibility in your work schedule and family life. You will use a significant amount of your personal time from work.

As far as the pay..........Now THAT'S funny!!!!

Not to mention that they sure do feed us coaches well in the pre-season get together!

In all honesty, the Collin County Chapter is one of, if not the best around. Good guys who call a good game and who don't need to be the center of attention. They let the kids determine the outcome on the field.

Thanks, guys.

WOW! Maybe I'm speaking out of turn here since I'm the new guy. But then again, since I'm new and don't really know anyone yet I'll go ahead:

I guess the powers that be at the UIL decided that umpires were making to much money. Holy Smoly!! I think I'll check into doing little league. Probably more money.

Schools may have a hard timme finding officials this year.

quote:

Originally posted by aroundthegame:
Schools may have a hard timme finding officials this year.

My experience is that the good officials do it because they love the game...the money is just extra.

Same goes for coaches!

I understand that. But to ask them to take personal time from work (or take off w/ no pay for some), drive to field, and work 2 games for $75???? WOW. They pay that much or more to do kids games and you don't have to take off of work.

Unless you're working older age group games (and even that is questionable) the quality of the games you umpire at the select/city league level are drastically different then HS baseball.

In the words of my boy..."HS baseball is wwwaaaayyyy better then select ball".

I would have to think that the atmosphere for the umpires is just as energizing at the HS level as it is for the players.

In my past experience, even at the select/city league level, you would have to miss work to get to the games (I've had to spend most of my vacation time over the past 7 years on baseball).

Just my opinion....

Can't wait for the season to get started...

quote:

Can't wait for the season to get started...

Only 113 days till it starts.

It's probably best that I don't comment yet.

Tell us what you know.