FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- What kind of time commitment should I expect?
- How much money can I make?
- What's needed to get started?
- Do I have to have playing experience prior to umpiring?
- Do I have to take a test? Attend training?
- What levels of baseball or softball can I umpire?
- Will I receive feedback?
- Is there a minimum age?
- Must I be physically fit?
- How much travel is involved?
- Would I be an employee of the Wisconsin Umpires Association?
| What kind of time commitment should I expect? | That's up to you. In a given season, some umpires work as many as 200 games. Time spent studying the rules can add to the time dedicated to umpiring, but this is at the discretion of each individual umpire.
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| How much money can I make? | High school contests yield between $40 to $65for a single game. The pay varies from league to league and according to the level of play.
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| What's needed to get started? | WUA will guide you through the entire process, which starts with contacting WUA.
Next, a uniform and equipment are required. WUA will walk you through this process: A uniform shirt/pants can cost as little as $70 and an equipment starter package will run as low as $100.
For the budget conscious, secondhand equipment is available from WUA members at a fraction of the cost.
Umpires usually find the initial outlay of cash for equipment and apparel negligible compared to the potential income from game fees.
As an umpire in Wisconsin, your independent-contractor status makes these expenses tax-deductible. |
| Do I have to have playing experience prior to umpiring? | NO. Your dedication to the sport and desire to be part of it is all that is required.
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| Do I have to take a test? Attend training? | As part of the WUA training, we hold classes and test sessions with our new umpires to ensure they understand their role as an umpire.
Regular, intense training is provided by WUA to improve our umpires' skill levels. |
| What levels of baseball or softball can I umpire? | Experience, skill, dedication and hustle influence games assigned.
The opportunities available to WUA umpires range from Little League to college/semi-pro. |
| Will I receive feedback? | Your performance on the field directly correlates to your satisfaction with umpiring. Providing you with feedback is a priority for our association and we make every effort to make that feedback worthwhile.
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| Is there a minimum age? | The minimum age is 17 to work high school games. However, WUA will train young people starting at 14 interested in umpiring so they can work recreational programs and youth leagues.
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| Must I be physically fit? | Umpiring can be as strenuous as playing. We require that umpires are able to arrive at plays quickly so the best judgment is applied to every situation.
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| How much travel is involved? | Umpires around the Milwaukee area find that game sites are not far from where they live or work. Travel is always left to the preference of the individual umpire. The location of your job and home can influence these preferences.
Some WUA umpires, however, find better variety and quality-of-play as an incentive for additional travel. |
| Would I be an employee of the Wisconsin Umpires Association? | NO. We are merely an education association to train umpires for leagues, schools, and other baseball programs.
As an umpire, you are considered an independent contractor. Your independent contractor status gives you the bonus of tax deductibility of your expenses. As a not-for-profit educational organization, WUA does not hold liability for worker's compensation or unemployment insurance. There is special officials-only insurance available when performing duties as an independent contractor. |
Interested in an umpiring career with the Wisconsin Umpires Association?
Contact Us!
We are always looking for good umpires to fill our ranks!