North Central Umpire Program

NCLL Umpire Program

For a child, seeing an umpire suited up behind the plate is a memorable part of the Little League experience—and NCLL is lucky to have some of the best in the game (Not hyperbole but facts.).

Before the season starts, an umpire’s #1 priority is registering as a volunteer — which includes a background check — and completing Abuse Awareness training , ALL of which are REQUIRED for all child-facing NCLL volunteers, not just coaches. You’ll find these in the Volunteer Hub or the related links to the right.

Our program pairs new and veteran officials, loans gear, offers hands-on training, and makes it simple to pick up games that fit your schedule. Use the cards below to register, connect with coordinators, and find resources.

Rainouts and cancellations can be found in the Safety Hub .

It may not seem obvious at first, but being an umpire is a rewarding experience. Listen to these current umpires about how they came to get involved and what it means to them.

What you'll have gained as an umpire

  • Gain confidence leading games and managing tough calls.
  • Be the reason players and families feel safe and supported.
  • Build leadership and calm decision-making under pressure.
  • Join a tight community and build friendships across the league.
  • Become a better coach or parent.
Register to Umpire

Let us know you're interested so we can plug you into the Google Group, text alerts, and mentor pairings.

Meet the Coordinator card art
  • What you get: Training invites, quick tips, game alerts
  • Channels: Email + SMS + on-field meetups
  • Response time: Usually same-day during the season

Umpire leadership

  • Jon Becker — Umpire-in-Chief. [email protected] . Rules, training, and all umpiring activities.
  • Eric Evans — Umpire Coordinator. [email protected] . Scheduling and administrative questions.
  • Mike Giese — Umpire Coordinator. Scheduling and administrative questions.

What to include

  • Your experience level (brand-new, returning, high-school certified, etc.).
  • Preferred divisions or age groups so we can line up the right partner.
  • Any dates you're unavailable during the next month for training or games.

Coordinators triage requests nightly during the season. If you don't see a response within 48 hours, feel free to bump the thread or text the contact listed in the form.

Email Umpire in Chief

Level up with cage work, positioning walkthroughs, and rules refreshers led by veteran NCLL umpires.

Training & Clinics card art
  • When: Starting March 2026 — preseason weekends + in-season refreshers
  • Format: Plate and base mechanics, live reps, Q&A
  • Bring: Mask (if you have one) + water + notebook

Clinic lineup

  • Mechanics labs: Plate stance, slot adjustments, timing drills.
  • Live reps: Scrimmage innings with radios to simulate game flow.
  • Rules sprints: Lightning rounds on interference, substitutions, and pace-of-play.
  • Orientation night: Preseason walkthrough of expectations, safety, and game flow.

Mentors are assigned on-site, so tap a veteran if you want shadow assignments or feedback on a specific mechanic.

Upcoming clinic dates

Attend one orientation/rules session and one field mechanics training. We hold two of each — choose whichever date works for your schedule.

Have questions about which session to attend or what to expect? Reach out to the UIC.

Email the UIC

Quick-reference guides, rules clinics, and mechanics resources to stay sharp between trainings.

Training resources card art
  • Clinic materials and pre-game checklists.
  • Umpire registry and rulebook apps.
  • Division rules and quizzes.
  • District 8 clinic recordings.
  • Mechanics and fundamentals.

Umpire resources

Clinic materials

Umpire registry & rulebooks

Rules by division

Rules quiz

District 8 online rules clinic

Grab assignments that match your division comfort level. We post baseball, softball, and interleague needs.

Game Sign-ups card art
  • Scheduler: Updated weekly during spring
  • Levels: Rookie through Teen divisions
  • Open to: AA and higher in both softball and baseball
  • Tip: Claim early to pair with your preferred partner

Signup tips

  • Note plate/base preferences in the comment field so schedulers can balance workloads.
  • Flag travel or interleague dates that require extra briefing on ground rules.
  • Use the same form to release a game if plans change—last-minute swaps keep coverage solid.

Need a specific mentor? Add their name to the request so we can co-assign whenever possible.

Middle-school and high-school players can earn stipends, log service hours, and build leadership skills.

Youth Umpire Track card art
  • Who: League-age 13+ with solid rules knowledge
  • Support: On-field mentors + pregame checklists
  • Perks: Stipends, letters of recommendation, resume boost

Program highlights

  • Shadow first, then take the plate with a veteran tracking feedback.
  • Umpires age 14+ earn $30/game (base) or $40/game (plate, with UIC/coordinator approval).
  • Prefer community service hours instead? We can log those in lieu of a stipend.
  • We'll document hours for service requirements or leadership awards.

Parents/guardians sign the stipend form once per season; coordinators handle the rest.

Know someone who’d make a great umpire?

We encourage young people aged 13–19 to join the program. Those 14 and older are eligible for $30/game as a base umpire or $40/game as a plate umpire (with UIC or coordinator approval) — or community service hours if that’s preferred.

If you have older children, nieces/nephews, neighbors, or anyone else who might be interested, encourage them to come to the trainings and join Team Blue.

Find printable cheat sheets, plate gear recommendations, concussion protocols, and incident reporting tools.

Gear, Safety & Rules card art
  • Downloads: Positioning guides, lineup card template
  • Safety: Lightning protocol + incident report links
  • Gear: Loaner sets available on request

What's inside

  • Printable cheat sheets for plate meetings, lineup card checks, and substitution flow.
  • Equipment sizing tips plus how to borrow chest protectors, masks, or ball bags.
  • Direct links to Little League's concussion, lightning, and incident-report forms.
  • NCLL Safety Policy — umpires play a key role in reducing injury risk. Local guidelines: email [email protected] for the latest PDF.

Loaner gear lives at Ross; email the coordinator 24 hours ahead if you need to reserve a set for a double-header.