Virginia District 10 Little League: My Site News: Suggestions for Recruiting Little League Volunteer Umpires
Suggestions for Recruiting Little League Volunteer UmpiresThe following suggestions, for recruiting Little League volunteer baseball and softball umpires, were put forth, by Little League chief umpires in Virginia Little League District 10 (VALLDIST10), in a meeting with the VALLDIST10 administrator and umpire consultant, March 1, 2003. Some of these suggestions have been implemented by leagues in VALLDIST10:
1. Send letters and other types of correspondence, expressing the need for umpires, to prospective volunteer umpires.
2. "Require" Little League team managers and coaches to umpire in divisions of play, other than the one in which they manage/coach.
3. Hold special, local league, training sessions for new umpires.
4. Conduct training clinics for league managers and coaches from the umpiring prospective.
5. Conduct training clinics for league managers, coaches, and umpires together in one group.
6. Conduct special, separate training for volunteer, youth umpires.
7. Have the local league supply uniforms for new and experienced umpires, to encourage voluntariness and personal and league pride.
8. Emphatically encourage parents of Little League players to become volunteer umpires.
9. Use youth in the local community, including high school students who are required to do community service, as volunteer umpires.
10. Follow up on contacts with prospective, volunteer, umpires.
11. Acquire a resume of experience from new, volunteer umpires.
12. Encourage husband and wife couples to become league, volunteer umpires and serve together as a crew.
13. Have Little League teams supply volunteer umpires for their games.
14. Advertise for volunteer umpires in local media and websites.
15. Hold special “thank you” (appreciation) events for Little League volunteer umpires, and give annual awards to selected and collective, volunteer umpires.
Distribution: within District 10 and otherwise as appropriate