A Review by Brent McLaren

One of my favorite movies is "Bull Durham" and among the many memorable lines and scenes from that movie the opening "the Church of Baseball" phrase is one that goes through my head most often, literally every time I walk out on to a diamond. Well for me, at the point I am in my umpiring, if my "church" had a head office, it would be at a hotel in Kissimmee, Florida, and if it had a head preacher, it would have to be Jim Evans.

"In education and umpiring there is no finish line." Adonis Hill's comment from the opening evening encapsulated why it was important to return to one of Jim's week long training schools. As the forty of us assembled on opening night, we represented a wide range of ages: from 17 up to well into retirement years; came different areas including England, Alaska, California, and 9 from Canada; and an even wider range of experience: about 1/4 of the class had 15 or more years on the diamond, 1/4 had less then five, and for 2, this would be there first time putting on the mask.

I honestly admit that since attending my first Classic two years ago, I have enjoyed every game I have officiated. I'm not saying I have worked perfect games, or that there are not moments I would prefer to forget, only that I feel that I have brought my best skills on to the field for the players and for my partner.

This year's Classic class would be the first group to use the newly renovated Osceola County Sports Complex, the spring training facility of the Houston Astros. Hardly a piece of the old building remained. With spring training only weeks away the Complex was a hive of construction as crews attempted to bring the $18.4 million dollar project in on time. The Classic would slide right in and carry on without interruption. No doubt, as the work is completed and the classrooms and offices become fully operational, future Florida Classics and the 5-week Academy Professional School will take place in an ideal learning environment.

Familiar Faces, New Friends

Flying from northern snow to the green grass and warm sun of Orlando comes as a pleasant surprise. We were met at the airport by Warren Cole, one of the team of workers who make the Classic and Pro School happen. Participants at this year's Classic were housed out of the Quality Inn Conference Centre in Kissimmee. Our rooms were clean, bright, and spacious with comfortable beds and quiet air-conditioners, something you'll appreciate after a day on the field. (Like most of the hotels in the area, if you go to their website you will be impressed by the pictures. Just don't ever take any of them literally :-)

A buffet breakfast was served in the hotel's Magnolia Grille each morning. Lunch would served at the park. Supper and late evening snacks were all within walking distance of the hotel. The Magnolia Grille was also open as a quiet bar for (early, in my case) evening wind-downs and discussions.

It was hard to miss the 6'5" frame of MLB umpire Scott Higgins who was standing by the pool with Jim as we unloaded our equipment and luggage. We had met Scott several years earlier and followed his career through the PCL and in the Majors. Scott, as chief instructor, would lead a team of instructors that included Adonis Hill, Jason Klein, Brent Persinger, Aaron Banks, Fran Burke and Jesse Redwine This Classic was staffed at a 1:5 ratio between instructors and students, ensuring individual attention.

Jim Evans also came over to greet us on our arrival. Now retired after a twenty-eight year career as a Major League umpire, Jim has combined his years on the field, with his early training in education into a complete umpire curriculum, training thousands of amateur and professional umpires. More then this, Jim has surrounded himself with a team whose experience, and just plain hard work, attempts to make every aspect of the Classic a complete training experience. This is not a fantasy camp or your annual sit-around-and-trade-stories clinic: it is an intense umpiring education program, a mini-Academy, and the efforts of Ray Leuty, Jerri Walker and Rowland Wiederaenders as well as Trent Delmont and Jenn Englekirk (who staffed the camp store) ensure that it will be seamless. Later in the week we would be (re)introduced to Dick Nelson, former PBUC supervisor, and Academy instructor. Dick, whose nickname is "Sarg" for a good reason, would spend the final day on the field with us.

The Florida Classic and Professional School do not arrive in the trunk of a car ... it pulls in with a full-size moving truck, loaded with more equipment and support supplies than you could ever believe: more computers than a mid-sized accounting firm, more printers than the neighborhood print shop, a bevy of television equipment, communications, cameras, two full size embroidery machines, and a Texas-style barbeque (which Roland put to good use on graduation night!). It takes a dedicated, professional staff to bring, and keep this school together and there is no doubting this is a well put together team.

Starting The Evolution

It would be inconsiderate of me to outline the Classic curriculum but several points should be made:

• Jim promises he will improve your abilities at the plate and taking plays at first base. Together, Jim and his team deliver on this promise
• Jim focused on the "art" of umpiring. Over the week he worked with the class an average of 3-4 hours each day in the classroom and on the field
• Scott focused his instructors looking at "science" of umpiring. Afternoons were spent on the fields and in the batting cages, expanding on classroom instruction. They easily filled 5-6 hours with field, cage and classroom instruction, as well as reviewing your daily video each evening

The attention to detail on every drill and activity is what sets the training each umpire receives apart from any other umpire education experience I have taken part in. The combination of 28 hours of classroom instruction, and nearly 30 hours of field instruction, not to mention the time spent each evening makes a significant impact on each umpire. For one week you literally live, eat and sleep umpiring.

Nothing happened in the classroom that was not reinforced on the diamond. Jim took time each day to go through the rules of the game in a way that opened up so much of the history and development of baseball. Jim does not read the rule book to you, he divines it. That careful parting of the rules is then carried onto the field, and forms a basis for the drills and skills of the day. You develop not only a fluency with the written words, but the ability to translate those words into actions.

Seven Pairs Of Eyes

One of the pressure points you feel at the Classic is being watched constantly by seven pairs of eyes. Every move, every pivot, every mechanic is being observed, assessed and corrected. What seems to bring even more pressure is that those eyes are connected to seven nearly identical minds, all of who have been individually trained by Jim to the exact same Academy standards developed by Jim. Each has one common goal, to make you into the best umpire you can become over the course of the week. It is how those eyes and minds work to your benefit that defines, in large part, the Classic experience.

The Classics are a unique blend of all ages, all abilities, all levels of the game. As a result the instructors take care to meet each participant's individual needs. You will never be discouraged by an instructor instead you will be encouraged to improve. That encouragement is going to take many forms: a private comment while you are running a drill, working one-on-one with an instructor, positive reinforcement and suggestions on your cage videotape, an attentive ear and reasoned answer to your questions.

Jim is justifiably proud of the fact that every one of his instructors have been personally trained by him to be an instructor as well as an umpire. As a result, as you move from one instructor to another, although the presentation may vary some, the techniques and teaching points are all the same. No one improvises with his own individual ideas, techniques or mechanics. All of the instruction is a carefully coordinated, and as a Classic participant you reap the benefits.

True story ... its well after 9.00 PM and I'm out for a walk before calling it a night when I meet one of the instructors coming over to go into the video room. Realize that a day at the Classic starts at 6:30 AM, in the classroom at 8:30 AM sharp, ends on the field between 5:30 and 6:30 PM. Most participants return to the hotel and go immediately to the video room to review their cage tape, then off to supper. An instructor, well after the time many have called it a day, making an extra effort to work with a student, is typical of the level of commitment you can expect from every member of the Academy Team.

The Eighth Pair Of Eyes

There is a sort of omnipresence about Jim whether he is teaching, watching others in class, or joining the work on the field. You are constantly aware of his guidance and wisdom, quickly coming to appreciate the gentle manner with which he corrects you individually or as a group. He sets the instructional tone. Correction will be immediate, but it will never be embarrassing. In fact, you will only be singled out for what you did right and then encouraged to take everything to a higher level.

You get the feeling that Classic instruction is a fluid, dynamic sort of machine. Each umpire brings their local concerns and personal needs to the Classic, and unlike the professional school, the final product can be tapered or shaped slightly differently according to the student's needs. It was clear that Jim (and Scott) were constantly assessing areas where each activity could improve and making those adjustments in the classroom and on the field. There was a nice combination of serious work, hard effort, and yet a loose, collegial feeling about every day. You could laugh, you could make a mistake, ask a question or try something again ... always without any fear.

The Other Pair Of Eyes

On the field Scott Higgins keeps the wheels moving. He takes charge of each exercise and drill. There will be little time to stand around. As a participant, you are either listening, observing, running, or blocking through the steps while waiting for your moment to step up and run the drill. Each instructor is connected by a radio communication system so there will be no delays pr pauses during the day. Even before the next drill commences equipment has already been set up, or an instructor is in place prepared to demonstrate it.

On our first time out on the diamond Scott, after the wheels had fallen a drill, asked the participant, "Do you know what you did wrong? That's the hard part. Fixing it is the easy part." The Classic trains you to become your own set of eyes and to work to self-evaluate your performance play-by-play. You have not only the knowledge gained from the mechanics and drills, but most of us picked up a copy of PBUC "Manual For The Two-Umpire System" (which Dick Nelson authored) at the school store, which formed the foundation of the coverage instruction. Now, long after the school is over, it is easy to review many of the lessons taught and remember the skills imparted by referencing that manual.

Being my second time at the Classic I knew areas I wanted to pay specific attention to: there was a resolve on my part to focus intently on my weakest areas. By numerous repetitions, many answered questions and with the comments of the instructors, I am pleased with my progress (despite a leg injury that would slow me throughout the week). More then this, in some small way, each of us has become his own evaluator, his own set of eyes, his own voice reminding him to "Step Up And Turn To Face The Ball", "Take A Read Step" or execute "A Good Academy Mechanic" among many other checks.

The Batting Cage

Under Adonis Hill's guidance, working in the batting cage becomes one of the most intense, focused activities of the Classic week. (As one participant remarked after watching and working with Adonis, "I think I understand the difference between finger-painting and Picasso now.") Over the week we would come to the cage 5 times for instruction. Cage work is highly structured: announce yourself, give the pitcher one more pitch, bounce in and clean off the plate, three strikes (time), four balls (time) to a right-handed batter, three strikes (time), four balls (time) to a left-handed batter. Your five-member cage crew rotates so that one umpire is constantly outside working with the mirrors and other aids.

The cage instructors, in our case Aaron, Fran and Jesse, monitor every move the plate umpire does, making adjustments or corrections. Helping constantly with suggestions, you will find additional personal comments and recommendations added to your tape as you review it that night. For the four days you will work the "heel-toe" or "slot" stance (not the wrestler stance!) and on your last time in the cage they will let you experiment with what you were taught and the stance you previously used. To my knowledge, most of the participants were not returning to their previous stance, but sticking with the Academy-taught foundation.

So was it a strike or a ball? Surprise of surprise, that is not what you are taught in the Academy batting cage. What you are taught is how to follow each ball from the pitcher, to the catcher's mitt, all the way through the signal and back to the pitcher. Jim addressed the issue of determining ball or strike on the field as part of an afternoon session. The concept of ball or strike was further reinforced by a lunch-time presentation by Scott Higgins (Yep ... eat and learn at the same time!) In cage work you are encouraged (forced?) to execute a solid stance, perfect tracking, and an proper signal mechanic. Ball or strike was irrelevant. In the cage, mechanics reigned supreme. Timing comes from proper use of the eyes, not some "one-steamboat" bandage.

Final Observations

Without a doubt the Classic remains true-to-form, a top notch, professional training situation for the amateur umpire. It is easily the best dollar-for-dollar investment an amateur umpire can make! The level of instruction is without peer in my opinion.

Who should attend? You should attend. I can say that without any hesitation or reservation. The age of the umpire is not relevant, nor is the level of experience. Observing the progress of each participant (remember my leg? ... I had some bench time as a result) over the week clearly showed how the Academy system worked. I am especially impressed with the younger umpires, and first-timers, who have experienced this Academy desire to get it right at such an early time in their officiating careers. A head-start at this level can only benefit them personally and many other for years to come.

While the committment to providing the best instruction remained the same since the first time I attended, the overall attention to detail and to providing the time to work things out seemed to be far greater. There was no rush to move on to the next drill, or get one more cage repetition in. The focus was on helping each of us progress in a logical, sequential way. The element of "taking-a-few-more-minutes" was really appreciated by me as I tried one, two or three more times to get it right or worked on the sidelines to get the physical and mental aspects of the drill together before it was my turn to go. This was a Classic with Class!

I want to make a special mention of how much the Academy and the Classics can mean to a "father-son" or other family-type combination. (Both times we have travelled to Kissimmee as a family, Nathan and I have gone to the Classic while my wife and daughter have enjoyed the near perfect weather and activities of the Kissimmee and Orlando area. It has been a wonderful combination of education and vacation.) If you umpire and have a son or daughter who umpires, then seriously consider attending the Classic together. If you think the bond between those who elect to officiate is strong, wait till after you attend these sessions! Learning and working together has formed a level of respect and cooperation that they told me disappeared during the teenage years. It has not disappeared, and it won't disappear. The Academy, baseball and umpiring has provided and continues to provide a significant touch-stone for us as a family.

The Jim Evans' Academy of Professional Umpiring also has a Desert Classic which is held each November in Peoria, Arizona. Both the Florida Classic and the Desert Classic should be on the top of every amateur umpire's wish list.

Special Thanks ....

• to Cage Crew 'C' (Gordon, Don, Nathan, Brent and Ryan (L to R in the above picture)) who hustled, focused and worked well together all week. I'd go on the field with any of you, any day, anywhere! BTW ... there are two father and son teams with this group (Gordon and Ryan, Nathan and myself).
• to Dave (and Mike) who kindly drove us and others to and from the park each day
• to Sue, who coordinates the lunches at the Classic, a special commendation. I was on a special diet at the time of the Classic and like all participants was well looked after
• to Rowland who greeted us at breakfast each day with a knotty baseball problem and whose barbeque smelled so good ....
• to the Canadian umpires ... good to see each of you ... stay in touch ... I hope to meet each of you on the diamond someday
• to each of the instructors. You now have again enriched my days, my son's days, and contributed to enjoying the time of countless others on diamonds around the world
• to Helen at Thomas Cook Travel in Perth, who simply takes all the worry out of arranging a trip
• to Delta Airlines who ran a superb ship! Three legs of our trip went without hitch, it was when the fourth leg, the "long-awaited Flight 2138" experienced unpredictable difficulties that Delta staff in Cincinnati and in the air shone: keeping us informed, seeing that we were fed, comfortable and more-or-less happy. You turned what could have become a miserable experience into something that was very acceptable

"God Bless. Work Hard. Have Fun."
... Dick Nelson

- A flawless six out of five plate rating! (6/5)

For more information on the Florida or Desert Classic contact Ray Leuty, Executive Director, Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring or visit the Academy website at http://www.umpireacademy.com

.... reviewed on January 11, 2003