Umpire Clinic

So this year was a big first for me and my family. I have refereed basketball and umpired baseball for a very long time and I've always had an unhealthy attraction to wearing the stipes and blue's. It keeps me apart of the game is what I tell everyone, but the truth is, I love the kids and I love the game. So this year after working my rear-end off at Waste Management of Tulsa and after breaking my leg and ending my baseball season prematurely, I decided to start officiating full-time. Basketball started slow because I moved my membership from the Okmulgee Officials Association to the Oklahoma Officials Association in Tulsa and the Tulsa Association starts two weeks later in November than I had expected. Yet, when I got started finally it took off like wildfire. I loved being on the court every night at some really great schools, Bristow, Mannford, Glenpool, Beggs, Okmulgee and many many more. I moved into the play-off section of my schedule and this is based on invitation only and thats from the OSSAA. I did receive an invitation for the District Tournament and the Regional Tournament both in 2A and 3A so I was pleasantly surprised since a new guy took over basketball officials this year in the state dept. I literally ended my regional tournament on a Sat and had my first high school baseball game the following mon. Couldn't have planned it any better. I love the TMUA, Tulsa Metro Umpire Association. They have high standards and great training programs. Which is in part due to the reason I received a job as the Head Umpire at Sapulpa Baseball Association. I great paying job that has me working long into the summer, after h.s. baseball ends and also has me working about 5 min from my house. Which brings me to the purpose of this post, at least the reason for the title. I hosted an umpire clinic yesterday at the SBA ball fields for all umpires wanting to call games at SBA this year and I had a great turn-out. Mr Billy Warden, a fellow umpire that I highly respect, was there as a clinic instructor and together we really did a good job. We covered a lot of ground and i believe I'm going to be able to produce a fine group of officials for the upcoming season. I'm at Sapulpa 2 times this week, along with LaFortune and MCalester High School to finish. Another Umpire Clinic on Saturday and then a short break the following week. Officiating full-time has been great for me and my family. An adjustment to say the least, but I believe if you're going to do anything, do it with your whole heart. And thats why I go out on the field or court every night, because my whole heart is in it.
~Jered