Umpiring in Albany Little League

Albany Little League relies on volunteers to keep our organization going.  We rely on volunteers to coach, perform field maintenance, work the Snack Shack and volunteer as umpires to officiate more than 300 games each season. 

We Need Umpires and We Need You!

Staffing 300+ games per season is no small feat.  Umpires play a critical role in making our league’s games safe, fun and fair.  Albany Little League has had a robust youth umpire program for many years and we want to continue to offer that opportunity for kids 12 years and up.  That said, we are in great need of more adult volunteer umpires this year.  Adult umpires play a much needed role in game management and in providing role models for all of our youth. 

Why Umpire?

Becoming an umpire is fun, great exercise, a fantastic way to engage with the kids and a chance to learn more about baseball.  As many say, it’s the “best seat in the house.” Give umpiring a chance and you may never want to sit in the stands again!

But I never played baseball and have never umpired before…

We hear you and many of us did not either!  It can be intimidating to step into the umpire role when your experience on the ball field is limited.  But here is the good news – we will train you and provide you mentoring throughout the season so that you can learn the basics, gain skills and gain confidence as a new umpire.

Yes, it requires that many of us step out of our comfort zones, but once you do, you may find a new passion and be a great role model for our kids at the same time.  And even better— consider volunteering with your child.  Talk to anyone who has had the chance to work as a father-son, father-daughter or (in my case) mother-son umpire team and they will tell you that it is a phenomenal way to spend time with your kid. And yes – umpiring is not just for dads.  We need more moms like me to get out there behind home plate or as a base umpire.