1st year baseball official here. Got cornered by a softball coach who convinced me I should also work at sport. What are the pros and cons of working softball. Also does someone have a document outlining the major rule differences between the 2 sports (Fed)?
Both are good sports, and are fun to work. I started with softball, then picked up baseball (and dropped softball). I even went to umpires' school and worked one summer of minor league baseball in Florida (geez, that place is humid).
Returned home to a real job, got married, and continued to work HS and D1 baseball (as well HS and small college football). After 10 years of that, baseball had become something that was dang-near every day, during that season. It was tough to manage my job, and baseball both. And having a newborn son, I decided to give that up, and just focus on football (which worked out pretty well).
The point I'm trying to make is that, as enjoyable and rewarding as it is, baseball can be very time-consuming. If you do BOTH (baseball and softball), I can only image that it would be even more time-demanding. But, if you can manage all of that, and it doesn't interfere excessively with work or family life, then, by all means, jump in.
I just don't want anybody to be surprised, a couple of seasons down the road, when they find they are needing to leave work early 3 or 4 times per week during the season, and keep uniforms washed, shoes shined, perform rule/video study, etc. - all the while carrying on normal work and family life.
Good luck, whatever you decide.