The National Umpiring Committee is pleased to announce that the Softball Australia Limited (SAL) Level 1 Introductory Umpire Program and accompanying material has now been accredited by the Australian Sports Commissions’ National Officiating Accreditation Scheme (NOAS). Information and materials are available below.

The SAL Level 1 Introductory Umpire Program is an initiative to promote umpire accreditation to people wishing to get further involved with umpiring and is aimed at those people who have not yet entered the formal accreditation system.

The program provides a means by which new and or inexperienced not-yet-accredited umpires can learn and participate in the sport at the club or affiliate level. The program will help and encourage participants to develop their umpire skills and to achieve Level 1 accreditation if desired. Most umpires start at local association level and umpire from junior through to senior competitions. As umpires gain skills and confidence, they can seek optional ongoing accreditation, which can lead to umpiring state, national and international games.

Through peer contact, online and practical training and mentoring by other umpires, prospective umpires will engage in learning some of the fundamentals and disciplines of umpiring. It is hoped that you will go back to your home association, inspired to continue to improve your umpiring. Provided that you umpire both plates and bases at a satisfactory basic level for a season, do a basic umpire theory exam and complete some online training courses you will achieve your Level 1 accreditation.

The program concentrates on the fundamentals of plate and base umpiring, you will learn from your peers by observing what duties need to be performed and how to perform them, before, during and after a game. The Level 1 manual offers important information that you can later refer to for example – the basic Signals, basic Rules and simplified One and Two-umpire systems. Completion of some online courses will also give you an insight into your responsibilities as an umpire. Other umpires will provide feedback on games that you will be involved in and can provide mentoring if you desire.

It is hoped all accredited umpires will promote the Level 1 program to all unaccredited umpires and encourage them to undertake the Level 1 accreditation process. This is important to ensure an adequate number of accredited umpires for the future and for continued Australian Sports Commission funding of Softball Australia Limited.