Local Association Meeting

 Dress Code (Strictly Enforced!): navy blue approved shirt with jersey number (powder blue OK for SB if both umpires wear them), grey pants, black shoes, black socks, navy blue jacket (if desired), navy blue NCHSAA Logo hat. No emblems are allowed on shirts or jackets unless they are the NCHSAA emblem. No emblems (other than the NCHSAA logo) are allowed on hats. Shoes must be mostly solid black. Black/Powder Blue Jerseys ok for baseball if both wear.  Be neat and clean-shaven for all contests. Uniform must be clean and pressed, and your shoes shined.  The only jewelry allowed is a wedding band. Females must have their hair pulled back into a ponytail (no earrings, necklaces, etc). Males must have their hair off the collar. Any facial hair must be neatly trimmed. Sunglasses are allowed, but do not get too flashy with the style (if in doubt, see me). Umpires may use a watch (kept in your pocket) to time between innings.

 All travel arrangements with your partner should be made well ahead of game time (day before). Do not wait until the last minute to make preparations. The plate umpire is responsible for making the arrangements. It is customary to offer the driver assistance with the gas!  You are expected to work all contests assigned unless prior markoff has been given before the game assignments have been published or mailed.  Do not be late for a contest. You must arrive, be dressed, ready and on the field at least 20 minutes prior to the scheduled starting time. It is a $25 fine (from the NCHSAA) to be tardy, and believe me, the schools will report this. The GAME MUST START ON TIME! Athletic Directors have asked us to strictly enforce this!

Tobacco products are not allowed on school grounds by officials, coaches, or players. NCHSAA will impose a 365 day suspension for officials using any form of tobacco on school grounds. If players or coaches are found to be using tobacco, they must be banished to the dugout for the remainder of the contest. Arbiter Game Reports are required prior to 9:00 am the morning following each contest for all levels.

 Varsity Baseball - $71 single, $101 doubleheader / Varsity Softball - $68 single, $96 doubleheader.  JV Baseball - $61 single, $91 doubleheader / JV Softball - $58 single, $86 doubleheader. Middle/Elementary fees are same as JV.  Single Umpire Middle School games are paid at the varsity game fee rate.  JV Baseball will only be 5 innings for conference play when played as a DH with the Varsity. May play 7 innings outside of conference.  Varsity/JV Baseball and SOFTBALL Doubleheaders are now TWO SEPARATE GAME FEES ($132 and $126)!

 All baseball and softball games are 7 innings in length. Double Headers are also two seven inning games. There will be assignments where you may work both a Varsity and a JV game. The JV game will only be 5 innings throughout the season for conference play only. Minimize time between doubleheaders (10 mins).  The ten run rule applies in both baseball and softball. Never suggest to any coach that they end a game early! There is no 3 inning or 20 run mercy rule in High School! Middle School does have a 15 run mercy rule after 3 innings.

Know where to stand prior to each inning. Between innings, the plate umpire should alternate between first and third base lines, the base umpire should be between first and second base just beyond the infield on the edge of the grass. Total professionalism must be displayed at all times. Keep all conversation to a minimum with players and coaches. There is no need to talk with fans. Stay out of the dugout (except to inspect equipment) and stands before, during and after games. Prior to the pregame conference, look over the field concerning playing conditions, proper equipment for players, etc. BBCOR (BB) bats are the only legal bats this year. All bats legal for Middle School BB. All softball bats must bear the ASA 2000 or ASA 2004 certification mark. Catcher and batting helmets in both sports must be NOCSAE certified, have dual ear flaps, and bear the NOCSAE stamp or label of certification.

Pregame conference should be held approximately 3-5 minutes prior to the start. Be sure both Head Coaches and all umpires are present. Team Captains are optional. Line-up cards must be presented at this time with names, numbers, position, and preferably substitutes. In Softball, the DP/Flex position must be on the lineup card or it cannot be used in the game. Do not allow a team to present a line-up card that is not documented and professional. Changes made to SB lineup card after being submitted result in warning for 1 st offense, then restriction to dugout for coach following 2 nd offense.

Dress code for coaches must be enforced. In baseball, coaches must be in the same attire as that of their team (athletic slacks and school color jersey ok). In softball, coaches must be in some type of school attire. Shorts may be worn by coaches in softball only. Failure to follow the dress code must result in the coach being restricted to the dugout area. Dress code for players must be enforced. In baseball, all players must dress alike. In softball, all players must be alike with the exception of hats. In softball, the entire team does not have to wear a hat.

If you feel an ejection may be warranted, restrict the offending individual (coach or player) to the bench and notify me either that evening or very early the next morning. Together, we will make a decision if its an ejection or disqualification based upon NCHSAA guidelines. Umpires must submit their own DQs and Ejection reports to NCHSAA. Believe me, I will support you 100% as long as you are enforcing the rulebook. It is a $35 NCHSAA fine not to report an ejection or DQ. Never carry or allow a coach to bring a rulebook onto the playing field!

 Suspended contests: If a game is called off after you leave home, you will be paid one half game fee. If the first pitch has been thrown and the contest subsequently called off, you will receive a full game fee. If checks are not ready when you arrive, do not make an issue of this. Notify me immediately afterwards and I will take care of it the next day.  As soon as the contest is over, both umpires should leave the field as soon as possible on the side of the winning team, if possible. Do not linger. Notify me ASAP if a coach, player, or media approaches you after the game.

 Law Enforcement is not required in any of the non-revenue sports. If for any reason you have trouble, you should notify the home team and they must take care of the situation immediately. Home management must escort the umpires to their vehicles following a contest. Please notify me if this is not done or if any problems occur.  Please do not look for any trouble. It will be there when you least expect it. Never embarrass your partner. If the coach wants you to ask for help, and you choose to allow your partner his/her opinion, then walk up to your partner and tell them what you saw. Do not verbally overrule his/her decision in front of everyone. Discuss it (away from all players and coaches), and then make the right decision. The ruling umpire must make any change.

Sportsmanship must be enforced. Do not allow the players or coaches to dictate your decision. Always be polite, but firm. If you warn a coach or player for any type of action or words, be sure to warn them only once. Keep in mind that as an umpire you have jurisdiction until you leave the field. As long as you are on the field, do not take any abuse (another reason to leave quickly after a contest is completed). Ignore the angry fans, period.

Be professional at all times. If you look and act the role, then fewer problems will exist. Never call a coach by their first name. Always refer to them as “Coach _________”. All contact with coaches and players must be kept to a bare minimum.

I will generally assign games two weeks at a time. Please note the starting time on all assignments. Some schools are playing at a different time. In many cases, JV contests will start immediately after Varsity, so it is impossible to predict exact starting times. If there are no lights at the field, JV may opt to play 5 innings if following a Varsity game prior to daylight savings. If a team fails to notify the school and arrives late, allow infield for the starters only. You are expected to wait a minimum of 30 minutes for a team to arrive, if they have failed to notify anyone. Also, make sure the players hustle on and off the field between innings. Try to allow as much time for the JV contest as possible. Teams will take as long as you let them between innings and prior to the contest for warm-ups. Enforce the 60 second rule!

 You are expected to follow the game assignment in regards to plate and base umpire. Double headers should be alternated between plate and base.  You may not switch game assignments and/or positions. All changes must come through me. In Varsity/JV Doubleheaders, the umpire assigned to the plate will work the plate for the varsity game.  If you do not know where a school is located or where their field may be, then please leave early enough to allow the extra time to locate. Keep the Directions to Games handout in your vehicle.

 In the event of cancellations (and there will likely be many), I will contact you as soon as the school notifies me.  Do not call me on rainy days to check on your game status. You will receive a text, call, or voice message from me within 5 minutes after the school notifies me.  ½ Game Fee if game is cancelled after you travel. Schools have until at least 1:00 to cancel with no liability to pay travel. Don’t leave at noon for a 4:00 ballgame and expect to get travel fee.

 You will periodically receive game evaluations. These evaluations will go a long way in determining your overall rankings and subsequent game assignments.  Hustle, Mechanics, Rules Application and JUDGMENT will be evaluated. If your strike zone is smaller than a shoe box, you will hear about it!  iPad APP will be completed at gamesite and ed to you before you ever leave the parking lot. You may get pics or video along with your evaluation.

 Head coach MUST attend pre-game conference. Otherwise, do not start the game!  Defensive coaches must be kept out of live ball area!  The 3ft running lane is required along the first base line in both sports.  Coach’s box must be marked or they must coach from the dugout.  There can be no warm-ups during the pregame conference with the umpires and coaches.  During all warm-ups for the pitcher, all catcher/players, must have on a mask, helmet, and throat protection.  No “WAR PAINT” in either BB or SB!

 Ejections which determine sitting out the next contest:  Fighting,  Intentionally Biting,  Taunting,  Profanity toward official/opponent,  Obscene Gestures,  Disrespectfully Addressing or Touching an Umpire. Remember, the best rule of thumb is to report the disqualification to me and let me decide if the proper rule for ejections has been followed after discussing the situation with you. Tell the coach they will be notified by me whether it is a DQ or Ejection.