New Professional Umpire School at Vero Beach Sports Village

Amateur umpires aspiring to a job in professional baseball now have a third option for formal training. Minor League Baseball recently announced the formation of The Umpire School, a four week all-inclusive professional baseball umpire school at the Vero Beach Sports Village (VBSV) facility in Vero Beach, Florida. The Umpire School will conduct its inaugural class in January 2012.

According to Justin Klemm, Executive Director of the Professional Baseball Umpire Corp. (PBUC), "Creating this school is a natural extension of Minor League Baseball’s ongoing efforts to enhance umpire training and development." Klemm added, "PBUC Staff will be tabbed by VBSV to drive the curriculum, instruction, training and development portions of the school." MiLB Vero Beach, LLC owns and operates The Umpire School, and PBUC oversees the training and employment of umpires in the Minor League Baseball system throughout the United States and Canada. Both MiLB Vero Beach, LLC and PBUC are subsidiaries of Minor League Baseball.

The Umpire School is the only all-inclusive professional baseball umpire school and is state licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education. Students at The Umpire School pay one price for housing, dining (3 meals a day, seven days a week), and instruction, all at one location with no hidden costs. The VBSV is a 67-acre complex previously used as the spring training venue for the Brooklyn and then Los Angeles Dodgers, and famously known as "Dodgertown." Minor League Baseball took over day-to-day operations in 2009 after the Dodgers relocated their spring training operations to Arizona.

While the focus of the school is to recruit, evaluate, and train umpires for the minor league system, The Umpire School is open to any umpire regardless of skill level or experience. Klemm says that students will be instructed "directly out of the PBUC Red Book, The Virtual Umpire Camp and the Official Baseball Rules. The PBUC Umpire Manual will be used to supplement our lesson plans. Our goal is to provide a professional umpire training program that optimizes the potential of each student and prepares them to meet the challenges of an umpiring profession regardless of their skill level or aspirations. We will continuously seek and implement new and improved training methods through the professional and amateur umpire community in order to maximize The Umpire School’s effectiveness."

Klemm advises professional umpire prospects "to be fully committed to the process and methods we employ to prepare our students to succeed." He says The Umpire School intends to use "situational training with the potential to implement live game experience into the curriculum."

Honor graduates from The Umpire School are sent on to the PBUC evaluation course, also held at the VBSV. There top students will compete against honor graduates from the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring and the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School for umpire jobs in minor league baseball. Klemm says there are no plans to increase the numbers of total students invited to the evaluation course. The evaluators at the PBUC evaluation course are the same instructors at The Umpire School.

Anyone interested in attending The Umpire School, a State of Florida licensed school, should log onto TheRightCall.net. The Umpire School can also be reached at 877-799-UMPS (8677), or by email at info@TheRightCall.net.

Interview With Umpire Empire Owner Warren Workman

Today's interview is with the owner and creator of Umpire-Empire, Warren Workman. Umpire-Empire is a very popular umpire site that features interviews, product reviews, and a popular forum board. U/E has recently made some major revisions to its site and partnered with providers of umpire products and services for discounts for its members.

MWU: Thanks for doing this interview. I’m happy to finally get to ask you a few questions.

Workman: Glad to do it. I've enjoyed your blog since the beginning.

MWU: Tell a little about yourself and your umpire background.

Workman: Well, I'm just your run-of-the mill high school level umpire. While I live in North Carolina I call the vast majority of my games in the nearby areas of Virginia. I actually turned to umpiring for what I now consider the wrong reasons. I had been a soccer referee through high school and college and enjoyed it, but was never passionate about it. I stopped after I got one of those "real jobs." Then I was in a time in my life where I needed some extra income, but something which would be flexible around my "real job." I then decided to return to being a soccer ref and contacted my former association. They said they'd be glad to have me back, but since so much time had passed I'd be treated just like any other new referee; taking the classes, starting at the bottom etc.. which I was fine with. But they also told me I'd have to pass the physical abilities test which included things like running 2 miles in under a certain time and some other things which I knew at the time I wouldn't be able to do. So I did not return to soccer.

I was telling this to my long-time best friend Joel, who is an umpire. He suggested I try umpiring baseball. While I love baseball it would be very generous to say I was an absolutely horrible player. So I didn't give it too much thought. In college I briefly worked in the intramural department refereeing anything they would give me. Soccer was obviously what I did most, but I also did innertube water polo (awesome!) and some softball. I went out to the softball fields not having the first clue about softball and I was awful and people let me know how awful I was. It was not a good experience and gave me additional reason not to umpire.

About a year later he finally convinced me to try and I was hooked immediately. I currently call everything from machine pitch to college fall ball and club level, but the majority of my games are high school, legion and adult league. I'm hoping to break into the full time ranks of college level ball through my association in the not too distant future.

MWU: What made you decide to open an umpire website?

Workman: I think it's quite obvious I'm an internet junkie, so as I was beginning to take umpiring seriously I went looking for umpiring sites. I found places like The Amateur Baseball Umpire Baseball Homepage which I learned a lot from and was a major influence on me as an umpire. That site shut down but thankfully Brent has since brought it back even though the content is no longer updated. I also found forums like umpire.org and officiating.com. I was intrigued by these sites. Once again I learned a lot and spent a lot of time at those places.

After a while I found myself saying, "I wish these places would..." and I kept finding myself saying this again and again.

Obviously, it would be absurd for me to think those sites would change for me and one day I found myself saying, "I think I could do this better." So I went for it without looking back.

MWU: How did you select the name “Umpire-Empire?”

Workman: I wanted something which conveyed the idea of a group or community about umpiring. Then when writing one of my first articles I was going to put on the soon to be site I misspelled umpire and Word gave me the suggestion of empire and there it was. It got stuck in my head and even while trying to think of other names I couldn't shake Umpire Empire. I told a few friends who were umpires I was building a umpiring site and wanted their feedback on the name Umpire-Empire. They all hated it. I tried some more to come up with something different but Umpire-Empire was stuck in my head.

MWU: Did you expect Umpire-Empire to become a popular forum site, or did you have other ideas for the site when you started?

Workman: I had no idea what to expect. I knew I wanted a forum, and an articles section, but I also wanted a comprehensive reviews section about umpire equipment and suppliers. That was my starting point. Things started slowly at first but I kept going.

As for popularity I once again had no idea what to expect. I wasn't one of the know-it-alls or popular people at the other forums, but one of the best things that happened was I was able to bring aboard a handful of people I had developed relationships with elsewhere to Umpire-Empire. People like Dave (majordave), Stan (Stan W.), Larry (LMSANS), Michael (mstaylor) and Pete (Pete Booth) along with any number of other people, including you, I could name were instrumental in turning the site into the success it has become.

MWU: What do you think is Umpire-Empire’s best contribution to the umpire community?

Workman: I have to say the number one thing is the atmosphere which is informative and friendly. We are as welcoming to the person considering giving umpiring a try for the first time as we are to the hardened veteran. The site is a place where people don't have to fear "jumping into the deep end." They can ask a question and get a legitimate response without fear of being scorned.

Another contribution to the umpiring community is the comprehensive reviews system. This was a huge priority in making the original site. As I was coming up I had so many questions about products and suppliers and didn't know where to turn. I wanted to provide a resource for people to share their thoughts on equipment and where to get it in order to help people make the best decisions.

MWU: You recently committed a lot of personal time, money, and effort into the improvement of Umpire-Empire. By the way, it looks great! Why did you decide to overhaul the site?

Workman: The answer is two fold and the answers are somewhat related. I want to provide members with the best experience possible and the technology I use plays an important role. I felt the software I was using had reached its peak and was on the way down along the lines of WordPerfect in the early-mid 90's.

About a year ago the company which produced the software that use to run the forums, vBulletin, went through a major change. They changed the terms of service of their product, then released a new version which from my reading and general opinion was seriously flawed. I choose not to go with the newest version which meant within some period of time my software would reach end of live, meaning my version would no longer be supported or updated. I started a search and found a product I liked a lot better which is Invision Power Board. Before the site had 5-6 unaffiliated programs I was trying to make work together the best I could, now I'm down to 2 programs which work together pretty well.

I ran a demo site with the new software for a few months and the more I used it the more I liked it. It is more user friendly and intuitive.

MWU: Explain the new Umpire-Empire membership program.

Workman: As they say membership has its advantages. Umpire-Empire has been able to form "virtual partnerships" with Ump-Attire.com, The Wendelstedt Umpire School & Mid-American Umpire Clinic to offer Premium members some great benefits.

Ump-Attire.com has offered all premium members 10% off purchases. That alone will more than pay for the cost of the membership especially if people register now for membership and enter coupon code "intro" at checkout to save $5.

But wait there's more (couldn't resist). The Wendelstedt Umpire School is offering $150 off tuition at their 5 week camp and 10% off their local clinics. They offer many more clinics in more places than their nearest competitor. It is a value many will be able to take advantage of.

Last, but certainly not least, the Mid-American Umpire Clinic is offering $25 off tuition at their annual clinic.

All three of our partners have an incredible reputation and track record of being top notch and I'm honored that they have let me partner with them.

MWU: What “premium content” will be offered by Umpire-Empire?

Workman: Our partners will be periodically providing us with some content exclusive content for Premium members. I don't want to give all the details yet, but I'm really excited.

MWU: What other features have been added to Umpire-Empire?

Workman: The overhaul isn't necessarily about new features, but enhancements of features the old system had. My favorite is the new reviews system. The prior reviews systems I had were good, but this is great. I really like how it summarizes the review and adds a "did you find this review helpful" button similar to Amazon.com. I think readers will find the new reviews system extremely useful.

Some enhancements are the integrated link directory and classifieds systems. The prior site had both of them but had integration problems and were the target of frequent spam. The new ones are a lot better in nearly every way.

The articles section is another major enhancement. Like before this system allows members to contribute articles for the umpiring community. Also like before it allows discussion of the articles.

But some of the new features do include a more social experience. Members can customize their profile page, create status updates like facebook, and much more

But the feature for the Umpire-Empire addict is the site is now also Smartphone friendly. You can access most of the main features of the site with your Smartphone.

MWU: What future plans do you have for Umpire-Empire?

Workman: I will continue to offer the best online experience to the umpiring community through my partnerships and technology and be responsive to the members of Umpire-Empire.

Many of the improvements I've made to the site over the past 3 years have come as a result of member suggestions. While I may not be able to implement every member suggestion I have received, I do take each one of them very seriously.

Ultimately I want to go beyond just a forum or umpiring community; I want to add products and services that umpires of all levels will appreciate.

Thanks to Warren Workman of Umpire-Empire for this interview, and for all of his hard work on Umpire-Empire. Midwest Ump wishes Warren and U/E continued success with the revamped site and his future projects.

Interview with Kate Sargeant

Happy

Mother’s Day!

Today is an important day to remember the women in our lives. I recently discovered a website devoted to female umpires called Women Umpiring Baseball. The site is run by umpire Kate Sargeant, a graduate of both the Jim Evan’s Academy of Profession Umpiring and the Wendelstedt Umpire School , and she agreed to an interview with me to discuss umpiring and gear for female umpires:

MWU: Please talk about your background and how you ended up at umpire school.

Sargeant: My dad introduced me to umpiring when I was 15. We volunteered for the local Little League together. It was something he'd done for a few years, and when I needed to do a community service project for school, he suggested umpiring. I loved it right away. My first plate job, I was very flinchy. I kept turning my head, and sure enough I took one in the ear. He was right behind the backstop, telling me to suck it up and keep working, and even laughing a little because I learned that lesson the hard way. Metaphorically, he's been behind the backstop ever since. We both started umpiring high school ball in 2000, when I was a freshman in college, and we'd debrief my games over the phone. Throughout college I kicked around the idea of going to umpire school, but didn't really plan on going. However, when I graduated, he offered to send me to umpire school as a graduation gift, and I went to the Evans Academy in 2004.

MWU: What has your experience been like since umpire school?

Sargeant: After going to Evans in 2004, I was completely hooked, but I had so much to learn that I didn't even know how much I had to learn! I kept working youth ball and went back to school in 2005. I still had a long way to go and of course the outcome was the same, but I wanted to persist. In the spring of 2005 I attended the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League's umpire tryout. Jim Evans acted kind of a like an umpire consultant for them and helped with the tryout, and I was later told that he put in a really good word for me. I umpired for the MCBL in 2005, and in 2006 had the opportunity to work for the Southern Collegiate Baseball League. I attended the Wendelstedt School in 2007 and earned the opportunity to go to the PBUC evaluation. The evaluation didn't go as I'd hoped and I was low on the reserve list. I was hired by a fledgling independent league, the New York State League, that summer. The league ceased operations after only three weeks, but I was able to fill in for another two weeks in the American Association, which was very educational. Although PBUC hired pretty deep in 2007, I didn't get a job in the affiliated minor leagues, so in 2008 I umpired for the independent United League. I returned to Wendelstedt in 2009, was reserve-listed, and decided it was time to figure out what I want to do besides umpiring. My hopes for the future include umpiring college baseball, and supporting girls and women who are involved in baseball, especially those who umpire.

MWU: What are some of the challenges women umpires face?

Sargeant: It's hard for me to speak for all women who umpire, because every umpire faces unique challenges as he or she develops. One thing that's pretty universal is having a hard time finding gear that fits well. Beyond that, I can only speak for my personal experiences. It's harder to develop the fraternal, mentor-type relationships you see so often between young umpires and more experienced guys that can have a really beneficial impact on a young umpire's development. Because I didn't play baseball as a kid, I lagged hugely behind other young umpires in my knowledge and understanding of the game and worked hard to make up for it. That's something I've heard other women express, but there's a generation of girls growing up now playing in organized baseball leagues, either with other girls or coed, so maybe it won't be so much of an issue in the future. As I started trying to get work in leagues with traveling umpire crews, other people started being concerned about things like the appropriateness of me being in an umpire room with the rest of the crew, or how partners' wives and girlfriends would react to me. One guy even told me he could never work with me; not only would his girlfriend object, but he felt there would be sexual tension between us that would make it impossible to work together! Those things were annoying, but once I was in those leagues I think it became apparent that I knew how to carry myself with propriety, and the "problems" people worried about never developed.

MWU: Is there a particular level of baseball that is intolerant of women umpires?

Sargeant: I think there are a few people who are intolerant of women umpires, and they are found at every level, from peewee to professional. It was really disheartening in 2007, right after the PBUC evaluation, to receive a phone call from a friend in the affiliated minor leagues who was at spring training in Arizona. He said the word had spread through the grapevine that "a girl was trying to get in," and there were certain minor league umpires who were not happy about that at all. However, it was equally disheartening to work a high school baseball game last year and hear some rowdies in the crowd shouting invectives against female umpires. In both cases, the issue wasn't the quality of work I was putting forth--it was my gender, and perhaps a perceived threat to the status quo. I think what's important at times like those is to keep focused on the job, and not let a few rotten apples spoil the whole barrel.

MWU: What advice do you have for women who want to get started in umpiring baseball?

For any rookie umpire, it's really important to find an association or similar group, attend trainings, commit to learning as much as possible, and be open to feedback. Ask a lot of questions. One really exciting resource that's being developed is a wiki site I created, http://grassceiling.wetpaint.com/, which is a place for women umpires to find resources and connect with other umpires. Along with several other umpires, I hope to turn Women Umpiring Baseball into a nonprofit organization with a mission of supporting women in baseball, especially umpires. One thing we're working on is creating opportunities that will enable women to connect with each other on the field. For example, we're partnering with Baseball For All (http://www.baseballforall.com/) to provide umpires for their Girls' International Baseball Academy camp and tournament, and in addition to umpiring we'll present an introductory umpire clinic to the girls. In this way we hope to provide ways for women who umpire to network and share their experiences with each other, and also be positive role models for girls who love baseball and need to see that there is a place in the game for them.

MWU: You mentioned the challenges in finding good fitting, quality equipment. First, is there a particular brand of plate shoe that is more comfortable for women?

Sargeant: I don't think there's a big gender difference in how shoes fit. Feet are feet. I used the Gerry Davis patent leather boots for a few seasons, until I wore them out, and since then I've worn Honig's plate boots, which I personally find very comfortable. I'd really like to try to New Balance plate shoes, but the smallest size they make is a men's 8, and I'm a 7. I've also heard guys with unusually large feet complain that New Balance doesn't make shoes large enough for them, so I guess it works both ways! Having said that, I do know some women whose feet are so small that they have a real challenge finding any brand of plate shoes that fit. A suggestion I've passed on to them is to look for welder's shoes, which I understand have a wide size selection and offer similar protection to plate shoes.

MWU: Are masks or helmets preferred by women umpires? Are there any advantages or disadvantages with a mask or helmet while wearing longer hair?

Sargeant: I think what kind of mask any umpire wears is a matter of personal preference. I've worn both the traditional and the hockey-style masks, and I've seen other women using both styles. The first woman I saw using a bucket had very long hair and didn't seem to have a problem. When I choose a mask, or any other protective equipment, my first concern is that it will do its job. I'm a lot more concerned about protecting my face and my brain than I am about managing my hair. If I think a certain mask will offer my head the best protection, that's the one I'm going with.

MWU: Are shin guard sizes an issue?

Sargeant: For me they aren't, although I'd imagine they might be for people who are a lot smaller than the average umpire. I also think that if any piece of equipment is going to be too large, shin guards are the most forgiving. When I was learning to umpire, I used my dad's shin guards, and while the fit wasn't ideal, they did the job just fine. If I'd borrowed his chest protector, it would have been a whole other story.

MWU: Do small chest protectors fit properly? I have heard from a woman umpire friend that the size small Wilson Gold fits her smaller frame.

Sargeant: Small chest protectors do fit me well. My first vest was a Honig's K-1, and I thought it was really comfortable. I tried on a Douglas All-American hardshell that I liked a lot, but last time I talked to the company, those vests weren't being manufactured anymore. After trying them on every time I ran into a Gerry Davis sales rep and being pleased with how well they fit, I recently bought a 10.75" Wilson Platinum and I can't wait to use it this season.

A lot of people have the misconception that the most important thing regarding chest protectors for a woman who umpires is that she is able to protect her breasts. That's so silly; if a chest protector does its job protecting bone, it will certainly protect flesh as well. A much greater concern is for a vest to be adjusted so that it protects her collarbone instead of sliding down and leaving that area unprotected; for it to fit snugly and not move around as she moves or require constant readjustment throughout the course of a game; and, if possible, for it to fit her frame so that her profile looks like one of an umpire, and not a linebacker.

MWU: Do all of your pants and shirts require alteration?

Sargeant: All of my pants absolutely require alteration. No matter which equipment supplier I use, they are always too roomy in the seat, both in terms of length and depth, so a lot of material has to be taken out. I also need to have belt loops moved so my ball bags can be properly situated. However, I tried the slacks designed for women by Honig's and was disappointed. Although they fit well, they were cut differently and had different details than most uniform pants and I didn't look "in uniform" when standing next to other umpires. I'd rather buy the pants everyone else wears, and go to the trouble and expense of having them altered so they fit my body.

I've never had shirts altered, although I know other women who have. I'm large enough that a size small uniform shirt fits me, but if I was much smaller in frame or stature I'd probably have to have those altered, too.

Thanks, Kate for a terrific interview and great information! Visit Kate's site at Women Umpiring Baseball and Baseball for All for more information.

Interview with Jason Blackburn of The Mid-American Umpire Clinic

Today I have the opportunity to interview Jason Blackburn, owner of The Mid-American Umpire Clinic in Springfield, Missouri.

MWU: Can you give us an overview of The Mid-American Umpire Clinic and the training a student can expect?

Blackburn: The Mid-American Umpire Clinic is designed for umpires who work high school or any level of amateur baseball and are looking to advance to the college level or to just improve their career. This is our tenth year for the clinic and we have trained some of the top young talent in the country. Over that time six of our graduates have gone onto the professional umpires schools and have been placed in professional baseball. One of our graduates finished at the top of the class at the Wendelstedt Umpire School . Countless umpires have advanced their careers to the college level and received post-season high school umpiring assignments after attending our clinic.

We are a Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School Affiliated Clinic, and we will have additional rules and mechanics packets at our clinic that will help prepare any umpire who would like to attend the 5-week school in Daytona Beach , Florida . Any umpires deciding to attend Harry’s school after attending our clinic will be able to obtain grants through the Umpire Education Tuition Assistance Foundation.

As far as training, we give everyone the proper basics. Our philosophy is that we give you a solid foundation to build your umpiring career. When you build a house, you don’t start nailing boards together; you start with a sturdy foundation and build from there. We focus on plate work, the two-umpire system, and rules knowledge. We put two instructors in each cage and video tape the plate work sessions. Additional instructors review the tapes with the umpires immediately after the cage session so that the instruction is fresh in their minds.

We discuss the two-umpire system in the classroom and demonstrate it and walk the umpires through it on the field. We also have several games over the weekend that the umpires will work and put what they’ve learned to use.

We have several rules discussions throughout the weekend, focusing on Interference and Obstruction, Appeals and Awards, Line-ups and Substitutions, Pitching Rules and Balk Enforcement. We also go over Situational Management, Handling Rain Situations, Professionalism at which time Rick Denny, MIAA Conference Supervisor of Umpires, shares what he looks for in potential umpires, and Mental Preparation which is an amazing presentation that has received incredible feedback the last couple of years.

MWU: Can you give some background information about yourself and your staff?

Blackburn: I graduated from the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School in 2000 and umpired four seasons in independent professional baseball. I currently umpire NCAA D-I baseball in the Missouri Valley Conference. I have umpired four NCAA D-II Regionals and four MIAA Conference Tournaments.

Joe Judkowitz is my chief instructor. He also graduated from the Wendelstedt Umpire School in 2000. He spent eight years in the minor leagues, working up to AAA. During that time he worked the playoffs or championship series in the Florida State League, Eastern League and International League. He was also selected for the Arizona Fall League. Joe currently umpires NCAA D-I college baseball in the Atlantic Sun Conference and worked his first NCAA D-II Regional last year.

Rick Denny is the Supervisor of Umpires for the MIAA (Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association). It is one of the most competitive NCAA Division II leagues in the country with teams like Central Missouri, Emporia State and Nebraska-Omaha who have all been to the World Series in the past few years.

Greg Chittenden is also a former AAA professional umpire. He graduated from the Brinkman-Froemming Umpire School and spent seven years in the game, working the last three in the Pacific Coast League. He is currently the president of the Mid-America Umpires located in Springfield , Missouri . In my opinion, Greg is one of the best clinicians in the country.

Aaron Banks graduated from the Jim Evans Umpiring Academy and instructed there during his time in the minor leagues. Aaron worked up to AA before retiring.

Mark Hutchison graduated from the Brinkman-Froemming Umpire School and spent five years in the minor leagues. He currently umpires in the MIAA and has worked several conference tournaments.

Matt Deane attended the Mid-American Umpire Clinic in 2007, went on to the Wendelstedt Umpire School and is starting his second year in the minor leagues.

John Routh is an umpire in the Missouri Valley Conference as well as the MIAA and Great Lakes Valley where he has been selected to work their conference tournament.

Steve Govero umpires in the MIAA. Earlier in his career he worked in the Missouri Valley Conference and the Mid-Continent Conference (which is now the Summit League). He has umpired several NCAA D-II Regionals.

Scott Maid umpires in the MIAA. He also has his doctorate in psychology and has spent numerous hours researching and putting together our Mental Preparation presentation.

MWU: What is the clinic’s typical student-instructor ratio? How much hands-on time should a student expect?

Blackburn: Obviously our student-instructor ratio varies from year to year, but our cutoff number is 40 students, so at the most it would be 4:1. Umpires can expect a great deal of hands-on time. Friday night we get everyone through 2 sessions of plate work which we video tape and review. Saturday morning we walk everyone through the 2-umpire system then that afternoon they will umpire several innings of college baseball. On Sunday they will umpire additional innings for high school baseball. When they are not umpiring actual games, we have cage sessions set up to get additional plate work opportunities.

MWU: What set of rules and mechanics does the clinic use and teach?

Blackburn: We base our rules discussions on OBR and modify where there are NCAA or NFHS rules differences. We do this for three reasons. Number one, high school umpires also work various summer leagues that use different sets of rules, be it OBR, NCAA, NFHS, or some combination of those. So for us to specifically address any one particular set of rules would be doing a disservice to our students. Number two, umpires looking to advance to the college level will likely begin umpiring Junior College and NAIA level games. Junior Colleges use NCAA rules and NAIA uses OBR with modifications so we need to prepare our students for that step. Finally, number three, all rules are based on the MLB rulebook. As you can see by looking at our instructors bios, several have been to professional umpire school where the rule book is dissected for five weeks. We have a thorough knowledge of the professional rules and their interpretations, so we teach those interpretations and adjust when there are rules differences. We do spend time on the safety rules and specific rules that pertain to each level.

MWU: What are some advantages of your three day clinic over a single day clinic?

Blackburn: A one day clinic is really only able to highlight certain areas of the rules and mechanics. A three day clinic is able to get umpires into a solid stance, proper positioning and give them better rules knowledge and understanding of their interpretations. Umpires are also able to get more repetitions and it’s a better opportunity to be seen by supervisors and assignors.

MWU: How important is this type of training to an umpire that is considering a move to college ball or a professional career?

Blackburn: I feel it is extremely important. We give you a head start. For umpires looking to move into college baseball, I said earlier that we teach the “proper basics.” What I mean by that is that we teach the things that should be second nature to college umpires. If someone can walk away from our clinic with a good understanding of what we taught, they have a major advantage over umpires who haven’t been to camps or clinics. Additionally, umpires who want to move into college baseball must be seen by the conference supervisors and assignors. Word of mouth only goes so far.

For umpires who are considering attending one of the 5-week professional umpire schools with the desire to get a job in professional baseball, we have basically condensed the 5-week schools into 3 days. At umpire school they spend the first two weeks breaking down your bad habits and teaching you the proper umpiring techniques. By attending our clinic you will have a 2-week head start on the competition, and that’s what it is, you are competing against everyone else for very few spots at PBUC. Six umpires who have attended our clinic over the years have been placed in professional baseball and one finished at the top of the class at Wendelstedt’s. I think our track record speaks for itself.

MWU: Do you offer group discounts?

Blackburn: We do offer group discounts for 3 or more umpires signing up at the same time. They will need to contact me (jason@midamericanumpireclinic.com or (417) 463-7241) before registering to obtain a group rate. The discount increases based on the number of umpires in the group.

MWU: I found the training on “mental preparation” intriguing. Can you tell us more about that?

Blackburn: Umpires are expected to be perfect. We know that we will never be perfect, but we can be focused.

Think back to a game in which you really struggled. What did you do before the game? Were you late? Was your partner late? Were you having problems at work? Did you have a fight with your spouse? These reasons and others can cause you to lose concentration and focus during the game.

In order to be focused to do a good job we have to spend some time getting our minds prepared to umpire. This presentation explains the importance of preparation, shows you how to implement preparation into your pre-game, and introduces you to some psychological techniques to get prepared and to maintain your focus throughout the game.

MWU: What if it rains?

Blackburn: We make every effort to get outside. However, we cannot guarantee that the weather will be cooperative so we do have plans in place if weather becomes an issue. We have indoor facilities available to do plate and base work. We will spend more time in the classroom discussing rules. We may even go to the field to conduct a hands-on discussion on handling rain situations.

MWU: What more can you tell us about The Mid-American Umpire Clinic?

Blackburn: The 2009 clinic will be September 11-13 in Springfield , Missouri at the Clarion Inn & Drury University . We understand how the economy is right now so we keep the cost of the clinic very affordable, at just $125.00 before August 8 and $150.00 after that date. I don’t think you can find a 3-day clinic anywhere that provides you as much as we do at a better cost. Hotel rooms are available at a discount rate of $64.00 per night based on double occupancy. Umpires will also receive a discount at the hotel bar at registration. Again, groups or associations can contact me directly for discounts on 3 or more umpires.

We take our jobs seriously, but we also have a lot of fun over the weekend, including a social time Saturday evening at a local Springfield restaurant.

No matter what your personal goals are, we are committed to making you a better umpire.

Interview with PBUC Executive Director Justin Klemm

So you want to make it to “The Show?” Well, before you can impress the fans at Fenway with your four step patented punch-out you must prove your stuff to today’s interviewee. Justin Klemm is the Executive Director of the Professional Baseball Umpire Corp. PBUC (pronounced “P-Buck”) is the entity responsible for the training, evaluation, and recommendation for promotion, retention, or release of all umpires in the Minor League Baseball system throughout the United States and Canada. Mr. Klemm was gracious enough to answer a few questions of general interest to amateur umpires including insight into what it takes to be a pro and information on umpire safety.

MWU: What are your responsibilities with PBUC?
Klemm: As Executive Director I am charged with facilitating and operating the program that evaluates and trains all of the umpires assigned to the minor leagues.

MWU: How big is your organization?
Klemm: The organization consists of myself, five full time evaluators and supervisors, one administrative assistant, and a part-time supervisor. Our program supervises around 220 umpires currently on roster ranging from the AAA level down to the Rookie Leagues.

MWU: That sounds like a large responsibility for such a small group.
Klemm: It’s fairly large, but the bulk of our AAA observation is handed off to the major league level. In terms of actual evaluation we handle from AA down which consists of about 180 umpires.

MWU: Tell us a little about your personal background and experience?
Klemm: I attended umpire school in 1994 and worked nine years in the minor leagues up though the AAA level. During my four years at the AAA level I worked up and down in the major leagues. I also worked one off-season in China and one in Australia.

MWU: China sounds fascinating. What was that experience like?
Klemm: It was fantastic! I was invited to China to work with a group of their umpires during their national Olympics after the 2001 season in Guangzhou, about four and a half hours by train from Hong Kong. I spent about three weeks there working with their umpires during their national tournament.

MWU: How did you get started in umpiring?
Klemm: I played up through college at Temple University and when I was done playing someone recommended umpiring to me. I went to umpire school twice. The first time I was not fortunate enough to get a job, so I went and worked at the Cape Cod Baseball League for a summer. I was able to work with and learn from a number of amateur umpires, many of whom were high in the college ranks or former professionals. These umpires worked with me and when I went back to umpire school I was able to get a professional job. While my amateur career was short, it had a huge impact on where I ended up.

MWU: What is the process for becoming a professional umpire?
Klemm: It is required to go to one of the two accredited umpire schools, either to the Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires or Jim Evans' Academy of Professional Umpiring. From there generally the top twenty-five graduates are sent on to the PBUC Evaluation Course which is held in March every year in Cocoa, Florida. Out of those fifty candidates we will select a certain number based upon the number of openings we have in the system. Those selected will start at the lowest level of the minor leagues.

MWU: Are the invitations to the Evaluation Course strictly limited to the top candidates from the umpire schools?
Klemm: They have been in the past, however this year we have created a working relationship with the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer league based in the Carolinas. We have sent a select group of reserve list umpires to the Coastal Plain League to gain experience while waiting for the call to the professional leagues. If an umpire successfully completes that season and we have not called to offer a position, we will invite the umpire back to the Evaluation Course for one last try without having to go through umpire school.

MWU: What is a typical day like during the Evaluation Course?
Klemm: A typical day consists of about two to three hours of classroom in the morning from 8 a.m. to 10 or 11. We’ll break from there and, because it is an evaluation course, there is much more emphasis placed upon the applicant’s evaluations - not only on the field, but also off the field. We conduct one-on-one interviews, but the majority of our opinions come from observing that umpire work games that are played daily after morning class until 6 in the evening. After the games our staff will meet from 6 to 9 to discuss the candidates. Over the course of the ten day evaluation we wean our list down to our selected candidates. It is essentially a ten day job interview.

MWU: What criteria are used to grade the candidates? What do you specifically look for?
Klemm: We look for a variety of things. The off the field product is just as important as what we get on the field. The umpiring on the field is a priority, but because we can afford to be selective we really look at the individual’s potential. We try to project where that individual will be eight to ten years down the road because our job is ultimately to train and develop attractive candidates for Major League Baseball.

MWU: What are some of the intangible qualities you look for in a candidate?
Klemm: First and foremost character and the ability to get along with others. This job will quickly weed out guys that do not have the commitment to give the six to ten years it takes to reach the top. Many umpires have come into our system and been capable of working at the major league level, but incapable of sticking out those six to ten years that it takes to get there. So perseverance is another quality that we look for in a candidate.

MWU: What advice do you have for someone preparing to attend umpire school in the hope of a professional career?
Klemm: I think the two biggest obstacles many students encounter when they go to umpire school are first, not knowing what they are getting into and the commitment and time it takes to reach the major leagues. The other thing that has become a really huge issue the last couple years is physical conditioning. We see a lot of guys with a lot of ability and are capable of coming into our system, however they lack in the physical conditioning area.

MWU: At this point I’d like to ask a few questions about umpire safety. I recall that you were injured while working behind the plate at Shea Stadium in 2003. What happened?
Klemm: I was hit on the side of the head by a broken bat. It was a right handed batter and the catcher had taken away the slot – he had squeezed inside. The batter was on top of the plate and there was an inside fastball. The bat subsequently broke partially and as the batter followed through the bat snapped and struck me.

MWU: In looking back at that injury was there anything that you could have done differently to prevent that injury?
Klemm: I wasn’t doing anything that I hadn’t done before. I think the fact that I was wearing a mask and not a bucket [a hockey style mask] contributed to the severity of the injury. Other than that, in terms of my positioning and head height everything was the same as I had done a million times before. It was unavoidable. Working the plate is a dangerous occupation!

MWU: What is being done to improve umpire safety?
Klemm: Our organization is obviously concerned about the safety of our umpires. We’ve looked at a number of things from our teaching methods to equipment. We’re working closely with Mark Letendre the director of medical services for Major League Baseball. We have worked with Dr. Micky Collins at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Sports Medicine in neurocognitive testing on head injuries. We are trying to stay ahead of these types of injuries, but at the same time we can’t forget that the plate is a dangerous place to work. We certainly have more to learn and a ways to go. The advances in masks and especially the hockey style masks like the new [Wilson] EFX which causes the impact to dissipate more are helping us. We are not there yet, but at the same time we are far ahead of where we were ten or fifteen years ago.

MWU: Have you seen any evidence that one type of mask is more effective in absorbing frontal impacts and preventing injuries?
Klemm: The studies that I have read and the information that I have been shown have indicated that the bucket is more effective. However, while we know the bucket protects more from side and rear injuries in terms of broken bats or other side impacts it has been shown no more or less effective at reducing concussions than a standard mask.

MWU: Do you find that there is a particular stance or position that is safer than another?
Klemm: There is not a particular stance that is safer than another. We have seen some information that indicates that the scissors stance has contributed to neck problems. The biggest thing that we emphasize to our umpires is the importance of staying in the slot. That area has been shown to be the safest area for the umpire to be. As he inches out towards the point of home plate or beyond, especially working opposite a hitter, an umpire gets into real danger areas with the speed of the ball coming off the bat.

MWU: So the slot is definitely safer than setting up over the catcher?
Klemm: Absolutely. But I think that all of us being “Type A Personalities” and wanting to get the pitch right we tend to move towards the point of the plate in an attempt to get a better look at the pitch.

MWU: Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.
Klemm: I have enjoyed answering your questions, sharing what information I have, and helping out as many umpires as I can. I look at this like we’re all in this together –amateur and professional umpires alike.

My many thanks to Justin Klemm for giving his time and sharing his experience and knowledge. I found him to be a real class act and a very forthright and generous person.

Interview with Umpire Teacher Owner Bugsy Segal

UmpireTeacher.com is an exciting and promising development in umpire training. To get a better look at the site and how it can fit into an umpire’s growth, I went straight to the source: owner Mike “Bugsy” Segal. Bugsy agreed to answer a few questions about his site:

MWU: Can you give us an overview of umpireteacher.com?
Bugsy: In one sentence we are an online umpire school that provides basic and continuing education, youth through college. Umpire Teacher is also a great prep training for people who plan on attending Pro Umpire School.

MWU: Can you give some background information about yourself and your staff?
Bugsy:
· Vic Voltaggio, retired Major League Umpire of 20 years who was on the plate for one of Nolan Ryan’s no-hitters and for Roger Clemen’s 1986 20 strikeout game and the World Series that had the Earthquake. Vic and I have known each other over 30 years.
· Me? I'm Mike "Bugsy" Segal. I have been umpiring for 33 years, about 3 years of Pro, 500 pro games including Minor league spring training and I worked AAA and Major League “B” Squad Spring training games.
· From 1990 through 1993 I owned the “Mike Segal Florida Umpire Camp” in Kissimmee, FL and Vic was with me every day of the camp and Chief Instructor too. I also had John McSherry-NL, Jim McKean (current MLB Supervisor), the gregarious Durwood Merrill, Larry Reveal (PBUC supervisor) and Bruce Ravan (NCAA SE supervisor at the time), Darren Goryl, and Bill Kinnamon. Bill owned one of the orginal Professional Umpire Schools.

The UmpireTeacher.com “Power Team”
· Frank Laparik – our east coast connection and NCAA rep
· Jeremy Barbe – 5 years pro experience and Director of Minnesota Youth Athletic Services for Baseball Umpires
· Larry Gallagher –MSHSL Clinician and NCAA Umpire and our Amateur Rules Expert
· Dan Feigum & Chuck Triggs –both men assign youth ball and train youth umpires and have for many years.
· Allan Goldenberg- our Canadian connection-many years of H.S. & College ball
· Billy Peterson – Our Softball Expert. Softball training will be a separate entity within UmpireTeacher.com when it’s ready.

MWU: Why did you develop Umpire Teacher?
Bugsy: I’ve always felt that professional umpires know how to do it best. Now with the internet and high speed video we can get our message and lessons out to umpires that need it. However, there is a small twist involved. With amateur baseball you have a part of the game that is oh so different from the pro game, not mechanically but philosophically. So Vic and I have brought on some top amateur umpires as a consulting team, we call it our “Power Team”. These guys help us bridge the gap between the pro and amateur games.

MWU: What is your teaching philosophy?
Bugsy: You never stop learning, continuing education is the key. I learned more in the short time I was in pro ball especially AA than I ever did in umpire school. Umpire school gives you the base foundation and too many guys come from Pro school and come back to their home town and think that’s it, “I’ve got it whipped.” I call that “the umpire school rut.” It’s like taking a Driver’s Ed. Class and then you get on the real road and BOOM! you realize that there’s a lot more to it and its much more involved than you thought.

MWU: Is the internet an effective means to obtain umpire training?
Bugsy: What a way to go! And the response has been great! We have members from Germany, Italy, Australia and all over the USA. The website is open 24 hours a day, so umpires can train on their own time, at their own pace.

MWU: What kind of feedback can a student expect to receive?
Bugsy: Students get their questions answered by me, Vic, or one of the power team members. A question can be asked in one of two ways, either by posting to a forum so everyone else can read the question and answer, or by private email. Students (paid members AA Level and higher) might even get a video answers!

MWU: How important is this type of training to an umpire that is considering a move to college ball or a professional career?
Bugsy: Excellent for both. What we have and are adding applies to college ball. The mechanics are the same, but different in philosophy and some rules. I’m also developing a separate program for people who want to get ready for umpire school and a pro career.

MWU: Like an umpire school prep course?
Bugsy: Absolutely! By preparing for pro umpire school you have a better chance of graduating in the top 10% of your class when you go and landing a pro job. It is very competitive at umpire school and at the PBUC evaluation, so if you want to start a career as a professional umpire, you’ve got to train, train, train!

MWU: Do you offer group discounts to associations to supplement their training?
Bugsy: Absolutely, groups and associations can call or email me and we can supply video and support for group training. Our lessons are a great way to teach groups of new umpires or train veterans properly.

MWU: What is in store for the future of umpireteacher.com?
BUGSY: The future’s so bright around here, we’re wearin’ shades! This site will be the ultimate site for umpire training, from A to Z. Our lessons include one, two, and three man umpire mechanics; rules via video illustrations; and handling situations via video demonstrations. We will soon have our first webinar (live interactive seminars on the internet) up and going, so now is a good time to join!

MWU: What about training for softball umpires?
Bugsy: Our focus has been baseball to start, but soon we’ll be adding a complete section for softball umpires too.

MWU: What more can you tell us about umpireteacher.com?
Bugsy: Umpire Teacher is not competition for the 1-7 day camps or even the Pro Umpire Schools, its an opportunity for the serious umpire to keep learning and improving no matter what level or experience. Vic and I tell it like it is, the right way to umpire. There are a number of NCAA umpires and H.S. umpires who have never been formally trained and they just don’t get it! They say, “I’m working the best games already, so I must be doing things right!” These guys get their training from who knows where? If you want to learn the right way, learn from a professional. Umpire Teacher teaches the right way. Check us out!

Interview with O.U.T.S. Owner Bob Bainter

A few posts back I provided some information about a new umpire school in Cocoa, Florida: Oceanside Umpire Training School. O.U.T.S. is the brainchild of professional umpire Bob Bainter who agreed to answer a few questions about his school:


MWU: Hi Bob! Tell me a little bit about the Oceanside Umpire Training School.
Bainter: The Oceanside Umpire Training School (O.U.T.S.) is an idea that I have kicked around for a long time, and it finally came to fruition this fall. When I first started umpiring in professional baseball in 1995, I came to the Cocoa Expo for the secondary UDP (now PBUC) camp. I loved working the games, and at the time, it was also the site of the Brinkman/Froemming Umpire School. The Expo was the first place I considered for a site for O.U.T.S., and it's going to be very different than most schools and clinics. The timeframe is really the key difference, not to mention the game evaluations.

MWU: What is your staff like?
Bainter: I'm very blessed to have met and worked with the guys on my staff over the course of my career. Greg Chittenden and Darin Williams were both crew members of mine when I was a crew chief in the Eastern League (Chittenden) and in the International League (Williams). They are guys I trusted when I umpired with them, and I trust them as instructors now. Greg owns the Mid-American Umpire Clinic in Springfield, MO, so he brings a wealth of knowledge on instructing techniques and how to run a clinic/school properly. Bret Bruington, Todd Olinger, and Larry Allen are all successful collegiate umpires, with Todd and Bret working Division I NCAA and Larry getting closer to that level. I've known the three of them for almost twenty years, and I am confident that our students will find them, as well as Greg and Darin very informative, knowledgeable, and just fun to work with and learn from.

MWU: Why should an amateur umpire consider attending a school run by professional umpires?
Bainter: The main benefit of attending a school run by professional umpires is the combined experience of the staff. Lets say an umpire works 75 games a year. It would take almost 27 years to reach the 2,000 game mark. It took me 10 years of professional baseball to hit 1,700, plus another 300 or so before and after, probably 14 years total, if I remember correctly...lol...and I don't say that to toot my own horn, but when you combine our current staff experience, we have over 14,000 games between us. That's a lot of experience and a lot of "been there, done that, seen that" so when someone asks a question, we hope we have the right answer. I admire anyone who umpires any level, from tee ball to the major leagues. It takes a committment and a sense of pride and resolve unlike any other profession I know. Being a "professional" umpire doesn't make you any better than an "amateur" umpire, it's just for six months out of the year for a decade, I lived and breathed it, day in, and day out.

MWU: What does O.U.T.S. offer during a two week course that is different from a weekend clinic, or a three to five day camp?
Bainter: At O.U.T.S., we have the luxury of having two full weeks to teach our students as much as we can throw at them. Most three to five day camps go over new rules, depending on the area or the focus of the clinic (i.e., high school certifications, college, etc.). Our focus is going to be on rules and correct interpretations for whatever level the students need, plus theories of umpiring, including advanced positioning techniques, not to mention theories on handling situations, which I believe is what makes an umpire go from good to great. We also will have our students umpiring actual full games between some of the top high schools and colleges in the country. At most 3-5 day clinics, if someone is scrimmaging for the clinic, an umpire might get an inning or two in, and some clinics are just classroom work. At O.U.T.S., we will be able to watch the umpire take the techniques we teach them and give them feedback from their actual game situations. It's going to be much different than your everyday clinic.

MWU: What are the school facilities like? Is the food any good?
Bainter: The Cocoa Expo is the former spring training site of the Houston Astros and the Florida Marlins. It features your typical cloverleaf set of four baseball fields, but there is also the original stadium where the big league teams played in. The stadium is nearly 50 years old, and is a throwback to older parks, resembling an older minor league stadium from the 60's, but it's still serving it's purpose a half-century later. The original dormitories are right on the campus, complete with swimming pool, and the students will have the run of the facility, including game room, workout facilities, etc. We have our own classroom builiding, as well. As far as the food goes, students will eat at the cafeteria located in the main building. I would love to tell you that it's five-star cuisine, but that wouldn't be quite accurate...lol...but, I spent eight weeks there for four years in a row, going down before my spring training, and the food is really better than most cafeteria food you will find. The key was, I wanted to make sure the students had a choice, without having to leave campus and spending gas money and spending money just to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Students are free to go around and try the local cuisine, of course, if they'd like.

MWU: What is a typical day like at your school?
Bainter: A typical day would be breakfast, of course, followed by classroom instruction. We would then break and go out on one of the available fields for on-field demonstrations and drills (Oh! Can't forget the calisthenics!). The afternoon and evenings schedules are still being finalized once we figure out how many games will be scheduled to be played while we are in class. I want to get the students out on the field for games as much as possible. Of course, we always have to worry about the weather, but we will move things around as necessary

MWU: What kind of feedback can a student expect to receive?
Bainter: Students will be evaluated by myself and my staff not only on classroom work and on-field drills, but especially from their game situations. I plan on videotaping each game for the students, so they can review their work, and we can sit down and go over things that we observed that were both good and needing of improvment. Students will get a worksheet with their evaluation after each game, and we will review it with each individual, one on one.

MWU: How important is a recommendation from your school to an amateur umpire that wants to move on to college ball?
Bainter: Unfortunately, some of the best umpires around never get a "shot" at working college ball simply because they don't know who to talk to. Self-promotion is sometimes key to getting the games you want, but a lot of people are much more modest than that. We as a staff have connections all over the country. We will contact whichever association, assignor, etc., that a student needs us to so they can realize their dream. We will not sugar coat things to the assignors, if the students work hard and show potential, we will let the assignors know this. We can't promise placement anywhere to anyone...the professional schools can't, either...but we can get them in touch with the movers and shakers in baseball to get the students names out in front of them.

MWU: Question Nine: What is in store for the future of the school?
Bainter: Boy, good question! I want this to grow into a great training and polishing ground for all levels of umpires. I want to give amateur umpires a professional environment to learn in, not to mention the ability to get away from the cold weather, depending on their location, of course, and enjoy learning from people who truly care about the development of umpires of all levels of ability. For some people, coming here might be the closest they get to umpiring college baseball, and that's a great experience for them! I hope we are known as a great launching pad for many umpires careers!

MWU: What more can you tell us about the Oceanside Umpire Training School?
Bainter: I am excited to announce that we will offer a consolidated version of the school, since time constraints can come into play with people's lives, during the first week of the school. It will be the exact same school, but right now we plan on the majority of week two being where most of our games will be umpired. So, students can sign up for $900 and attend our school during the first week for a shortened version of O.U.T.S. (1 week) There will be more details on our website in the next day or two, but if anyone has a question they contact me at bob@outschool.biz or visit our website at http://www.outschool.biz/. My office number is 309-363-9995, and I will return each call personally to answer anything they may have a question about.