UMPIRING in the TSA COMPETITION

Umpiring is an essential part of the game of Softball. This short document provides some information about Umpiring at TSA, including simple guidance about how best Umpires fit into our competition making it enjoyable and safe for all participants, officials and spectators.

TSA (allocated) UMPIRES

• TSA Umpires are umpires allocated to games by the TSA Committee
• TSA will do its best to supply a Plate umpire for games, however there may be on some occasions, an experienced player may have to Plate Umpire. Our current Umpires are only Level 1.   

TEAM UMPIRE DUTIES

• This is a normal obligation of teams on a regular basis to assist in the proper running of the competition. It is the team’s responsibility to supply umpires for their duty time.
• Teams should try to select suitably experienced players to carry out Team Umpire duties, depending on  the game.

Note: Junior Umpires engaged by Team to do a Team’s Umpire duties:

• Junior Umpires are any umpires who are under 18 years (ie minors).
• The engagement of Junior umpires in Adult games should be carefully considered from a Duty of Care viewpoint by the Team engaging the umpire (experience of umpire and level of the game).
• Where a team engages a Junior umpire, there MUST be a “Responsible” adult from that team who is able, and willing to supervise, assist and protect the minor from any unacceptable behaviour or bullying on that game. The Responsible adult MUST be present at the game.

BEHAVIOUR towards Umpires (by Players, Officials and Spectators)

• All umpires should be treated with respect by the players and officials.
• Verbal or physical abuse is not permitted in any circumstances.
• Our umpires are volunteers and teams should be mindful that without the umpires the competition cannot run.
• In all sports there can be good and bad calls in a game. Sometimes the bad calls are against you. That’s part of sport.
• Remember you are in a club competition. This is the grass roots of the sport where people, including umpires, are learning.
• We need to support our umpires, especially juniors, to keep them involved and let them improve. Thank them for their efforts rather than criticising their ability.
• Do not expect a club umpire to have the same knowledge or judgement as our Level 1 Umpires.
• Players and coaches should acknowledge and accept that club umpires may be less confident of the rules.
• Continually questioning rule technicalities with club umpires could be seen as harassment.
• It is not acceptable to question or harass an umpire if you feel a judgement call is wrong. The following are all judgement calls:
  • Balls and strikes,
  • Out or safe on a play at a base whether forced or tagged,
  • Infield fly (called or not called),
  • Obstruction,
  • Interference,
  • Foul or fair ball when first touched by a player.
• Any protest of umpires interpretation of the rule should be lodged by the coach/manager/nominated person of the team.   A protest is allowed  if he/she is not satisfied with an umpire’s interpretation of a playing rule (not a judgement call). The protest will be reviewed by the Commitee  and a decision made.

DEVELOPMENT of TSA UMPIRES (including Junior Umpires)

TSA is committed to developing young players and other interested trainees into competent, umpires. This will allow players, and other interested individuals to learn the game, develop confidence and ultimately provide a group of new umpires into the program. The more umpires we have, the less club umpiring is required to be performed by teams.

UMPIRE ABUSE

In isolated instances TSA has experienced cases of intimidation, abuse and or bullying of umpires. This sort of behaviour may cause direct upset, and longer term personal damage / hurt. It may also result in trainees withdrawing from umpiring.

Derogatory, demeaning, disrespectful, aggressive or negative comments or behaviour towards any umpire, whether junior, adult, trainee or levelled, by any team member or official is considered to be “Umpire Abuse”. Any person associated with a team (ie player, official, spectator) engaging in “Umpire Abuse” shall be given a warning by the Umpire or adult Umpire/mentor. Where a warning has been given, further poor conduct by any person associated with that team may result in ejection from the game without a further warning.

Further disciplinary action by TSA may follow as a result of any formal report on “Umpire Abuse”.

“Umpire Abuse” will not be tolerated.

ANY abuse of umpires should be reported to allow incidents to be appropriately addressed. Please report any incidents to:

• A member of the TSA Committee.

CODE of CONDUCT

TSA has a Member Protection Policy and Code of Conduct documents on our club website. Please review these documents and abide by these rules at all times to ensure that our games are enjoyable for everyone involved.

Questions

Any questions on the TSA Umpiring program can be addressed to the TSA Committee.