To become a baseball umpire in South Dakota, you must follow specific steps to get started. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:
Register with SDHSAA: Your first step is to register with the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA). You must create an account and follow the online instructions to complete the registration process.
Take the Online Exam: As an umpire, you must take an open-book exam and attend yearly rules and mechanics meetings. This allows you to officiate in varsity contests.
To officiate tournament games at the varsity level, you must become certified. To qualify, you’ll need to pass a supervised, closed-book NFHS rules exam with a score of 75%.
Game Assignments: In South Dakota, sports officials are considered independent contractors, meaning umpires are responsible for obtaining their own game assignments.
Fees and Dues: Be aware that registration fees are associated with joining the SDHSAA. These fees help cover the cost of essential resources like the NFHS Rule Book, Case Book, and Officials Manual.