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An umpire in a pink shirt, cap and sunglasses looks out over the field.

Umpiring at the championship

Umpires officiate the games. You do not need any experience: new umpires are trained and never stand on a field alone. You sign up on this page; your name and e-mail address are enough to get started.

Become an umpire

Fill in your name and e-mail address. You will receive an e-mail with a link to create an account and choose a password. You then fill in the rest in your own area — address, availability, bank account number — and keep it up to date yourself, next year too.

This is where we send the link to create your account; it also becomes your login name.

Which sport do you umpire? (required)

Do you do both? Choose "Both" — then you can be assigned anywhere. Umpires who only do softball are assigned to the softball venue wherever possible.

We use your name and e-mail address only to create your account. What else we keep and why is in the privacy statement.

You receive an e-mail with a link.

Umpires at the championship

You are never alone on a field. At every venue a crew of umpires works together: you talk things over before the game, rotate between positions and go over what happened afterwards. Experienced umpires are around all weekend to watch and answer questions.

Seven umpires in light blue shirts stand together on the dirt in front of the dugout.
The umpire crew gathers before the first game.
An umpire in a light blue shirt tips her cap as she looks out over the field.
In position, ready for the next pitch.
Four umpires stand laughing and talking at the side of the field.
A quick word between two games.

What we ask of you

To officiate at the championship we ask four things of you.

  • You are at least sixteen years old at the time of the tournament.
  • You hold a valid VOG (certificate of conduct), no older than 3 years. We apply for it and pay for it; without a VOG you cannot officiate.
  • You are available at least one day of the weekend. One day is enough; more days make the scheduling easier.
  • You know the playing rules, or are willing to learn them during the training.

What you fill in yourself

Signing up takes no more than your name and your e-mail address. Once your account is created, you fill in the rest in your own area and keep it up to date there — next year too. That means your address, because we assign umpires by distance; your availability per whole day; your bank account number for the mileage allowance, which you may leave blank if you waive the allowance; and a photo for the accreditation and the umpire overview, which is optional and can follow later.

Allowance and assignment

You receive a mileage allowance of € 0,23 per kilometre, counted there and back, for every day you are on duty. The distance is calculated from your home address to the venue you are assigned to; three days on duty count as three trips.

The umpire coordinator assigns you to the venue closest to where you live. Would you rather go elsewhere? Let us know: it can always be changed by hand. During your shift you get food and drink and the best view of the tournament there is. We do not provide an umpire shirt, but you can buy one through us.

What we keep of your details and for how long is in the privacy statement. Your bank account number is stored encrypted in our records.

Umpires by venue

Who is on the fields

Every venue has its own crew, led by the Umpire in Chief (UIC). The UIC trains the umpires, assigns them and is the point of contact on the fields during the weekend. For questions about the training, your assignment or umpiring itself, e-mail the UIC for your venue.

Amsterdam Pirates

Rik van de Keer

Umpire in Chief

rik@nklittleleague.nl

Sietse Langbroek

Umpire in Chief

sytze@nkll.nl

BSC Almere

Chad Forbes

Umpire in Chief

chad@nklittleleague.nl

Ric Zwanenberg

Umpire in Chief

ric@nklittleleague.nl

Training

From zero to the plate

Little League works with a fixed method: where you stand, what you watch for and how you make a call. That method is the basis of the training and is applied throughout the tournament. The training is given by experienced umpires, who also walk the venues during the weekend to watch and answer questions.

1

Sign up

Let us know you want to become an umpire. You do not need any skills yet.

2

Training

A short course on the rules, the positions and making calls — theory and a lot of practice.

3

Shadowing

You work your first games alongside an experienced umpire, who watches and gives you feedback.

4

The championship

Over the tournament weekend you officiate on one of the fields, assigned by the umpire coordinator.

Umpires officiate

The umpire decides. Discussion is part of the game, but the call stands. Coaches and spectators keep to the code of conduct.

Would you rather talk it through first?

Call or e-mail the tournament office. The umpire coordinator will gladly explain what a tournament day involves.

Get in touch