Heights National LL: Umpires

2009 Little League International Bulletin - Umpire Registry

Dear Little League Volunteer Umpire,

I wanted to let you know that we have opened online registration so that you can renew your umpire registration now and not have to wait for our regular mailing. Just visit our web site at www.eteamz.com/llbumpireregistry and click on the registration link. We will also be offering online registration for our Umpire Schools and Clinics soon.

As you know, the Little League Umpire Registry offers Little League umpires a smart way to stay on top of their game. The 2010 registration is now available online and you can sign up in minutes and start enjoying the benefits. By joining the Umpire Registry, you immediately become part of a unique information network charged with enhancing umpire services for Little League players everywhere.

We started the Umpire Registry to provide umpires an easy and effective communication channel to stay updated about their game and the response has been tremendous. Rule books are literally sent right to your doorstep and through our regular newsletter, you gather industry news and information. The Umpire Registry provides an opportunity for all umpires to stay updated on rules and regulations, exchange ideas, and offer suggestions that will continually improve them. You can also access the latest information on clinics, seminars, rule interpretations, regulations updates and more.

Tools like the Fair Ball newsletter provide you with a network so that you can correspond and receive peer feedback on situations happening out in the field. Umpires from around the world send in real situations and ask for feedback. The situations and responses also become valuable tools for improving the profession and educating volunteer umpires. The Umpire Registry also maintains an updated file of members, providing an excellent referral resource to league officers and tournament directors. As part of your membership, you will receive:
* A copy Little League Baseball and Softball Rule Books in print
and on a CD
* A copy of The Umpire in Little League
* A copy of Little League’s The Right Call
* An official Little League Registry Identification Card
* A Little League Umpire Registry Certificate
* An Umpire Patch
* An Official Little League Bat Ring
* A Subscription to The Umpire Registry Newsletter, Fair Ball
* A listing in the Little League Registry of Umpires
You can register online right now for a one-year membership for just $25. To register online, just visit our web site at www.eteamz.com/llbumpireregistry .

If you prefer, you may Click Here, print a form and mail with your payment.

I hope you will renew your membership online to the 2008 Little League Umpire Registry.

Sincerely,


Andy Konyar
Umpire-In-Chief
Little League International
539 U.S. Route 15 Hwy
P.O. Box 3485
Williamsport, PA 17701-0485
Phone: 570-326-1921
Fax: 570-326-1074



Wednesday, January 11
Where Are All The Volunteer Umpires?
Every year local leagues have elections, organizational meetings, registrations, drafts, etc..  Then, a week before the season starts someone asks,
“What about umpires?” 

Below are some items leagues should think about in building a viable volunteer umpire program.  The information provided will give each league a way to build a successful volunteer umpire program:  From the need to have a league umpire-in-chief on the board of directors to how to keep them once you get them in the program and trained to be efficient, competent umpires.



Local League Umpire-In-Chief - Michael Kern

It is highly recommended that each league should have a League umpire-in-chief (UIC) on its board of directors.

This umpire-in-chief should be, as a minimum, a role model to the children, and should have basic rule knowledge as well as being able to recruit, teach, or train volunteer umpires and interpret rules.

His/her duties should be to:

  • Train new umpires and/or managers/coaches for base umpires.
  • Schedule umpires in all or most divisions of league play and should umpire as well.
  • Establish a dress code for the volunteer umpires that will be umpiring in the local league.
  • Interface with the local league board of directors as it relates to game situation, manager/coach situations, etc.
  • Be available to debrief after games if asked by those volunteer umpires that want an evaluation.


Recruiting Umpires
If you live near a military base or post, approach military personnel about volunteering a little of their time to umpire some games for your league. Military personnel are always looking for community involvement activities to list on their fitness reports or on their annual evaluations.

Contact other associations, such as fire departments, search and rescues, etc. Those type of community based organizations can and sometimes will be able to put you in contact with some volunteers who are willing to umpire.

Create a code of conduct for all players, managers, coaches and fans that will remove some pressures from the volunteer umpires. Have parents, manages, coaches and players sign the code of conduct

When umpire meetings are scheduled, ask all those who plan to attend to bring someone along with them, especially a manager/coach.

A league may chose to use manages and or coaches to umpire in divisions in which they do not manager or coach. If the local league chooses to use managers/coaches, they should umpire with a qualified umpire.

Each team should recruit one or two parents to umpire.

Many local newspapers will offer public service advertisements to youth groups. Many radio stations and TV stations have avenues for public announcements for non-profit organizations. The local leagues should contact these venues and advertise the need for volunteer umpires, clinic dates, etc. During the local league registration periods, volunteer forms are used to ask parents and others what they would volunteer to do to help the league. Make sure the UIC or board member personally ask those who volunteer to umpire and get a possible commitment from that individual. The UIC should attend these registration periods in uniform whenever possible and try to put together a CALL list from the volunteers that attend.

Many high schools around the country require their students to perform some type of community service before they are allowed to graduate. Get the UIC or board member to the high school and interact with the guidance counselors to get names of those who may be willing to help with umpiring.

Use basketball, football or other sport officials. While attending a game at a high school event or another sport event contact the officials after the game and ask them if they would be willing to give to the Little League program one or two nights a week.

Local League Umpire Program

The local league must have a member of the board of directors at games to ensure safety, sportsmanship and game control when required.

Make a prepared announcement before games that unsportsmanlike conduct from players, managers/coaches, and fans will not be tolerated.

Retention

Provide rule books, patches, equipment, etc., for umpires. Start with a community set of equipment that everyone uses. Then progress to those that return or agree to umpire so many games will get a mask, more games will get a chest protector, etc.

Provide every volunteer a league umpire shirt and umpire hat to wear when they umpire. This will go along way in establishing loyalties and ties with your league.

Acknowledge umpires at end of year through dinners, picnics, or get together after the season for awards, show of appreciation, etc. Recognize your umpires….make them feel important!

Move umpires up, meaning use them for tournament games in at least district play, utilizing different umpires in championship games from year to year.

District UIC should approach each league to ascertain who is available for tournament games and what their availability actually will be as far as travel, open nights, etc.

Leagues, districts and umpires should understand that they should continue training. Rules change; interpretations change, mechanics change and everyone should realize this and conduct training or get to sessions for those updates.

Little League umpire shirts with the name of the league on them or just a shirt with a patch and Little League above the pocket will pay dividends on retaining umpires in your program.

Keep your foot in the door during the winter. Make contact at least monthly with your volunteer umpires.

On the local league web site, have an umpire section. On this section list schedules, rule interpretations, questions and answers and have a feedback area just for umpires, and talk to each other about weird plays or situations.

Local leagues should implement guidelines and procedures for keeping managers and coaches under control.

Ensure that your concession stand workers understand that it is permissible to allow volunteer umpires concessions after the game. Give them the hot dog and soda treatment after a game with a big smile and heartfelt “Thank you!”

Set up a program where volunteer umpires work at different leagues during regular season to keep them interested and to share the wealth with each other. An umpire who works in just one league can get stale and develop bad habits that he/she doesn’t realize he/she is developing. Also, try to umpire with different partners during the season. By umpiring in other leagues it will sometimes force that umpire to concentrate more on proper mechanics and make him/her a better umpire.

Recognize the umpires’ families. Say “thank you” to the spouse for encouraging the umpire to get involved and to be away from home four, five or six nights a week. The umpires will appreciate the support.



For more information contact Little League International