The ABUA is the largest membership association for amateur baseball umpires in the U.S.

The ABUA's purpose is to improve the overall quality of umpiring in youth league, high school and college baseball through innovative teaching and educational programs, and superior educational resources.The ABUA protects its members with the most comprehensive insurance package in the industry
(Liability, Medical & Lost game fees)!

The ABUA provides a national organization and network where individual umpires and local associations can promote professionalism, integrity and a love of the game.

In The News

Umpire accused of punching coach

Umpire accused of punching coach

Credit: www.mycentraljersey.com PISCATAWAY — Dave Delnegro III literally took his umpiring job into his own hands while calling balls and strikes at a Little League game between 8- and 11-year-olds on Friday night. According to Piscataway police and Piscataway Little League President Frank Uhrin, the 21-year-old Delnegro punched Joe Bellamy in the face several times after a brief exchange during the second inning of the game between the minor-league Astros and Mets, played before approximately 50 fans. Bellamy, 40, who coaches the Astros, did not strike back, citing the code of conduct. Police responded to the Little League complex on Sidney Road at approximately 8:50 p.m. and, after a brief investigation, issued a Simple Assault at a Youth Sporting Event summons to Delnegro. No Municipal...
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Jefferson County softball spectator charged after bloodying ump's nose

Jefferson County softball spectator charged after bloodying ump's nose

0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false Credit: blog.al.comMT. OLIVE, Alabama --  A 55-year-old Mt. Olive man apparently upset over calls made by the umpire at a children's softball game was arrested Tuesday night after authorities say he bloodied the official's nose. Spectator Darryl Keeton was charged with third-degree assault of a sports official, which is a Class C felony, said Jefferson County sheriff's Chief Deputy Randy Christian. Deputies were called to the Mt. Olive ball park just before 8 p.m. on a report of an assault. The victim, whose name hasn't been released, told deputies Keeton was upset with his calls, and had been complaining and yelling about them. The umpire told Keeton, who was there to watch his granddaughter, to be quiet or he would be ejected...
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Safety Issues

Safety Issues

This month I was set to write about some interesting game management challenges but instead we are going to focus on some safety issues. I have received many (actually way too many) reports and questions concerning safety related items in the last two weeks and it’s important that all umpires emphasize the importance of safety related rules at all times. Hopefully what is being reported are simply some isolated issues. We are in the high school season so all of our play situations relate to Federation rules. At the high school level if we can’t offer student-athletes an opportunity to play by the rules and under the safest possible conditions we don’t have much to offer. Remember that Rule 4-1-3d requires that umpires ask both head coaches to verify that their players are legally and properly...
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Minor 9-3 Putout

Minor 9-3 Putout

Atlanta Braves’ pitcher Mike Minor was batting in the second inning with a runner on third and two outs in a game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Aug. 9, 2010. Minor hit a Bud Norris pitch to right field that bounced in front of Hunter Pence. The Astros’ right fielder fielded the ball and fired to first baseman Brett Wallace. Minor was ruled out by umpire Fieldin Culbreth. Score it 9-3. Because Minor, the batter-runner, made the third out before reaching first base, Alex Gonzalez, the runner on third, was not allowed to score. After Minor was called out, he immediately pointed to the area of home plate, thinking Gonzalez should score. He apparently thought that this was a “Time Play” which it was not. It would have made no difference whether or not Gonzalez crossed the plate...
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Warm ups

Warm ups

In the original baseball rules, warm ups were called “preparatory pitches.” The number of warm ups a pitcher takes is usually not a contentious issue, but umpires must understand the limits. Hall of Fame pitcher Mordecai “Three-Finger” Brown who played in the National League from 1903-1916 was known for taking only one warm up. It is rare for modern-day pitchers to decline warm up pitches to which they are entitled. While warm ups are almost always thought of in regard to pitchers, the rules also address warm ups for other players. Except where noted, the material applies equally to NFHS, NCAA and pro rules. Any player, other than one who has been ejected, may be used for warm ups either on the field between innings or in the bullpen. Thus, replaced players may remain on the bench with their...
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Coach charged with pulling handgun on parent after dispute with umpire

Coach charged with pulling handgun on parent after dispute with umpire

Credit: thetimes-tribune.com A coach's argument with an umpire on Friday escalated into the coach nearly hitting another man with his pickup truck and brandishing a handgun, according to charges filed in the case. A coach from the Valley View Babe Ruth League team, John Zahradnik, 39, 414 Jenna Kay Drive, Archbald, began arguing with an umpire over a call he disagreed with during the game at the Colliery Baseball Field off of Colliery Avenue, according to a criminal complaint. An "irate" Mr. Zahradnik then turned to parents in the crowd at the game and started yelling at them until a woman approached him and the two argued, according to the complaint. At that point, Jose Irizarry, a witness at the scene, got between Mr. Zahradnik and the unidentified woman, according to the complaint. After...
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Davison County sheriffs called to baseball game

Davison County sheriffs called to baseball game

Credit: The Daily Republic MOUNT VERNON — Fans at the Mount Vernon-Plankinton-Woonsocket high school baseball doubleheader against Vermillion Monday in Mount Vernon witnessed a coach and a fan get into an altercation midway through the first game. After a pickoff attempt by a Vermillion pitcher, Outlaws head coach Derrion Hardie, who was at third base, reacted and questioned the umpires’ decision to not call a balk. A fan from Vermillion — standing near the first-base dugout —responded to Hardie’s plea and the two began to yell across the field at each other. The situation seemed to defuse when Outlaws’ batter Kellam Karst fouled a bunt-attempt with two strikes for an out.The fan mocked Hardie’s decision to call for the bunt-attempt, and Hardie became outraged, walking through the playing...
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2012 Rules Quiz

2012 Rules Quiz

Following is a 10-question True or False test. Where there is a difference in NFHS rules and NCAA rules from the Pro rule, it is noted in the answer and to qualify for a correct answer, you will be expected to know the rule for any level in which you umpire. If you get 9-10 correct answers, you will receive your first major league assignment. A score of 7-8 correct answers qualifies you for Triple-A, while a total of 5-6 proper answers places you in the low minors. Anything less than five correct answers puts you on probation in the local Little League. Number your paper 1-10. Good luck. 1. The Marlins’ Jose Reyes bunts the ball up the first base line. The ball is fielded by Braves’ catcher Brian McCann who fires the ball about seven-feet over the head of first baseman Freddie Freeman. But...
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