Questions? Contact: info@BannekerCityLL.org

Banneker City relies solely on Volunteer Umpires to officiate its baseball and softball games. The Banneker City Umpires Association comprises two programs:
  1. The Adult Volunteer Umpire Program (ages 18+)
  2. The Junior Volunteer Umpire Program (ages 12-18)
Junior Umpires are paired with Adult Umpires for games. Junior Umpires typically officiate the bases, but can be promoted to home plate duties once they are certified by Banneker City's Umpire-In-Chief.

Banneker City Little League depends on its families to identify and recruit volunteers to join the Adult & Junior Volunteer Umpire Programs.

Join the BCUA:
To join the BCUA, you only need to sign up and attend the training sessions. Our Volunteer Umpire Program is designed to encourage you to volunteer and to keep you volunteering over the years. Banneker City has instituted a zero tolerance policy for harassment of our volunteer umpires, and we are firm in protecting our volunteers. You do not need any prior baseball/softball experience to become an umpire. We will provide you with training, uniforms, materials, and equipment, as well as veteran umpire mentors for your games as needed/requested.

1. Sign Up Now

  https://forms.gle/8jiAGTD1xRAZWpd87 


2. Register And Attend The Seminars And Welcome Luncheon
 
Umpire Education Seminar, Part I
Understanding Terms and Definitions (Rule 2.00); and the Role of the Umpire (Rule 9.00).
Sunday, February 5, 2023
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Register Now

 
Umpire Education Seminar, Part II
Objectives of the Game (Rule 1.00); What Happens Before the Game (Rule 3.00); and Putting the Ball in Play (Rule 5.00).
Sunday, February 19, 2023
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Register Now

 
Umpire Education Seminar, Part III
Starting and Ending Games (Rule 4.00); and Rules to Know About the Pitcher (Rule 8.00).
Sunday, February 26, 2023
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Register Now

 
Umpire Education Seminar, Part IV
Rules to Know About the Batter (Rule 6.00); and Rules to Know About the Runner (Rule 7.00).
Sunday, March 5, 2023
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Register Now

 
Banneker City Umpire Association (BCUA) Luncheon
Complimentary welcome luncheon for all of our volunteers in the Banneker City Umpire Association (BCUA). Umpire equipment and uniforms will be distributed as well.
Sunday, March 12, 2023
TBD
4:00pm - 6:00pm
RSVP

 
Umpire Education Seminar, Part V
Live on the job training; We will be officiating live baseball games. We will do review and validate mechanics prior to the games.
Sunday, March 19, 2023
Banneker Upper Field (corner of Georgia Avenue NW & Euclid Street NW)
12:00pm - 1:00pm: Mechanics. Review. Q&A.
1:00pm - 3:00pm: Umpire AAA Game (ages 8-10)
3:00pm - 5:00pm: Umpire Majors Game (ages 11-12)


BCUA membership has its privileges:
  • Earn community service hours towards your high school graduation.
  • Free annual training.
  • Free uniforms.
  • Free umpire's equipment.
  • Free Little League insurance coverage.
  • Free BCUA chartered fishing trip on the Potomac or Chesapeake in mid-late August.
  • Free BCUA luncheon every March on daylight savings Sunday.
  • You can sign up for as many or as few games as you like.


Advantages of Volunteer Umpires:
  • Opportunity to give back to your community and league.
  • Opportunity to join a team of like-minded individuals and cultivate friendships that last a life time.
  • The umpires know our players and take an interest in their success and development.
  • Keeps registration fees low.
  • Volunteer Umpires are covered by Little League Insurance.


Recruiting Volunteer Umpires:
Parents, by tapping your extensive network, you can ensure that your child always has a quality umpire at his/her game.
  • Contact high schoolers in your family-and-friends’ network. High school students need to accrue 270 community service hours in order to graduate. They are perfect candidates. Becoming an umpire is a great way to enjoy the game of baseball while developing valuable skills in communicating and decision making. Ask them to tell their schoolmates about volunteering to umpire. If you serve on a PTA or know someone on a PTA, ask them to advertise Banneker City Umpires Association’s community service hours exchange program with the parents and teachers.
  • Ask retired family members if they would like to volunteer to umpire. They are great role models for our children to emulate, and pillars of our community.
  • Solicit military personnel about volunteering a little of their time to umpire some games for our league. Military personnel are always looking for community involvement activities to list on their fitness reports or on their annual evaluations.
  • Contact police departments, fire departments, etc. These community protectors have plenty of personnel that would love to volunteer, and often times also put you in contact with other volunteers who are willing to umpire.
  • Recruit basketball, football, soccer or other sport officials. While attending a game at a high school event or another sport event contact the officials after the game and ask them if they would be willing to give to Banneker City Little League one or two nights a week for a couple of hours.
  • Contact your local ANC or Councilmember for possible leads on volunteer umpires. They regularly receive requests from community members and organizations about ways of getting more involved in the community.
  • Reach out to your contacts in the local media. Many local newspapers will offer public service advertisements to youth groups. Many radio stations and TV stations have avenues for public announcements for non-profit organizations. Ask about advertising for the Banneker City Umpire Association’s volunteer umpire campaign, clinic dates, etc.
  • Advertise with local service clubs and fraternal organizations that you are a member of or affiliated with.
  • Ask local businesses that you frequent if any of their personnel would be willing to volunteer.
  • Lastly, parents should definitely join the Banneker City Umpires Association. You would not be required to umpire games in your children’s division or during times when your children have games. It only requires one or two nights a week for a couple of hours. There is nothing more gratifying than volunteering and giving back to your community, and having fun with your fellow volunteer umpires, who are in it for the same reason that you are: to have fun and mentor our children.
 
Questions? Contact: info@BannekerCityLL.org