Canada Ranks

[yawetag]

I've seen multiple references to Canadian Umpire Levels. Not being from the area, what do the levels mean? How do you advance? What types of games do you get at each level?

It's interesting that there is a structure, and I'd like to see how it works. I could probably find a site, but would love to hear from those "in the know."

[Guest]

I've seen multiple references to Canadian Umpire Levels. Not being from the area, what do the levels mean? How do you advance? What types of games do you get at each level?

It's interesting that there is a structure, and I'd like to see how it works. I could probably find a site, but would love to hear from those "in the know."

The provincial umpiring committee, which oversees all umpires in the province, puts on several one-day clinics at the start of the year. Little League baseball umpires are not covered by this.

Technically, you must be a certified umpire to work games. However, most local associations will allow uncertified umpires to work their house league machine and coach pitch, and "mosquito" (first year players hit live pitching) levels.

You start at Level 1. This allows you to work any level of house league ball and up to (and including) 13U rep. Some associations, who have an abundance of umpires at the higher levels, will further restrict this. It costs $20 to take this clinic, and you will be an OBA umpire at the end of your 7 hour day. The clinic itself consists of 2:45 of field work in the 2-man, 2:45 of classroom sessions (concentrating on everything from the theory of positioning and rotations to the rules), 1:00 for lunch, and 0:30 for an exam. There is no "failing" grade for the exam, which is a 25 question true or false exam...you could score 0/25 and still get your card. You are required to complete 2 years of Level 1, one year the rules focuses on the "offense" (so interference, base running rules, etc) and the next focuses on the "defense"

Next is Level 2. This allows umpires to work up to (and including) 18U rep. The clinic is structured the same as the Level 1, and costs $40. This time, you must score 16/25 on the exam (different, more challenging version) to get your L2 card, or you're demoted to L1. Level 2's are required to remain in this level for at least 3 years, with the clinics following an "offense", "defense", "game management" rotation.

Level 3 is next, allowing umpires to work any level of baseball in the province. There did not used to be a clinic for Level 3 umpires. In 2008, Baseball Ontario introduced a SuperClinic for Level 3's, that occurs once every three years. I missed this, so I can't comment much on exactly what is taught there, but I have the materials and such - emphasis appears to be on plate mechanics (you are taped in a cage and given a DVD which is reviewed with an evaluator), introducing positioning of the 3-man system, and going over some ticky-tacky rules. It is still only a 7 hour day.

Prior to this, and in non-clinic years, Level 3s only had to score 19/25 on an online exam, true or false, composed of the same 25 questions from the time the exam goes online in March, to when they pull it off at the end of May. You can take the exam as many times as you want, and there is no time limit to complete it once you register.

There is no requirement of time at Level 3 to reach Level 4. Level 4 identifies you as an umpire potentially eligible to work a Canadian National Championship tournament. To make the jump from Level 3 to Level 4, you must be evaluated once on the plate and once on the bases, scoring 86% or higher on the evaluation. However, last year (and possibly the year before that), Baseball Canada was asking the OBA for more 4's than they had available, so a "bump" was incorporated to raise the numbers of people in the program. I don't know for certain, but the common number I hear floating around is 30%, making the evaluation pass 56%. If I had been evaluated in 2009, my score would have been more than sufficient to promote me into the program. It was obviously removed this year.

Passing your evals grants you 4-B status, and earns you an invite to the following year's L-4 clinic, an entire weekend event. It is a lot more intense, and attendance is mandatory. If you attend the weekend and pass the national exam (administered to all L4 umpires in Canada), you become eligible to work a National the following summer, and are granted 4-A status. If you attend but fail the exam, you remain at 4-B. You must pass evals every year to remain in the program.

From there is Level 5, which is no different than the 4 program - you attend the same clinic, write the same exam, etc - the differentiation rests in how many Nationals you have worked. A 4-A becomes a 5-C when they've worked 3 Nattys, one of which is considered to be a "Major" category, 5-C becomes 5-B when its 5 Nattys, 3 of which are "Major" AND you make the list reccommended to work an IBAF assignment, and you receive 5-A when you receive said IBAF assignment.

[johneng]

http://www.baseballontario.com/Umpir...opMenuID=10006

Click on Level 1,2,3 Program in the left side bar.

Then View an outline of certification!

or...

check out the attached document

but I think ump_24 got most of it.

Document1.pdf

[jnazz]

The "National Program" (level 4 and 5) is basically the same throughout the country. Levels 1-3 vary slightly throughout the different provinces, but are similar to the Ontario model.

Here in BC, our National Clinic was held over a 4 day tournament in Kamloops this Spring. It was broken up into 2 groups of 24 (8 three man crews per group). These were most of BC's level 4/5's and "up and coming" level 3's. Our level 5's and higher ranking level 4 umpires were instructors and evaluators, while the rest of us made up the working umpire crews.

The clinic was broken into 2 day segments with 8 crews working days 1 and 2 and 8 different crews working days 3 and 4. We all received official Baseball Canada evaluations as PU, U1, and U3 (each crew worked a minimum 3 games).

The clinic cost was $150 per umpire ----- $50 Baseball Canada registration, $50 BCBUA registration, and $50 clinic fee. All umpires were provided with hotel, 2 days breakfast, 2 days lunch at ballpark, and 1 dinner (umpire's banquet).

Check out our website bcbua.ca

[tiger49]

For the Level 4/5 program there are 5 sub levels.

4B-Have not yet worked a National Championship

4A-Have worked and recieved recommendation at a National Championship

5C-Have worked at 3 National Championships, with one being at the Major Level

5B-Have worked at least 3 Nationals at the major level. This used to allow you to be considered for International work, but you would now need 3 International recommendations as well.

5A-Have worked an International Competition.

There is also a National program for clinicians as well.

http://66.241.210.162/files/Operations%20Manual%20Version%201.6.pdf