Want to become a carded umpire?
Become a Carded Umpire [Softball Canada]
So you’re interested in becoming an umpire… That’s wonderful! Well, umpiring does have a lot of great things to offer, if, of course, you think you can tolerate and learn to deal with the realities of the officiating world, i.e., dust, heat, shoe polish, confrontation, rules, fans… and, on the brighter side… camaraderie, the colour of blue, teamwork, partnership, travel, and lots more.
Since you’re considering becoming an umpire, you should really consider becoming a carded umpire. A registered umpire is an official who has become a member of one of the best officiating programs in the world.
If you want to become an umpire, your first task is to get in touch with your Local Umpires’ Association. Your Local Association will provide general clinics in rules and mechanics to get you started. You will want to go to the ball diamond and watch your peers to get a better sense of officiating. Your association will want you do decide whether to umpire Slo-Pitch, Fast Pitch, or both. There will probably be a fee for membership in your Local Association.
The next step towards your officiating development will be the registration process. Your Local Association will provide you with a Registration Form. This form, when submitted, registers you with your Provincial or Territorial Umpire Program. There is a fee associated with this registration, but what you receive for your investment far surpasses this amount. Once you’ve submitted your Registration Form you will receive a rulebook, examinations (Slo-Pitch and Fast Pitch) and lots of information about the Provincial/Territorial programs and services. Once you have submitted your examinations the Provincial/Territorial office will mark your exams and send you copies of your results. You are now a Registered Umpire and you will have been given a number. This number shows that you are a Registered Umpire in your Province or Territory, and, because your Province is affiliated with Softball Canada, you are now registered with Softball Canada.
The most important question you must entertain is “Why should I register?” When you register with your Provincial/Territorial Umpire Program, you avail yourself of a multitude of opportunities, services and information that are unavailable to the unregistered official. One of the most important services provided through registration is insurance. Insurance protects you not only for injury, should you be injured on the diamond, but against legal accusations and litigation. Your registration gives you access to provincial/territorial and national publications and information about clinics. Being a registered official places you in a position to move up the ladder of success. Qualified personnel will evaluate you. Potentially, you can move from a Level I official to Level II, Level III and so on as you acquire clinics and on-field evaluations.
There are many opportunities to advance on and off the diamond. When you register, you place yourself in a position to umpire at any Member Association sanctioned tournaments, including Provincial/Territorial Championships, Provincial/Territorial Qualifiers, Eliminations, and Grand Championships.
You are also eligible to umpire at Canadian Championships.
Do you want to become an umpire? Become a Registered Umpire! Here is the abbreviated process…
- Get in touch with your Local Association.
- Fill out the registration form. An umpire package will be provided to you at your clinic… rulebook, examinations, insurance information and other pamphlets about services and publications.
- Pass the exam
- You will be issued Softball Canada number
Support your Local Umpires’ Association, support your Provincial or Territorial Umpires’ Program, and support Softball Canada. When you register you become a member of one of the most experienced and well-respected umpire crews in the world. Register and wear your blues proudly.