Ump-Attire.com NCAA Clinic Tour 2012

By Brandon Cooper, former AAA umpire, current college umpire and Ump-Attire.com Field Representative.

I just got back from the last trip of Ump-attire.com's 2012 tour of NCAA clinics. I traveled from the bitter cold Chicago, to rainy Atlanta, and to the pleasantly mild temperatures and rare winter sunshine of Philadelphia.
 

Brandon & Chuck Barnett President of SIUA

CHICAGO

I had the pleasure of tagging along with Customer Service Manager, Krista Wolf, for the trip to Chicago. It was a first NCAA conference as a vendor for both of us.

The trip was great. I met a lot of new faces and caught up with some old friends from my days traveling the US umpiring in the Minor Leagues. Krista said she really enjoyed talking to our customers and being able to put a face with names that she has spoken to on the phone or heard from via email or Facebook.

For those of you who asked, if you are unaware we now have the new zip-up Majestic Jacket in stock, and yes the new Poly Wool Pants with Expander Waistbandde provide the appropriate amount of room for your shin guards to allow for a comfortable fit.

Brandon shows Billy Williams our new items  

ATLANTA
In Atlanta I pulled double duty, attending the NCAA meetings as an umpire and popping out during the breaks to help Jim Kirk, the coolest CEO around. What other CEO would allow his partner to grab lunch at Hooter's with fellow umpires, while he held down the fort?

It was a busy weekend. I ran into a lot of guys I hadn't seen since last year's meetings and quite a few that I currently work with during the season. Jim got a chance to meet them all. In return, Jim introduced me to quite a few guys I had not met before.

PHILADELPHIA
Ump-attire.com's last stop of the tour was Philadelphia. It was a quick in-and-out trip. Being able to walk straight through the terminal into the Marriott lobby was the most convenient thing I've ever seen; what a great set-up for those of us flying in.

I traveled solo, so I traveled light, but I tried to bring the latest and greatest of our baseball apparel and equipment. I ran into my umpire school roommate that I hadn't spoken to in several years, and I met a ton of new people that I had not previously met in my travels. It was a pleasure meeting and talking to all of you.

That concludes my experiences of the last three weekends. I had a great time! Good luck during the 2012 baseball season. Travel safe, and I will look forward to catching up next January.

If there is anything I can do for any of you please do not hesitate to contact me at brandon@ump-attire.com. And...don't forget about the discount codes given to you at each conference.

Our Vision, Mission and Values

We recently created Ump-Attire.com's vision, mission and values statement and wanted to share with all of you.

VISION
Progress of Officials, Officiating and Sports
Our vision is for sports officials to achieve greater satisfaction, safety, wellness and respect. Progress of officials and the officiating profession directly impact sports in a positive manner.

MISSION
Be the Worldwide Leader in Officiating Sporting Goods
Through innovative and quality products, exceptional service and experiences, superb execution, trusting relationships and community spirit

VALUES
These values directly reflect the company's uniqueness and provide a code of conduct upon which we lead, grow and work. We seek employees, vendors and partners that adhere to, practice and show initiative to maintain our common core values. Commitment to core values allows us more easily accomplish our mission, reach our goals and better realize our vision.

Being Remarkable
We value service, products and experiences that are remarkable and worth talking about.

Improvement and Learning
We value humility, skill building, education and knowledge. Continuous learning, both professionally and personally, leads to enlightenment and empowerment.

Being Creative, Adventurous and Open-minded
We value being adaptable, embracing new opportunities and change and having a courageous willingness to take risks.

Relationships
We value trusting relationships that fosters team and community spirit and care. We express it by remaining honest, open, genuine, transparent, authentic, understanding, generous and respectful.

Passion and Engagement
We value an environment that fosters care, competence, pride, performance, quality, commitment and selflessness. This ultimately leads to a positive work-life balance for all, one that leads to higher self-esteem, self-worth and satisfaction.

The Umpire School's Mark Stubblefield to Be Featured in Monthly Series

We are excited to announce a series of monthly tips during baseball season from Mark Stubblefield for baseball umpires.

Mark is the medical coordinator for The Umpire School (TUS). These tips came from discussions with Mark and his talk "Common Injuries for Umpires" he gives at TUS.

We'll place these on the Good Calls - Baseball and Umpiring Blog.

Planned Topics include:

• Collar bone protection through proper chest protector spacing
  
• Pre-game preparations for medical emergencies
• Pre-game stretching and benefits
• Post-concussions awareness
• Preventing heat illness
• Handling contusions

Drafts have already been completed for these articles. If you have had any issues with any of the above, e-mail me your story at jim@ump-attire.com, and we may incorporate it into the post.

Coop is Promoted to Sunbelt Conference

A big congratulations to our new field sales rep Brandon Cooper! He was just promoted to the Sunbelt Conference.

His umpiring schedule this NCAA baseball season will include games in the Big East, Ohio Valley Conference, Mid-South Conference and now the Sunbelt.

VIDEO: Staff Learns Umpire Mechanics with Mixed Results

As part of "The Greatest 1-Hour Umpire Clinic on Earth" at our December staff retreat, umpire Brandon Cooper attempts to pass along his mechanics skills to Anessa Arehart, marketing and sales.

 

Music by  Noel & John.  

Tailoring Services Performed at The Umpire School

In my opening talk with students of The Umpire School,  I shared with them that my main role here is to serve as a resource and an outfitter. I'm not just someone who is here just to sell them things.

I'm here to help if they have forgotten something, or something gets broken and needs replacing.  I'm also here to help the students with their choices so they feel more comfortable during their training.

Notice, I didn't use the word "tailor" in my opening talk, but when Nick Thul from New Jersey purchased a pair of the new Ump-Attire poly-wool base pants, I wanted to make sure he had an opportunity to wear them on the field while he was here.

I thought the hem-tape tailoring I performed on his pants turned out pretty well and I like the professional look of the poly wools on the field here at The Umpire School. They look pretty nice, don't you think? 

Good luck to Nick and the rest of the students!

Posted by Jim Kirk, CEO/President/Tailor of Ump-Attire.com and avid fan of sports and sports officials everywhere.

A CEO's Waking Thoughts at The Umpire School's Opening Day

Sometime before 6am. Vero Beach, Florida. Opening Day of Umpire School.

I know it's before 6am because I'm lying in my bed at the Vero Beach Sports Village and my alarm has not gone off yet. Someone is talking to me. It's the voice inside my head. You know the one. The one that is there every morning that tells you "hit snooze one more time". The one that infuses you with self-doubt before you even get going,  such as "why are YOU here?",  before you can even put your feet to the carpet.

In the book, "The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle", Steven Pressfield calls this voice "The Resistance". It's evolutionary and programmed in you to try and to distract you from the real work you should be doing, as well as keeping you from living the life you want to live.

What does your "resistance" say to you?

When our business had the opportunity to partner with the brand new The Umpire School (TUS), managed by Minor League Baseball, with lead instruction from PBUC (the arm that picks, trains and manages its umpires), I was more than thrilled.

One of our responsibilities at TUS is to open a mini-store for its students while they are in session. I drove a cargo van 15 hours from Louisville, Kentucky,  transporting the makings and goods to do exactly this at the facility that once was the LA Dodgers Spring Training Facility. Today is registration day and opening night. The first one ever for TUS.

Thoughts in my head - my resistance - include:

Will the store setup be all that TUS or I hoped it would be and can I get it setup before registration starts at noon? 

Justin Klemm, TUS Executive Director, told me that while I am here, I am considered part of their staff. What an honor, but these guys have over 150 collective years of umpiring experience. The most formal umpire training I have received was a half-day clinic to prepare me for my lengthy 2-year HS umpiring career nearly 20 years ago. Can I truly add something?

I spent some time last night with TUS's course materials. While comprehensive, there are things I, personally, would like to share with the future professional umpires of the world:

• The concept of umpires being the "ambassadors of the game". It is something bigger than the umpires themselves.
• Job satisfaction considerations,especially related to negative aspects from fans and others
• Consideration gear and apparel as tools that allow you to feel comfortable, feel comfortable and to provide confidence.
• The perspective that students' gain here can also make a difference in their umpire community

Will some of these be covered already? Does TUS really want me to share my perspective? Wouldn't it have been smart to have prepared such talks ahead of time?

Will my attempts this week to soak up information and asking lots of questions then sharing my thoughts through this blog and the Good Calls Baseball blog be a little intrusive or annoying?

Can I provide the leadership back at headquarters while I'm here this week? We are going through a significant organizational transition as we hire staff and try some new approaches. Can I stay focused here and not be distracted by company and staff needs?

Is this post even worth writing? Will anyone even read it? 

One of Pressfield's recommendations is to let what you are receiving the most resistance be your guide to what is most important. Then, to get working. The blog post serves as my starting point. Time to shower and get to it. Stay tuned.