3 weeks down

I write this as I sit in the Florida sun, beside the pool on our 3rd day off, which means we have completed 3 weeks of the 5 week program. But this week has certainly not been a normal week in Florida, they declared a state of emergency when the temperatures dropped below zero for 3 nights in a row. The local crops have been hit hard, but I can tell you that I too felt the cold, especially as I look at the temperatures back home in to 30's or as they would express it here high 80 f. I was just grateful that we did not need to be on the grounds til the afternoon when the temperature had warmed up a little to the mid 50 F.

Also off the field, it was a big week in the US, with Monday being MLK (Martin Luther King)day and Tuesday being the big day for Obama. With everything going on here I almost forgot it is Australia Day back home.

I have been keenly watching the results of the youth nationals and the Claxton Shield despite the majority of games being held when I am sleeping. Great to see the Victorian kids do so well, pity that the Aces didn't manage to make it all the way.

Oh and there is the baseball umpiring academy, the reason why we are all here. We have covered nearly all the book the book now, with just section 4 remaining. We commenced Camp games on Wednesday and I have done 3 so far, first one not too bad considering we were just the second group up. Thursdays well let just not talk about it....the balk call with no one on base, not scoring a run with just 2 outs!! Just a bad day....Fridays not so bad, maybe it is finally coming together. Cage work has also stepped up a little with judgement calling, and yesterday we commenced mapping our calls to enable us to review them on when we attend the video review room. The theory section and tests are going well, managed to get 100% on the awarding of bases exam this week, and my cage group have been doing very well with overall results of the test, topping the class on all except one this week. We have now completed 11 of the 14 tests.

This week also saw the departure of our French student - having to return home for family and work purposes. Alexis was given a good send off, given the privilege of running some of the instructors through concentration drill. It was also very amusing to see Alexis (all of 5ft 2) tossing Lance Barrett (6ft 10) during a camp game.

Saturday we also had Laz Diaz - MLB umpire drop in for the day to say hello.

As we all know our American friends are very patriotic, with us studying section 4 - starting and ending a game, we have covered what the requirements whilst the national anthem is being played. We also watched a video about WWII and the sacrifices that where made for the country and the flag.

My focus for the next two weeks will certainly to work on the little things, ensure I get the right angles, bust out of the box so i get that extra step closer, ensure that i read the play and get to the right position, work on the drop step to get to the point of the plate. Sounds alot, but i am sure that i will be able to iron some of these out with the 5 or so Camp games i will be doing this week. We also have Larry Barnett (ex MLB umpire), and just met Trent from England who is also here for the next couple of weeks.

Michael one of the guys here from Puerto Rico, who speaks very little English has been impersonating the instructors, it is so funny...the instructors got wind of it and confronted him during stretching matrix on Saturday - had to be there, but it was funny. They just need to wait until graduation night - he had more up his sleeve.

Well time to do some homework now......Section 4, Oh and my position report. No test tomorrow (Jim doesn't give tests on Mondays!)

Oh and Happy Australia Day to all those in Oz.
(Photo is Alexis (France) and me with great hat hair!)