Umpire/CABUA FAQ's

The following questions and answers are common items raised by members and non members. Give them a once over, and if your question(s) are not answered let us know.

Questions (click on question to be taken to the answer - questions in black do not have an answer yet)

1. What is NUCP certification?
2. Why should I have NUCP certification?
3. Do I need certification to umpire a baseball game?
4. Where can I get training?
5. Who can I contact to get more general information?
6. Where can I find more information regarding umpiring and how to get better?
7. Is there someone I can talk to for gear recommendations?
8. Are there any reading materials I can purchase?
9. If I join CABUA can I still umpire Little League games?
10. Can I still umpire games for Little League if CABUA is supplying umpires for those games?
11. Why should I join CABUA?
12. How much does CABUA pay?
13. Who decides which games/level I can do?
14. How much are CABUA fees and why is there a fee?
15. Does CABUA supply its members with shirts, hats etc? And how can I get them?
16. How do I request to do a specific game?
17. Is CABUA trying to corner the market on umpires?
18. How come my Little League game did not have umpires?
19. Why is CABUA not putting on Level 1 and Level 2 clinics anymore?
20. I am worried about making a mistake so do not want to umpire.
    

Answers

1. What is NUCP certification?

This stands for National Umpire Certification Program and it is a program designed to standardize, across Canada, umpire qualifications and skill level. If you are part of the program, with sufficient training and experience you could umpire national games and, one day, even do an Olympic game as an umpire. This program is run by Baseball Canada.
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2. Why should I have NUCP certification?

There is no obligation to join NUCP by any individual. However, when you take a course offered by CABUA, it is under the auspices of Baseball Alberta/Baseball Canada and you get your NUCP card for that level with a passing grade on the test. The NUCP certification speaks to your proficiency level and minimum training level. This certification must be renewed each year.
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3. Do I need certification to umpire a baseball game?

No you do not need certification to umpire a baseball game. However, individual leagues, groups or certain levels of baseball may require that certification. Certification means you have a certain level of proficiency. Contact CABUA or NUCP directly if you wish more information.
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4. Where can I get training?

Training is available at clinics run at various locations in Alberta and other  provinces. Check our clinics page for more information. You can also go to the Baseball Alberta's umpire page for a list of clinics. In addition there are clinics run in the States which range from 1 week to 5 weeks in length.

Most clinics run in the spring to get you ready for the coming baseball season.
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5. Who can I contact to get more general information?

Please use our contact form on our contacts page. You can also review other pages on this site to see if the answer might be there. There are also links on our links page.
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6. Where can I find more information regarding umpiring and how to get better?

One of the best ways to get better is to take a clinic, practice and maybe, if possible arrange with other, more experienced, umpires to do games with them. Also, reading the rules, trying our online quizzes, downloading and trying past exams, are other ways. There is also good information at some of the sites on our links page. If you would like to contact CABUA use the contact form on our executive page.
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7. Is there someone I can talk to for gear recommendations?

There are many considerations for what gear to buy, how to get a good fit etc. If you wish, go to our executive page and send us an e-mail and we will have someone contact you.

Our official supplier, Pro-Image is also very helpful and they have a local rep who can assist you. See the link on our equipment page.

There are also many good web sites you can go to for this information. Check back at this site later for links or go to our links page. You can also goggle the internet for useful information also.
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8. Are there any reading materials I can purchase?

Yes there are many places to find reading materials and also many places you can download information from. For example, the Little League web site has information on 60 foot diamonds, Baseball Canada also has some information. Also check our forms page. You can also order manuals from PBUC.
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9. If I join CABUA can I still umpire Little League games?

Yes you can. All CABUA is is an association of umpires which arranges with various leagues to provide umpires. In the case of Little League CABUA provides umpires usually for their Senior and Big League programs. A membership with CABUA does not mean you can only do games for CABUA. You are a 'free agent'.

There is no exclusivity by being a member of CABUA. You are free to umpire whichever games you wish. However, if CABUA is providing umpires to a league, you have to go through CABUA to umpire those games and there is no guarantee you may get those games. This is just to insure that too many umpires do not show up for 1 game and none for another. If CABUA cannot supply an umpire(s) for a particular game the league will be notified and you could arrange to do that game for the league if they contact you.

In fact, a good many of our umpires are also Little League umpires and do more games for Little League teams, usually at the Junior level and below, than they do for CABUA.
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10. Can I still umpire games for Little League if CABUA is supplying umpires for those games?

See the answer for question 9 above.
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11. Why should I join CABUA?

There is no obligation to join CABUA. If you do join CABUA you will have to opportunity to have a field evaluation done, improve your skills with positive feedback and the chance to work with other umpires who can also assist you in your umpiring.

In addition, you have the opportunity to umpire games at a higher level than you may get to do otherwise since CABUA may need your skills for those games. Since CABUA has agreements with a number of leagues to supply umpires they have access to a larger pool of games and levels which need umpires.
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12. How much does CABUA pay?

CABUA does not pay umpires. Umpires receive an honourarium for umpiring games.

The rates of honourarium is dependant on contracts negotiated with individual leagues. The amount negotiated has to take into account the level of game, travel considerations, number of umpires needed and many other factors.

There is no one honorarium which can be applied across all levels of baseball due to the many factors which must be taken into account. The membership is advised of the honorarium for the various levels at the annual spring meeting. (Another good reason to attend).
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13. Who decides which games/level I can do?

Please see and read this article by Dave Bisanti. It should answer most of your questions.

14. How much are CABUA fees and why is there a fee?

CABUA membership renewal fee will be $110.00 commencing in the Spring of 2010. Umpires who take a 2010 Clinic will be charged $55.00 for membership renewal. This fee is deducted from the first game(s) of the season which you umpire.

The fee is used to support costs the group has such as meetings, expenses etc. The fee may vary based upon attending a clinic each year. This fee also covers the cost of the two evaluations and/or supervisions you will receive each year. The evaluators have to be paid for the work and the rate is close to what they would get if they were doing a game.

Taking a clinic is a good way to keep your skills up and to reduce the membership fee.

More information can be obtained by downloading our members guide from the forms page.

Game fee schedules are reviewed with each league from time to time such that Calgary baseball umpires are compensated appropriately in line with baseball umpires elsewhere in Alberta and with other amateur sport officials.

A portion of each game fee paid by each league is retained by CABUA to compensate its Assignor, fund training and other association costs.
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15. Does CABUA supply its members with shirts, hats etc? And how can I get them?

No, CABUA, being non profit does not have the resources to supply members with hats, shirts etc. These are available from a number of different suppliers. If you wish to get a shirt or hat or other apparel with the CABUA logo you can contact either Pro-Image or Big Mountain.
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16. How do I request to do a specific game?

CABUA has no mechanism to allow umpires to request specific games. You can request to only do games in a specific area of the city due to travel considerations etc but not a specific game. The reason for this is to insure, based upon the level of game, CABUA provides umpires who have the necessary skills to do that game. Please also read - The Assignor and You.(question 13)
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17. Is CABUA trying to corner the market on umpires?

No, CABUA is not trying to be the only place to come for umpires. The Calgary Area Baseball Umpires Association (CABUA) will facilitate the development of quality baseball umpires in the Calgary area such that baseball organizations operating in the Calgary area, today and in the future, will be assured of having baseball umpires, qualified for that organization's level of play, assigned as requested, with their games officiated in accordance with the governing Playing Rules and By-laws of each respective organization.

CABUA is a volunteer organization which is trying to provide support and coordination for local umpires who wish to belong to CABUA and challenge themselves in umpiring.
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18. How come my Little League game did not have umpires?

CABUA only supplies umpires based upon a contract with a Little League. Currently, at the Little League level, CABUA only provides umpires for Senior and Big League games. There is, in Little League, like other sports, a real shortage of individuals willing to step forward and learn to umpire a baseball game. CABUA recommends you contact your Little League executive regarding this situation. Little League is based upon volunteers and a lack of umpires is, in some cases, due to not enough volunteers willing to learn to umpire. CABUA does work with various leagues and offers the CABUA Winter Umpire School for those interested in learning to umpire. Other clinics are also available in Calgary and Alberta.
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19. Why is CABUA not putting on Level 1 and Level 2 clinics anymore?

CABUA actually never put on a clinic in the formal sense other than the Winter Umpire School. However, since some of the instructors who teach at the clinics are also members of CABUA, and so are the supervisors with Baseball Alberta who live in the Calgary area, there is an association which is assumed but not a reality. However CABUA does not put on the clinic - Baseball Alberta does. All that CABUA did was provide website notices. Some of the instructors are also CABUA members.

Please click on this link for the complete answer.
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20. I am worried about making a mistake so I do not want to umpire.

Every official, no matter the sport, will make mistakes occasionally. We are all human and it is a fact of every game. There is very little chance that a mistake you make will cause any game to be decided based upon that minor error. It is better for both teams to have someone who has taken some training to be behind the plate or on the field umpiring the game than a volunteer out of the stands who may not fully understand all the rules. If you do not try you will not know and no one will fault you for an honest effort.
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