Really? Has the number of high school games exploded? Has the number of college games exploded? Not really. Please provide some stats that backs this up.Think there is an Umpire shortage because the number of softball games has exploded!
Supply and demand changed.
Plenty of people have more than one job.
What's the average age of an umpire? If the pay was so good, good enough to actually end up with money in your pocket at the rates some folks around here think, then the average umpire age wouldn't be north of 60. Heck look at the average age of NCAA umpires.
If your point was accurate, then average age would be much lower as the supply of umpires would be filled by younger folks.
And as I said before most people don't umpire for a job, they do it because they like the sport. They're aren't doing to put a roof over their heads. And I'm sorry most folks working retail don't have to deal with the pieces of work during lower level softball games.
The pay hasn't kept up with the expenses and the attitudes of coaches and parents. Many years ago when I started I made three dollars for the bases and four for the plate. When I was in my early twenties major D1 was paying 125-150 for a mide week game and 150-175 for a weekend series plus some per diem. This was all baseball, which are longer games. Have not worked this level softball but I'm sure they aren't much more than that now. Maybe some folks working them can tell you.
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