Assignment Criteria
by Dave Bisanti, Assignor

When you receive an email or telephone message from our Assignor, with a request to acknowledge it has been received and understood , PLEASE DO SO.

It takes seconds for each umpire to simply send a reply acknowledging your schedule or changes have been received, but it takes cumulative hours for our Assignor to chase umpires that do not acknowledge. This CANNOT be overlooked and will jeopardize your future assignments. Past lessons show that the one time an assumption is made, is the time we have a 'no show' and a very unhappy league.

Equally important is the responsibility of each umpire to keep his unavailability current, It would be an excellent practice to review your unavailability every time you get an e-mailed assignment, your current status is appended below your assignment sheet. After your review, If things have changed do not delay in submitting an update.

NOTE- Some Umpires re-submit their status weekly no matter if it changes or not!!

Secondly…..

Some may ask, "What qualification criteria are used for scheduling umpires at the many different levels of baseball assigned by CABUA?"

Hopefully the following information will help umpires understand the current process.

Every league expects the best available umpires for every one of their games. CABUA assigns umpires to a wide range of competition from Mosquito to semi-professional. CABUA must balance the expectation of the leagues, the umpire's personal preferences, the desire by most to work at more competitive levels and the overall availability of umpires on any given day for the many games scheduled.

While no level of game should be considered 'beneath' anyone, reality is an umpire working the plate in a WMBL game probably doesn't want to have come off a weekend of working PEE WEE games! Conversely, sending two 14 year old rookie umpires out to work a Midget AAA game doesn't make sense either.

CABUA has an Umpire Development Committee (UDC) Every member of this group has taken the Baseball Canada/NUCP Course Conductor and/or CABUA Umpire Evaluator training and the depth of experience includes graduates of professional umpire schools, numerous Baseball Canada and Little League Championships, working professional baseball and the knowledge that only comes with 'having been there' at one time in their career development.

This group meets prior to each season and collectively discusses each umpire, their known experience, the umpire's self assessment and aspirations for more advanced assignments and any other factors that the Assignor will be given to guide assignments for each umpire. As an umpire moves up in the levels assigned, there may be conditions attached. For example, an umpire moving up from Senior Little League to Babe Ruth/Midget AA/AAA may be paired with a more experienced partner until they are comfortable, confident and can demonstrate they can handle that particular level.

Also at the pre-season UDC meeting, there is a plan developed to have a CABUA Supervisor supervise every umpire working the plate and bases. New umpires (or new to CABUA) are given first priority so our Assignor can start assigning them to the appropriate level as soon as possible. We do not want rookie umpires mistakenly working beyond their capabilities nor do we want capable umpires stuck working the less competitive youth levels just because they are 'unknown' or new in town. The UD Committee tries to balance the umpire's comfort level such that confidence can be built, while stretching the umpire to new challenges at higher levels. An umpire also has the option of requesting that his supervision be conducted as either a member of a two-man crew or three man crew.

The Committee meets again mid-season to have another round-table discussion on what they've seen on the diamond and provide further direction to the Assignor as the season progresses and play-off games approach. The Committee is also developing a mentorship program for those umpires that show strong potential and desire to move up quickly.

Each CABUA umpire has different levels of experience and motivation to work specific competitive levels. We do not want rising stars to be held back and we do not want umpires being dropped into situations that result in them quitting. Above all umpiring should be enjoyable. Continually being assigned games well below or well above one's current knowledge, experience and confidence level will detract from the enjoyment.

Feel you're ready to move up? Dissatisfied with the game levels you're being assigned?

Call the Assignor and tell them you would like
more challenging assignments.

If the Assignment guidelines provided by the UDC match what you're seeking, then hopefully your next assignment schedule will include those games. If not, then the Assignor will discuss your request with the UD Chair. The UD Chair will speak with the Supervisors most familiar with your progress. They will have a discussion with the umpire in question and make a determination as to what level, and under what conditions, more advanced assignments can be given.

Above all let's work together to provide the leagues with the best quality officiating possible. Don't forget that in the end your umpire career is your responsibility so take charge of it!