Becoming an Umpire Baseball umpiring presents a tremendous opportunity to participate in the great game of baseball. Umpiring is both challenging and rewarding, and as a bonus gives you the best view of the game. The West Australian Baseball Umpires Association (WABUA) offers a comprehensive training and development program for prospective and existing umpires.
Training and Development Program The key element of the WABUA’s training and development program is a course conducted in August and September each year prior to the start of the Perth metropolitan baseball season. The course is structured to provide tuition in umpiring at a range of levels - from the novice wishing to umpire junior baseball through to the more experienced wishing to umpire at the top State League level and beyond. Instruction is given on the mechanics of both base and plate umpiring, predominantly in practical on-field sessions together with supporting classroom instruction on theory. The lead instructors for the course have been trained at professional umpires schools in the US or have umpired at international/ABL level. Continued training is provided as part of the Rules and Mechanics Meetings held fortnightly by the WABUA throughout the baseball season. Click on the "Current Umpires" menu for dates for Rules & Mechanics Meetings for this season.
Suggested/required minimum levels of training for umpiring Lower junior grades for your local club: The "Community Umpire" training course is designed to give novice umpires an introduction to and familiarity with the major elements of umpiring. The completion of this course would equip a person for umpiring Little League, Junior League, Intermediate League and Senior League. Clubs are responsible for ensuring that the umpires for these levels have Community Umpire accreditation.
Big League and lower level Senior Baseball Completion of the full pre-season training course would generally be considered to be sufficient to proficiently umpire these grades of baseball.
Upper junior and senior grades: Umpires for the upper junior and senior grades are appointed by the WABUA on behalf of Baseball WA. All umpires appointed by the WABUA must be nationally accredited with the Baseball Australia. National Accreditation National Accreditation with Baseball Australia as an umpire is achieved by completing a recognised training course such as the WABUA’s pre-season training course and completing an online assessment on the rules of baseball and mechanics of umpiring. Umpires are accredited at different levels according to their assessed proficiency and results achieved in the theory exam. Training courses must be attended annually and the theory exam attempted at least once every three years to maintain national accreditation.
Development Opportunities The WABUA provides a range of development opportunities for those wishing to accept the challenge of advancing their umpiring careers. These include:
- umpiring charter baseball and state championships; - umpiring at National Schoolboys championships; - umpiring at National Junior Championships; - umpiring at Australian Baseball League level
Opportunities may then be available to represent Australia at the many international baseball events including the Olympic Games. More information More information on requirements for umpiring can be obtained from the State Umpires Advisor or Secretary of the WABUA. Contact details can be found in the "About the Club" menu under "Committee and Contacts".