IOWA USSSA SPORTS OFFICIALS

As the season progresses please self evaluate.  If you feel you need some work on your plate or base work, or you need to work on your confidence, please utilize the trainings below!

All first year umpires should still be attend as much training as possible. We have great instructors that want to help make you better!

RSVP jp@iauso to attend any of the trainings below or with any questions.

 

TRAINING WEEK OF 5/11 through 5/14

 

Baseball

Group Trainings

5/13 Wednesday - Holiday Park Field 9 at 5:30 pm and 7:15 pm

5/14 Thursday - Holiday Park Field 9 at 5:30 and 7:15 pm

 

These are live league game Group Training Sessions and will be facilitated by at least two instructors.

You may come to either or both slots. If you can't be there right at 5:30 or 7:15 please come anyway and we will slide you in.

Please come dressed in your uniforms and bring your equipment if you have them. If not please come anyway! We have equipment to use that evening.

RSVP jp@iauso.com if planning to attend.

 

One-on-One with a Veteran Baseball Umpire Program

Once you have been to a Group Training this is a great way to learn with a Veteran Umpire and get paid!

These opportunities are during weeknight league games.

Please let JP know if you are interested in this program.

 

Fastpitch

We will be having focused training with an instructor. This will be no more than two rookie umpires in a session with an instructing umpire during live league play. Below are the following open slots and more will be added as they come up. Please RSVP jp@iauso.com for any of the open slots below. Once slotted by JP you will be sent an email with your instructor CC'd and you will reach out to them to introduce yourself. 

 

Slots available:

5/11 Monday - 2 slots at 6 pm at Grimes North

5/13 Wednesday - 2 slots at 5:45 pm at Altoona

5/14 Thursday - 2 slots at 5:30 pm and 2 slots at 6:30 pm at LEW in Johnston

5/14 Thursday - 2 slots at 5:45 pm and 2 slots at 7 pm at West Des Moines Softball Complex (Holiday Park)

 

INTERACTIVE WEBSITE:

Here is a great website to help you with both baseball and fastpitch 2 Umpire Mechanics, Positioning, and Rotations:

https://umpiq.com/

I visit this website and do a module daily. Repetition only gets you better.

 

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR UMPIRES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 through 18 YEARS OF AGE (both Baseball and Fastpitch)

The MLB Umps Care Charities Youth Leadership Program

Please click on the link and check out this fantastic program. Many of our successful minor age umpires have benefitted from this program. There is NO COST to attend!

https://umpscare.com/programs/official-leadership/

 

A FEW THINGS FROM THIS LAST WEEKEND

I saw a lot of good rotations and great mechanics on many fields this weekend in both BB and FP! Great work! 

Got some great compliments from coaches and organizations about how great some of the crews were this weekend! Thanks for that!

Please, please, PLEASE do not wear any other color shoes other than black while umpiring. White shoes blind me... and make me upset.

Plate Brush is part of the uniform for a plate umpire. Have it AND use it! It is very unprofessional to use your feet to clean off the base. We have plate brushes available if you need a new one.

TUCK IN YOUR SHIRTS! We are umpires working, not at the skate park skating. Thanks.

Other than those few things continue to study and learn.