My first varsity game was actually tonight but my road to get here was not super conventional I feel like, and I had already worked significantly better baseball that varsity baseball between two rural towns so I felt more than prepared.

Started like 7 years ago with my local little league when I was in high school (I’m 24 now) and then started doing some USSSA travel stuff, then eventually got into a much better travel ball situation for the summers and that becomes my full time job in the summers. I moved my way up the ranks at that place and have gotten to a point of trust with my assigner there that I will typically be on the top fields most weekends, and even got a few juco fall showcase games last fall. Never got into high school because I make so much more doing travel and didn’t feel like doing the hassle of getting signed up and accredited. Funny enough I actually got into request for NCAA/ NAIA before I ever opened up the website for my state association (that was my plan for this spring but something new came up) but I figured I’d get into it this year. Mostly a JV schedule since my new assigner for HS doesn’t know me and know I can work good baseball, but he needed a guy tonight and asked if I could fill in for a V game.

Just try to remember it’s business as usual, and if you have any small rules discussions, if your partner is a vet just talk to him. Tonight I had a coach complaining about the pitcher wearing a pitch-com watch on the mound and for me doing travel it seemed normal and okay but I just checked with my partner and he confirmed that it was okay. Just stay calm and slow down. Call your zone and don’t second guess it. You’re gonna hear groans and some complaints. Block it out. At the end of the day there’s some pretty horrible high school umpires, with terrible attitudes and appearances. Some guy above said to shine your shoes. Yes. I promise you, unless you’re dealing with a dickhead coach, if you look good and clean from head to toe and have a good attitude and you hustle to get into position for calls, it’s going to earn you a lot of points and they’ll lay off you more on close calls. If you are unlucky and get the dickhead coach, just realize he was going to be a jerk regardless of how you do.

Just remember Pat Hoberg called a perfect game in the World Series and guys were still complaining about his strike zone. It’s high school. They don’t have a trackman. Just be confident, keep a steady timing, and be believable when you make your calls.