Steve Seminara (Staff photo)

STEUBENVILLE — At 20 years old and with some persuasion, Steve Seminara decided to give umpiring a try.

Now, 48 years later and an executive member and instructor for the Steubenville Umpires Association, it is Seminara’s mission to get local youths with a love of the game to do the same.

“I think the biggest challenge is trying to get some younger people to come into the association,” he said. “I have talked to people around the state in other associations, and they also say that is the biggest problem right now. You can’t get a lot of young kids involved any more. I was 20 years old when I started. A couple of my boys even did it in high school, and one continued when he was in college. The trouble today is you have a lot of the older people who want to get out (of officiating), and it’s tough to get new people. I know they are having trouble in all sports.

“There are a lot of guys out there that played the game and know the game that could be an asset to the association.”

The mission to get young prospective umpires involved begins in January. That is when Seminara, along with other members of the SUA, will begin holding Ohio High School Athletic Association sanctioned classes for new umpires to work toward their certification. The classes are tentatively set for Wednesday or Thursday nights at Eastern Gateway Community College. Times, according to Seminara, will be flexible to accommodate the needs of the students.

For Seminara, who has helped new umpires in the past but will be formally teaching the class for the first time, it is simply about giving back to something that has gave him so much.

“I just felt with my experience, it was something I could offer back to the association and the area,” he said. “We have several good officials in our organization that are really good at teaching young umpires. This class, we feel, is going to be really good. Anyone that is interested will get a lot out of this class and be well-prepared to take your exam.

“We’d really like to get some high school kids involved. You can be 16 and in high school and take the class now. Once you have your license, you have it as long as you renew it.”

The ultimate goal is keep the historic organization that cuurently has about 20 members for the high school season and between 35 and 40 for summer ball around for future generations of area ballplayers.

“We’ve been around a long time,” Seminara said. “We’ve been in existence over 75 years that I know of. I think any time you are a part of an organization that has been around this long and has had the longevity, it says something about the organization. There have been many hundreds of members that have come through here. The officers over the years have kept the organization going. We have had some very good people running the organization. Not one person has done it on their own. A lot of good people have kept it going through the years.

“I think the people who started this organization, many of whom are gone now, would be proud that we’ve kept this thing going this long. And, my intention is to do whatever I can to keep it going as long as we can. You never want to see an organization go away. The people of this organization have alway tried to keep it going. As long as I am here, I am going to give it my best and try to bring new members in. ”

Though Seminara did not play at the high school level, he did play in the summer during his younger years and has always had a love for the game. That love of the game is ultimately what led him to umpiring.

“I just love baseball,” he said. “When I got out (of summer ball) and could not play any more, I wanted to stay involved. Eugene Babish and Alec Lyons used to constantly push me to umpire. Alec Lyons was one of the senior members of the organization. I used to tease him about the calls he made, and one time he told me, ‘You know what, why don’t you come out here and try it when you’re done playing?’ I used to hang around with (Babish) in the neighborhood, and he actually talked me into doing it.

“When I started doing it, I just fell in love with it. I have met some wonderful coaches, some wonderful players over the years. So many players I have umpired over the years have gone on to the majors. Paul Hoover is a good example. I can remember when Paul played for the Legion team. There are so many great coaches that I can look back and say I have been on the field with, not just in the valley but across the state. Some of the legends.”

His hope is some people today will follow suit and develop the same passison for it he has over the years.

“I joined in 1972, and at the time I never thought much of it,” Seminara said. “If someone would have told me then I would be doing this for 48 years, I probably would have laughed at them. If you’re interested in maybe being an umpire, it’s like anything else in life. If you don’t try it, it’s worse to sit back 20 or 30 years later and think about what would have happened if you did. If you try it and don’t like it, you can get out.

“I love getting out on that field. I love the fresh air. Some days you are out there on a beautiful day and think there is nothing better than this.”

Seminara does want prospective umpires to know that as rewarding as it is, it is not an easy job and has to be done for the right reasons.

“It is something that is not for everybody,” he said. “I tell young umpires if they are in it just to make some money, don’t do it. If that is the reason you are walking out on the field, you’re out there for the wrong reason. You have to have dedication, the love of the game and you have have to understand the game. We have had some that have joined and wanted to stay in it, but for certain reasons — family reasons, health, work — they had to get out. Then, we’ve had some that have joined, and they have come up to me and said, ‘Hey, this isn’t for me.’ Like any type of officiating, if it isn’t for you, you shouldn’t be out there.

“You have to put your mind to it and give it 100 percent every time you go out there. That is what I would tell anyone that wants to start out. It is a great thing to do and you meet a lot of wondeful people. There are going to be bad days and good days.”

As for what he would tell someone getting into umpiring for the first time, his message is simple.

“You have to not be afraid of failure,” he said. “I think that is the biggest thing with any sport, and the same for anyone who plays sports. You’re not going to go out there and have a perfect game every day. It is important to want to learn and get better. We can always do better, even after our best days.”

The cost of the class is $90. Those interested can contact Seminara at (740) 264-3349 or (740) 512-8243.

(Grimm can be reached at agrimm@heraldstaronline.com)