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Umpires

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Who can be an umpire?

Men, women, boys, and girls are eligible to learn to be OWLL umpires. OWLL provides training and equipment. Can be used towards volunteer hours! If students choose to fulfill their annual volunteer hours before switching to paid games, please email our Umpire scheduler early in the season to let them know when they are volunteering and when they are paid.

There is always a need for older, more experienced umpires (aged 18+), however, we also need new umpires every year. Parents - this is a great way to stay involved in OWLL while your child plays.
 

Umpires are eligible to ump up to a maximum of one level below the division in which they would be eligible to play. Applicants must be 12 years old by September 1, 2024 to qualify.  You do not need to be a registered player to be an umpire.

Umpire clinics

TRAINING FOR 2024: The in-person training for umpires takes place on Saturday, April 13 from 9am - 3pm at Sir Robert Borden High School, 131 Greenbank Road - Room 264 (Cafeteria). Attendance is mandatory for all first- and second-year umpires, however, we’d like ALL OWLL umpires to attend the clinic as it is always good to brush up on rules and mechanics any time there is an opportunity to do so. Please bring a pen and paper along with your running shoes as we will be doing some mechanics work outside (weather permitting).  Pizza lunch will be provided half-way through the clinic.

You must register prior to attending the training. Umpire training counts towards high school volunteer hours.

If you have questions, please contact our UIC.

 

Umpire registration

OWLL requires that ALL umpires register for the upcoming season, and depending on their experience, attend training sessions.  Registration for 2024 open now - Please sign up here (For returning umpires ONLY: You will have to re-register on Goaline via an access code. Don’t worry if you don’t remember it from last year, you can enter in your birthdate and an access code will be sent to the e-mail address you used last year.)

Umpire payment

Little League umpires are generally volunteers however, many leagues have struggled to get umpire volunteers, so OWLL does pay its umpires. 

  • OWLL appreciates any umpire who wishes to volunteer their time in keeping with the Little League volunteer philosophy. Please inform the league (UIC, Umpire Scheduler, and Treasurer) if you wish to volunteer instead of receiving payment.

  • High school-aged students who need volunteer hours, can opt for volunteer hours instead of payment. The UIC or President can sign off on your volunteer hours. If students choose to fulfill their annual volunteer hours before switching to paid games, please email our umpire scheduler early in the season to let them know when they are volunteering and when they are paid.

NOTE: in the majority of cases, an umpire can only umpire up to the level below which they would play. For example, an umpire who, by the LL age chart, would be playing junior, can only umpire rookie, minor, and major level games.

 

Age Wage
New/Novice umpires ($25 for base, $30 for plate) $25-30
Intermediate umpires (three + years experience) $45
Experienced umpires 18 years of age or older $55

Please note, on an individual basis, the league may opt to increase an umpires fee amount as a reward for performing a large number of games over a number of years.

Our goal is to provide payment at the end of each season. Umpires, please make sure that you provide your payment details to the Umpire Scheduler

Umpire uniform

OWLL Umpires are expected to wear the following:
 

League provided:

  • OWLL Umpire cap (provided at Umpire Training, replacement caps can be purchased from the league)
  • OWLL Umpire patch (to be affixed to the left chest)
  • Little League Umpire patch (to be affixed to left sleeve)

Umpire provided:

  • Navy blue collar/polo shirt
  • Dark blue or grey pants
  • ​Dark/Black sneakers/boots

Umpires wishing to purchase an official Little League Umpire shirt, should contact the league for pricing.

 

Umpire equipment

At the diamond:
Umpire equipment is kept at the fields in the green boxes (bunker). Coaches have keys and will open the boxes. You will find a chest protector, facemask and set of shin pads. Make sure you take time to tighten it properly. Safety is of prime importance.

The one exception is Hamilton Yards. OWLL does not maintain a bunker at Hamilton Yards, so umpires must bring the chest protector, facemask, and shin pads with them. If you are scheduled at Hamilton Yards and you do not have your own umpire gear, the league can provide you a loaner set but you must contact the league several days before your assignment.

If any umpire equipment is damaged or missing, please notify the field manager immediately, indicating the field.

Umpires must bring each game:

  • OWLL will provide an umpire kit to all new umpires at their umpire training clinic. The kit contains:
    • a brush
    • bag
    • indicator/clicker
  • Returning umpires should still have these items, if not new ones can be purchased from any sporting goods store at a reasonable price. 

What to do when issues arise during a game

OWLL expects all coaches, players, and fans to treat umpires with respect. This means no yelling, intimidating, or criticizing calls. An umpire should do his or her best to ignore such remarks and maintain confidence. Should the situation need to be addressed, the umpire should use the rules in place to address it during the game and then report all issues to the UIC after the game.

When both umpires are minors (under the age of 18) it is mandatory that a game coordinator be appointed by the teams, DO NOT start the game without one - they are there to help you and protect you. This person can step in to help the youth umpire deal with anyone who is disrupting the game. The game coordinator should be present at the plate meeting to indicate that it is their responsibility to help with any issues that arise, including disruptions or ending a game because of weather. 

Should issues arise please notify the UIC as soon as possible after the game by sending an email indicating the issue, the people involved as well as what the outcome was.

Rainouts and weather

The weather in Ottawa can be very unpredictable, but every effort is made to go ahead with scheduled games where it is safe to do so. If the weather looks threatening, speak to the coaches at the plate meeting to ensure that the teams move quickly where possible, and that the coaches know the rules regarding thunder and lightning. If applicable, inform the game coordinator at the plate meeting that it is their role to determine if the game should be stopped because of weather issues.

Here are the actions you should take if lightning is seen by anyone or thunder is heard by anyone and reported to you or a coach:

  1. Call time and stop the game. Tell all the players to go to their dugouts. 

  2. Talk to the coaches and game coordinator. Tell them the rule is if lightning is seen or thunder is heard then the game should stop and everyone should seek shelter. 

  3. Inform them that the game can not continue until after 30 minutes from the LAST sighting of lightning or the sound of thunder. THIS MEANS EVERY TIME A LIGHTNING STRIKE IS SEEN OR THUNDER IS HEARD A NEW 30 MINUTE STARTS. 

  4. At any time you feel unsafe then leave the game. Email the umpire scheduler regarding what happened and why you left.

Should a game be cancelled in advance because of bad weather, you will be contacted by email at least one hour before a game. Unless you are not contacted by 5:15 pm for a 6 pm game, the game is on.

If you were notified more than an hour before game time, but you show up to a game that has been cancelled you will not be paid.

If you have not heard from the league (so, the game is on) and you have to cancel the game at the field you will be paid. Please notify the UIC and umpire scheduler immediately if this happens.

If you are not notified of the game cancellation until you arrive at the field, you will be paid for the game. Please notify the UIC and umpire scheduler immediately if this happens.

 

Umpire Assignment Information

Inputting availability:

It is very important that you update your availability regularly. If you are a player, you should update your availability once you have your game and practice schedule. Remember to keep your availability updated - if your schedule changes, please change it in goalline so that you don't have to decline assignments.   Please note that the login email address is case-sensitive. 

Up for grabs 

If you accept a game and your availability changes, please feel free to put your game up for grabs, HOWEVER, please remember that the game is still your responsibility until it is picked up, if it isn't picked up the day before the game please reach out to the Umpire Scheduler for help, just not showing up to the game is unacceptable and unfair to your partner and the teams. They will help you to make sure that the game is assigned two umpires, but can only do so if they know about the situation.

If games are up for grabs you will see them listed in Goalline. Please only request games that you are qualified to ump.

Goalline will send emails when a game is put up for Grabs, if the link does not work, it is because the assignment has already been filled.

Umpiring is a job

Umpiring is a job and you are expected to treat it as such at all times. You should arrive at the game in time to do your pregame check (at least 15 minutes before the start of the game) and have the players ready to go for game time. Please remember that if you do not show up for whatever reason the home team forfeits the game. If you are ill or delayed you are expected to either put the game up for grabs (a minimum of 3 hours before the start of the game) or contact the umpire scheduler as soon as possible in order for them to try to find a replacement and/or notify the affected coach.

In all cases, attempts are made to have two umpires present at all games. There will be cases where this is not possible. In those cases, a parent can be placed in the field as a base umpire. If we know of this ahead of time, the umpire scheduler will try to give you a heads up.

Scheduling

Umpires have access to an availability calendar. Games will be assigned by the umpire scheduler on a first-come, first-served basis. Attempts are made to evenly spread the games amongst umpires of similar ability. If you have not entered any availability or the availability is entered at the last minute you will likely not get assigned any games.

From time to time games will come back into the system if they had either not been assigned or if an umpire had to give up their assignment to illness. These can be requested by sending the umpire scheduler a message.

Games are assigned up to two weeks in advance (when possible) so that readjustments can happen more than a day or a few hours before game time. Please update your availability on a regular basis and make sure that you are only listing availability when you are actually available to avoid re-assignments.

Remember that you cannot umpire in divisions where you are a player, nor in divisions higher than your age. If you have a sibling playing in a game and you would prefer not to do that game, please let the scheduler know.

 

Umpire Resources

2022 Umpire Training

Includes: 

  • Important Contacts 
  • Clinic Training Material links 
  • Umpire Uniform information 
  • Rule information/updates  
  • How to set availability in Goalline 
  • ​Lightning Safety Guidelines

Presentations/How Tos:

Goalline (owllba.ca): How to set availability in Goalline

Links:

Videos:

Little League University Resources:

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