UMPIRES

The NUCP (National Umpire Certification Program) is open to anyone interested in officiating in baseball. To officiate in League, Provincial, or Western Canada Championships, an umpire must comply with all requirements outlined for the NUCP level, including attending annual clinics and successfully passing the appropriate exam. Level Four and Level Five umpires must also pass two field evaluations each year and are personally responsible for arranging their evaluation with the Provincial Supervisor of Umpires to remain certified. Officiating at Baseball Alberta League, Provincial Championships, and Western Canada Championships takes priority over all other leagues, tournaments, and playoff games.

Baseball Alberta has the authority to suspend any umpire for misconduct or incompetence. Any suspensions may be appealed to the Executive Board of Directors of Baseball Alberta in writing within 30 days.

All Community League, 11U/13U/15U/18U A and 11U AA/13U AA league games and Community League playoff games will be assigned locally by the host association. In League games and Provincial Championships, a minimum of two umpires are required on the field. In Western Canada Championships, at least three certified umpires must be on the field, and at least one umpire MUST hold a valid National Certification (level 4-5). One nationally certified umpire must be at the field at all times. When these arrangements are deemed impossible due to distance or a lack of Baseball Alberta umpires in the general area, the Provincial Supervisor must be notified.

Umpires are required to submit an Incident Report to Baseball Alberta on all ejections and other game incidents that they determine need reporting within 48 hours.

No umpire shall participate in any playoff game, series, or tournament in which the umpire may be in a conflict of interest. Any conflict of interest shall be reviewed by a committee of three, comprised of the Zone Director, Tournament Director, and Umpire Committee representative. Should it be necessary to replace an umpire due to conflict, the replacement shall be determined by the Umpire Committee representative.

UMPIRE SCHEDULING

Umpires for all Baseball Alberta League games in 13U AAA, 15U AA, 15U AAA, 18U AA, 18U AAA, BAEL and 22U will be assigned through the Provincial Umpire Committee. The Committee will make every effort to allocate local certified umpires. If out-of-town umpires are assigned, the host site will receive that information before hosting so they can prepare to pay mileage and/or accommodation for the umpire(s). The host site is responsible for coordinating umpire accommodation where necessary.

Umpires for all Baseball Alberta League games in all Community Leagues, all 'A' age categories, 11U AA and 13U AA will be assigned by the host Association.

Any team/host site that must cancel a game (other than for weather reasons) must provide notice by 4 pm at least 2 days prior to the game, or the team canceling will be charged full umpire game fees for the scheduled game.

All Provincial Championships (A/AA/AAA) will have umpires scheduled by the Provincial Umpire Committee with Baseball Alberta covering any mileage and accommodation costs with the assigned umpires. Teams participating in Provincial Championships are responsible to provide host sites with their share of umpire game fees at the start of the Provincial Championship Tournament. See the Best Practice - Provincial Umpire Payments section for more information. 

UMPIRE FEES & EXPENSES

• Games commencing prior to 6 pm on non-holiday weekdays will incur a $15/umpire premium.

• For originally scheduled 9 inning games, there will be a $5/umpire premium. This DOES NOT include extra-inning games that last 9 innings.

• Eligible Mileage – Umpires are eligible for reimbursement as follows:

  • No mileage may be charged when one-way travel from home to game site is 30km or less

  • A flat fee of $30 may be charged when one-way travel is 31-60km from home to game site no matter what the actual distance is within that range.

  • If travel from home to game site exceeds 60 km, mileage may be charged at a rate of $0.50/km for the entire round trip (home - game site - home)

• Eligible Accommodation – Umpires are eligible for reimbursement when overnight stay is approved by Baseball Alberta.

• Umpires must stay double occupancy unless authorized in advance by the Executive Director of Baseball Alberta.

• Umpires will be eligible for appropriate mileage and 50% of a single game fee when any game/weekend is completely rained out and no prior notification of cancellation has been made to the umpire assigner and the umpires have dutifully arrived at the field. The host is responsible for such payment. Umpires are not eligible for compensation if notified of rain out before leaving home.