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BELLEVUE NATIONAL LITTLE LEAGUE UMPIRE PROGRAM

Welcome to the Bellevue National Little League Umpire Program! Our mission is to provide a safe, fair, and fun baseball and softball experience for our community. Umpires play a crucial role on the field, ensuring the integrity of the game and fostering sportsmanship among players. Volunteering as an umpire offers a unique opportunity to make a difference in young athletes’ lives, build leadership skills, and be part of a supportive team. Whether you are an experienced umpire or new to the sport, your involvement helps us create an environment where kids can learn, grow, and have fun!

Our baseball and softball umpire staff includes both adults and teens, officiating games from AAA to Seniors levels. The Junior Umpire program, comprised of teens, has run successfully for over a decade. To support them, we strictly enforce a ZERO TOLERANCE policy against managers, coaches, parents, or players disputing calls.

If you have any questions, please contact our Umpire in Chief at [email protected].

UMPIRE REGISTRATION

Ready to become an umpire? Bellevue National Little League welcomes volunteers of all backgrounds. Registering is easy and open to adults and teens who are excited to support our league!

1. Fill out the online volunteer registration form on our website. Choose any Umpire slot, in baseball or softball.
2. Complete a quick background check (required for both adult and junior volunteers).
3. All Little League volunteers (even Junior umpires) must also complete the Little League Abuse Awareness Training course. Download and email the Completed Course PDF to [email protected].
4. Emails will be sent to all registered umpires in the late February timeframe regarding training sessions and further league details.

Eligibility is simple: Volunteers must be at least 13* years old for our Junior Umpire Program or 18+ for regular umpiring. No prior umpiring experience is necessary - just a willingness to learn and help!

*12 year olds may be allowed into the Junior Umpire Program, but require approval from the BNLL UIC.

UMPIRE TRAINING

No experience? No problem! We offer training sessions for all our umpires, covering game rules, positioning, mechanics, and effective communication. Training is hands-on, interactive, and led by experienced BNLL umpires who are passionate about the game. Training sessions are for both baseball and softball.

2026 BNLL Umpire Training Dates (both baseball and softball) - Required

When: 3 sessions (all 3 sessions are the same)
- Friday 3/20, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
- Saturday 3/21, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
- Sunday 3/22, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Federal Field
Who: Brand new BNLL umps are required, but this training is a great refresher for experienced umps as well. This training is for both baseball and softball.
What: Training will go over the basic rules of the game, including calling balls and strikes. Umpire shirts and hats will be provided, along with a physical rulebook.
How: Sign-up form TBD

2026 D9 Experienced Umpire Training (60' diamond) - Highly recommended

When: Sunday, March 15, 12:30pm - 4:30pm
Where: Redmond Ridge Park, Field 1
Who: This D9 training is for those who have umpired at least 1 year.
What: For both baseball and softball, Training will include plate and base umpire mechanics. Umpires should wear a hat, bring their mask and indicator. No other gear is needed. Dress warm and bring water.
How: You must RSVP using your Arbiter account to self-assign yourself to one of the March 15th training slots. If you need help, email [email protected].

2026 D9 Experienced Umpire Training (90' diamond) - Highly recommended

When: Sunday, March 22, 1:30pm - 5:30pm
Where: Redmond Ridge Park, Jackson Roos Field
Who: This D9 training is for those who have umpired at least 1 year and plan to umpire Intermediate, Junior or Senior baseball.
What: Training will include plate and base umpire mechanics. Umpires should wear a hat, bring their mask and indicator. No other gear is needed. Dress warm and bring water.
How: You must RSVP using your Arbiter account to self-assign yourself to one of the March 15th training slots. If you need help, email [email protected].

We believe in learning by doing. Everyone is welcome, and remember, all umpires started out felling overwhelmed, but through training and doing, you will quickly feel comfortable on the field.

ONLINE TRAINING AND RULES RESOURCES

THE RULEBOOK

The Little League Rulebook App is a free download on App Store and Google Play. The Rulebook app contains the Official Regulations, Playing Rules, and Operating Policies for all divisions of Baseball, Softball, and Challenger in one location.

LITTLE LEAGUE UNIVERSITY

The Little League national site provides a wealth of videos (must be registered in the Umpire Registry) that go over the basics: Positioning behind the plate, mechanics for calling balls and strikes, outs and safe calls, positioning on the field, and even proper dress code. This 20 minute Umpire Training Course is a great place to start for new umps, and also a great place for experienced umps to get a refresher.

DISTRICT 9 TRAINING RESOURCES

BNLL is part of the District 9 (D9) in Washington state. Along with the instructional resources and training that BNLL provides, here are some links to resources from D9 and other leagues in D9, which are all fantastic!

D9: http://www.d9ump.org/umpResources.htm

Includes 2023 online classroom training recording
Includes lots more resource links to umpire videos and rules

In addition, the Little League National site has a number of suggestions, guidance, and videos that help explain various game calls and situations for umpires

Other D9 Leagues Umpire Resources

RedWest: https://www.redwestll.org/umpires
Kirkland American: https://www.kirklandamerican.com/umpires
Kirkland National: https://www.kirklandnational.com/umpires/
Redmond North: https://www.rnll.org/umpires
Issaquah: https://www.issaquahlittleleague.org/Default.aspx?tabid=943352

Yearly Little League Rule Updates

Each year, Little League updates its rules, and it's critical all managers, coaches and umpires are aware of these rule changes. Here is a list of the official changes and explanations:

2026 Little League Rules Updates
2025 Little League Rules Updates

THE JUNIOR UMPIRE PROGRAM

Our Junior Umpire Program is designed for youth ages 13 to 17 who want to get involved in baseball or softball from a new perspective. Junior umpires receive guidance from experienced mentors, learn about the rules of the game, and develop valuable skills such as leadership, decision-making, and communication.

Junior Umpires always have an adult present, whether that's as a second umpire or as an Adult Coordinator if there are two Junior Umpires on the game. The adult is responsible for handling any disputes, as well as rain/darkness considerations.

Junior Umpires also can earn community service hours for school. The program encourages confidence, responsibility, and a deeper understanding of the game.

To join, simply register online as an 'Umpire' when prompted.

NOTE: 12 year olds may be allowed into the Junior Umpire Program, but require approval from the BNLL UIC.

UMPIRE GAME ASSIGNMENTS

Games are not assigned to you - YOU pick the games you want to umpire.

BNLL and D9 use the Arbiter umpire scheduling system (https://www.arbitersports.com/). It allows you to self-assign the games you will umpire. It also enables the league to view and ensure umpire coverage for all games. You will be given a login, and all games you umpire must be logged in Arbiter to get credit for umping that game.

More information will be given to all umpire volunteers before the season starts, but a walkthrough video is available here: https://youtu.be/1KkyqKDbQgY.

UMPIRE EQUIPMENT AND REIMBURSEMENT

Bellevue National Little League will loan all necessary umpire equipment, including protective gear (chest protector and shin guards), indicators, ball bag and plate brush. A BNLL Umpire polo shirt and hat are yours to keep! Umpire pants, protective cup, cleats/plate shoes are your own responsibility. New volunteers will receive guidance on equipment use and care.

We understand that volunteering takes time and commitment. To support our umpires, we offer a program to reimburse umpires up to $200/yr to buy your own umpire equipment, as long as you umpire at least 8 games that year. This is a great way to set yourself up to umpire for more than 1 year.

We want to ensure you look the part on the field!

Here are some resources to find umpire gear:

UMPING ALL STAR GAMES

All Star Games are a highlight of the season (June and July), and umpiring these games is both an honor and a fantastic experience. Umpires are selected based on their dedication, skill development, and involvement throughout the season. Opportunities exist not only at the D9 level, but also for State All-Star games, too.

Being chosen for an All Star Game demonstrates your commitment and growth as an umpire. We encourage all volunteers to strive for this opportunity - it’s a chance to officiate high-level youth baseball, meet new people, and enjoy the excitement of championship play.