Scheduling High School Games

[nwsquid]

From what I can tell in my neck of Kansas City, high school games are typically played shortly after school.

My question to you, is that typical of your area? How do people with day jobs make it work?

I am looking to try to do some fresh/soph games with the hope of working up to Varsity in how many ever years it takes, but I can't seem to get past the problem of how in the world I would schedule the darn things with life as it is.

Right now I do 10-14 year olds (city ball) with starts at 6pm, and that cuts it close on a work/week day.

[nopachunts]

I am blessed to work under a supervisor that allows me to flex my time. My chapter uses "The Arbiter" and you are able to block the part of the day you are unavailable and leave open when you would be open for a game assignment.

In East Texas, HS games are played mostly on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Varsity is usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. There are a few Saturdays thrown in.

Discuss with your supervisor/boss the possibility of flexing some time on different days in relation to HS games. Best of luck.

[bobjenkins]

My question to you, is that typical of your area? How do people with day jobs make it work?

Yes, that's typical. And, it's one of the reasons there's a "shortage" of baseball officials.

I work 6-2:30 during the baseball season. And, I take vacation if I need to leave earlier. And, I stay until later (even though I still start at 6:00) if I don't have a game or it gets cancelled. And, I have an understanding office.

[Radwaste50]

My answer is similar to Bob's only I stay on a 630 to 3 schedule year round, call football in the fall. The scholls in our area very few have lights and before the time change games start at 1530 on weekdays and after at 4pm. Similar schedule for football and I will agree with Bob from the other posts multiple sports help you learn different GM techniques that can apply to all fields and even the work environment.

Recommended offseason reading--Verbal Judo

[BrianC14]

My answer is similar to Bob's only I stay on a 630 to 3 schedule year round, call football in the fall. The scholls in our area very few have lights and before the time change games start at 1530 on weekdays and after at 4pm. Similar schedule for football and I will agree with Bob from the other posts multiple sports help you learn different GM techniques that can apply to all fields and even the work environment.

Recommended offseason reading--Verbal Judo

Big thumbs up there. :)

[missouriump]

Squid,
In the KC metro area, contact Carl Nothnagel at 816-333-2676 for baseball (and other sports). Most games start at 4pm so a full varsity game and at least a partial JV game can be completed before dark (if no lights at the ballpark). If a school is big enough for a freshman and/or sophomore teams then it probably has lights and some of their games start a bit later, say 5pm or so. Those games tend to have very liberal substitution so their coaches can evaluate more players. Nothnagel also schedules for weekend tournaments. As there is a "shortage" of umpires, mostly due to the games' starting times, and you attend the MSHSAA rules meeting then Nothagel will get you some games. I used to trade shifts with fellow employees and take their Saturday shift. Then I was available for any games on Thursdays and I always had games scheduled.

I haven't been able to ump high school games for several years because of family obligations. I do about any games at the local suburbia league as they start at 6pm/8pm. But, if you make yourself available and don't absolutely suck, you will get games.

[nwsquid]

Thanks MissiouriUmp. I may very well suck, since I have been toiling in kiddie ball suburbia leagues all my years (first Olathe back when it was Babe Ruth, now Gardner which has pretty decent USSSA ball).

My employer is not terribly flexible...a soon to be 3 year old and a 4 month old, thats right...I am a stay at home dad. So I may just have to wait until they are older, since I don't know that I can justify it to myself to get a babysitter, until mom gets home, during the season.

I was thinking about attending the MSHSAA or more likely the KSHSAA rules meeting (as apparently I could go at no cost) even if I don't end up getting certified. Do you think there is any benefit to attending, for rules, networking, etc?

It is a shame (for the kids) that the qualifications are availability, and not sucking.

[jbradbury]

It's my Company, and I work whenever the h*ll I want.

[semper_fi_72]

From what I can tell in my neck of Kansas City, high school games are typically played shortly after school.

My question to you, is that typical of your area? How do people with day jobs make it work?

I am looking to try to do some fresh/soph games with the hope of working up to Varsity in how many ever years it takes, but I can't seem to get past the problem of how in the world I would schedule the darn things with life as it is.

Right now I do 10-14 year olds (city ball) with starts at 6pm, and that cuts it close on a work/week day.

One thing to remember about your full time job!!! It is your full time job!!!! To many people expect their employers to bend over backwards so they can work a second job. If you worked for me and wanted to umpire as a second job, I would work with you if I could under the needs of our company and also politely remind you that this is your primary job and not to do anything that could hamper your performance or endanger it.
I am only able to do this again because I have a Military Retirement for some income and have decided that I would stay semi retired, after getting laid off using umpiring as my means of making a little extra cash.
Keep your employeer happy as I dont think you can afford to live off of Umpiring alone.

[missouriump]

Thanks MissiouriUmp. I may very well suck, since I have been toiling in kiddie ball suburbia leagues all my years (first Olathe back when it was Babe Ruth, now Gardner which has pretty decent USSSA ball).

My employer is not terribly flexible...a soon to be 3 year old and a 4 month old, thats right...I am a stay at home dad. So I may just have to wait until they are older, since I don't know that I can justify it to myself to get a babysitter, until mom gets home, during the season.

I was thinking about attending the MSHSAA or more likely the KSHSAA rules meeting (as apparently I could go at no cost) even if I don't end up getting certified. Do you think there is any benefit to attending, for rules, networking, etc?

It is a shame (for the kids) that the qualifications are availability, and not sucking.

Squid,
You're welcome. But listen to Semper regarding your "full time" gig. You seem to have the most demanding, yet fulfilling "job" available. I have told my wife on numerous occasions that if she could get a job with my salary and benefits, then I would happily stay home and be a househusband. Grade school field trips need a bit of testerone thrown in to handle the little whippersnappers!!!!

You may try to get acquainted with the guys at Mid America Sports Complex. The complex is on your side of the KC metro. It has leagues during the week and tournaments virtually every weekend from March to October. A men's league also plays on two of their fields. It became too far to drive with gas prices and I got fed up with the attitudes in the men's league. Contact Jon Browar from this http://www.kcumpacademy.com/ I suggest you attend his upcoming clinic. Give him your contact info and you should be able to get as many games as your daddy day care schedule allows. But, DO NOT cancel on him or his peers without good reason or several days notice. Once you get a reputation of dependability, you start getting calls to work instead of having to seek out work.

I admit being a bit envious of your "job". Hope the above info helps as well.

[nwsquid]

missouriump = wealth of knowledge.

Thanks.

[finnerty]

I changed careers 12 years ago to be a work-at-home dad, and it actually opened the door to umpiring, because I carved out my own schedule once my little girl got to be school age.

Now, the only drawback is when I'm committed to working a game, and I have to turn down three or four times the money to do an assignment in order to instead drive 40 miles to call a game for $72. But I love it way more than anything else I have going.

[MCLEOD36]

Finne.

You gotta do what you love..... That is my approach most of the time with games, sometimes I will call the assignor and go, throw in a 12U and 14U game to just show everyone how is should be.....

[finnerty]

I meant unrelated work assignment.

I'm right with you on doing any game over any other "real" work.

[Pete_Booth]

From what I can tell in my neck of Kansas City, high school games are typically played shortly after school.

My question to you, is that typical of your area? How do people with day jobs make it work?

I am looking to try to do some fresh/soph games with the hope of working up to Varsity in how many ever years it takes, but I can't seem to get past the problem of how in the world I would schedule the darn things with life as it is.

Right now I do 10-14 year olds (city ball) with starts at 6pm, and that cuts it close on a work/week day.

Yes typically HS ball starts around the 4 - 4:30 range. There is an occasional night game or 2 and some Saturday games.

You need to have a boss who will allow to use Flex time or take your vacation time in hours (which many employers frown on).

In any event I recommend getting at least HS certified even if you can only do a handful of games.

Reason: - Spring / Summer / Fall ball. Many of the leagues ie; Legion, CBL (Collegiate Wood bat league) high calibur travel ball require officials to be at least HS or College Certified. Therefore, by getting your certification even if you cannot work many HS games will allow you to work in the summer/ Fall where games are on the weekends and many games are played under the lights.

In summary: Talk to your boss about flex time or using vacation hours to umpire HS games. As mentioned above even if you cannot do many HS games at least you can umpire in the summer / fall.

Pete Booth