Little League World Series?

[Nate]

So quick question.. does anyone know the process for becoming a LLWS umpire? Or even doing the LLWS Regional Games?

Nate

[kylejt]

Well Nate, since I met you at WR school in San Bernadino, I'm guess you're trying to get back there. First, it ain't easy. Unlike other regions, you're competing against TONS of umpires out here.

To get to a Regional, your DA must fill out the paperwork and approve it. They like to spread things out evenly, so if your district has sent a guy lately, you may have to wait.

Go to the one week in January, if you can. That way they'll know you. If you can get back there as an instructor, better still.

Build your resume. Districts, sectionals, division. Be flexible. Baseball, softball, Junior, Seniors and BL.

Getting to WP is WHOLE different deal. WR will nominate you, after you've done games there(and probably been an instructor there for years). I know really great umpires, who've been at it for 25 years, that are waiting for that phone call.

SoCal is really tough to come through, with so many good umpires. Other states have an easier road. Perhaps you could move to North Dakota. Or maybe Italy.

[LLWS#32]

I worked the LLWS last August. I am from VA DXV. My path was much different than most of the people who go. First, only 15 umpires will be selected each year. 10-12 of them will be from US regions (1-2 per region) the rest will be international. I can't speak for how the evaluation process works in your local league/district/state but I took advantage of of every LL training opportunity I could get through Southern Region. SR and WR clearly have more stringent evaluation processes. The other SR umpire and the 3 who had been through WR were excellent.It took me six years with LL umpiring (I had 10 in other organizations before joining LL) before getting a bid to SR in 2005. I was the only ( of 8) umpire at SR to get a WS recommendation that year.

The Regional is the first level where you are depending on an evaluation to move up. It is not enough to simply umpire well, you have to get to their camps/clinics and learn the region's mechanics. The wait list varies from state-to-state withing SR (Va umpires were for the most part unsuccessful at SR in the 1990's and early 2000's) but I got my WS bid for the 2008 tournament. It is more common to wait 10-15 years after successfully umpiring a regional. All in all it took me only 10 years with LL umpiring (I am 33 years old). Most LLWS umpires have 25-30 years with LL making the process more of reward for some than anything. I like to believe that my process was one of talent/hard work than reward--illustrated by the fact that I got the plate assignment on the Hawaii vs Mexico final game(didn't hurt that SR was eliminated-you can't umpire your own Region). It was noted by Brent Musberger as the World Championship game was beginning that I was the youngest umpire at the LLWS in recent memory!!

1.Talk to people in your region who have advanced at least as far as a Regional(alot of myths exist-I bet Mark B. would mentor). 2.Take advantage of Regional level training opportunities--one of the great things about LL umpiring is the regional center's training...relatively cheap and usually very good. 3. Ask about volunteering at state/regional tournaments in non-umpiring roles. 4. Only volunteers can umpire beyond the district level--nobody who has been paid to umpire LL games (even locally) is eligible. 5. Be patient 6. You may have caught something in the previous post worth knowing...go umpire the European Regional in Kutno Poland...they always need umpires

Edited June 15, 2009 by LLWS#32

[therefump]

I worked the LLWS last August.

Kudos to you for working that series. Having been through the American Legion side of things (regionals) could you comment on the politics of things.:agasp_:

[LLWS#32]

In any organization where people are trying to move up or be promoted there are always going to be accusations of "politics." I am from a non-influential, rural district and used to worry about politics when I traveled to LL state tournaments but have found that I did better when I ignored that kind of stuff. I definiately think it helps to have the right contacts in LL but that again is true in any group.

Personally, I tried very hard to get noticed for simply being a good umpire and other intangibles like physical appearance (I am in the same shape that I was 12 years ago when I was a DB on a college football team) and simple hustle. I have tried to use those characteristics to set myself aside from the politics. Like I said previously I also took advantage of every clinic/camp that LL offered. You just try to control the factors that you can control.I think this model worked in the end. I have been assigned the plate on the final game of every level of LL tournament offered-District/State/Regional/LLWS.

One factor that many don't realize--at the LLWS you can't officiate your own region and having West Region in the Championship game knocked out two very good umpires... I guess that is politics and as was mentioned above if there have been umpires from your district who have gotten regional/WS bids recently then you're going to wait...suppose that's politics also.

[LLUmp35]

Congratulations on getting that assignment. I did my first state tournament this weekend and it has kind of given me the itch to put in for a regional. For now, I'm headed to Bristol to watch.

[willv28]

Congratulations on getting that assignment. I did my first state tournament this weekend and it has kind of given me the itch to put in for a regional. For now, I'm headed to Bristol to watch.

Like LLWS#32 said. I'm trying to control the things that are in my control. The biggest of that being just showing up and doing my games to the best of my ability. I've only done as far as our district so far. But there are some who took the opportunity to do states. But I'm choosing to wait another year before I try that. I want to look like I belong at each part I do.

But after watching some of these LL regional games on the internet. I'm pretty sure I could I could do a good job when it's time. I just need more experience before I try for it and some additional training which I need to save up for. Luckily it's a short trip for that too. I'm just not in a rush to make myself feel good because "there were openings". The one good thing is many people don't want to travel so districts is enough for them.

PS - In our district there is usually very little for sectionals/states mostly due to few adequate facilities in terms of parking, etc. Is it possible to do sectionals/sttaes in other areas of your state?

[Don in Washington]

If you have Williamsport as your goal it will take a while. But if you just want the post season expierence in LL then try Jr, Sr or BL. Another option is LL Softball. There are much fewer applications to work the Softball Tournaments.

I got the call for 2008 LL JrBB West Region after 4 years of applications. I attended the WR Umpire school in '04 and a couple of the NW Outreach Weekend clinics. The school is nearly mandatory, and the weekend clinic shows WRLL that you are serious about doing things "THIER" way:nod:.

Where you live helps determine how fast you get selected. Here in the NW, (Washington & Oregon) we have fewer qualified umpires that apply for post season as to California. My fellow umpires from California, at my '08 Region said they get one region and one WS in thier career. While I know many guys from the Northwest who have worked multiple Regionals and WS at various levels of both SB and BB.

Here in the WR, it appears that if you attend Umpire school more than once, and/or Instruct at the school, your wait in line is much shorter. So there are politics involved. If your DA, UIC or UC is well liked, that will also carry more weight in the selection process.

I have the WR Major SB Tournament in my backyard and I help out there, which puts me in front of the WR evaluators who are also WR instructors and they are in direct contact with the WR UIC. So that probably is helpful for me. So you see politics is always there.

Work hard. Do it LL's way and get some Regional schooling. Work your state/divisional/sectional tournaments at all levels. And keep applying. Good luck.

Don