Astros FHC Umpiring Responsibilities

We need your help! We need all players (or as many as possible) to attend an umpiring certification clinic AND we need more certified umpires to help spread the load. As well, it is also beneficial to everyone that players know the rules and gain a better understanding of the game. In turn, this allows for better play overall in the league.

The CLFHA league policy is that each TEAM must have a minimum of THREE rated umpires in order for teams to be eligible to play in the league. The Astros FHC policy is a minimum of FIVE rated umpires per team in order to spread the load. Many of the people who umpire also put in many hours to keep the team and club organized - otherwise, you wouldn't have a team to play on. It is to share the umpiring responsibility around for those willing to do it. For those not willing to help, then a fee is in place. Umpiring takes time and commitment from your team-mates who take it on. By having more umpires, we have more people who are able to step in to help if & when needed and balance the load for everyone. We are striving towards having players put something back into their teams and club, so that we don't burn out the same volunteers.

If you attended the clinic last year and did not get your certification yet, you do not have to go to another full-day clinic, but you need to start getting some 'practice' by shadowing with an experienced certified umpire. Then you can do a few more games where we run with you before you schedule the field assessment(s) to get your certification.

New / Non-Certified Umpires:

Players wishing to participate for the upcoming season MUST attend an umpiring certification clinic unless they are currently certified.

The certification for indoor is separate from the certification for outdoor.

Players will be reimbursed in full for cost of the clinic upon passing the written exam and the required field assessments (to complete their certification) & umpiring a minimum of 3 matches during the season.

Certified umpires from your team will run along with you for the first few games. You have a maximum of one year to 'practice umpiring' & get your certification ... you can try to get your certification right away. There are also opportunities for you to 'practice' your umpiring skills at some of the junior leagues, tournaments, or programs.

Once you receive your certification, you will be eligible to get paid for each match you umpire (with the exception of matches where you are being assessed), retroactive to the beginning of the season.Umpiring Payment Rates (for CLFHA League Games):
- Canadian Certification = $25.00 Per Game
- Regional Certification = $20.00 Per Game
- Provincial "A" Certification = $15.00 Per Game
- Provincial "B" Certification = $10.00 Per Game
- Indoor Certification = $10.00 Per Game
Players who do not attend the Certification Clinic OR who wish to be exempted from having to umpire or shadow can pay a $25.00 fee.
Otherwise, team reps will schedule ALL players to either umpire or shadow a minimum of 2 - 3 matches during the season. It will be the assigned player's responsibility to arrange to SWITCH assigned umpiring / shadowing duties with other players within the team. If a player fails to show up as scheduled (& has not arranged for a substitute), the player will be required to pay $10.00 - $15.00 per incident.

The procedure to get your certification is to:

A. Clinic: Attend the respective indoor or outdoor certification clinics covering in detail the rules and umpiring.

B. Exam: Complete and successfully pass an exam. You require 75% to pass. The exam has true/false, multiple choice and long answer and covers the rules and a little on umpire positioning. If you read the rules book, you are way ahead of the game!

C. Practical/Field Assessment:

This is when a certified assessor comes out to a specified match and observes that you are meeting particular minimum requirements.
To obtain your outdoor Provincial "B" umpiring certification, you need to pass ONE assessment at the corresponding level of play.
To obtain your outdoor Provincial "A" umpiring certification, you need to pass TWO assessments at the corresponding level of play.
To obtain your indoor umpiring certification, you need to pass ONE assessment during an indoor league match. Currently, there is only one level of indoor certification.
Registrants should endeavour to complete their assessment by the end of the season and can make arrangements by contacting one of the qualified assessors - a list of the assessors will be made available to umpires.

Then you are done! Certification lasts for 5 years and expires on December 31st of that fifth year.

REIMBURSEMENT FOR UMPIRING CERTIFICATION CLINIC

Congratulations on passing your field assessment(s) and getting your respective provincial A or provincial B or indoor certification!

You will now be eligible to be reimbursed for the cost of the clinic. We need a copy of your assessment(s) showing the "pass" for the files in order to reimburse you for the cost of the clinic. This also includes re-certification clinics.

If you get certified early in the season, we can issue a cheque to reimburse you for the cost of the clinic. If you get certified towards the end of the season, you may apply the credit towards your indoor/outdoor fees or, if you are not playing the following season (indoor or outdoor), we can issue a cheque for the balance once we receive a copy of your assessment(s). Please let us know what you would like us to do, as we may not know what your intentions are.

You may either:

Fax the assessment(s) to Verla Wong at 205-1705
Mail it to Astros FHC c/o Verla Wong (130 - 40 Ave. NW, Calgary, AB, T2K 0E3)
Hand it in during outdoor or indoor

Great work and many thanks for contributing your time to the club and league by umpiring!

GETTING PAID FOR UMPIRING CLFHA LEAGUE MATCHES

If you want to get paid by CLFHA for any games umpired, please follow-up with Barb Mitchell ASAP. For those who haven't done so, you will need to send an E-mail to Barb Mitchell (BMITCHL@petro-canada.ca) to 'invoice' for the games that you umpired.
If you've forgotten the # of games, send an E-mail to Anita Massey (amassey@telusplanet.net) to confirm how many games you umpired.
If you got certified the season, you get paid for the games retroactive to the beginning of the outdoor season (except for the match or matches where you were being assessed).