Moving up into the college level

First,answer a few question:  What level are you currently working?  Are there colleges with baseball teams in your area or within a reasonable driving distance? What division are they?  Are you familiar with three-umpire mechanics? Do you have the opportunity to work with umpires at your level who also work a college level?  Have you attended any clinics?  What is your body type?  What level of college ball do you aspire to?

Thanks Jimmy for your reply. I currently am at the High school Level. There are quite a few colleges all over the state most are NAIA, D2 and D3.Im not yet familiar with 3 man yet. I am signed up for a Clinic in Feb of 2014 with Southern Umpires Camp.I would just be happy to do the NAIA Level. I am about 5'6 175 but i am working on that lol!!!

Find out who assigns college baseball in your area.  It will probably be one or two people.  They will likely sponsor one or two clinics (most likely, 3-man).  Go to all of them and let them know you want to get to the next level.  Then take every game they give you and work your a$$ off every inning of every game (you NEVER know who is watching).  Listen to what they tell you and don't question it (even if they tell you there are two outs per inning).  Pour yourself a big steaming cup of STFU every morning.

Good luck!

BTW:  You are not too old.  I got started very late in this business, and worked my first NCAA game at age 60.

Some of this will be similar to Dash's post.

I once asked a top D-1 assigner how he handled all the requests he got from umpires to work his conference.  His answer:  "If I haven't already heard of them, they're probably not ready."  At first I thought this sounded a bit self important, but later realized it was a practical and almost universal statement most assigners make.

Conference assigners get hundreds of letters an emails a year from aspiring umpires.  Unless you've just been released from AA MiLB, don't bother.

Seek out the college assigners in your area.  Find out which camps or clinics they go to, preferably three man.  Go to those.  (The southern camp is good, but if your area conference assigners don't attend there is little networking you can do there.)

Meet the  assigners and let them know your aspirations, and as honestly as you can, your current ability level.  They will see your level as the camp goes on, and they will determine not only if you are trainable but if you are honest.  Both are important.  Network, network,network.  Meet umpires already working for the assigners you have targeted.  Find out if they work lower levels and find a way to work with them later.

Work hard at the camp.  Improve and display a professional and coachable attitude.  Thank every one and go home.  If you don't hear from anyone after that first camp, and you probably won't, make plans to go back the next year. Many assigners will want to see you a second time to see if you have improved.  Also, coming back indicates a sincere desire to move up.

Take any off you get, JUCO, Summer Collegiate game, NAIA, D-111, anything. Work hard and improve.  Moving up is similar.  Network with those umpires you work with that also work the next level.  Find the camp the next level assigner attend.

Attend the NCAA clinic in your area even before you get a conference interested in you.  Network there and make it a point to say hi to the assigners you met at the clinic.  Remind them of who you are and they'll note the extra effort and expense you've  taken to continue learning.

If you are, or become good enough, you will be given an opportunity.  It's up to you. Networking and camps and clinics get you exposure.  But you have to be perform to get the invitation.

(Oh, and lose ten - fifteen pounds.  And always have clean, pressed and the latest style uniform.  The "athletic" look is in.)