The first Little League baseball games were played in 1939 between two teams from central Pennsylvania. Little League softball was established in 1974 to provide girls with their league. Today, there are over 7,000 leagues and more than 2.5 million participants, creating a significant demand for umpires. If you’re interested in Little League umpire training, you’ve come to the right place!
Little League Baseball
Little Leagues are widespread, so finding one to become a Little League umpire shouldn’t be difficult. Each Little League operates in its community, so one is likely near you. To begin your umpiring journey, contact the league closest to you to offer your services, or visit the official Little League umpire page.
Little League Umpire Pay
Little League umpire pay is often a topic of debate. The National Little League organization strongly believes that umpires should be volunteers like coaches and concession stand helpers. They see volunteerism as a core value of Little League. However, finding enough volunteers can be challenging. Many programs pay their umpires a nominal amount, typically from $10 to $35 per game, to broaden their pool of competent umpires. It’s important to note that if you aspire to umpire in Little League-sanctioned tournament-level games, you must do so on a volunteer basis.
Little League Umpire Training: Camps and Clinics
On a national level, Little League umpire training is available through spring and fall clinics at the Little League headquarters in Williamsport, PA. These clinics focus on teaching proper mechanics, signals, and the rules of Little League Baseball and Softball. Due to the limited number of spots and the relatively low cost, these clinics offer a valuable opportunity to improve your umpiring skills.
Little League offers a week-long umpire school in Williamsport, PA, for those seeking more extensive training. This school provides an in-depth look at rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies, and game control. The comprehensive training includes room and board, making it a worthwhile investment for aspiring umpires.
Local Umpire Training
Most local Little League baseball and softball programs also offer some degree of umpire training. Any experienced referee or umpire knows there’s more to calling and managing a game than learning the basic rules. For volunteer umpires with little or no experience, local training is essential to providing good-quality, competent officiating.
Suppose you’re considering expanding your officiating career beyond Little League. You might also be interested in learning how to become a youth sports referee or exploring high school referee training programs. These options provide broader opportunities and potentially higher levels of competition. An umpire certification guide can also be a helpful resource as you pursue these paths.
