Becoming an umpire is easy

CASO has two different levels of umpiring. If you are over 18 and have graduated high school, you can officiate high-school, middle-school, and youth games. If you are under 18 but will reach your 15th birthday prior to August 1, you can be a student umpire. Student umpires can be assigned middle-school and youth games.

Whether you can work all types of games or are a student umpire, the first step in becoming a CASO umpire is to Email us so we know you are interested.  Once you email us, we will put you on our mailing list. In early January you will be contacted with the winter training schedule.

Once umpires complete training, they are ready for game assignments. Assignments can either be for high-school games or youth league games in the spring.  Adult umpires will be assigned both while student umpire can only work youth games.  Fall assignments can be youth games and slow-pitch, middle-school games if umpires choose to work them. Both are open to adult and student umpires.  The scheduling application CASO uses allows umpires to block the days they cannot work.

Scroll down for information solely for student umpires.

ADULT UMPIRES (Over 18 and graduated)
• In January, register with Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association (MPSSAA) at DragonFly Athletics. Registering with the MPSSAA also registers you with the National Federation of High School (NFHS).
• As part of this registration, an NFHS rules and case book are provided.  In addition, the NFHS registration provides you with liability insurance for any scheduled game in a sport sanctioned by your state.  
• Mark your calendar and plan to attend the mandatory classroom rules training every Thursday evening starting approximately the second to last Thursday in January. Training will run through the end of February. This classroom training covers each rule, or chapter, in the rules book. At those training sessions, CASO board members and experienced umpires will be attending to answer questions.
• In addition to classroom instruction, CASO also provides on-field training. Depending on the weather, the on-field training may be indoors in a gym. At this session, umpires will be taught umpiring mechanics. These mechanic sessions provide new umpires with an understanding of positioning and movement on the ball diamond.
• If you are working on high-school games, take the NFHS online exam which opens in February. It is an open-book test, and umpires must score a passing grade to be able to officiate high-school softball games. Umpires with scores above 90% are eligible to work in the Maryland State Softball Championship Tournament.
• CASO will provide you with a practice exam you can take and get graded. This will provide you with feedback on the areas where you can focus before you take the exam. There are five opportunities to pass the NFHS exam.

STUDENT UMPIRES (Under 18)
•If you are a student athlete just working youth games, you do NOT have to register with the Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association.
• Training for student umpires is a separate, shorter session for two days in February. The sessions cover the fundamentals of the rules without the details on rules that apply to high-school games.
• In addition to classroom instruction, CASO also provides on-field training. Depending on the weather, the on-field training may be indoors in a gym. At this session, student umpires will be taught umpiring mechanics for a single umpire game. These mechanic sessions provide new umpires with an understanding of positioning and movement on the ball diamond. Some basics in two-umpire mechanics will be covered to support working training games with an experienced umpire.
• Student athletes will also be given a practice exam to take. Taking the exam will help student athletes know the rules where they need more insight.
• Working training games with an experienced umpire is mandatory early in the season. These games allow the student umpire to watch game management techniques.  Training games for student umpires are not paid, but can be used towards SSL hours. The experienced umpires will often split the game fee. 
• Before working games, you will need to purchase liability insurance which runs $10-$15.    You can purchase liability insurance here. Simply fill out the application (make sure you select "sports officials insurance" on the first screen) and pay online with a check or credit card (Visa or MasterCard only). You should receive proof of coverage via email immediately!
• Plus, you will need a work permit if you are 14-17 years old.  Click here to to the Maryland Department of Labor webpage on work permits.

CASO Brochure with more information.
March 2023 Recruit Newsletter
June 2023 Recruit Newsletter
September 2023 Recruit Newsletter
December 2023 Recruit Newsletter