Age to go to scool?

[john92]

Im currently in my last year of high school and was interested in attending JEA when im out, I will most likely be 18-19 years old when I go. Is that too young to go anywhere? should I wait a few year till im older?

Also, I am Canadian, what is the possibility of me getting to umpire in the US?

[Richard_Siegel]

Im currently in my last year of high school and was interested in attending JEA when im out, I will most likely be 18-19 years old when I go. Is that too young to go anywhere? should I wait a few year till im older?

Also, I am Canadian, what is the possibility of me getting to umpire in the US?

From what I have heard 19 year olds have gotten jobs. However, if you are good enough to be hired you have a better chance of of holding onto a pro job if you are more well educated, i.e. have a college degree and few more years of maturity. The life on the road in the low minor leagues is very tough life. You are on your own and you have to take care of all of you own needs yourself, i.e travel, laundry, food, entertainment, motels, etc. Many guys under 20 don't handle the off-field aspects of the life of a pro umpire very well.

I suggest you get a copy of the book “Baseball’s Narrowest Door” by Rick Roder. The only complete book on how to become a professional umpire.
You can get info on how to buy this book at http://www.rulesofbaseball.com/ebooks/bnd.html

As far as baseball hiring a Canadian, are you asking from the angle of the legality of getting employment in the USA, or is it a about any discrimination against non US citizens becoming umpires for baseball?

[ump_24]

This pertains strictly to the Canadian part...

What part of Canada are you from, because I can name a laundry list of umpires from your section of the country who have worked in MiLB...its no obstacle at all.

[john92]

Im curious to both aspects, will i be discriminated against? And how hard would it be to legally work in america as i wanted to move there anyways. And ump24 im from an hour south of toronto

[SocalBlue1]

Im currently in my last year of high school and was interested in attending JEA when im out, I will most likely be 18-19 years old when I go. Is that too young to go anywhere? should I wait a few year till im older?

Also, I am Canadian, what is the possibility of me getting to umpire in the US?

John,

No worries about discrimination - you are either good enough or not. As Richard advised. get the book too, as it's far far the best information out there on getting into pro ball.

If possible, go to college & maturing under your belt. Consider that <1% make it to MLB. You do not want to be a 35 year old AAA umpire with a HS education & no other skills when the phone rings in October ...

[ump_24]

Im curious to both aspects, will i be discriminated against? And how hard would it be to legally work in america as i wanted to move there anyways. And ump24 im from an hour south of toronto

Trevor Greive
Chris Graham (still current)
Keith McConkey
Shauna Cook (that's right...the "other" woman pro umpire in the last decade)

All from our area.

I could list so many more...McConkey even got a Futures Game assignment

But yes...go to university or college first and get your degree first...that's what I'm doing at the moment. First January after graduation, and I'm heading down there.

All you need to remember is once you put on the black shirt, we're all the same...there are MiLB guys from Venezuela, Australia, Japan, Canada, Mexico, etc etc...if you're good enough, you'll get there.

[john92]

Trevor Greive
Chris Graham (still current)
Keith McConkey
Shauna Cook (that's right...the "other" woman pro umpire in the last decade)

All from our area.

I could list so many more...McConkey even got a Futures Game assignment

But yes...go to university or college first and get your degree first...that's what I'm doing at the moment. First January after graduation, and I'm heading down there.

All you need to remember is once you put on the black shirt, we're all the same...there are MiLB guys from Venezuela, Australia, Japan, Canada, Mexico, etc etc...if you're good enough, you'll get there.

Ya i defiantly think school is an option , make sure im more mature and am prepared if i dont make it.

[Richard_Siegel]

Ya i defiantly think school is an option , make sure im more mature and am prepared if i dont make it.

And take a few grammar and spelling classes whilst at university as well, in case you have to write a few ejection reports.

[john92]

And take a few grammar and spelling classes whilst at university as well, in case you have to write a few ejection reports.

i'm writing on an ipod, kinda hard to have good grammar with ipods

[heyblue26]

i'm writing on an ipod, kinda hard to have good grammar with ipods

Don't they have spell check on those ipods. They cost enough.

[umpire1991v2]

I recently attended the 5 day school in New Jersey with Jim while I was 18. Both Dick and Jim said to take at least two years of college before you attend the full school. I was told by them to attend the 5 day this coming year to maintain everything. Both of them will tell you it is better to have something to fall back on if you try to go pro and it does not work out.

[yawetag]

i'm writing on an ipod, kinda hard to have good grammar with ipods
I doubt the comma is easier to find than the period on an iPod. Seems like a lazy man's excuse -- and I don't want lazy men in the MLB (despite current situations).

[ump_24]

I doubt the comma is easier to find than the period on an iPod. Seems like a lazy man's excuse -- and I don't want lazy men in the MLB (despite current situations).

That's why you BlackBerry it all the way!

[BrianC14]

One more bit of advice, since you've already told us that you're from "America's Hat"....

Don't come to the USA and go to pro school and say "OOT" when you mean "OUT". :p ;) :D

[Richard_Siegel]

One more bit of advice, since you've already told us that you're from "America's Hat"....

Don't come to the USA and go to pro school and say "OOT" when you mean "OUT". :p ;) :D

And leave the hockey skates home.

[heyblue26]

And the hockey padding and shin guards

[chuck1]

Dang. Guess nobody's heard of Jim McKean. That's sad. Tell him to go call Jim on the hotline 1800JimMcKean and ask Jim what MLB thinks of Canadians like Jim McKean in MLB. Of course Jim was also a MLB supervisor for years until he was one of the 3 let go last year.
On another note. It is probably good to pretend you might have a career ending umpiring injury. Not bad enough that life is over by any means, just an injury that keeps you from becoming a pro umpire. Now what you gonna do? Best to have something that allows you to hit the ground running immediately after that injury.