2024 Zionsville Little League Umpire Information
How to Become a ZLL Youth Umpire
Applications for first-year (rookie) umpires will be accepted beginning late January. Applications for the 2024 season will be posted in January 2024. A link will be posted in the side panel of the ZLL website.
Base-line qualifications:
- Meet minimum age of 12 by Little League age determination guidelines (boys born before September 1, 2012 and girls born before January 1, 2012)
- Must possess good understanding of baseball/softball rules and game situation knowledge
- Must pass ZLL Rookie Umpire Test with score of 75% or better in first year
- Annually attend ZLL umpire training as required (see schedule below)
- Review and Sign Umpire Waiver Form each year
- Approved by ZLL Umpire Office and remain in good standing with ZLL
- Available to umpire a minimum of two games per week between April and June (and September and October for optional fall ball season)
Pay structure*
| LEAGUE | PLATE | BASE |
| Minors Baseball/Softball | $25 | $15 |
| Majors Baseball/Softball | $30 | $20 |
| Intermediate Baseball (50/70) | $40 | $30 |
- Tournament games pay rate will be $5 higher than regular season games.
Training/Clinics
Training is required to umpire in Zionsville Little League. Please review the information below to determine the clinic(s) a prospective umpire must attend.
Basic Rules Clinic
- Required for all 1st year (“rookie) and 2nd year umpires
- Classroom review of Little League baseball/softball rules
- Complete pre-work review of rules information posted on ZLL web site in advance of clinic
- “Rookie” umpires must complete and pass rules exam at 75% level or higher
Introductory Field Clinic
- Required for all 1st year (“rookie”) and 2nd year umpires
- On-field review of umpire positioning, game mechanics and safety
- Complete pre-work review of position and mechanics information posted on ZLL web site in advance of clinic
The rules training portion of the clinic lasts 2 hours with returning umpires dismissed at completion. Rookie umpires stay to complete the rules exam lasting up to an additional hour. A brief pre-read is distributed to review before the rules clinic. A qualification score of 80% or better is required to continue through the umpire training with a second chance offered if needed.
The field clinic is outdoors and lasts 90 minutes. Dress appropriately for the early spring weather – the warmer you are the more you learn! Field clinics cover the on field aspects of umpiring a game and all park procedures – including communications, equipment and weather situations.
Rules Clinic (1st/2nd Year Umpires) | |||
| TBD | |||
Field Clinics | |||
| Rookie (1st Year Umpires) | |||
| TBD | |||
| Experienced (2nd /3rd Year Umpires) | |||
| TBD | |||
| Advanced (4th Year+ Umpires) | |||
| TBD | |||
Plan to attend one of the two dates for each of the rules and field clinics. If you are unable to attend either scheduled date, please notify the Umpire Officer as soon as possible, as typically there is one make-up session but no guarantee it will occur before Opening Day. First year umpires must attend both clinics before eligible to umpire.
ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT CLINIC
Youth umpires entering their 3rd year or greater are invited to attend an optional advanced development clinic. The advanced development clinics emphasize improvement in umpire mechanics and game management. While attendance is optional, participation in the advanced development clinics will be considered as a factor in determining umpire eligibility for ZLL tournament scheduling and for Eagle Select games involving teams hosted from outside the community.
Dates to be determined
For more information about these clinics, contact Joe Motuliak, ZLL Umpire Officer.
Umpire Schedules
Umpire schedules will be maintained using Assignr schedule software with account provided to each umpire once registered and approved to umpire.
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