Umpiring Accreditation
Become an Umpire
There are many reasons people decide to become an umpire. Some are helping their club while others aim to extend their playing career or seek social and community involvement.
Becoming an accredited umpire highlights a recognised level of competence and effort and enables you to wear the Softball Australia Umpires logo with pride, knowing you have earned it.
Prior to deciding to become an official umpire of softball, the following next steps provide excellent insights into the role of an umpire and whether it is suited to you.
- You will need to keep good fitness levels for the role
- You will need to familiarise yourself with the member policies and guidelines related to umpires
- An outline of the accreditation process and registration will also give you a scope of the education pathway available to you
- You will need to know the basic skills involved in playing softball as you will need to umpire on throwing, catching, fielding a ball, hitting and moving between bases. More tips and training programs to help you develop your skills.
- It is helpful to have an understanding of the basic softball rules and terminolgy
- Extensive umpiring resources are available to answer all your enquires
- There are also various umpire profiles available to provide you with inspiration
- The frequently asked questions or Ask an umpire sections also offer invaluable insights for umpire beginners
- There are many regularly updated resources for umpires, including the umpiring news
- You can find a club near you or contact your State or Softball Australia for more information
More than 2,300 accredited softball umpires throughout Australia spend their summer ruling the diamond at local clubs and associations. They dedicate their time to umpiring as the benefits include helping improve fitness and knowledge, enhancing leadership and management skills in high-pressure situations and also having fun.
A good umpire is able to demonstrate knowledge of the rules, quick decision-making, an ability to explain and defend decisions and a willingness to keep the game moving at a steady pace.
Most umpires start at local association level and umpire from junior through to senior competitions. As umpires gain skills and confidence, they often seek optional ongoing accreditation, which can lead to umpiring state, national and international games.
Australia is well represented on the international panel of umpires who officiate in international competitions around the world and the umpire profiles at state and national level will inspire all budding umpires.
During the last 20 years, Softball Australia National Umpiring sub-Committee (NUC) has spearheaded the technical development of umpiring in softball. The NUC reports to Softball Australia Technical Committee and the Softball Australia Board. The NUC is managed by 3 national umpires in chiefs (UIC) and 7 national staff volunteer committee members, all of whom share a reputable career in umpiring softball at national and elite levels.
The NUC oversees the sporting governance policies applicable to umpiring Softball in Australia and is also responsible for providing extensive education resources. In addition, Softball Australia also nominates honours and awards for all members of the Softball community, including umpires, as they play a critical role in the game of softball. Members also value the Umpiring news updates and the photo gallery managed by the NUC and Softball Australia.
As the NUC streamlines and integrates umpiring content to the Softball Australia website, it aims to make information more accessible. Please contact Softball Australia and the NUC if you have any further enquiries.
Accreditation Levels
There are 8 levels in the Australian umpiring accreditation system:
- Level 1: Is awarded when a rules assessment theory pass mark has been attained, successful completion of the Play By The Rules Harrasment and Discrimination Course and Sport Integrity Australia Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport Induction (Sport Integrity Australia Learning) and a basic understanding for umpire mechanics has been demonstrated. This is covered by the Softball Australia Level 1 Introductory Umpire Program and does not require the formal practical assessment to be undertaken, only an on-diamond check of your Umpiring skills by a softball official at your association.
- Levels 2-4: Involves passing a theory based exam and a practical assessment at either local or state competitions/tournaments.
- Levels 5-6: Involves passing a theory based exam and a practical assessment at national tournaments.
- Levels 7-8: Recognition accreditations and are awarded by the Softball Australia National Umpiring Program (Softball Australia NUP).
* First time registration for Sport Integrity Australia Learning is required.
Scroll down for more information on each level and to view the experience and pass marks required.
Explore Accreditation Levels
Welcome to the Softball Australia Community Umpire Program.
The Softball Australia Community Umpiring Program provides a basic, association or school-based training and development program for those who are new to the role of umpiring, and is perfect for teachers, parents or players who wish to take their first steps onto the diamond in an officiating role. It provides progression to the Softball Australia Level 1 Introduction to Umpiring Program. It aims to teach the fundamentals of umpiring, enhance the development of umpires through a greater linkage to the Level 1 Introduction to Umpiring Program, and potentially identify candidates to facilitate the progression of umpiring development and accreditation.
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The program promotes the role of umpiring to people looking to get involved with umpiring, and to those who are required to umpire as part of their respective club/team duties. It provides volunteers with the support, protection and fundamentals needed to enable them to perform their umpiring duty.
The Softball Australia Community Umpire Program is provided through the Participants Manual, Promotional Poster and Program Cards – links provided here.
The Community Umpire Program has a four-pronged strategy:
- To inform beginner umpires about the basics needed to go out and umpire a game of Softball,
- To inform associations/schools about how best to protect and educate beginner umpires,
- To provide associations/schools with the resources to implement a beginner umpire program, and
- To outline the process toward Level 1 Umpire National Accreditation.
| Participants Manual. v1.10 Sep 2020 (PDF 2.19Mb) | Full Manual in PDF format | |
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Umpiring Made Easy: Softball Australia Coloured Shirt Program – Google Books format |
Association/School program resource book | |
| Promotional Poster | Promotional poster for Associations/Schools in Word format |
Welcome to the Softball Australia Level 1 Introductory Umpire Program.
The Softball Australia Level 1 Introductory Umpire Program promotes umpire accreditation for people seeking to start umpiring and to achieve formal accreditation.
The program provides tools for new and/or not-yet-accredited umpires to learn and prepare to umpire at the club or affiliate level. The program will help and encourage umpires to develop their skills and to achieve Level 1 accreditation.
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.
Umpires are like a team, and as such there will be umpires always willing to assist you to develop. 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.
Level 1 Requirements:
- Umpire both plates and bases at a satisfactory basic level for a season, refer to the checklist below.
- Pass the Basic Rules Assessment.
- Complete Play By The Rules Harrasment and Discrimination Course
- Complete Sport Integrity Australia Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport Induction
- Sign the Umpires Code of Conduct.
The Level 1 manual offers important information including:
- Become an umpire
- Accreditation Tasks
- Rules Knowledge
- On Diamond Mechanics
- Signals
- Two Umpire Rotation System
| Softball Australia Level 1 Introductory Participants Manual. March 2021 (PDF 2.60Mb) | Full Manual including the attachments with Forms and Checklists. This manual is an updated version published March 2021 |
Attachments:
Welcome to the Softball Australia Level 2 Umpire Program.
The Softball Australia Level 2 Umpire Program builds upon the Softball Australia Level 1 Introductory Umpire Program and is designed for Level 1 Umpires who wish to continue further with the formal accreditation system.
The Softball Australia Level 2 Umpire Program encompasses the Level 2 Umpire Participants Manual and the Level 2 Development Umpire Clinic which is State run.
The Level 2 Umpire Program includes:
Module 1 – Umpires in Softball Australia Today
Module 2 – Plate Mechanics and Movement
Module 3 – Base Mechanics
Module 4 – Starting Positions and Rotations
Module 5 – Rules
Module 6 – Pre and Post Game Duties
| Softball Australia Level 2 Umpire Program Participants Manual. v4.13 March 2021 (PDF 2.34Mb) | Full Manual in PDF format |
Welcome to the Softball Australia Level 3/4 Umpire Program.
The Softball Australia Level 3/4 Umpire Program builds upon the Softball Australia Level 2 Umpire Program and is designed for Level 2 Umpires who wish to continue formal accreditation.
The Softball Australia Level 3/4 Umpire Program is provided through the Level 3/4 Umpiring Participants Manual and the Level 3/4 Umpire training clinic which is State run.
The Level 3/4 Umpire Program includes:
- Module 1 – Plate Mechanics and Movement
- Module 2 – Base Mechanics
- Module 3 – Starting Position and Rotations
- Module 4 – Rules
- Module 5 – Pre and Post Game Duties
| Softball Australia Level 3/4 Umpire Program Participants Manual. v1.14 (PDF 3.21Mb) | Full Manual in PDF format |
Welcome to the Softball Australia Level 5/6 Umpire Program.
The Softball Australia Level 5/6 Umpire Program builds upon the Softball Australia Level 3/4 Umpire Program and is designed for Level 4 and Level 5 Umpires who wish to advance their accreditation level.
The Softball Australia Level 5/6 Umpire Program is provided through the Level 5/6 Umpiring Participants Manual and the Level 5/6 Umpire training course.
The Level 5/6 Umpire Program includes:
- Module 1 – Attending National Championships
- Module 2 – Pre-Game Preparation, Crew and Plate Meetings
- Module 3 – Game Management
- Module 4 – Plate Mechanics
- Module 5 – Base Mechanics
- Module 6 – Assessments
| Softball Australia Level 5/6 Umpire Program Participants Manual. (PDF 1.19Mb) | Full Manual in PDF format |
Experience and Pass Marks
Each accreditation level requires certain experience and an appropriate rules assessment pass mark in the Softball Australia Rules Assessments before moving on to the next level.
The following table lists the pass marks required for each level.
| Australian Umpire Level | Assessment | Pass Mark |
| Level 1 | Open | 55% |
| Level 1 | Basic | 65% |
| Level 2 | Open | 65% |
| Level 2 | Basic | 80% |
| Level 3 | Open | 75% |
| Level 4 | Open | 80% |
| Level 5 & 6 | Open | 85% |
| WBSC | Open | 90% |
Additional Resources
In order to become an accredited umpire, you must be registered with a Member State Association of Softball Australia. All accredited umpires fall within the National Umpire Program under the auspices of Softball Australia. Contact your nearest Member State and the State Director of Umpiring for further information on becoming an umpire.
As part of the registration process, when each level of accreditation is achieved, umpires will need to download the following forms. The Level 1 Application form when completed should be sent to your State Director of Umpiring. A fee is charged, so please check with your State Directors for this amount. The form should be used when updating your level and changing any personal details.
- Level 1 Application Form – please use Attachment 3 from the Level 1 manual
Contact any accredited local umpire, your nearest Association or Member State and your State Director of Umpiring for further information on becoming an umpire.
For more information on reaccreditation click the button below
Partners
