UMPIRE DEVELOPMENT…

START YOUR UMPIRING CAREER TODAY!

Try your hand at volunteering for a club game or jump right in by joining the Umpire Academy.

The Umpire Academy is a unique program aimed at taking candidates from whatever level they are starting in baseball and over the next few years helping them develop to a standard where opportunities such as umpiring in The Australian Baseball League, WBSC International Tournaments and MiLB as a Professional Umpire could be possible.

  • You will learn and train with your academy group of no more than 6 participants along with your instructor on a weekly basis

  • As part of the program, you will complete the Australian Sports Commission Basic and Advanced Officiating General Principals Course along with Baseball Australia's Community, Association and State Umpire Accreditations

  • You will receive regular feedback from senior umpires and umpire instructors with an aim to helping you improve

COURSE OVERVIEW

Candidates will work through the Academy Program over a 4-year term along with a Post Grad season for those who wish.

Training will consist of weekly 1 hr meeting both in-person and online with your Academy group, (20 weeks) 3 x 2hr rules study sessions with existing Baseball SA Umpires, 3 x 2hr cage sessions as well as a 1 Weekend Seminar.

Academy Candidates will be required in their 1st year to umpire at least 1 game per week. Academy Candidates will generally only umpire with members of their own Academy Program or Baseball SA Umpire Instructors.

THE TRAINING WILL INCLUDE…

  • What to expect as an umpire

  • Preparation and Mindset

  • Life Balance

  • Stress Management and Motivation

  • Focus and Concentration

  • Basic Officiating General Principals

  • Community Umpire Accreditation Program

  • Advanced Officiating General Principals

  • Comprehensive Rules Program

  • The Two Umpire System

  • Umpiring Mechanics - Movement and Responsibilities

  • Umpiring Mechanics - Presentation and Presence

  • Umpiring Mechanics - Advanced Positioning

  • Calling Balls and Strikes

  • Judgement and Timing

  • People and Situation Management

  • Practice Games

  • Baseball SA Competition at Division 3 and Under 17 Level

  • Association Umpire Accreditation Program

TIMELINE

  • YEAR 1

    Initial Training and Growth

  • YEAR 2

    Establishing proficiency and being assessed

  • YEAR 3

    Fine-tuning towards becoming a professional umpire

  • YEAR 4

    Introduction to professional umpiring

  • YEAR 5 (POST GRAD)

    Becoming an umpire instructor and USA Umpiring School opportunity