2023 LLL Umpire Program
"Your willingness to work outside of your comfort zone sets a solid example for the league’s children, whose development as players and people depends on their ability to expand their comfort zones."
We Need Umpires!!!
We need you! All games, Single A through Seniors must have an umpire in order to be played. Your UIC (Umpire In Chief) works very hard to ensure all games have umpires who are trained, professional, and fair. Single A games should have parents umpires from both teams. Occasionally a 3rd umpire will be available for the game, this will be only a junior umpire. We want to get the parents involved in the games and see that umpiring is not only easier than expected, but also fun! More details in the rules classroom training.
We get our umpires in two ways.
Parent volunteers
They are very important to ensuring we have reliable umpires to watch over our games.
Many parents have given us the feedback that while originally intimidated to start, once they were so happy they did. Additionally, parents who are able to umpire with their kids, say it's the greatest feeling and bonding to be able to umpire together.
Junior Umpires
Junior umpires are critical to our future. They provide umpiring of games, learn important life skills, and get to do something they enjoy, all while getting paid. Development of our junior umpires provides a future of reliable umpires in future years.
Umpire Training Clinics
We have a full training program to ensure that brand new parents and juniors wanting to umpire, feel comfortable, confident, and ready before they are left to umpire their own games.
The field mechanics training will be on Saturday February 25, 2023 at 8AM at RLCC & DVW fields. Managers and coaches should attend the classroom training. Managers, coaches, parents and youths wanting to umpire must attend both classroom and field mechanics training. Even the experienced umpires will find value in attending these training classes. Please see the calendar on the homepage for location info. and most up to date info for any changes.
Steps to becoming an umpire:
1) You must be at least 11 years old
2) Attend the class room training and the field mechanics training per above
3) After attending the rules clinic and mechanics training, pick up your umpire gear and supplies on opening day.
4) You will receive an email with instructions on how to log into Arbiter, our scheduling software
5) Self-assign to your desired games
2023 Pay for Junior Umpires:
Level / Position / Amount
A Base $25.00
AA Plate $35.00
AA Base $30.00
AAA Plate $40.00
AAA Base $35.00
Majors Plate $40.00
Majors Base $35.00
Intermediate Plate $45.00
Intermediate Base $40.00
Juniors Plate $45.00
Juniors Base $40.00
Ask the Ump!
Have a question? In a dispute about a ruling? Or just want to win a friendly bet among friends? Ask an Ump. Email the ump, ask the question and we'll respond and post it to this page.
Rules Clinic 2023
Presentation TBD.
Umpire Training Video Clips
Important Links
FAQ
Q. I want to umpire! Where do I start?
A. Minimum age is 11 years old for youth umpires. All umpires must attend the rules and mechanics training. If you are not able to attend the LLL training, you can attend training offered by neighboring leagues like Granada, Pleasanton, etc. Simply advise the LLL then current Umpire in Chief and you will be added to our umpire roster. Once you are in the system, you will receive a Welcome email with details on the next steps. If you are from out of town and have had equivalent training, please contact the then current Umpire in Chief.
Q. Question on AA rules. Ball 4, ball passes catcher, time for coach pitch but runner on base steals second. Does he stay at second or go back? This play keeps coming up and coaches continue to dispute. What is the correct rule?
A. Steals are allowed in AA, as governed by the Little League Rule Book. Thus, if ball 4 gets past the catcher, it is a pass ball and the runner on 1st base may steal since it's a live ball. The fact that it's time for coach pitch (i.e. the player pitcher has already walked at least two batters) makes no difference.
Q. If the batter "breaks his wrists" when swinging, is it a strike?
A. The term “breaks his/her wrists” does not appear in the Little League rulebook. The umpire must judge whether, or not, the batter attempted to swing at the pitch as stated in the definition of a strike in Rule 2.00.
Q. If a batted ball hits the plate first, is it immediately a foul ball?
A. Home plate is within the fair ball boundaries, i.e. it's between the first and third base lines. It's considered part of the playing field, just like the 3 bases. The lone action of a batted ball hitting home plate immediately does not make it a foul ball.
Q. Is the batter considered "out" if he/she starts for the dugout before going to first base after an uncaught third strike?
A. This is a question related to "abandonment" or "giving up". Little League rule states: In order to declare the batter “out” for abandoning his/her effort to advance, he/she must step into “dead ball” territory.
Q. Is the batter who batted out of order the person declared out?
A. Batting out of order ruling must take into consideration many factors including when a manager appeals the infraction. There are 3 possible situations. If the appeal is made during an at bat, the correct batter is inserted and inherits the count. If the appeal is made after the play but before a pitch to the next batter, the CORRECT batter is out (not the incorrect batter). The normal batter after the correct batter bats next. If the appeal is made after the play and after one or more pitches to the next batter, the incorrect batter becomes legal and the normal batter after this (now legal) batter bats next.
Q. If a batter swings at a pitch and the pitch hits the batter in the batter's box, does the batter get awarded first base?
A. No. By rule, if a batter swings at a pitch and does not make contact, it is a strike. In this case, even though the pitch hits the batter in the batter's box, it's irrelevant. The batter does not get first base.
Q. If a batter walks, can he steal additional bases in the same play? What if the pitcher already has the ball and is standing on the pitching rubber?
A. If a batter walks and in a continuous motion runs past first base and continues to second base, then this is called the "continuation" play and is legal in some levels of Livermore Little League. The key point is that the runner does this in a continuous motion. Consult the then current local rules for the specific levels that allow continuation play. The continuation play is allowed even if the pitcher has the ball and is standing on the pitching rubber. Otherwise this implies the pitcher with the ball standing on the pitching rubber can stop the offense from completing a play. Do not confuse the continuation play with a steal. In all levels that do not allow steals until a pitch has reached the batter, if the pitcher has the ball, is standing on the pitching rubber and the catcher is in the position to receive a pitch, then base runners cannot leave their bases.
Q. If there's a close play, does the runner have to slide?
A. There is no must slide rule in Little League. The runner has the option to retreat, try to avoid the tag, or give up.
Q. In AA if the pitcher throws the ball and the ball bounces in the dirt in front of home plate, then hits the batter is the batter awarded first base?
A. If a pitch hits the dirt before crossing the plate, it is a "ball", even if it then subsequently crosses the plate in the strike zone. As with any "ball" that hits a batter, the batter is entitled to first base. The exception being that the batter needs to make reasonable effort to avoid being hit by the "ball". This is a judgement call by the umpire. In other words, the umpire does not always have to award the batter first base if he deems the batter had made no attempt to avoid getting hit by the "ball".
Q. Can a pinch runner be used for a catcher so he can put his gear on?
A. For the 2022 season, Livermore Little League Local Rules allows a courtesy runner for the catcher if there are two outs.
Q. What is the proper way to intentionally walk a player?
A. Starting in 2021, the manager can inform the umpires the intention to walk the batter either before or during an at bat. The batter would take first base with other runners advancing to other bases as appropriate. The remaining pitches that would result in a walk would be added to the pitch count.
Q. Question on overthrows in AA league:
Scenario 1: Runner on 2nd, batter hits ball to pitcher who makes overthrow on play at third. Local rules say runner can not score due to overthrow at third base but batter can try for second. yes/no?
A. Yes, runner can try for 2nd at his own risk.
Scenario 2: Runner on 2nd, batter hits to pitcher who makes play at first but overthrows. Runner from 2nd is allowed to try for home and batter can try for 2nd. yes/no?
A. Yes, runner from 2nd can try for home at his own risk. Batter can try for 2nd at his own risk but that's as far as he can go.
Q. Bases loaded. Short stop and 3rd baseman are both playing in for a play at home. Outfielders are playing normal depth. Ground ball is hit to the 3rd baseman and it goes through cleanly between his legs. No other fielder is in the area to make a play. The ball then takes a funny bounce and hits the runner while he's running between 2nd to 3rd base. Is the runner out?
A. The runner is NOT out in this situation. When a batted ball hits a runner, it's considered interference as the runner has interfered with the fielder's ability to play the ball. However, in this situation the fielder had the opportunity to play the ball and the ball is now behind him, and since there are no other defensive player in the vicinity to play the ball, this is not interference.
Q. The runner at first base is standing directly on top of the base. The first baseman is playing deep. The batter hits the ball and it hits the runner standing directly on top of first base. What's the call?
A. The runner is declared out. First base is within the boundary of the playing field and being on the base is not a safe heaven.