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Softball/Umpire Certification?

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Expert: Dr. Mark R. Ambrose - 7/6/2009


Question
Do the umpires at a 14u C-League game have to be certified?  At my game the other night the umpire was about 16 or 17 and had no clue what she was doing. Our coach and the other coach had to tell her all the rules and clarify things for her.  The umpire wasn't really doing much except calling the ball and even before the game she asked us what the strike zone was. So do the umpires have to be certified?

Answer
Hi Becca,

that's my daughter's name only Beka.

Umpires are usually but not always registered, that means sending in your money to get a card and a rule book.  Some orgs provide no training, others have some clinics and a test.  It all depends on the org and the assoc

mark

Softball

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Dr. Mark R. Ambrose

Expertise

I can answer all questions about book rules and "case book" rules governing the playing of ASA softball. Have a REAL situation that happened and are not sure the proper rule was applied, ask me.

Experience

I am a registered ASA umpire, a MASA "At-Large" umpire since 1996 and a retired District Umpire-In-Chief. I have very extensive experience in MASA State Championship and ASA national qualifying tournament play both as an umpire and an Umpire-In-Chief. I completed 3 ASA National Schools including the ASA national advanced umpire school in Ok City("Bernie" for those who know him was the lead clinician, I survived the week and couldn't let my kids watch the game tapes when I got home. No, I love you Bernie). I was one of 4 "Yankee" umpires selected to umpire the Men's D National East Championship in 2002 in Winter Haven FL

Organizations
Amateur Softball Association (The authority in softball)

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