how to become an ump?

quote:

Originally posted by 20dad:
i know the natural progresion.LL, babe ruth,legion. high school ball.

but what would the recomended path be once you've done LL and want to move on? maybe babe ruth?

is it diffent every where or kind of the same? do you join an organization?

looking for a new hobby, all winter to get it done. thanks in advance.

There is, or rather there need be no such progression. Contact a local HS coach or AD to get the access information on the association that handles their games. Training is normally available.

Normally, you'd work Frosh and JV until you demonstrate proper mechanics, conistency, rules knowledge and game management skills, not necessarily in that order.

I began umpiring over twenty years ago and have yet to work a LL game. Instead, I begn at the HS level and have worked Senior Legion, JUCO, D-III, D-1 and as a fill in at the Single A level of the minor leagues.

Go for it, and don't limit yourself by adopting an artificial "progression."

There is no disgrace in working LL, and I know of several D-1 umpires who do so. However, they chose to do so after successful college careers.

what is meant by a patched ump? do you need a "patch" for every league? is it a prerequiset to attend clinics? that last question was a dumb one i'm sure, just trying to get a clear path.

quote:

Originally posted by 20dad:
what is meant by a patched ump? do you need a "patch" for every league? is it a prerequiset to attend clinics? that last question was a dumb one i'm sure, just trying to get a clear path.

A "patched umpire" is a slang term for someone who is certified or registered to call a certain league or level.

However, being a patched umpire does not mean that person is qualified or trained. Each level has their own requirements for being patched...

For HS ball, most states require an examination to be passed and a mandatory rules meeting followed by association with a local HS chapter that continues with rules and mechanics training and mentoring.

Upon completion of the testing, you will be certifed as a state HS umpire and given the state Patch. IMHO, a State patch is sign that the wearer has the "minimum requirements" to call that level of ball.....

Like Jimmy said, often (and Hopefully) you will start out with a JV schedule and work some games with an experienced partner to get you up to speed...

Many youth organizations only require that you pay a registration fee to receive a Patch....getting the patch in the mail for $25 doe not an umpire make...

So a patch from those leagues only mean you wrote a check....

As to clinics, it depends on who is putting on the clinic will determine if you need to be certifed or not. It can be difficult to offer a clinic that is beneficial to umpires of all levels of experience, so you will see some clinics offered to HS umpires or HS umpires wishing to move up to NCAA....You will also see clinics offered on mechanics only.....Umpire Mechanics separate the untrained from the trained..... Here at the HSBBW Michael S Taylor and I are both Umpire trainers and Rules intrerpreters for NFHS.

Many of us, (Myself included) started out at the youth ball level...Like Jimmy said this is not required by any means and many successful umpires have never done any youth ball....

I would do as Jimmy states and find your local HS chapter...many of them do youth, legion, ncaa and other level of baseball and can introduce you to the requirements and get you opportunities to advance to higher baseball.

There are a lot of umpires here ready to assist you with advice and contact information to get you on the way. Feel Free to contact any of us to assist...

Contact your HS group for your area, calling a local HS can help for contact numbers, and see if they have any training clinics planned for the winter. If not, you are close enough you could go to Eastern Regional's LL clinic. It will give you a good basis for mechanics and will help you in LL that you are currently doing. Also, see if the HS group can lend you an old version of the HS rulebook and casebook to start you learning the differences between what you have been calling and what they use. Most things are the same but the differences are significant.

thanks guy's. it's something i've been threatening to do for a few years. since not coaching (but watching many games,hs and legion) i find myself watching umps more and more. i'm sure it's like most things the more you put into it ,the better you'll be,

thanks again.

quote:

Originally posted by 20dad:
i'm sure it's like most things the more you put into it ,the better you'll be, thanks again.

You are exactly correct.....Umpiring is no different than anything you want to be better at....

There are many umpires who have say they have 10 years of experience.....But upon evaluation, and in reality what they have is 10 FIRST or individual years of experience....you have to build year over year, refining your game, improving your game management and appearance....

The higher you go the more that is expected of you...That requires not only rules knowledge from the rule books and the outside reference sources, but also the accepted mechanics....and these skills must come from clinics and evaluations.....

The old term "if your not learning, your falling behind"....applies very much to umpiring....

the rules change, mechanics are adapted, standards are defined constantly and its up to you to keep up....for that you will find many of the umpires here start out the season "in the hole" hundreds of dollars before we umpire one game....

The costs for clinics, registrations, uniforms and gear replacement costs me anywhere from $300-$400 per year....and faced with that, many umpires choose to stay in the local youth leagues...and that is why there will always be a shortage of trained qualified umpires at the higher levels..

quote:

Originally posted by 20dad:
i know the natural progresion.LL, babe ruth,legion. high school ball.

but what would the recomended path be once you've done LL and want to move on? maybe babe ruth?

is it diffent every where or kind of the same? do you join an organization?

looking for a new hobby, all winter to get it done. thanks in advance.

I am a baberuth patch and a lot of the umpires i work with have done high school. and its very close to the ages of high school kids.

just some local school have rules like the player cannot pitch or catch in babe ruth which makes it limited for them

for me how i got patch is i sent $35 fee and took a test true or false on it. you had to score 80% to be patch and than on you just pay the fee.

as some said being patch does not me you are qualified to be the best umpire. or even the best. Some patch umpire can be bad.

quote:

Originally posted by critterump171: Some patch umpire can be bad.

You got that right. I've had my share of bad patch.

quote:

Originally posted by dash_riprock:

quote:

Originally posted by critterump171: Some patch umpire can be bad.

You got that right. I've had my share of bad patch.

I've always though that there no such thing as bad patch. Some are just better than others.

It has a lot to do with the time of night and where your standards are.

I better stop before I get banned.