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Is gear
provided?
Arlington Little League has a reasonable amount of the basic umpire
equipment. This includes mask, chest protector, and shin
guards. Umpires are expected to provide a plate brush and an
indicator, which can be obtained from most sizable sporting goods stores,
but a pre-trip phone call to the store to confirm availability would be
appropriate. A ball bag is very useful and an expected piece of
equipment. Use of a ball bag requires a belt. Male umpires are
required to have and use their own cup.
Can an
umpire play baseball while umpiring?
Teen umpires are generally (though not always) players of the game and the
teen umpire program tries hard to not disrupt this activity. It is
expected that each umpire wishing to play baseball will continue to play
baseball.
How old
must an umpire be to umpire?
Teen umpires must be at least thirteen years old (league age).
Umpires who are 18 years old or above are moved into the all-volunteer
adult umpire program.
How do we
communicate with umpires?
Use of e-mail is the preferred communication mechanism, as it is much more
efficient than making phone calls. It becomes the responsibility of
the teen umpire to regularly check his or her e-mail account. It is
possible to have more than one e-mail account listed for
communication. The e-mail accounts are not used for things outside
of the activities of the teen umpire program and are never given to or
made available to anyone outside the organization. There are umpires
that do not have e-mail and those people are contacted using
telephone. That is, to umpire in the program does not force a person
to have an e-mail address.
What
level of baseball do teen umpires umpire?
Teen umpires starting out in the Arlington Little League program typically
umpire at the Majors 2 level. Selected umpires (typically third year
and above) are selected to umpire at Majors 1 games and to umpire at the
District 4 Starliper Tournament in June.
How is
scheduling done?
There is an assigned Teen Umpire Coordinator, who is responsible for
scheduling the teens to work games. ALL attempts to schedule two
umpires into every game. The scheduling process falls to the teen
umpire coordinator and is modified to accommodate his or her
comforts. Typically, a schedule of upcoming games is sent by e-mail
to all teen umpires. Each umpire responds to the coordinator with a
list of every game he or she is available to work. The umpire can
only do this after careful consultation with his or her own schedule of
family, school, and the team on which he or she is playing (if playing),
as well as other obligations. It is very important that the teen
umpire be responsible in managing his or her life schedules. The
teen coordinator will then look at all the upcoming games and the total
list of who is available to work each game, then will assign two of those
available to work each game. When the schedule for those upcoming
games is completed, the coordinator e-mails back to everyone the
assignments. In selecting the two umpires to work a particular game,
the coordinator considers many factors, including (but not limited to) how
many games the umpire has already worked or is scheduled to work.
This is done as an attempt to share the opportunity to everyone.
Canceling
an assigned game.
It sometimes happens an umpire who has been assigned a game will need to
cancel. Lots of things can cause this to happen and the league
accepts this, however, it is expected when an assignment is accepted, then
the umpire will meet his or her responsibility and will not cancel.
Cancel only if a higher priority conflict arises. As soon as the
umpire recognizes the conflict, contact the teen umpire coordinator.
Use telephone if the cancellation is very close to the game time.
The umpire coordinator will then search for a replacement. All
umpires should be aware that we do have cancellations and the umpire
coordinator may ask you at a late moment if you can umpire a game.
It is of great help to the league when umpires have the flexibility to
accept an assignment at a last minute.
How is
training done?
Typically a clinic is held in March. It is a 4-5 hour clinic and an
attempt to schedule it so as not to conflict with team formation
activities in the 90-foot league. In this clinic, basic mechanics
for working around the plate (calling balls and strikes) and for working
around the bases (calling safe and out) is done. It is intended that
this clinic will give the new umpire sufficient exposure to yield a
measure of comfort the first times on the field as the game administrators
(umpires). It is recognized that only experience will make the
umpire confident. Thus, most of the training will come while on the
field in actual games. Since it is not possible for the umpire
trainer to be at every game, it is important that throughout the season,
each umpire regularly submit questions, concerns and anxieties to the
umpire trainer for discussion.
Is there
money for umpiring?
Teen umpires are given a small stipend for the games they work. The
money is intended to be something that can be turned into personal
equipment or other baseball-related needs. First year umpires are
given $10 per game, second year umpires receive $12 per game, and third
year and beyond umpires will get $14 per game. It is the
responsibility of the teen umpire to keep complete and accurate records of
games worked and submit that record for examination and payment at the end
of the season.
What if a
sibling is playing in the league?
Very often participants in the teen umpire program having siblings or
other reasons for conflict of interest scenarios. The umpire should
inform the teen umpire coordinator of such situations and expect to never
be scheduled to work in such a game. If such scheduling inadvertently
occurs, please bring it to the attention of the coordinator immediately.
How do I
become involved?
Simply send an email to the league and give this information:
Name
Email Address(es)
Phone Number(s)
Street Address
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