WSLL - Umpires

WELCOME

WELCOME to our umpire page!

Here, you will learn about opportunities to earn pay or refunds or simply more about the great game of baseball. The program types and rewards, training available, and administrative details are described below. Feel free to contact the Umpire-In-Chief (UiC), Mark Cecelski, at [email protected] or the Training Director, Steve Gillingham at [email protected], with any questions. We will be happy to assist you in any way we can!

HOW DO I BECOME AN UMPIRE

The minimum age to umpire is league age 12. The level (i.e. AA, AAA, Majors) and position (bases and plate) an individual may umpire are based upon evaluation by the UiC and Training Director.

Starting the journey to become an umpire starts with 2 simple steps:

Step 1: For adults (18 years old and over during the season). Email your name, indicating you are over 18 to the UiC Mark Cecelski at [email protected]. The league Safety Officer will then submit your name to Little League’s background investigation contractor, JD Palantine, which will send you a link to their application form. Completing the form takes only a few minutes and is required of all Little League volunteers. Mark will respond with a welcome notice including the times and dates for required training and an invitation to the online training site.

YOUTH UMPIRES: complete the youth umpire agreement at the link indicated . Please:

sign the agreement;
have the agreement signed by your parent or legal guardian;
email the agreement to the UiC Mark Cecelski at [email protected]; and,
mail the original agreement to the WSLL Treasurer.

See the Youth Umpire Agreement for more specifics. Mark will respond with a welcome notice including the times and dates for required training and an invitation to the online training site.

Step 2: Complete the training outlined in the training section below.

UMPIRE OPTIONS

We offer 5 different umpiring options, each with its unique incentives described in detail in the next box.

• Full refund (Team Umpire) option (Adults only)
• Partial refund (Part-time Team Umpire) option (Adults only)
• From the stands (pure volunteer, when the spirit moves you)
• Youth umpire paid option
• Parent/child option (see below)

We offer special mentoring and training for each option, and all offer camaraderie, engagement with the league, and a deeper knowledge of the game.

One of our most popular options is the PARENT/CHILD OPTION, where parents and youth umpires share a unique bond, learning and working together — and earning the youth umpire a $10 bonus for each game if the youth works the bases; a $15 bonus if the youth works the plate.

Pay & Promotions

Youth Pay by Level and Position:

AA Plate/Field – $25/$15
AAA Plate/Field – $25/$20

Majors Plate/Field – $35/$25

Fun Tournament Plate/Field - $45/$30
All Stars Field -$30

Bonuses:
Working with parent bonus – $10 (field) / $15 (plate) per game
Training bonus – $30
- New Umpires: five (5) online courses, field training, scrimmage (you must work a minimum of three (3) games)
- Veteran Umpires: three (3) online courses or one (1) online course and one (1) field training (you must work a minimum of three (3) games)

Promotions

Veteran umpires: Are you interested in umpiring at a more senior position or level? Promotions are based on the interest you show in umpiring and the potential that you show for a more senior position and/or level. Learn more about the criteria for being promoted in this:

PROMOTIONAL FAQ DOC.

GAME SCHEDULING

Game assigning is done through Stack Officials. After you’ve completed training, we will send you a link inviting you to open an Stack Officials account. There, you will be able to see available game assignments you can choose. If you have technical questions please contact David Queen at [email protected]

UMPIRE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS

Adult Umpires: Ask your manager to validate games at the end of season. Parents meeting the stated requirements will have their registration and volunteer fee returned as appropriate.

Youth Umpires: SEND IN YOUR INVOICE!

Please use the Youth Umpire Invoice Template link below.

Record games you umpire as the season goes along. After the season scan and send the invoice to the UiC Mark Cecelski at [email protected] before June 30 to receive payment in July (Spring); and by October 31 to receive payment in November (Fall). Make sure to put your USPS mailing address at the bottom of the form. This is where your check will be mailed.

INCENTIVES

Full Refund Option: Refunds both Registration and Volunteer Fee

Team Umpire for your child’s team: plate umpire for half of team’s regular season games; and, arranging for another parent to umpire the bases, or doing so yourself for the remaining regular season games.

Training: Online rules and mechanics training and field training or scrimmage umpiring, as prescribed by the Training Director.

Partial Refund Option: Refunds Volunteer Fee Only

Requires: 5 games of service

Training: Online rules and mechanics training, field training and/or scrimmage umpiring, as prescribed by the Training Director.

From the Stands:

Refunds: N/A

Requires: N/A

Training: None but strongly recommend online rules and mechanics training, field training and/or scrimmage umpiring, as prescribed by the Training Director.

Youth:

Umpires are paid for every game umpired and bonuses as outlined above. See pay rates in the Pay & Promotions Box.

Training: Online rules and mechanics training, field mechanics training and/or scrimmage umpiring, as prescribed by the Training Director.

UMPIRE DOCUMENTS

How do I get promoted?

3-umpire system Guide

3-umpire System Pocket Guide

Plate Conference Script

TRAINING

WSLL offers a multi-level training program to provide the umpire with the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary. Once you enroll, we will send an invitation to enroll in online training. Our training program includes these phases:

Online Training: Covers rules, umpire responsibilities, umpire movement and signals, situations, safety, game management.

On-field training: Two-hour position by position training in mid to late March for the spring season and late August/early September for the fall season. Makeups are available.

Scrimmage evaluation: a few innings of umpiring both plate and field positions during a live scrimmage. These are held on various dates before the season begins.

Bonuses paid for completed training if the umpire works a minimum of three (3) games.

WSLL UMPS IN MLB

Two former WSLL umpires and players are now MLB umps: Chris Segal and Brennan Miller. Catch them on TV!

Website Manager

West Springfield Little League

WELCOME

HOW DO I BECOME AN UMPIRE

Links

UMPIRE OPTIONS

Pay & Promotions

GAME SCHEDULING

UMPIRE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS

Links

INCENTIVES

UMPIRE DOCUMENTS

TRAINING

WSLL UMPS IN MLB

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West Springfield Little League

West Springfield Little League

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