Anyone care to share their experience as a baseball umpire in the area?

Nadie importa compartir su experiencia como un rbitro de bisbol en el area? (for some tine members)

Just trying to cover all my bases

Is this secretly a teetery thread? B/c I haven't seen one of those in a while.

I am an umpire here in Houston. What can I answer for you?

Oh just a little interested in making some extra cash on the side. Was looking into umpiring. I know I need to take a course first. I'm interested in anything on how to get started.

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Oh just a little interested in making some extra cash on the side. Was looking into umpiring. I know I need to take a course first. I'm interested in anything on how to get started.

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It is a great way to make extra cash, it gives you the opportunity to work about as much as you want. If you want to umpire high school baseball you will have to take some classes that usually start in early January. Your best bet would be to contact our chapter VP Ken Leventhal at ksleventhal@yahoo

If you are interested in doing youth ball or baseball of all ages that isn't high school you should contact Charlie Strasser. He has an organization called CBCU Umpires. If you google that his info will come up. They also do trainings throughout they year.

i started with HS baseball while I was at A&M. If you do choose to go the HS route you will have to do 3 years of JV baseball and get evaluated before you can do varsity.

Let me know if you need anything else or just have some questions I didn't touch on.

Used to umpire at the local little league in Katy. $25 per game, maybe a little more for behind the plate. 2 games on a weeknight, 3-4 games on a Saturday. Free concession stand food/drink... Countless irrational parents. It was pretty fun.

Thanks for the help. I'm looking to do high school or select ball at baseball USA. I guess generally around the high school age. Something a little more competitive if that's asking too much. Are you with TASO?

Do you know how much courses cost? Is there a dollar amount for uniform expenses?

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Thanks for the help. I'm looking to do high school or select ball at baseball USA. I guess generally around the high school age. Something a little more competitive if that's asking too much. Are you with TASO?

Do you know how much courses cost? Is there a dollar amount for uniform expenses?

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Also keep in mind JV high school games typically start at 4:00 on weekdays. And obviously you'd need to be there 30+ minutes before then.

Not sure about your personal schedule though

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Thanks for the help. I'm looking to do high school or select ball at baseball USA. I guess generally around the high school age. Something a little more competitive if that's asking too much. Are you with TASO?

Do you know how much courses cost? Is there a dollar amount for uniform expenses?

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I am with TASO and I'm not sure if there is a fee for the courses. I want to say there isn't. It has been a long while since I had the introductory classes. We have really been trying to recruit new guys recently.

The uniform cost can be a bit steep to start. My suggestion is dont go cheap on the gear, it can really get you hurt. You will need a jacket, a few shirts, a few pairs of pants, a chest protector, mask, shin guards. You could probably get all of that for $600 or so. And if it turns out that umpiring isn't for you (some people can't handle the ridicule) the gear keeps good resale value.

As for BUSA that would be through CBCU. They have that complex as well as several others around Houston.

Craigslist can be a pretty good place to pick up decent quality umpire gear. I've seen full sets for $100-$300 for pretty good stuff. Should be good enough to get you going.

eBay is another good spot if you want to go the used route. I have tried tons of umpire gear so I can point you in the right direction there as well.

WES2006AG is spot on, as is Milkman. The umpires for Baseball USA (Marucci), Premier Baseball, and a few others are assigned through CBCU. The umpires for public high school teams and a fair number of private schools throughout greater Houston are assigned through TASO.

I am a TASO high school umpire, also with CBCU, and do local Little League games. Reach out to Ken and Charlie. The TASO new umpires class is free, but to umpire high school baseball you will have to pay local chapter dues and state dues, attend some meetings, and umpire a few scrimmages to get started. CBCU will ask you to pay some annual dues, and both also have some scheduling fees per games that they skim off.

What part of town do you live in? There are also some niche umpire groups like Spring-Klein Sports Association (SKSA), Fort Bend Baseball League, Lonestar Baseball Umpire Association (LBUA), and others that may be of interest to you.

Wes, milkman and 86. Thanks a lot for all the info. I emailed Ken. Hopefully he responds in the next few days. I saw that gear isn't cheap, bust after playing baseball for so long figured it would be dumb to by low quality gear.

I live on the North side in Spring now about 10 min from Sprint Klein ball park.

I can make that 4:00 JV game no problem. My boss is pretty flexible with my temp job. The only dilemma I have is that it looks like I will be starting with HFD at the end of the year, so that means I'd miss this years baseball season. This is all pending I'm recovered from my knee surgery. I was supposed to start the fire academy in March, but dislocated my knee right before that and had to give up my spot.