Tips for Girl Umpires

A fun way for an athletic high school girl to earn money and get involved in the community is to become an umpire during the summer. The majority of jobs for girl umpires are for the younger-aged boys and girls games in leagues such as toddler T-ball and middle-school softball. To find these jobs, contact your local Parks and Recreation Center for openings and instructions on how to apply.

  1. Know the Rules

    • The county Parks and Recreation office will provide rule books for the games. Spend time not just reading but memorizing the book from cover to cover. In the game, you will be the authority, so a fluid and comprehensive understanding of these rules are essential. If your assignment for the day is a T-ball game, don't assume it will be loose on rules. Many parents will be on top of every call, at every game. Knowing the rules well will protect yourself and the children from excessively competitive parents.

    Be Early

    • Get to the field early. Keep your gear in a ready-to-go locker bag so it will be ready when you are. The bag must contain: water bottles, indicator (the "clicker" that keeps track of the game calls), face mask and whisk broom. Once on the field, check its condition for trash and uneven pits or holes. Walk to each base to ensure each base bag is properly secured. Introduce yourself to the coaches as they arrive to establish your immediate authority over the game. Don't assume the field will be set up. Talk to your manager before each game to determine what responsibility you will have in preparing the field for the game.

    Be Decisive

    • If you are easily embarrassed or cannot raise your voice loud enough to be heard on a field, this may not be the job for you. Umpire calls must be communicated to the fans, coaches and team players clearly and decisively. The decisions made throughout the game will determine its quality, fairness and outcome. If a disagreement arises as a result of your call, do not back down. Always remember you are the final authority and cannot allow anyone to intimidate or threaten that authority.

    Drink Plenty of Water

    • A good umpire, male or female, will be recognized quickly and their job assignments will grow which could result in back-to-back games on weekends or evenings. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, which can affect your acuity and ability to respond quickly to avoid a crazy ball or make a difficult call. This is not a good time to be on a diet. Eat a solid meal before the first game of the day. Though it may look easy, you will find yourself physically exhausted by not eating or drinking properly.

    Dress for Success and Safety

    • The proper attire for a girl umpire is dark conservative shorts (no higher than three inches above the knee) or dark slacks, a light colored polo shirt (excluding white), comfortable athletic shoes or what has been defined by the league as acceptable. The shorts should contain a back pocket to hold the hand-held whisk broom for sweeping off the home base. Do not wear a shirt that that will hang loose and low when positioned behind the catcher to judge the pitch. Protective head gear must be worn through the entire batting cycle and should only be removed when assessing fly balls or active plays on the field. A protective chest plate and shin guards may also be needed depending on the level of the game and age of players.