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I "ump" every game my kids plays. 
Cather training at your level is non-existent. Protect the jewels. Good luck.
Modern umpiring has made it tough on guys who work that age level. Back in the day, if you were going to help out on a minors or majors game, you'd grab some leggings and a "biscuit" from the shed. If you happened to have a cup too you were very well protected indeed as you worked over the catcher's shoulder. But then the league bought a bunch of inside protectors and trainers taught us to work the slot. That's when working those games got painful.
Oh, well, such is progress. But wear a cup!
While I am on now way anything other than a volunteer ump, I have done a lot of games at the 11-12 age group. Not too bad, then I started doing some JR's games for the league...probably worse than the 11-12 group.
Now I ump int the BSUL...Big Screen Umpire League...No arguments from the coaches or parents, no sweating, no foul tips, unlimited instant replay( but still get a lot of heckling form a certain female) and plenty of cool beverages and food available. And I am ALWAYS right
As you move up certain things are easier and the catchers usually much better, but more is expected too and until the game slows down in your head, then it doesn't really get any "easier".
The best $10 you ever spent on equipment is the most important at U12... Or you could spend $40 on the nutty buddy (look it up). Beyond that one piece - get a good chest protector - you'll need it later anyway.
As always the number of times you get hit depends on your catcher's ability to block the ball. Depending on the rules, some U12's don't always put their best player back there. For instance some local rules don't allow "stealing" on a wild pitch or passed ball - so if you're a coach that "knows" how to use the rules - you put your worst fielder back there. Of course the coach eventually wonders why his pitcher isn't getting any calls ;-)
As you move up - the next invention that will get you is the hard curveball off the edge of the plate that has been known to sneak up under the cup. As always there's the pitch above the hands that the batter invariably nicks off his bat and into your body somewhere. Remember that's a pitch you don't call a strike, but the batter swings anyway... then the same batter looks at strike 3 on the outer edge of the plate and complains. Uhm - who swung at ball 4 two pitches ago? ;-)
