By-Laws, Policies and Procedures of the Florida District 9 Umpires' Association
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Article I - Affiliation
The Florida District 9 Umpires' Association (hereinafter referred to as "the Association") shall be a non-profit organization of independent umpires.
The Association shall be affiliated with Little League Baseball International, Inc., hereinafter referred to as Little League, and is subject to the policies and procedures of that body insofar as they affect and prescribe the duties and responsibilities of the Association, its individual members, and the Leagues served by the Association.
Article II - Purpose
The purposes of the Association shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
- To develop, improve, and perpetuate the highest standards of officiating for baseball and softball through training, education and evaluation;
- To promote and encourage the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship;
- To improve and standardize the techniques and procedures used by officials;
- To develop and maintain a professional relationship and cooperative spirit between officials, coaches and League administration officers; and
- To negotiate and mediate issues relating to officiating and officiating conditions with various leagues.
Article III - Officers
Section 1 - District Administrator
The Association shall be headed by the Little League District Administrator for Florida District 9. With respect to the Association, his/her responsibilities shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Appointing the District Umpire-in-Chief and other staff members of the Association; and
- Recommending, as he/she sees fit, deserving individuals for Regional and World Series appointments.
Section 2 - District Umpire-in-Chief
The District Umpire-in-Chief shall be appointed by, and serve at the discretion of, the District Administrator. His/her responsibilities shall include, but are not limited to:
- Presiding at meetings of the Association;
- Representing the Association at District-level and State-level meetings; and
- Acting as a liaison, as required, between the Association and the Leagues that the Association serves.
Section 3 - District Umpire Staff
The District Administrator and District Umpire-in-Chief may appoint other individuals to serve as the District Umpire Staff as they see fit. The number of such individuals, the duration of their appointments and their responsibilities shall be determined by the District Administrator and District Umpire-in-Chief on an as-needed basis.
Article IV - Membership
Section 1 - Initial Membership
Prior to being granted membership in the Association, individuals shall:
- Satisfy the then-current Little League-mandated requirements for participation as an umpire, including, but not limited to, completion of a Volunteer Application and any required background check(s).
- Pass an examination demonstrating basic knowledge of the then-current Little League Rules and Regulations.
- Demonstrate basic proficiency in plate and field mechanics via an evaluation by the District Umpire-in-Chief, a member of the District Umpire staff, or other person designated by the District Administrator or District Umpire-in-Chief.
The District Administrator may, at his/her sole discretion, deny an applicant membership, if he/she deems granting such membership would not be in the best interests of Little League and/or Florida District 9.
Section 2 - Conditions of Continued Membership
Conditions of continued membership apply to all members of the Association, and are set forth as follows:
- Continued compliance with the then-current Little League-mandated requirements for participation as an umpire, including, but not limited to, annual completion of a Volunteer Application and any required background check(s).
- Demonstrating continued current knowledge of Little League Rules and Regulations via examination. The District Administrator and District Umpire-in-Chief shall determine the interval at which the Association shall require all members to pass such examinations.
- Regular participation as an official within the League(s) served by the Association, the annual County Tournament and/or the annual All-Star Tournament. For this purpose, in evaluating an individual's participation as an official, due consideration shall be given to conflicts caused by participation of the individual in other roles, including, but not limited to, participation as a manager or coach.
- Adherence to the Policies and Procedures set forth herein.
- Conduct to bring credit to the Association, to the District and to Little League as a whole.
Failure to comply with any of the above shall be grounds for removal of an individual from membership.
Section 3 - Privileges of Membership
Only members in good standing of the Association shall be permitted to wear the emblems of the Association, including:
- Association patch, and
- Association hat.
The Association shall make these emblems available to the membership at a reasonable cost.
Article V - Policies and Procedures
Section 1 - Participation in Events
Participation in meetings, training events and other similar activities of the Association shall not be limited to active members of the Association. In keeping with the Association's goal of developing and improving the standards of officiating, and in encouraging others to participate as officials, such activities shall be open to all interested parties.
Section 2 - Uniform
The standard uniform for members of the organization shall be:
- Navy blue pull-over umpire shirt.
- Navy blue or black hat.
- Gray slacks.
- Predominantly-black shoes.
Use of other standard-colored umpire shirts is both permitted and encouraged. Members are strongly encouraged to wear shirt colors that match that of their partner(s) whenever possible.
It is the policy of the Association that, if a member is wearing any emblem of the Association while officiating, that member shall wear the complete uniform.
Members shall, whenever possible, avoid wearing the emblems of the Association when officiating games not associated with Little League.
Section 3 - Volunteer Status
Volunteer status of adults participating in Little League is a core tenet of the organization as a whole. In keeping with this, the actions of members, when serving Little League or District 9 in their roles as members of the Association, shall always be as volunteers.
It is not the policy of the Association to restrict its members' activities when not acting in the role of members of the Association. For the purposes of this section, an individual shall be considered as acting in the role of a member whenever he/she is representing himself/herself as a member of the Association, or is wearing any emblem of the Association, while officiating.
Section 4 - Service to Local Leagues
During the regular season and the fall season, members are requested to:
- Make themselves available as officials on a regular basis to local leagues,
- To act as examples to other umpires, managers, coaches, spectators, players, and league officials,
- To encourage other individuals to participate in Little League, especially in the role of an umpire, and to assist in the training and education of individuals who are so interested.
Section 5 - Service during District Tournaments
The annual County Tournament, District All-Star Tournament and other District-wide tournaments are among the most visible District-wide events of the entire year. Members are strongly requested to make themselves available as officials during these tournaments.
Section 6 - Appointment to Sectional and State Tournaments
The procedure for appointment to a Sectional or State Tournament is as follows:
- Umpires who wish to be considered for Sectional or State Tournament appointments should make their wishes known to the District Administrator or District Umpire-in-Chief as early as possible in the regular season.
- For Sectional or State Tournaments held within the District:
- The District Administrator, District Umpire-in-Chief and District Umpire Staff will determine the number of the total appointments available that will be apportioned to the District, and the number that will be offered to umpires from other Districts.
- Based on this availability, the District Administrator, District Umpire-in-Chief and District Umpire Staff will select members to fill these appointments from among those who are interested and available.
- For Sectional or State Tournaments held in other Districts:
- The District Administrator and/or District Umpire-in-Chief will contact the appropriate staff in the other District(s) to determine what appointments may be available to Association members.
- Based on this availability, the District Administrator, District Umpire-in-Chief and District Umpire Staff will recommend members to fill these appointments.
- The District holding the tournament has the final authority to accept or reject a recommended appointment.
When selecting or recommending members, due consideration will be given to the following factors:
- A member will not be recommended or selected unless it is reasonably believed that the member has demonstrated sufficient ability to succeed at the level in question.
- Members who participate primarily as officials may be given preference over members who participate primarily as managers or coaches.
- Members who participate regularly throughout the year and in the District-wide tournaments may be given preference over members whose participation is more limited.
- Members who have not yet participated at a particular level may be given preference over members who have already participated at this level.
In addition, the District Administrator and/or District Umpire-in-Chief may from time to time impose other conditions, including but not limited to, evaluations and/or testing, as they see fit prior to selecting or recommending individuals for appointment.
Section 7 - Recommendations for Regional and World Series Tournaments
Appointments to Regional and World Series Tournaments are made by Southern Region, from among those umpires recommended by their District Administrators.
The procedure for obtaining a recommendation is as follows:
- The District Administrator and/or District Umpire-in-Chief will obtain the appropriate forms from Southern Region, and will contact those members eligible for recommendation.
- Umpires who wish to be recommended are responsible for making their wishes known to the District Administrator, and for completing the appropriate paperwork in a timely manner.
- The District Administrator, with the advice of the District Umpire-in-Chief and the District Umpire Staff, will determine the specific recommendations that will be forwarded to the Southern Region Staff for their consideration.
- The District Administrator's decision with regard to a particular recommendation is final.
Members desiring recommendations should be aware that, in general:
- Members who participate primarily as officials may be given preference over members who participate primarily as managers or coaches.
- Members who participate regularly throughout the year and in the District-wide tournaments may be given preference over members whose participation is more limited.
In addition, the District Administrator may from time to time impose other conditions, including but not limited to, evaluations and/or testing, as he/she sees fit prior to recommending individuals for appointment.
Last revised March 8, 2007