Because, to quote Madeleine K. Albright, "There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women." This is especially true in the super-competitive world of baseball umpiring.

For a few years, women who umpire baseball all over North America have discussed, from time to time, creating a way to make it easier for us to network and communicate. I hope this site is the very humble beginning of a strong and lasting virtual place for us to come together and share ideas and stories, ask questions, find mentors, and have fun. This is a "wiki" site, which means members are welcome to edit or add pages, photographs, links, and so on.

Of course, our umpire brethren are welcome to join in, too! All are welcome here, as viewers, members, and contributers.

Is there really a "grass ceiling?"

I used to say: Of course not, unless you count the shag carpet in the Jungle Room at Graceland. It's a ridiculous term made up by some reporter looking for a clever headline, and I thought it was funny. I believe the only ceiling any umpire, female or male, might bump against--be it of grass, glass, shag carpet, or any other material--is self-created or otherwise inherent to that umpire. Some limitations may be insurmountable, but many challenges an umpire faces in striving to perfect his or her game can be overcome. This site, a collaboration of a concerned community of baseball umpires, is one tool for umpires to use in that endeavor.

That wasn't what I really thought, though. Now, with a little more mileage and a little less fear of authenticity, I say: Yes. It's not universal, nor does it come from only one source, but it's definitely there. However, I think it can be mowed down, and being a resource for each other (as well as our male colleagues, who are with all sincerity welcome in this community!) is one way we can do that.

Peace, good luck on the field, and welcome to the site,
Kate