UMPIRE PROGRAM POLICIES

Introduction

The administration of the baseball umpire program shall be directed by the Supervisor of Baseball Umpires. The baseball umpire program shall be conducted in accordance with NCAA rules and regulations (or NAIA rules and regulations when appropriate).

Independent Contractor

Umpires are independent contractors and not employees of the Collegiate Baseball Umpires Alliance (CBUA), any conference or any college or university. As an independent contractor, umpires agree to hold the CBUA, any/all collegiate conferences, any/all member institutions, and the Supervisor of Baseball Umpires harmless from any and all liability for injury or damage sustained as a result of any assignment.

Insurance

Umpires shall provide their own medical and health insurance, which shall include coverage for any accident suffered or injury sustained while umpiring. Umpires are also encouraged to maintain comprehensive general liability insurance. Umpires are encouraged to maintain membership in the Amateur Baseball Umpires Association (ABUA) and/or the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) to ensure insurance and liability coverage.

Physical Examination

Umpires are encouraged to undergo a complete physical exam on an annual basis.

Tobacco Use

NCAA rules strictly prohibit the use of tobacco products by coaches, student-athletes, and umpires. This prohibition should be enforced during all CBUA assignments.

Umpire Staffing/Assigning Policy

Staff membership and assignments will be based on recommendations and evaluations from senior umpires, independent observors and coaches. Also impacting an individual's number of assignments will be the umpire's overall officiating background, clinic attendance, test results, and the umpire's availability and interest.

Emergency Umpire Replacement Plan

  1. Contact appropriate assignor or Supervisor of Umpires.
  2. Contact CBUA umpire to work as a replacement.
  3. Contact home head coach and work together to find best available replacement.
  4. Work game(s) with one less umpire

Umpire Education Plan

All umpires receiving CBUA assignments will be encouraged to attend one of the NCAA Umpire Program national clinics. The Supervisor of Baseball Umpires will conduct a CBUA meeting in conjunction with the national clinic.

CBUA members will be encouraged to complete an annual NCAA baseball rules test (mandatory for umpires receiving conference games).

The Supervisor of Umpires will also communicate with CBUA members through bulletins.

Umpire Uniform

It is the responsibility of the crew chief to ensure the crew is dressed consistently. Shoes should be shined and clothing should be cleaned and pressed.

The basic uniform will include:

*Black base or plate shoes (contrasting white manufacturer’s logos on shoes is acceptable)
*Black socks
*Gray slacks
*Black belt
*Black or gray ball bag(s) (K40B or K40S in Honig’s catalog)
*Black short sleeve shirt with white trim (HMLS-B in Honig’s catalog)
*Black undershirt or black crew neck or black turtle neck should be worn under shirt or pullover
*Black shell pullover jacket with white trim over shoulder (K17-B in Honig’s catalog)
*Black plate coat (B3S in Honig’s catalog) or shell pullover may be worn on plate
*Black sized CBUA hat (black sized Pro Mesh CBUA hat is permissible)
*Black gloves as needed
*Black foul weather hood or ear protector as needed

*Optional shirt is the black long sleeve shirt with white trim (HMLLS-B in Honig’s catalog)
*Optional shirt is the light blue short sleeve shirt with black trim (KMLS-PB in Honig’s catalog)
*Optional pullover is the black shell with white trim over shoulder (K17P-B in Honig’s catalog)
K17P-B must be worn tucked in

Please remove all association/league/professional patches, logos, etc. from your uniform. We do not wear numbers on our CBUA uniforms; however, if you have numbers on your shirt or pullover from another conference, that is permissible. Likewise, American flags are permissible and should worn on the back of your shirt or pullover just below the collar mid-way between the shoulders (behind the bottom of your neck). If you wear one of the hockey-style helmets on the plate instead of a CBUA hat and mask, that is permissible.

You are not required to order your uniforms/equipment from Honig's. However, Honig's does have all of the CBUA uniform necessities in stock. Please contact Bill Hoseney or any one of their sales associates at 734-761-2244 or 888-468-3284. You can also order by email at: sales@honigs.com. Also, you can link directly to Honig’s web site from our CBUA web site.

Umpire Crew Chief Responsibilities

Crew chief responsibilities are numerous and important. Crew chiefs are responsible for all communication with the Supervisor of Umpires, officials of the host institution and coaches of the competing schools. For Big East, Big Ten Conference, Mid-American Conference, and Horizon League games, crew chiefs will be identified on the master schedule and should pay close attention to the details and responsibilities associated with that position.

Crew chiefs should:

  • secure or verify accommodations as necessary for all members of the crew well in advance
  • verify game times with the head coach or school representative at least one week prior to an assigned series and notify the umpires
  • coordinate umpire travel plans whenever possible
  • verify umpire's locker room arrangements with the head coach or school representative at least one week prior to an assignment
  • notify the home team head coach upon arrival for each game
  • ensure that the umpire's dressing room remains off-limits to anyone except officials, umpire observer, and appropriate host school administrators
  • ensure that the crew arrive at the game site at least one hour prior to game time and conduct a pregame mechanics review with the crew
  • ensure an appropriate number of baseballs are rubbed and ready for play
  • conduct a pregame meeting with the coaches at home plate ten minutes prior to game time
  • set the crew rotation for the weekend and work the plate in games one and four in the Big Ten Conference and in game one in the Big East Conference, Horizon League and Mid-American Conference
  • complete and submit a written evaluation form on himself and the other crew members within 48 hours of the end of the series
  • telephone the supervisor within 24 hours of the end of a series if there was an unusual incident
    (i.e. brawl, rules confusion, etc.)
  • ensure the crew refrains from making any comments to the media