Umpires

The BC Baseball Umpires Association (BCBUA) is offering online and in-person training for all new and returning members for 2025. This clinic is mandatory for any new officials wishing to work BC Minor Baseball games this year. All new officials must complete Level 1 first, unless they are granted an exemption by BCBUA.

Clinics will be a combination of online and in-person for the 2025 season and will run through the end of March 2025. You can find more details about clinic registration here: https://page.spordle.com/baseball-b-c/clinics

Sign up today!

Description:

Level 1: Required training for all umpires who wish to get started umping games for BC Minor Baseball teams. Minimum age for enrollment is 10 years old (birth year 2015 or older) during the 2025 calendar year. Upon successful completion of this training, these umpires will be eligible to call games at up to the 9U and 11U divisions. Ongoing training and mentorship will be available during the season, provided by more senior umpires from the North Shore as well as select mentorship provided by Baseball Canada National Program umpires for higher-level games.

Level 2: This is required training for more experienced umpires who wish to call higher-level games. Completion of a Level 1 clinic plus one year of umpiring experience OR an appropriate exemption granted by BCBUA are required to participate in the Level 2 clinic. Upon successful completion of this training, these umpires will be eligible to call games at the 13U division, and possibly beyond, depending upon their age and experience. Mentoring will also be available for umpires at this level.

Note: Level 2 training actually takes 2 years to complete in full. This year, we are offering Part 1 (Offense) which covers the offensive elements of the game. After completing this part, umpires will be eligible to call NSBA games. Part 2 (Defense) which covers the defensive elements of the game will be offered and required in future years. The completion of both portions is required for consideration for certain higher-level assignments.

Cost: Free to attend the clinic, however, attendees must become members of the BCBUA in order to register for the clinic and to umpire games for NSBA.

Annual Membership Fees for BCBUA Umpires:

• Ages 11 and under is $20
• Ages 12 to 13 is $35
• Ages 14 and over is $65

** age as of December 31, 2025

Register: Please register based on which level you should be in, see above for details.

Step 1: Online Membership Registration:

• Membership Registration: Register Now first and pay the membership fee

Note: BCBUA has transitioned to a new web-based platform for registration and education. In partnership with Baseball BC, we are now using Spordle (for database management) and Moodle (for education). All BCBUA members have been uploaded to the new platform. You will have the option to either search and register an existing participant or create a new one. If you or a child or other family member are new to umpiring, you will need to create a new profile.

Online Documentation: User Guide

Step 2: Clinic Registration:

The North Shore Clinics can be found directly at these links

• Level 1: Register Now
• Level 2: Register Now
• All Other Clinics: Clinics web page

Clinic Documentation: User Guide

Locations and Dates: Clinics will be a combination of online and in person for 2025.

• Online clinics you can filter for them (if any) on the clinics web page: https://page.spordle.com/baseball-b-c/clinics
• In person training for officials will be held by NSBA on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at Collingwood Secondary School – Gym (70 Morven Drive, West Vancouver, BC). Level 1 officials will attend at 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and Level 2 officials will attend at 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

BCBUA Membership: Membership is REQUIRED in order to officiate games for NSBA. Please visit the BCBUA members website and pay for your 2025 membership.

Membership Fee Reimbursement: All NSBA registered players who call 5 or more games during the 2025 season for NSBA may apply to have their membership fees reimbursed. Please save your receipt!

About BCBUA: Visit the BCBUA website at bcbua.ca for details about them. BCBUA publishes a newsletter and also assigns key provincial tournaments for those umpires looking to take their game to the next level.

Umpire Gear: mask, chest protector and pads will be supplied locked at the parks for officials working 15U and below. Officials working 18U games must provide their own protective gear. Umpires must also wear a BCBUA Umpire hat and shirt, which are available by contacting umpirecoordinator@northshorebaseball.ca , and which will also be on sale at the in-person umpire training on February 23rd. More experienced umpires may wish to purchase their own equipment. Pro Image Sports is the preferred supplier for the BCBUA and their website can be found here: https://www.pro-image.ca/ . Certain umpire gear may also be available from online vendors or from MVP Athletic Supply in Surrey.

Please direct any questions or if you need any further information to:

Does your child enjoy playing baseball? Have they thought about umpiring a game or does your child ever express their opinions about plays and calls when they are watching or participating in a game?

If your child is 10 years old or older (birth year 2014 or older) during the 2024 calendar year and wants to learn how to be an umpire and to umpire a few of our North Shore Baseball Association games, have them come to one of the umpire clinic sessions that is being offered!

Essential Life Skills:

Umpiring will provide your child with the opportunity to develop some “life skills” that they can take with them throughout their journey in life.

Umpiring provides your child with the opportunities to exercise social skills such as communication, anger management, and conflict resolution. The interaction with other umpires, players, coaches and administrators will help them become more socially competent. It will also help them develop their knowledge of the rules of baseball.

Problem-solving and decision-making skills are probably the most important skills that an umpire must develop. The ability to make timely, logical decisions and to solve problems is a great tool for any youth’s skill set. As an umpire your child will be challenged to make decisions during the course of a game and throughout their career.

2025 Umpire Rates