The Herndon Optimist Youth Baseball (HOYB) Umpire Program
Baseball Season has arrived! As you know, one of the nice attributes of HOYB is the opportunity to employ youth umpires at our Instructional/ Machine Pitch, Rookie, Minor and Major League levels.

Jon Simpson will be coordinating the umpire program this spring. His e-mail for umpire-related business is UmpiresHOYB@aol.com. His home telephone number is:
703-450-5479. 

Steve Pavlecka is the person responsible for all umpire-related scheduling of games. If you have a game scheduling question or issue, please email Steve directly.

This webpage has detailed information about our program including, Program Requirements, some reasons why you may wish to umpire, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

Updated: February, 2008.

Umpiring in our league

The Herndon Optimist Youth Baseball (HOYB) League has a unique Youth Umpire Program that trains and employs umpires (ages 11 - 18) to officiate games in our Major, Minor, Rookie, and Instructional/Machine Pitch Leagues. Two umpires are typically assigned for each game, a plate ump and a field ump. At the fields with scoreboards (Bready and Haley Smith Parks) a third umpire is assigned to run the scoreboard. Our umpires are:  

·         Trained by adults with umpiring experience and current and former coaches of HOYB.

·         Provided with all necessary umpiring equipment and receive an official HOYB umpiring shirt, pants, and cap to keep.

·         Paid according to their level of experience and their position assignment (field, behind the plate, or scoreboard). On the field pay rates range from $12 per game for beginning umpires in the Instructional/Machine Pitch league to $37 per game for our most experienced umpires. Scoreboard operators receive $12 per game.

For many kids, HOYB’s umpiring program is their first real job. As with any job, there are many important responsibilities our umpires must assume. These include: 

·         Showing up on time, taking charge of a game, and creating an environment for kids to have fun playing baseball.

·         Learning, interpreting, and enforcing the rules of the game.

·         Making quick, accurate decisions and standing by those decisions.

·         Balancing umpire job commitments with school, baseball playing, and other activities.

·         Keeping a schedule and records of games umpired, and communicating any concerns, questions, and problems to umpiring program supervisors in a timely manner. 

Program Requirements

Candidates for the HOYB Youth Umpire Program must be willing and able to meet the following requirements:

Age: Umpires must be at least 11 years old as of April 30, or currently in the 5th grade.

·         Attend Pre-season Training. New umpires must attend three pre-season training sessions. Returning umpires must attend two sessions. For the 2008 Spring Season the sessions will be held at the following times:
 

New Umpires:
Session 1 - Fri. 3/7, 6:30 to 7:30 PM, Dranesville Elementary Cafeteria;
Session 2 - Fri. 3/14, 6:30 to 7:30 PM, Dranesville Elementary Cafeteria;

Session 3 - Sun. 3/30, 12:30 to 2:00 PM, Bready Park.
Returning Umpires:
Session 1 - Fri. 3/14, 7:30 to 8:30 PM, Dranesville Elementary Cafeteria;
Session 2 - Sun. 3/30, 2:30 to 4:30 PM, Bready Park.

·         Attend Midseason Training. The dates for these sessions will be determined during the season.

·         Be Available to Umpire. Umpires must be ready and willing to umpire at least once per week during the season.

·         File Game Reports. Umpires must file game reports within 2 days of an assignment.

·         Receive Ratings of “Satisfactory” or Better on Performance Evaluations. Adult volunteers, training umpires, and team managers will evaluate Job performance throughout the season. If needed, follow-up training will be conducted to assist umpires with their job performance.

Why Umpire?

Officiating any sport is a challenge. It requires confidence in your ability to make good judgments and instant recall of rules. In baseball the pressure is always on the umpire and the quality of a game depends greatly on the quality of umpiring. To be a good umpire you must learn to do your job with authority and always display grace under pressure. The best umpires love and respect the game of baseball and enjoy being a part of every game they umpire. The money they earn is only a secondary benefit.

As a youth umpire you will gain leadership experience that will help you later in life. But it is a job not suited for everyone. Decisions must be made on every pitch and every play. You must concentrate fully on the game and anticipate what you need to do next. Mistakes are part of the job but a good umpire acknowledges them, learns from them, and moves on without ever losing confidence. You must always remember you are there for the players. They look up to you and depend on you to make sure their game is played safely and fairly. Umpiring is challenging mentally and physically to be sure, but it is also a fun job especially if you like seeing younger kids play, succeed, and have fun.

If you choose to try umpiring, HOYB officials will work with you to develop your skills. But you alone are responsible for learning the rules of the game and applying those rules and skills in game situations. You will be observed, evaluated, and offered pointers and things to work on. You will be expected to constantly learn and improve. Over time successful umpires are rewarded with promotions in rank, increased pay, and opportunities to umpire in higher leagues. Again, officiating is not for everybody but if your personality and nature are suited for the challenge, umpiring in the HOYB Leagues can be a very rewarding experience.

Questions
If you have any questions concerning the HOYB Youth Umpire Program, please contact Jon Simpson at: UmpiresHOYB@aol.com.
 

FAQ's

I am only available to umpire certain days of the week. Is the umpire scheduling flexible?

Yes. Many of our umpires play on teams themselves or have other activities on certain days of the week. The HOYB Umpire Coordinator depends on you to inform him when you are available to umpire. You are expected to post your availability for any particular week at least 7 days in advance of that week using the “Umpire Availability Form” on this website.

Do I wear an umpire uniform?

Yes. Umpires will be issued an umpire shirt, shorts, and cap. They must be worn at all games you umpire. In cold weather, a black or dark blue windbreaker or sweatshirt can be worn under the umpire shirt. An umpire may also wear his/her own dark blue or black long pants (not sweats). All pants must be worn with a belt (so you can put on the ball bag). You should wear dark shoes. Umpires who regularly work multiple games per week will be issued a second shirt. Your umpire rank is designated on the back of your umpire cap using gold bars.

How are umpires ranked?

There are 4 levels of umpire rank in the HOYB system. Level 1 is for beginning umpires with no experience. They work instructional/machine pitch games exclusively. Level 2 umpires work mostly Rookie and Minor League games. Level 3 umpires, usually work 40/60 Major League games but might also be assigned some lower league games. Level 4 umpires, the highest level, work 50/70 Major League games as well as lower league games as needed. In addition they help evaluate and train younger umpires. All umpire levels can work as scoreboard operators. Advancement through the ranks is accomplished based on game experience and a record of positive evaluations.

What kind of equipment do I wear?

Plate umpires will be wearing hockey-style helmets that protect the top and back of the head. Balloon-style chest protectors and small, medium, and large shin guards are available at all the fields. Level 3 umpires have the option of wearing chest protectors designed to wear under the shirt. All umpire gear is stored in large “Umpire Use Only” equipment bags in the field boxes.

Will I get yelled at?

HOYB team managers will never treat you like you sometimes see umpires get treated on TV. Every HOYB player and manager signs a code of ethics that includes an agreement to treat officials with respect. The official HOYB rules of play require managers to act respectfully toward the umpires. Further they are responsible for making sure their players, coaches, and fans act in the same manner. If these rules are violated the HOYB Board can and will suspend a player, coach, or fan from HOYB games.

What is the pay rate?

Umpires are assigned games with a partner. All Level 1 umps receive $12 per game and switch between the plate and field positions every two innings. Umpire partners do not switch positions at the higher leagues. Level 2 plate umpires receive $22 per game. Level 3 plate umps receive $27 per game. Level 4 plate umps receive $32 per game. Field umps receive $5 less than plate umps at their rank (e.g., a Level 2 ump doing the field position receives $17 per game). Level 3 and 4 umpires receive $32 per game when they observe, evaluate, and train umps at a lower league games. Scoreboard operators receive a flat $12 per game.

When do I get paid?

One check that covers all the games you umpire during the season will be issued to you by the Herndon Optimists Club based on information compiled by the HOYB umpire coordinator. This is why sending a game report after every game you umpire is very important. It creates a record of your work for the umpire coordinator. After the season ends the coordinator will send you a summary of his records concerning all the games you umpired. You will review it and make any needed corrections. Payment information is then forwarded to the Optimist Club Treasurer. You should receive your check from the Optimist Club by the end of July.