2025 and 2026 Baseball Umpire Manual

[lawump]

It's not perfect, but I think y'all may be shocked at the vast improvement of the NFHS umpire manual this year.  If you have not already seen it...you are in for a (positive) surprise.

[Replacematt]

2 hours ago, lawump said:

It's not perfect, but I think y'all may be shocked at the vast improvement of the NFHS umpire manual this year.  If you have not already seen it...you are in for a (positive) surprise.

Is it one page that says "See CCA manual?"

[JSam21]

7 hours ago, lawump said:

It's not perfect, but I think y'all may be shocked at the vast improvement of the NFHS umpire manual this year.  If you have not already seen it...you are in for a (positive) surprise.

Do they still have U1 rotating home on a triple?

[jimurrayalterego]

8 hours ago, lawump said:

It's not perfect, but I think y'all may be shocked at the vast improvement of the NFHS umpire manual this year.  If you have not already seen it...you are in for a (positive) surprise.

Anything positive would be negated by having to sign up for NFHS All Access and buy the manual and then having an app that signs you out once and awhile. I'll buy a hard copy but pdf is easier to study. Granted that some of our associations buy the rule, case, or/and the ump manual hard copies and give them to us, WTF is NFHS not providing them free online as NCAA and MLB does. Who is getting a kickback from whatever outfit runs "all access". I'll pay for a print edition but put the electronic version online as free. My effin LL app just updated it's rules to 2025 without me doing anything and it's much more user friendly than All Access.

[lawump]

11 hours ago, JSam21 said:

Do they still have U1 rotating home on a triple?

Yes and no.  The PlayPic shows that exact rotation.  However, the language underneath does not...it matches the CCA.

[lawump]

10 hours ago, jimurrayalterego said:

Anything positive would be negated by having to sign up for NFHS All Access and buy the manual and then having an app that signs you out once and awhile. I'll buy a hard copy but pdf is easier to study. Granted that some of our associations buy the rule, case, or/and the ump manual hard copies and give them to us, WTF is NFHS not providing them free online as NCAA and MLB does. Who is getting a kickback from whatever outfit runs "all access". I'll pay for a print edition but put the electronic version online as free. My effin LL app just updated it's rules to 2025 without me doing anything and it's much more user friendly than All Access.

We get the hard copy (of the manual, rule book, and case book) for "free" as part of our $45 annual dues to the SCHSL. 

[834k3r]

13 hours ago, jimurrayalterego said:

having an app that signs you out once and awhile

Jim, you hit on my biggest frustration. That's so annoying!

[The Man in Blue]

13 hours ago, lawump said:

We get the hard copy (of the manual, rule book, and case book) for "free" as part of our $45 annual dues to the SCHSL. 

 

But that is a STATE (SCHSL) thing, not an NFHS thing.  Somebody is still having to purchase it from NFHS.  NFHS is the ONLY major ruleset that still hides all of their stuff behind a paywall and maintains it as absolutely proprietary (meaning you can no longer get a Kindle version; the only digital version is their lousy app).  Even USA Softball, one of the biggest money-sucks there is, quit doing it a few years ago.

IHSA (Illinois) sends us a hardcopy rulebook and casebook EVERY OTHER YEAR.  We get no online access to anything.  But we want you to call the most up to date rules . . . for $70/year ... whoops, my bad, up to $80 this year.  I wonder what they are going to take away this time since the price went up.

[The Man in Blue]

IHSA dues = $80

NFHS 2025 & 2026 Umpires Manual = $21.95

NFHS 2025 Baseball Rules Book = $12.00

NFHS 2025 Baseball Case Book = $12.00

Double secret probation videos = ????

Local clinic = $25 to $30

 

Over $150 just to TRY to get all the information you need to get on the field.

 

[BLWizzRanger]

8 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

IHSA dues = $80

NFHS 2025 & 2026 Umpires Manual = $21.95

NFHS 2025 Baseball Rules Book = $12.00

NFHS 2025 Baseball Case Book = $12.00

Double secret probation videos = ????

Local clinic = $25 to $30

 

Over $150 just to TRY to get all the information you need to get on the field.

 

<sarcasm on>

but that is only two or three game fees.

<sarcasm off>

[dumbdumb]

On 1/9/2025 at 9:49 PM, The Man in Blue said:

IHSA dues = $80

NFHS 2025 & 2026 Umpires Manual = $21.95

NFHS 2025 Baseball Rules Book = $12.00

NFHS 2025 Baseball Case Book = $12.00

Double secret probation videos = ????

Local clinic = $25 to $30

 

Over $150 just to TRY to get all the information you need to get on the field.

 

this site might provide for a group of resources to go after

https://store.referee.com/new-2025-cca-baseball-umpires-manual

and the arizona high school (or one of those googled arizona sites) site for equipment (including apparel) needed, and remember you need more than just 1 of many things mentioned. 

barrier to entry - only those professionals/mainly salaried individuals with deeper pockets and ability at making their own flexible schedule (no Wal-Mart greeters) need apply.

[The Man in Blue]

@dumbdumb, the CCA manual says it is "For crews of two, three, four, and six umpires."

While these high school guys who continue to work solo are making an extra $10, what are they supposed to do with that manual?

 

Seriously though, while barrier to entry is certainly a concern, my comment was more aimed at the gatekeeping and financial motives of the NFHS and some state orgs.  I say some, because I know there are ones out there that do bridge over the NFHS and provide their members access to the information they want us to know and use.

[MadMax]

14 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

I know there are ones out there that do bridge over the NFHS and provide their members access to the information they want us to know and use.

… Georgia for one, as the shining example (so far). Why? Check YouTube. That kid and the production team behind him are turning the instruction of non-collegiate amateur baseball umpiring on its ear. 

[dumbdumb]

On 1/20/2025 at 6:40 PM, The Man in Blue said:

@dumbdumb, the CCA manual says it is "For crews of two, three, four, and six umpires."

While these high school guys who continue to work solo are making an extra $10, what are they supposed to do with that manual?

 

Seriously though, while barrier to entry is certainly a concern, my comment was more aimed at the gatekeeping and financial motives of the NFHS and some state orgs.  I say some, because I know there are ones out there that do bridge over the NFHS and provide their members access to the information they want us to know and use.

mask, outside protector, put feet right behind catchers feet and wear base shoes, cheap shin guards, and hold your hand over the tallywhacker area just like those new guys at umpire schools are shown doing, since u are working directly over and behind catcher, and or, go behind mound and guess on line calls. just wear basketball officiating uniform.

[Richvee]

On 1/21/2025 at 9:20 AM, MadMax said:

… Georgia for one, as the shining example (so far). Why? Check YouTube. That kid and the production team behind him are turning the instruction of non-collegiate amateur baseball umpiring on its ear. 

Patrick is doing a fantastic job. Working with Referee Magazine now as well. I'm hoping he can turn Umpire Classroom into Nationwide FED video updates and interpretations along the lines of NCAA platform. 

[Jackrabbitslims]

So what were the changes mechanically? 

The overall design of the book is much better.