How to Become an Umpire

Becoming an umpire can be a very rewarding decision. What you get out of it solely depends on the amount of time, work and effort you want to put into it.

Softball Ontario has a very good system in place to help develop umpires who choose to strive for the top. The possibilities range from officiating local baseball, working at a provincial championship or being selected to umpire at a Canadian Championship. There is a yearly registration fee which entitles you to officiate within your province as well as a rule book to help you learn, understand the playing procedures and how to enforce rules in different situations.

Also, offered to you are umpire clinics in which you will be taught proper positioning on the diamond, proper mechanics, example - how to properly animate a strike call, an out call and a safe call, as well give you the knowledge to officiate a game. Softball Ontario also offers suggestions in game management, proper attire and over all improvement to your game control.

If I still have your interest; below are some easy steps on how to become an umpire:

• Ask a friend if they know how to get in touch with a local umpire in chief or game assignor.
• Read a newspaper to see if there are any associations looking for umpires.
• Catch a local game and ask the umpire there how to get involved.
• Check out the Softball Ontario website. They are there to help and will answer your questions or direct you to whom you need to get in touch with.

Many Softball Ontario Umpires agree that umpiring is a great way to meet other people from different areas and share stories and experiences. You will learn a lot from just sitting down with an experienced umpire and listening to their past game situations.

Please feel free to check out the following websites for more information or contact Softball Ontario at 416-426-7150:

www.softballontario.ca

www.slopitch.org

www.softball.ca