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Umpires
There were over 600 umpired games, not counting Playoffs and All Star Day during the last season.
Towards the end of the season it became increasingly difficult to find umpires due to graduations,
finals and other activities. SRVGAL will still be offering Umpire Clinics again this year so
please be sure to sign up if you are interested.
Behavior Toward Umpires
Providing well-trained umpires for over 60 teams (10U – 18 High School) is a tremendous task.
The umpire organization in SRVGAL represents over 100 dedicated youths and adults who are on
the field during games to provide safety and fairness for all teams. Umpire coordinators work
diligently all season to provide coverage for the high volume of games played.
Parents and coaches need to keep in mind how difficult it is to be an umpire, especially if
you are young. We continue to lose many umpires every year because of the harassment they
receive from coaches and parents.
The role of umpire must be recognized and respected by the coach, the team, and the parents.
Youth umpires must be given the same respect as the adult umpires. New umpires must
learn positioning, signs and timing of calls. If you are patient and positive, that umpire
will become experienced and confident. That umpire could be YOUR child! The umpire in
a softball game has complete authority over players and coaches from the moment that the
umpire walks onto the field until the game is over.
Coaches, players, parents, and spectators shall never argue or dispute the decision of the
umpire, make negative or derogatory remarks or gestures towards an umpire, or otherwise behave
irresponsibly or bring the game into dispute. Remember, it's only a game.
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Umpire Standards
We have established the following standards for SRVGAL umpires:
1. All umpires must be ASA certified —- we'll provide the training to achieve this.
2. For 1st-year umpires, attendance will be required at two preseason clinics that will
encompass both rules and mechanics. Of course, ASA certification through another organization
will satisfy this requirement.
3. If you are a returning 2nd-year, 3rd-year, 4th-year, etc., umpire, you need only attend
one training clinic -- preferably, a SRVGAL rules/mechanics clinic.
4. All umpires will be expected to officiate some games at the white and blue levels.
Assignments will be made primarily by availability and level of experience —- not by preference.
No one will be asked to umpire games beyond their abilities.
5. All umpires will be required to wear protective equipment (face mask, shin guards and
chest protector) at all games. This equipment will be supplied by SRVGAL or personal gear,
of course, can be used.
6. All umpires must be 13 years old by the beginning of regular season games.
7. Umpire scheduling will be made exclusively through the use of the online scheduling
system available on Sportability.
8. In prior years, we have had many committed and dedicated people performing the umpiring
duties for SRVGAL and, for this, we are very grateful. Unfortunately, our past experience
has involved many umpire "no-shows" leaving games without an umpire. We hope that this year,
our umpire program will be made up a group of people having committed to working with us to
virtually eliminate all cases of umpire "no-shows" and uncovered games.
"No-shows" will be kept track of and will effect future umpire assignments.
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Umpire Scheduling Guidelines
1. No SRVGAL umpire may be scheduled to umpire the games of girlfriends, sisters,
daughters or other close relatives.
2. Every attempt should be made to ensure that an umpire does not even umpire in the
same league where there is a girlfriend, sister, daughter or other close relative.
3. There are exceptions to these:
a.) if we have no alternative, we can relax the guidelines, especially in the
white divisions and
b.) in the case of an umpire being at a game and the assigned umpire is a "no-show."
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Umpire Training
If you are a 1st-year umpire, you will be required to attend two clinics -- at least one
of them should be a SRVGAL clinic. If you are a returning umpire (2nd, 3rd, or more years),
you need only attend one clinic—preferably a SRVGAL clinic.
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Umpire Pay Schedule
The pay scale has been devised with an emphasis on trying to get umpires to return and
continue to work with SRVGAL:
1. New umpires and umpires with no SRVGAL experience (1st-year umpires) will be paid $33 per game.
2. Umpires with one year of SRVGAL experience (2nd-year umpires) will be paid $40 per game.
3. Umpires with two or more years of SRVGAL experience (3rd-year and higher umpires) will be paid $45 per game.
4. If umpires wish to work together to do games (2-man mechanics), the pay will be $22 each. SRVGAL has routinely paid for only one umpire per game. It is highly recommended that 1st year umpires work with partners, particularly for the 1st half of the season.
5. In cases where the Board of Directors approves the use of two umpires (such as for playoff or championship games), the umpires will be paid based on the their experience (the established scale this year as described above).
The Umpire Game Card/Pay Slip (PDF) is the form that
every umpire must use to document their participation in their scheduled games. To receive
payment, the umpire must complete this form, have it signed by the game coaches, and then
send it to the SRVGAL Treasurer. The Treasurer will send payment within two weeks of receipt
of the Game Card. The second page of the Game Card provides an area for documenting any
unusual game event.
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