OAKRIDGE LITTLE LEAGUE
UMPIRE POLICY
“Umpiring is as important to the successful conduct of a local league program as is managing and coaching” It is also a privilege to work with our children from another perspective.
Little League Baseball emphasizes that each local Little League develop and maintain a high level of umpire efficiency through a sound league volunteer umpire program. This includes training, mentoring and positive evaluations when possible to help improve the overall skill level and quality of umpiring.
The purpose of this policy statement is to:
1) set forth mandatory requirements for umpiring league and inter-league games by managers and coaches from all divisions.
2) encourage parent member participation as volunteer umpires;
3) avoid at all possible cost the need for paid umpires;
4) establish an Umpire Pool to adequately provide 2 man umpiring coverage for all league games throughout the season; and,
5) require mandatory umpire training for all participants in the umpire program to ensure the highest level of quality for Oak Ridge Little League each season.
Basic manager and coach participation requirements as well as parent volunteers:
MANAGERS AND COACHES: As a condition to their approval by the ORLL Board, Managers and Coaches at the Softball, T-Ball, AA, AAA, Majors, Juniors and Seniors Divisions shall provide the following umpire services:
PARENT UMPIRE VOLUNTEERS: Each Softball T-Ball, AA, AAA, Majors, Juniors and Seniors. team will designate a minimum of 2 parent volunteer umpires. Each Manager shall assure that the volunteers are designated and available for umpire instruction and game assignments two weeks prior to Opening Day.
The Directors in these Divisions shall serve to enforce this League requirement.
MAJORS, JUNIORS and SENIORS DIVISION Team Managers and Coaches will be required to umpire at the plate and bases for other division games as assigned.
ROOKIE (AA) and AAA DIVISION Team Managers and Coaches will be required to umpire the plate & bases for other division games as assigned.
T-Ball Team Managers and Coaches will be required to umpire the bases at the AA/AAA level. Softball will be required to do plate and bases as assigned in the softball division. League youth who have an interest in umpiring may be assigned at the AA level as a base umpire for training purposes, which assignments will be coordinated between the AA Director and UIC.
UMPIRE ASSIGNMENTS: The Director of Umpires will be responsible for all umpire assignments for ORLL’s AAA, Majors, Juniors, Seniors and Big League games. The Softball, T-Ball, AA, AAA, Majors, Juniors and Seniors League Directors, as elected or appointed by the Board, shall be obligated to enforce this policy and the subsequent umpiring assignments for their respective Divisions.
SENIORS and BIG LEAGUE DIVISION UMPIRES: The Director of Umpires will establish an Umpire Pool from the above mandatory and volunteer umpires to umpire the Plate and Bases for all Seniors Big League games. An exception for use of paid umpires, absent the availability of League Pool umpires, shall be limited to Big League games only!
(Oakridge Little League officials and directors are prohibited from receiving payment)
The above Umpire Pool may be augmented by additional volunteers associated with the League.
UMPIRE CLINICS:
It shall be mandatory that all participants in the League’s Umpire Pool, as defined above, attend the Umpire Clinic each year designated by the UIC and sponsored by either ORLL at one of our facilities or by another District 59 hosting league..
MISSED GAME ASSIGNMENTS:
Game assignments are the responsibility of the assigned teams manager unless a specific umpire is assigned by name. Any manager whose team misses a game umpire assignment shall be subject to the following penalties:
1. First game – A written warning to the team manager and offending coach.
2. Second game – A second written warning to the team manager and a one game suspension for the offending coach or manager. (coach or manager will not allowed to be at the field)
3. Third game – If a team misses 3 umpiring assignments whether they are missed by any combination of coach, manager or specified parent volunteer, the offending team manager must appear before the ORLL board for further disciplinary action (Board members to preside to include
the league President, Vice President, Director of Umpires, Player Agent, and appropriate Division Director).
In an effort to avoid or at least mitigate Missed Game Assignments, Managers are encouraged to contact their assigned Umpires a day before game day. It is necessary that all participating volunteers in the umpire pool provide a cell phone number that they can be reached at in the event it is necessary. The UIC pursuant to this policy will make available to all managers the umpire assignments for their games, including contact information.
DRESS CODE:
All Oakridge Little League volunteer umpires will be required to adhere to the Umpire Dress Code. You will be required to wear the following when assigned to a game
(Violation of the dress code will be treated the same as missed game assignments)
1. An ORLL umpire hat
2. An ORLL umpire shirt or regulation blue umpire shirt with little league patch on the left sleeve.
PANTS: Shorts and T-Shirts WILL NOT be permitted. Jeans are acceptable for bases only. Grey or Black pants are preferred.
3. Shoes: Closed toe shoes, black in color are the preferred but sneakers will be permitted. Any other form of footwear or sandals WILL NOT be permitted.
4. All plate gear is to be worn properly under your outer clothing. . Make sure that your pant leg will accommodate shin guards and allow for easy movement for your plate assignments.
5. Clean shirts will be available for game use for those who need them in the snack shacks at Bernal and Anderson fields. Arrangements will be made for those assigned to and needing a shirt for games at other locations.
6. NO CELL PHONES are to be carried on or used on the ball-field
Dress Code and Missed Game violations will be treated the same. Any 2 written warnings whether for missed game or dress code violation will constitute that the team/ team manager in violation appear before the ORLL Board as outlined in the missed game statement above for ANY 3rd infraction