How To Become A College Softball Umpire

Umpiring college softball requires a commitment to the craft by the individual. Amateur umpires who work youth and high school games are eligible to move on to the next level when they pass the appropriate tests and attend umpiring clinics. Umpires are also evaluated on their performance and must show a high level of expertise when it comes to understanding the rules and administering them in game situations.

Step 1

Work amateur softball games before applying to become a college umpire. If you want to umpire college softball, you must umpire at the high amateur or high school level. Once you have put in three or more years as an amateur umpire, you have a chance to move on to the college level.

Step 2

Attend rules clinics and positioning classes. You need to understand the rules and must be able to apply them in game situations. Rules clinics also teach prospective umpires the rationale behind those rules. Positioning classes teach umpires where to stand when runners are on base, when runners are not on base or when the ball is hit deep into the outfield and the proper mechanics to use on a particular call.

Step 3

Learn the rule book from cover to cover. Umpiring candidates will have to pass a written test and get a score of 90 percent to work important amateur tournaments and umpire on the college level. All areas of the rulebook will be considered on the test. There are some rules and game situations that may be obscure, but they will often show up on the tests.

Step 4

Take any umpiring assignment you may get after passing the test. Your work in game situations will be evaluated by senior umpires, and mistakes you make on the field will be addressed while you are in a probationary period. Umpires who repeat the same mistakes during their probation may not get any more assignments.