Umpires

AKBA Umpires

Interested in becoming an Umpire?

If you are interested in becoming an umpire for the Aurora King Baseball Association, please be sure to read all the information on this page as most of your questions will be answered.

Also, you can contact the Umpire-in-Chief, Chris Fafalios, at umpires@akba.ca

Responsibility and Commitment

For many individuals, umpiring for the Aurora King Baseball Association will be their first job. Umpires can expect to undertake the following responsibilities:

- Read carefully each set of Division and Official Baseball Rules
- Show up on time
- Take charge of a game
- Create an environment for the kids to have fun playing baseball
- Make quick, accurate decisions
- Balance umpire commitments with school, playing baseball and other activities
- Keep a schedule and record of games umpired
- Communicate their concerns, questions and problems to the Umpire-in-Chief in a timely manner

In addition:
- If you are scheduled to work on a night and the weather is calling for rain, please DO NOT email the Umpire in Chief (UIC) asking if your game is still on or not. He will send an email on those nights that inclement weather is forecast between 3:30pm and 5:30pm. If you don't receive an email, GO TO YOUR GAME. Don't assume that the game is not on. If you get to your assignment and you, your partner, and both coaches agree that the field is unplayable, you can call the game and will still be paid.
- If you are scheduled to work on a night and you do not show up to your scheduled game, you will be fined half of the pay of what you would have earned that game (i.e. $40 game is a $20 fine). You are scheduled according to your availability. This is a paid job with the expectation that you will attend where teams, coaches, players, and parents are expecting you. Attending your scheduled game, once you have been scheduled, is not an option, it is your obligation. If this happens once, you will be warned not to miss another game because the second time it happens will result in your termination from umpiring in the AKBA. This decision will be joint between the President of the AKBA and the UIC.
- If you are scheduled to work on a night and the UIC is told that you arrived late for your assignment you will be warned about this. You should always arrive and be ready for your assignment at least 15 minutes prior to the game. This does not mean show up 15 minutes before the game. Respect the game and everyone involved. It is also your responsibility as an umpire to inform the UIC if your partner is late. This may result in a pay reduction depending on the scenario.

The Game

- Umpires are to arrive NO LATER than 20 minutes before game time.
- The Home team is responsible for providing game balls.
- Review the ground rules 5 minutes before the scheduled start time.
- Keep the players and coaches hustling on and off the field between innings.
- The umpire has control of the game.
- You need to show confidence and authority at all times.
- Do not hesitate to speak loud and clear to the coaches to ensure a smooth & consistent game pace is maintained at all times.

Forfeits

- Teams are required to field 9 players to start a game.
- A 15-minute grace period is given before the game can be declared a forfeit. Time however, is not added to the end of the game, it just cuts into the game itself.
- If both teams wish to remain for a scrimmage, suggest a coach can umpire behind the mound.
- Umpires are not required to umpire a forfeited game (due to transportation it is their discretion to do so).
- It is recommended that you do stay if the teams wish to play and “share” players for practice purposes.

Registering with Baseball Ontario

The first step to take to become an umpire is to register yourself on the Baseball Ontario website. Click 'View my Profile', then the 'Umpire Registration Form' just above the login. Once you have registered, you will be able to select a clinic to attend to receive your license. For all new umpires, you are a Level 1. Please register for a Level 1 clinic.

Some years the AKBA hosts Level 1 and Level 2 clinics. If the AKBA does not host a clinic, please find another location to receive your license. If the AKBA does host a clinic, the existing umpires of the AKBA receive a reserved spot (from the UIC) for the AKBA clinic. Therefore, there may not be a spot at an AKBA clinic if you are a new umpire! If that is the case, find another location to receive your license.
You are more than welcome to email the UIC with your contact email and phone number (and any additional questions) at any time AFTER you have registered on the Baseball Ontario website. You will then be added to the email list as an umpire for the AKBA.

Umpire FAQ

Q: I am only available to umpire certain days of the week. Is the umpire scheduling flexible?

Q: What is the umpire uniform and do I need to provide my own?

A: The umpire uniform consists of an umpire shirt, grey umpire pants, black shoes, and an umpire’s hat. The OBA mandates that all umpires wear the approved umpire shirt, hat, grey pants and black shoes. In the event of colder or rainy weather, it is recommended that a navy or black plain pullover be worn. NOTHING with logos or detail is allowed.
Umpire pullovers are available through Silverstar Sports if interested. The gray pants can be purchased from almost any clothing store and are fairly inexpensive. A black or navy belt is also mandatory, as the umpire ball bag needs to be attached this way. Umpires are expected to be wearing this uniform EACH time they step on the field, with no exceptions.

Q: How are umpires ranked in the AKBA?

Q: What kind of equipment does an umpire wear?

Q: Will I get yelled at?

A: While baseball is a highly competitive game, there are rules in place in order to keep arguments at a minimum, as well as to protect the umpires. One thing to remember: always remain confident with your call; in baseball there are two teams, and on EACH pitch or play, one of the teams is not going to be happy with the outcome. If there is are problems, you are always encouraged to contact the Umpire-In-Chief and we will ensure that the situation is looked into.

Q: What is the pay rate?

A: The pay rate for umpires in the Aurora King Baseball Association depends on the age level you Umpire. The AKBA uses umpires to officiate all games between the Rookie Ball and the Junior age group, at the house league, select, and Rep levels. The higher the age level the higher the pay rate will be.
All beginning umpires should expect to begin by umpiring Junior Rookie Ball and Mosquito house league games only until they have gained experience in these groups.

Umpire Quiz

Basic Questions (True or False):

1. Both umpires should be at home plate 15 minutes prior to the start of the game.
2. The umpires are in charge of the game, and therefore may rule on weather conditions once they step onto the field.
3. An umpire must be square to the base that he is making a call at.
4. A ball hit foul before 1st or 3rd base should not be ruled upon until it comes to rest, is touched by a player or coach or hits a man-made object in foul territory.
5. All umpires, prior to making a call, should be set and motionless.
6. The plate umpire uses his left hand to show strikes and the right to indicate balls when showing the count to the pitcher or base coaches.
7. When cleaning the plate the umpire should bend over the plate facing the pitcher.
8. All runners need not be on their base before the ball is put in play.
9. Among players, only the catcher may be in foul territory before the ball is put in play.
10. When putting the ball in play, the umpire shall call “Play”.
11. The ball must be alive and in play in order that an appeal be made.
12. A pitch which hits the dirt and bounces through the strike zone shall be called a ball.
13. Do not allow a player to wear a Medic Alert bracelet.
14. The batter must stand with both feet inside the batter’s box to receive a pitch.
15. The 1st baseman must have both feet in fair territory when holding on a runner.
16. A player becomes a legal substitute once he takes the field, steps into the batter’s box or becomes a runner.
17. At the Mosquito level, with 2 out and a runner on 1st base the batter is automatically out if she strikes out and the catcher drops the ball.
18. Except in a force play, when 2 runners occupy the same base, the first runner there retains the right to the base.
19. A base runner does not need to re-touch his base on a foul tip.
20. A defensive player entering the the game is allowed as many warm up throws as the umpire feels are necessary.
21. Umpire interference may only be caused by the plate umpire.
22. With no runners on base and a ball hit to an infielder, the plate umpire will:
a. make the fair-foul decision along either base line b. exit the plate area to the left c. move to a point half way to 1st base and d. stay on the foul line e. all of the above.
23. When a player bats out of turn it is she, not the proper batter, who is called out.
24. Both umpires have equal authority on the field to make calls and deal with situations.
25. A batter does not need to make an attempt to avoid a pitch that hits her;she is automatically awarded 1st base.
26. Not stepping directly to the base that the pitcher is throwing to is a balk.
27. Whether a ball is fair or foul is determined by the position of the ball relative to the foul line in question.
28. A runner who is contacted by a hit ball, before the ball reaches an infielder, is automatically out.
29. An umpire who sees that a runner has missed a base while running, or has left a base prior to a catch on a fly ball, shall call that runner out immediately.
30. You would be wise, when calling balls and strikes in a lower division game ie. Mosquito or Pee Wee to enlarge your strike zone accordingly.

Sample Level I Questions (True or False):

1. With no runners on base, the pitcher must pitch from the Wind Up position.
R1, R2. 0 out. Batter hits a fly ball to deep centre field. R2 leaves early and stops at third base. R1 tags up and advan-ces to second base. The ball is caught by the center fielder who throws it to second base. The second baseman tags the base and indicates to the umpire R2 left early. This is a legitimate appeal.
2. R2. 1 out. Batter hits a ball between the centre fielder and right fielder. Plate umpire is responsible for watching R2 touch third base.
3. With runners on base, the pitcher must use the Set/Stretch position to pitch.
4. With two strikes, the batter bunts the ball foul. As this is a foul ball, the batter is not out.
5. Any umpire may call “play” and put the ball into play.
6. The pitcher’s glove is black and grey. This is legal.
7. You arrive at the diamond and it begins to rain after you have already dressed. The diamond is clearly not fit to play on so, in order to save everyone the bother of a plate meeting, you go to both managers and inform them that the game is called. You are the plate umpire.
8. A runner trips rounding third base and his coach picks him up. This is legal.contact.
9. The ball is dead immediately when catcher’s interference is called.
10. A defensive player entering the game as an emergency replacement is allowed six warm up throws
11. A fair batted ball bounces off the third baseman and rolls out of play. The batter-runner should be awarded second base.
12. When the batter or runner hinders a defensive player who is making a play, you should call offensive intereference.
13. Runs never score when the third out is made on a force play.
14. The batter hits a ball high into the air. The ball lands in foul territory behind the plate and then rolls, untouched, in front of home plate where it comes to rest. This is a foul ball.
15. The batter swings at, and misses, an inside pitch which hits him. The ball is dead immediately and the batter awarded first base.
16. A pitched ball bounces and hits the batter. The ball is dead and the batter is awarded first base.
17. You have forgotten your umpire’s cap at home. You should apologise to your partner and both managers and not umpire the game.
18. An appeal on a missed base must not be allowed if “Time” has been called.
19. When an infielder has secured a ground ball and thrown it wide of first base the plate umpire must call “Time” and award the batter-runner 2 bases from the time of the pitch.

About AKBA