To become a baseball umpire in Oregon, you must follow specific steps to get started. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:
Contact Your Local Board:
First, you must contact the board of officials in your area. These boards offer training for high school umpires.
Registration:
Once you start officiating in Oregon, you become an Oregon Athletic Officials (OAO) member.
Exams and Training:
As an official, you must attend at least six board meetings yearly, with at least ten hours of training. You’ll also need to undergo a criminal background check. To work at the sub-varsity level, umpires must pass the NFHS rules exam.
Training usually involves classroom sessions and on-field instruction, where you’ll learn about signals, mechanics, and positioning.
Advancement:
As you gain experience, you can progress to officiating at the varsity and state tournament levels. Advancement requires higher scores on the NFHS rules exam. Varsity officials need a minimum score of 75%, while playoff officials must score 90% and obtain OCEP Certification.
Age Requirements:
You must be at least 18 and a local association member to become an umpire.
Fees and Dues:
Be prepared to pay registration fees to your local association and the OAO. These fees cover essential resources like Rule Books and Case Books and the information you need to prepare for the online exam.