Umpires

Welcome to the SKSA Baseball Umpires Page

If you have any questions regarding baseball umpiring, training and/or scheduling at Spring-Klein please send an email to John Carroll at umpires@sksa.com. We provide learning opportunities for new umpires to established veteran umpires.

Umpire Training

No classes are scheduled at this time.

New Umpire Information

First Steps to Umpiring at SKSA

Schedules

Umpire Schedule Download (Excel)

Scheduling Procedures -

1. Please limit your request to five (5) days per email so that others can have an opportunity to be scheduled as well.  There is no max on how many emails per day.
2. You will notice in the 9 to 12 Metro ("A") the (New) in the second umpire slot.  This is where new umpires can work with a mentor and get some experience.  Anyone can request the (New) slot, but keep in mind that SKSA has budgeted $22.50 per (New) slot.  If you are scheduled as the mentor and no one request the (New) slot, you will be working alone.  You are free to umpire behind the plate or behind the mound (your choice).  If you work alone for a 9 to 12 Metro game, you will receive the straight game fee.  All other kid pitch games that you work alone will be at the time and a half rate.
3. Do not request games, unless you see an "orange" spot.  There will be no availabilities kept for future reference.
4. Request will be from email only, no phone request.
5. PLEASE divide your tournament game requests and your league game requests to separate emails.

SKSA & Nations Baseball Rules

The Yellow Book outlines specific supplemental rules in play for youth baseball at SKSA. All other rules are set forth in the Nations Baseball Rules. High school age group games (Seniors) at SKSA are governed by the Official High School Baseball Rules of the National Federation of State High School Association.

Handouts

The following handout/study guides contain useful information regarding rules in play.

A BATTER IS OUT WHEN

Catch - No Catch

Fair Ball - Foul Ball

Live Ball - Dead Ball

Umpire General Information

Game Cards:Umpires please take an extra minute or two to check and make sure that your game card is filled out accurately before you turn it in. Remember to print legibly and to fill the card out completely. Both Managers signatures are required for all tournament games.

Security: Be aware that some vehicles have been broken into at Rothwood. Leave your valuables at home.

Good Sportsmanship: Be aware of negative comments made to opposing teams. If a team is chanting and cheering, it MUST be for their team and NOT against the opposing team. The proper way to handle this to approach the coach in a professional manner and ask him to advise him team to refrain from negative comments toward opposing teammates as this will not be permitted.

Timeliness: There have been way too many cases of games not starting on time due to umpires arriving late to the park. Please be at the park 30 minutes before game time and on the field eight (8) minutes prior to the first pitch. The first games of the day should NEVER start late. Umpires please do your best to make sure that the 8 PM game starts at 8 PM. The lights will go out at 10:15 PM.

Umpire Etiquette: Remember to always be PROFESSIONAL in everything that you do, on and off the field. Please be aware of your surroundings before, during and after the game. It is not proper to tuck in your shirt around the players or spectators and especially not in front of the concession stands. If you must straighten yourself up, please do so in the umpire dressing area or the restroom facilities. Thanks in advance with your help in this matter.
NOTE: If an umpire is caught shaving time from any game he will be suspended! Umpires, this is part of professionalism. You do not want anyone to think that you are shaving time. Think about your integrity. Do you want someone to think that you are cheating the kids out of their playing time? The correct answer is "NO".

Umpire Food and Drink Policy: Umpires will receive an umpire discount for all food and drink items in the concession stand. The umpire discount is 50% of the listed price. Water will be the only item that umpires will receive at no cost.

Slide Rule Clarification: All ages. Yellow Book Page 10 (h) Any runner DELIBERATELY running into a fielder with (or without) the ball or attempting to make a putout shall be declared out. This is an umpire's judgment call. The severity of the infraction may also allow the umpire to disqualify (eject) that player from the remainder of the game. NOTE: A runner must slide or go around a fielder without making flagrant contact when a play is being made on him at any base, including home plate. Any malicious or flagrant contact shall result in the player being called out and ejected from the game. The umpire will declare the ball dead at the point of the violation and precede in accordance with official baseball rules. Any runner jumping over a fielder will be called out. The rule will be called accordingly: Runners can do one of four things: 1)slide, 2)give up, 3)go around, or 4)go back. Runners are never required to slide but MUST avoid malicious contact. NOTE: There can be a collision where both players go head over heals and not be malicious contact. The key for malicious contact is "intent", umpires need to ask themselves when making the call, "Did the runner deliberately or intentionally run into the fielder to break up the play or cause harm to the fielder?" If your answer is yes, then you have malicious contact, if your answer is no, then it is a clean play and you have nothing. Umpire's need to be careful when making this call as to not eject a player if the intent is not there. Keep in mind that the younger ages are just learning the game and sometimes there will be contact by the runner not sliding and running into the catcher. Remember the key word is "INTENT".