How much do you love baseball? What are you willing to do to umpire the best game available? Seeing an umpire work a college game is the culmination of years of work. Studying, attending camps, working games in every type of weather, and on diamonds in every type of condition. 

Baseball requires dedication from players, coaches, and umpires. The biggest change off the field to umpire college games is the travel. I am not flying all over the country to umpire, but I am driving to work games at previously unknown colleges. The drives changed from 30 minutes or less to an hour or three each way. You have to get to the field earlier, an hour before first pitch instead of 30 minutes. The extra distance requires driving in the early morning and late at night. Many miles in parts of the Midwest I never thought I would see. I listen to audiobooks as the scenery passes. This time to “read” has been wonderful as life off the diamond has gotten busier, and limited the time I can sit and read a book. Mile after mile, watching the empty fields roll by. 

The grind of the college season is in the miles and the time away. If you have a family, having a spouse that both supports you and understands makes it possible. Without that support, and their taking on extra responsibilities, you could not work the games. Once you are on the diamond, life is simple, but not necessarily easy. Your focus is singular, making the correct calls. It is not the chaos of real life. 

The expectations are the same for each game. You show up and work the game to the best of your abilities. Some schools provide a locker room, or just a room, for the umpires to change in. Some provide food and/or drinks. Some cannot, or do not, provide anything. I fully expect to be provided with nothing and to change in my car. I am there to do my job, anything a college provides to the umpires is a bonus. 

College baseball starts in February. The weather in the majority of the country is less than ideal for baseball on Valentine’s Day. This year I umpired with the Wind Chill in the 20’s and had to suspend a game when a snow shower made the baseball disappear. You are bundled up, praying the wind is not too bad. Do you love baseball enough to have the cold wind sting your face for two and a half or three hours, take a 30 minute break, and do it again? Every umpire wants to work when it is sunny and 70°. Those are the games when the joy comes from simply being outside. Umpiring when you would rather be next to a fire teaches you a lot about your love for baseball. Are you willing to grind through the miles, weather, and tough games because you love the game? Only you can answer that question. 

DJ