Over the several years that Jason Berning was head baseball coach for the Cowboys, he had the idea in the back of his mind that he would like to be an umpire someday when his coaching days were over. Now he fulfilled another goal by working his first state tournament.
“I started umpiring in 2016, and actually got my start when I was encouraged to attend the professional umpire school by a family friend,” said Berning. In 1996, he traveled to the Brinkman-Froemming school held in Cocoa, Florida. He states and interesting fact about going there was meeting Joe Nelson, who eventually became superintendent at C-G-D. “We have kept in contact over all these years,” added Berning.
Berning was not selected to continue on with the school, so he returned to Iowa and continued on with his education. He then got into teaching and coaching and did little to no umpiring. “I always wanted to do it if I ever got out of coaching, so after my final season in 2015 I decided I wanted to make the switch,” he said.
After his sixth year of umpiring high school games, he was honored with the chance to work his first state tournament. “It was a long process filled with many long car rides and games,” said Berning. You truly have to love to do this, as Berning on average has worked 50-60 dates a season counting spring games. “This summer was the most grueling, as I worked every weeknight with virtually no nights off,” he said. He also continued into the postseason for the fifth year. “I had worked through the substate level the last three years, with the goal for me since I started doing this to make the state tournament,” said Berning. “It was a great feeling to reach that goal!”
He admits that the process used to select state crews is hard to define. “While the IHSAA does evaluate officials, a major criteria is getting recommendations from schools and coaches,” he said. “They are required to list officials following their seasons every year. Secondly, just getting out there and working a ton of games, getting better and being seen helps.”
He worked two games at state, and was in charge of the bags at first and second in those games. “You work at state as part of a four-man crew, which is much different than the regular season in which you only work in two-man crews,” said Berning. “You work on three-man crews for the substate round, so the state tournament is the only time we work in a four-man system. That in itself can be difficult and intimidating, but I found it fun and not as difficult as I thought it might be.”
He felt it was a great experience, as he got to work with two guys he knew very well and another who was also making his state debut. “I didn’t really have any plays come up in the two games that were difficult or different, and that is what we like on any night we’re out there,” said Berning. “I thought it went very well, and it was an awesome experience!”
Of course, now that he’s made it, his goal is to go back. “For this to happen, I need to continue to work hard and work on getting better in all areas,” he said. “There is always something to work on and get better at. Getting there is great, now I want to continue to grow as an umpire so I can go year in and year out.”
He was also asked his take on the current officials/umpires shortage statewide. “It’s real and it’s only going to get worse,” said Berning. “Games are being cancelled because there aren’t enough umpires for all the games. We are working on getting younger umpires in the game, but the hard part is getting them to stick with it.”
He feels the reasons officials, both young and old, are getting out of it are many. “What we are trying to do is set up the young guys for success and to stay with it by mentoring, working with them and trying to work at the appropriate level,” said Berning. “I am blessed to have been mentored by many outstanding umpires. I think that is the key to success and continuing to be successful. I am extremely thankful for Joe and his work with me. He has encouraged me and pushed me to get better.”
