Baseball NZ Umpire Information >

Become an Umpire

Nelson Heat's resident Umpire Kelvin Heiford (NZBB Level One) explains the pathway for becoming an umpire:

Kelvin completed a short intro course, then started Umpiring in Nelson, at the Nelson Heat Invitational, then the Jim Kaat Invitational, NZ U13 Nationals in 2018, NZ U16 and NZ U19 Nationals in 2019.

A typical Umpiring Course would run over a weekend, including applying skills in games on Saturday or Sunday.

Ideally, we would require 6-10 people to attend a course to make it viable.

Timing for the course would be once the season gets going maybe around November, with previous courses they have run there is increased interest when the kids are back playing, and parents are available.

To become a Green shirt (rookie umpire) the next step from there would be to sign up with Warren Van Rooyen ( NZBB Director of Umpiring) and start umpiring as often as possible.

There is a specific Green Shirt course run in Christchurch, that would be good to go to but is not 100% necessary.

Warren has indicated that he would come to Nelson to do evaluations over a weekend if enough people were involved.

Ultimately in a couple of years if you are umpiring at National tournaments, get regular evaluations, you can progress to NZ Baseball Level 1 umpire and upward from there.

Once qualified you can feasibly be sent to International tournaments and that is largely paid for Baseball NZ.

Josh Weschler from Auckland has also gone on to attend an American Baseball Umpires Camp, was set to Umpire professionally in America until Covid hit.

There are three senior members in Auckland who umpire for the Australian Baseball League (ABL) and regularly umpire the Auckland Tuatara team when they play in New Zealand.

Five Reasons to Become an Umpire​​​​​​​

1. The challenge and enjoyment of umpiring an exciting baseball game from the 'best seat in the house';
2. The opportunities to umpire at club, regional, national and even the international level by progressing through the development pathway.
3. The camaraderie within the umpiring fraternity.
4. The chance to supplement your income whilst pursuing your hobby.
5. To play a key role in the future of the great sport of baseball.

Umpire Accreditation

Umpires obtain and maintain a National Accreditation, which can be obtained by completing an umpiring course during the year. Various levels of courses are conducted throughout the year by the  Director of Umpiring.

• Introduction to Umpiring - Junior and Senior Club games
• Level 1 – Junior and Senior Club games, Club & Regional Championships
• Level 2 - Junior and Senior Club games, Club & Regional Championships and National Championships,
• Level 3 - Junior and Senior Club games, Club & Regional Championships, National Championships and BCO Events
• Level 4 - Junior and Senior Club games, Club & Regional Championships, National Championships and BCO Events,
• Level 5 - International Competition