--- url: https://nklittleleague.nl/en/vrijwilligers/umpires taal: en titel: Umpires onderdeel_van: Vrijwilligers › Umpires --- ![An umpire in a pink shirt, cap and sunglasses looks out over the field.](https://nklittleleague.nl/img/nkll-2026/umpire-33.webp) # Umpiring at the championship Umpires officiate the games. You need no experience: new umpires are trained and never stand on a field alone. You sign up on this page. ## Sign up as an umpire We ask a little more than we do of other volunteers. That is down to the assignment, the certificate of conduct and the mileage allowance — which is why we need your address and your bank account. ### Your details First name Surname E-mail address This is where we send the confirmation and your assignment. Phone number For the tournament weekend itself. ### Your address We assign umpires to the nearest venue and use the distance to work out the mileage allowance. Country Postcode House number Looking up your street and town… Street and town filled in. Not right? Feel free to change them. We could not find an address. Please fill in your street and town yourself. Street Town or city ### Your experience Which sport do you umpire? 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. Baseball Softball Both How many years have you been an umpire? Roughly. Starting this year? Fill in 0. Passport photo For your accreditation and the umpire overview. JPG, PNG or WebP, 5 MB at most. Not required. ### Your availability Which days can you make? Whole days. One day is enough. Saturday 15 May Sunday 16 May Monday 17 May ### Travel costs I waive the travel allowance We will leave your account number alone and you can skip the field above. Bank account number (IBAN) For the mileage allowance only. Your account number is stored encrypted and is visible to the treasurer only. The account is in someone else's name Account holder Only fill this in if the account is in someone else's name. Your details go to the umpire coordinator and are used for this season's assignment, certificate of conduct and allowance. Keep me posted through the newsletter A few e-mails a year about registration, the schedule and the tournament. We first send an e-mail to confirm your sign-up; every e-mail has an unsubscribe link. You will receive a confirmation by e-mail. ## What we ask of you - You are at least **sixteen years old** at the time of the tournament. - You hold a valid [VOG](https://nklittleleague.nl/en/veilig-sporten/vog), no older than 3 years — we apply for it and pay for it. Without a VOG you do not umpire. - You are available at least one day of the weekend. - You know the playing rules, or are willing to learn them during the training. ### Allowance You receive a mileage allowance of € 0,23 per kilometre , counted there and back. The distance is calculated from your home address to the venue you are assigned to. ### Assignment The umpire coordinator assigns you to the venue closest to where you live. Would you rather go elsewhere? Say so — it can always be adjusted by hand. ## What we ask, and why 1 ### Your address Assignment goes by distance: you end up at the venue closest to where you live. 2 ### Your bank account For the mileage allowance. If you waive it, you can leave it blank. 3 ### Your availability Per whole day. One day is enough; more days make the assignment easier. 4 ### Your photo For accreditation and the umpire overview. Not required — you can send it later. Training ## From zero to the plate 1 ### Sign up Say that you want to become an umpire. You do not need to know anything yet. 2 ### Training A short course on the rules, the positions and making calls — theory and a lot of practice. 3 ### Shadowing Your first games you work alongside an experienced umpire, who watches and gives you feedback. 4 ### The championship Over the tournament weekend you stand on one of the fields, assigned by the umpire coordinator. ### What you get back Food and drink during your shift, an umpire shirt and the best view of the tournament there is. ### Your details What we keep and for how long is in the [privacy statement](https://nklittleleague.nl/en/privacyverklaring) . Your account number is stored encrypted in the administration. ## Umpires at the championship You are never alone on a field. The crew talks things over before, during and after the game. ![Seven umpires in light blue shirts stand together on the dirt in front of the dugout.](https://nklittleleague.nl/img/nkll-2026/umpireploeg-voor-de-wedstrijd.webp) The umpire crew gathers before the first game. ![An umpire in a light blue shirt touches her cap while looking out over the field.](https://nklittleleague.nl/img/nkll-2026/umpire-op-het-veld.webp) In position, ready for the next pitch. ![Four umpires stand laughing and talking at the side of the field.](https://nklittleleague.nl/img/nkll-2026/umpires-in-gesprek.webp) A quick word between two games. Umpires in Chief ## Who leads the umpires The Umpires in Chief (UIC) train the umpires, assign them and are 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 sport. ### Chad Forbes Umpire in Chief baseball [chad@nkll.nl](mailto:chad@nkll.nl) ### Ric Zwanenberg Umpire in Chief baseball [ric@nkll.nl](mailto:ric@nkll.nl) ### Sytze Langbroek Umpire in Chief baseball [sytze@nkll.nl](mailto:sytze@nkll.nl) ### Rik van de Keer Umpire in Chief baseball [rik@nkll.nl](mailto:rik@nkll.nl) ### Symon Havinga Umpire in Chief softball [symon@nkll.nl](mailto:symon@nkll.nl) ### Jos van Beek Umpire in Chief softball [jos@nkll.nl](mailto:jos@nkll.nl) ### Method 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 kept to during the tournament. ### Instructors The training is given by experienced umpires. They also walk the venues during the weekend to watch and answer questions. ### Umpires officiate An umpire decides. Discussion is part of the game, but the call stands. Coaches and spectators keep to the [code of conduct](https://nklittleleague.nl/en/veilig-sporten/gedragscode) . ## 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](https://nklittleleague.nl/en/over/contact)