Add an answer here.The process for becoming an umpire is the investment in a few nights of formal training and attending a mechanics clinic. CASO conducts a seven-week training session covering the National Federation of High School rule book so new umpires have a thorough understanding of the rules. In addition, CASO will hold a in-person session on field mechanics. Although one session in the classroom training covers mechanics, the in-person session will walk individuals through the various field positions and what movements are made in different game circumstances. Besides the training, you will need to register with the Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association through dragonfly.com. Plus, you need to complete the forms and register as an independent contractor with CASO. The CASO forms are provided with the invitational email giving the details on the training.

Add an answer here.Our scheduling application allows us to block your daughter’s high school and lets us avoid scheduling you during those games. Plus, the scheduling app allows you to block times you cannot umpire so we avoid scheduling you on those days. Bottom line, you can set your own schedule and we can work with that.

As an independent contractor, you are not a direct employee of CASO. Because of that, you, as the contractor, are both the employer and employee. The significance of this is that you must pay both parts of Social Security and Medicare taxes. Thus, you pay the full 16% of those taxes. Also, you well get a 1099 NEC instead of a W-2. This means you have to file a Schedule C for small business as part of your Federal tax return.

Add an answer here.For new recruits doing high-school games, initially you will be assigned to the bases in scrimmages and early JV regular season games. This provides you with the opportunity to watch the experienced umpire manage the game. The plate umpire is responsible for good game management. As the season progresses, you will be assigned plate duties for regular season, JV games. Later, you may get assigned varsity games. Also, once you have gained some experience on the field, depending on your availability, you will be assigned youth games, which are one umpire. Student umpires are assigned early games with experienced umpires. Initially the student umpires are assigned bases to observe the game management of an experienced umpire. After a few games they will be assigned the plate with an experienced umpire. These four to six games are not paid but the student can get SSL hours. In the past, some experienced umpires have split the game fee.

CASO, like many other organizations in Maryland, uses Arbitersports.com, Arbiter for short, as its scheduling application. The CASO assigner will schedule you for a game based on the availability you identify in Arbiter and the game that is available. For new recruits, usually they are assigned bases for a JV high school games with an experience CASO partner. This allows new recruits to gain experience before they are given more competitive games such as varsity or working alone in a recreational game. It is important to make sure your schedule is current, and you block the days you cannot work. This makes sure you are scheduled on days you are only available to work.

If a situation arises where you cannot work after you have accepted a game, you need to let the assigner know. The assigner will then reassign the game to another available umpire. Situations like that will arise like that and as long as they are rare, they can easily be accommodated.