The Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School is one of two schools training umpires

Umpire (baseball)

In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...

 for professional baseball

Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...

. It is located in Ormond Beach, Florida

Ormond Beach, Florida

Ormond Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. The population was 36,301 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 37,929. Ormond Beach is the northern neighbor of Daytona Beach and is home to Tomoka State Park.-History:Ormond Beach was...

. It runs for five weeks each early January through early February. The school is open to both males and females; indeed, the only female ever to work a Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

 spring training game, Pam Postema

Pam Postema

Pam Postema is a baseball umpire most notable for being the first female to ever officiate a Major League Baseball spring training game...

, graduated from the school.

During the course, students learn every phase of officiating in the 2-man umpiring system, which is used in the Rookie through high-A levels of the minor leagues. Many concepts, such as positioning and coverages, are taught on the field at the beginning of the session in something of a shock immersion program. After this initial period, those fundamentals are drilled over and over so that they become automatic for the prospective umpires. All of these concepts and drills conform to the requirements of the minor leagues, who rely solely on the umpire schools for new officials.

While as much time as possible is spent on the field, there is also a substantial classroom element to the course. The entire rulebook is covered in detail, and tests are given on most days. Class hours are from about 8:00 am to 11:00 on days with good weather, with the rest of the day given to instruction on the field. In years with lots of sunny weather, evening class sessions may be held as well, as on-field instruction is always given priority.

At the end of the school, a certain number of prospects are chosen to go to another vetting school, this one run directly by the minor leagues, which makes final selections for who continues into the minors.

The Wendelstedt Umpire School has produced more Major League umpires than all other schools in history, combined. It currently has twelve full-time Major League umpires and a number of Minor League umpires on its staff. The current Major League umpires that are/have been instructors at the school include:

Lance Barksdale

Lance Barksdale

Robert Lance Barksdale is an umpire in Major League Baseball. He has umpired in both Major Leagues since 2000....

, Gerry Davis, Dana DeMuth

Dana DeMuth

Dana Andrew DeMuth is an umpire in Major League Baseball.DeMuth advanced through the minor leagues to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League before joining the NL staff in 1985. His major league career began in 1985; he umpired in the National League until the umpiring staffs from the American and...

, Doug Eddings

Doug Eddings

Douglas Leon Eddings is an umpire in Major League Baseball. He came to public attention with a controversial call during Game Two of the 2005 American League Championship Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.Eddings started umpiring Little League games at 14,...

, Bruce Froemming

Bruce Froemming

Bruce Neal Froemming is Major League Baseball Special Assistant to the Vice President on Umpiring, after having served as an umpire in Major League Baseball. He is the longest-tenured umpire in major league history in terms of the number of full seasons umpired, finishing his 37th season in 2007...

, Greg Gibson

Greg Gibson

Gregory Allan Gibson is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League from 1997 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. Throughout his career, he has worn the number 53 on his uniform...

, Brian Gorman

Brian Gorman

Brian Scott Gorman is an umpire in Major League Baseball. After working in the National League from 1991 to 1999, he has umpired in both leagues since 2000. He is the son of Tom Gorman, who served as an NL umpire from 1951 to 1977...

, Ed Hickox

Ed Hickox (umpire)

Edwin William Hickox is an umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1990 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues beginning in 2005. He wears uniform number 15. Hickox officiated in the 2007 National League Division Series and the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star...

, John Hirschbeck

John Hirschbeck

John Francis Hirschbeck is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the American League from 1984 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000; he is currently a crew chief. On February 28, 2000, Hirschbeck was elected as the first president of the newly certified World Umpires...

, Sam Holbrook

Sam Holbrook

Samuel Woodford Holbrook is an umpire in Major League Baseball. He wears number 34.Holbrook began his umpiring career in the Appalachian League in 1990, followed by stints in the Midwest, Carolina, Texas, Eastern and International Leagues before making his Major League debut in June,...

, Ron Kulpa

Ron Kulpa

Ronald Clarence Kulpa is an umpire in Major League Baseball. He wears uniform number 46.Prior to pursuing professional umpiring, Kulpa attended Missouri Baptist College. His professional umpiring career began in 1992 and he advanced to the Pacific Coast League in 1998...

, Jerry Layne

Jerry Layne

Jerry Blake Layne is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League between 1989 and 1999, and throughout both major leagues since 2000...

, Randy Marsh

Randy Marsh

Randall Gilbert Marsh is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1981 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues from 2000-2009. Marsh wore the uniform number 30...

, Chuck Meriwether

Chuck Meriwether

Julius Edward "Chuck" Meriwether is a former Major League Baseball umpire. After working in the American League from 1988 to 1999, he umpired in both leagues from 2000-2009...

, Paul Nauert

Paul Nauert

Paul Edward Nauert is an umpire in Major League Baseball.Nauert previously worked the Appalachian League , the Midwest League , the Florida Instructional League , the Southern League , and the International League .He umpired his first National League game on May 19, 1995, and became part of...

, Charlie Reliford

Charlie Reliford

Charles Harold Reliford is a former umpire in American Major League Baseball. After working in the National League from 1989 to 1999, he worked worked throughout both leagues from 2000 to 2009. He wore uniform number 18...

, Brian Runge

Brian Runge

Brian Edward Runge is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League in 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He wears uniform number 18. He has worked in the 2004 and 2007 American League Division Series...

, Larry Vanover

Larry Vanover

Larry Wayne Vanover is an umpire in Major League Baseball. After working in the National League from 1991 to 1999, he has umpired in both Major Leagues since 2000....

, Tim Welke

Tim Welke

Timothy James Welke is an umpire in Major League Baseball who was named to the American League staff prior to the 1984 season, and has worked throughout both major leagues since 2000. He has been a crew chief since 2000, and currently wears uniform number 3...

, and Hunter Wendelstedt

Hunter Wendelstedt

Harry Hunter Wendelstedt III is a baseball umpire who has worked in the National League in 1998-1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. His father Harry Hunter Wendelstedt, Jr. was an NL umpire from 1966 to 1998...

.