Central Maryland Umpires -- Training Programs

This page is intended for program leaders who are seeking training for the members of your organization. Whether you are the Area Baseball Commissioner, a league chairperson or an Umpire-In-Charge (UIC) [e.g. umpiring chairperson], your life would be so much easier if all your games were played using the same rules. Getting there seems to be an impossible task. If only there was an effective, inexpensive and easily accessible way to unify your group.

If your goal is to bring harmony to your baseball program — you know, get everyone playing from the same rule book, the Baseball Rules Workshop can help get that done. It is recommended for all managers, coaches and umpires. Yes, include your experienced people too; their presence will add "color" (as a color commentator does) and some examples to help the newer people). I promise you, everyone will learn something in the process. As Earl Weaver said, "it's what you learn after you know it all, that counts."

If your goal is to provide a standard for your recreational umpires, follow with the Umpiring Workshop which provides a foundation that every umpire (not necessarily managers & coaches) should know. This is designed to give your group program wide uniformity and confidence.

There will always be exceptions and suspicious judgment calls: that's baseball; but I do know that programs can change. I witnessed a program rise from chaotic and generally unaware of the rules to becoming a leading, stable program where it seemed most people could identify and quote rules. It took about three years but it was something to behold.

My Training Program
I provide a training program called Umpire Survival Training for area recreation baseball programs. I encourage neighboring programs to come together to share a workshop so the benefits and costs can be shared over a region. Training is usually presented over four sessions, (possibly a Tuesday/Thursday Tuesday/Thursday) between 6 to 9 PM. The first 2 sessions cover the Baseball Rules Workshop — originally designed for umpires but has become popular with managers, coaches and players. (They find it helpful to know what the umpires know - or are supposed to know.) The last 2 sessions make-up the Umpiring Workshop which includes personal & field safety, responsibilities, liabilities, philosophy, positioning and professional umpiring mechanics and all the thing that will help your umpires survive and return for yet another game.

Because the workshop involves multiple sessions, it is difficult to schedule a cost effective workshop beyond a comfortable driving distance — but not impossible. If you can organize a regional workshop with several baseball programs, I can offer flexibility to try and make it happen. If a regional workshop is not possible, don't give up hope yet — we are working on capturing all the training sessions on DVD.

Baseball Rules Workshop 2-DVD Set with workbook,
is currently on sale at 25% off.

Arrange Training For Your Group
If your group may be interested in hosting a workshop, click on the following e-mail link HostAWorkshop@CMUmpires.org and tell me about your training needs and your contact telephone number. I will call you to try to arrange it. I will work with you to keep the pricing as cost efficient as possible. If you prefer the direct approach, call me at 410-866-8508. If you are beyond a reasonable drive, let me explain how I have helped other remote programs with their program training.

About Certification
Certification is a term that many people inquire about. If you want to learn more about certification or about becoming a certified umpire click_here.

Certification Offered by Central Maryland Umpires
Office of Training and Umpire Development

Training is offered to help you prepare for the coming baseball season. The Certification we provide is not an eligibility requirement, (there is no such requirement in recreation baseball), it simply allows you to gauge your personal degree of readiness to handle the situations you are likely to encounter on the field. It seems reasonable to believe that someone who scores 96% has a better understanding and more confidence than someone who scores 62%. Some baseball programs that conduct a workshop use the exam grade for eligibility and/or to determine assignment levels.)

Still Got Questions?
The information above addresses questions I most frequently receive and I hope you found it helpful. If you have additional questions or a unique situation, please phone me. Most inquiries involve options, varibles and information that can be resolved with one short phone call. E-mails are too time consuming. Please help me help you. Phone me at 410-866-8508.

I know phone calls are difficult sometimes. If you want to e-mail, be as thorough as you can and leave a phone number where I can phone you. As I say in umpiring, "I'll make the call" - in the contiguous 48 states only please.