The Christmas cookies are gone and nobody can eat just one, the sweater you got as a gift is an XL and a bit tight, and the previous channel button on the remote control is crying for relief!

Your umpire schedule is beginning to take shape, open dates are bad, filled dates are good, consecutive filled dates are even better, and you are very proud of that 20 game stretch in April over a 12 day period. It all looks good now, it feels great to be wanted, but are you, or will you be in shape to be wanted back?

As with rule study, the time to begin getting into umpire shape is now. Yes, some of you are winter sport officials, which mean you have been active, but all of us need to begin preparing our lower body for the upcoming season.

Brisk walking with a spouse or colleague is a good beginning. After a few weeks, let it turn into a combination of walking and 20 yard jogs to simulate getting into the infield from the base umpire A position. Let the walk progress to an intermittent 25 yard hard jog ending with a taking a pivot as the base umpire would from the A position on a base hit.

Concentrate on getting your legs in shape for plate work, begin with a warm up and then simple squats – go slowly please. Picture yourself in a game and get into your stance. If you can get into a weight room, ask for specific direction on the leg machines and squat exercises. Make sure to go slowly so there is not an injury which will delay you from getting ready for the season opener.