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.


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In The News

Referee punched in face by teen player dies

Referee punched in face by teen player dies

(CNN) -- A referee for a recreational soccer league who was punched in the face by a teenager has died, police in Salt Lake City said. Ricardo Portillo, 46, was refereeing a game in the Salt Lake City suburb of Taylorsville on April 27 when he cited a player for an infraction and issued him a "yellow card." In soccer, a yellow card is a caution to the player; a second results in his ejection from the game. The decision, police say, prompted the 17-year-old player to turn around and punch Portillo in the face. At first, authorities thought Portillo suffered only minor injuries from the assault. But after he was taken to a hospital, doctors discovered he had suffered serious internal head injuries, police said. For seven days, he remained in critical condition. "He loved soccer,"...
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Alleged attack on umpire may lead to charges

Alleged attack on umpire may lead to charges

A New London man may be charged criminally after allegedly attacking an umpire following a baseball game last month at Ripon College. On Monday, April 15, the city of Ripon Police Department responded to a call of a battery that occurred following a game against Carroll University on the Ripon College campus. On arrival, officers were informed one of the umpires that had worked the doubleheader baseball game had been struck in the face after the game by a party who had been in the stands during the game. Statements from witnesses and victim indicated a male subject had been in the stands during the game. He allegedly was yelling at officials during the game and was unhappy about calls made by officials. After the game, the subject approached umpires as they were leaving the playing field...
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Berkeley Little League manager charged with hitting teen umpire

Berkeley Little League manager charged with hitting teen umpire

Credit: app.com - BERKELEY — A Little League baseball manager has been charged with assault after witnesses told police he slapped a 17-year-old umpire who had ejected him from a game. The manager, Thomas Murphy, 43, of Yaffa Road, Bayville, faces two counts of simple assault, according to Detective Sgt. Jim Smith, a spokesman for the township police department. STAFF UPDATE: Berkeley Little League coach suspended after assault charges Smith said Patrolman Michael O’Connor found Murphy, manager for the Mets Little League team, at his home after Murphy had left the field after the incident. Murphy was issued two summonses — one for simple assault and another for simple assault at a sporting event in the presence of children under the age of 16, Smith said. No court date has...
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Video review at CWS expands

Video review at CWS expands

  Credit: Associated Press - OMAHA, Neb. -- The use of video replay will be expanded at next month's College World Series to give umpires the ability to take a second look at a ball hit down an outfield line to determine if it's fair or foul. Last year, instant replay was approved at the CWS for the first time and matched the major leagues' rules for use. The only plays eligible involved apparent home runs, and the situation never arose. This year, the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee is going one step further. Instant replay won't be used in NCAA regionals or super regionals because not all stadiums are equipped equally for video technology. Multiple camera angles and a designated video-review room are available at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, and indisputable video evidence would be necessary...
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NFHS Play Situations

NFHS Play Situations

With many of our ABUA members now well into their spring seasons let’s take a look at some of the high school rules questions and plays that have been submitted this year. 1. Question - Rule 1-4 states the gloves cannot be entirely optic in color or cannot have optic colored marking on the outside or inside that gives the appearance of the ball.  In the preseason powerpoint a picture is shown of a glove with "Acme" in optic yellow as illegal and the "Acme" blacked out as legal.  Does this pertain to all players on the field or just the pitcher?  We had an umpire tell one of our coaches that all of the players had to black out the optic yellow color on all of their gloves and just looking at these two references, I would be inclined to believe that he is right.  Ruling - Rule 1-4 on gloves...
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Rundowns

Rundowns

When a runner gets trapped between the bases, there are four possible outcomes. Three of them are likely to benefit the offense and the fourth might be a mixed blessing. The possibilities are: The runner escapes and remains on base, possibly advancing, either with or without a wild throw; Obstruction occurs and bases are awarded; runners advance before the out; or the runner is out with no other advance. Umpires should be aware of the various possibilities and be prepared to rule properly. Except where noted, the material applies equally to NFHS, NCAA and pro rules. The three events which are most apt to result in a rundown are a pick-off, a runner changing his mind about advancing or a runner trying to take an extra base. An example of the second event is a runner from second trying to...
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Longoria Passes Zobrist a Second Time

Longoria Passes Zobrist a Second Time

  Most passing the runner violations occur when there is a long fly ball and the lead runner either freezes or retreats to a base thinking the ball is caught or might be caught and the trail runner passes him because he is not properly watching the runner ahead of him. Such was the case on April 4 when the Orioles beat the Rays 6-3. In the bottom of the ninth the Rays had Sean Rodriguez on second and Ben Zobrist on first and no outs when Evan Longoria drove a Jim Johnson pitch to the centerfield wall past a leaping duo of Adam Jones and Nate McLouth. Both runners froze momentarily to make sure it was not caught. By the time the ball hit the ground, Longoria was called out for passing Zobrist on the basepaths. Rodriguez scored on the play and Zobrist advanced to third. But the Rays...
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Assault arrest after bench-clearing brawl

Assault arrest after bench-clearing brawl

Rumson-Fair Haven, Red Bank baseball teams both ejected Credit: APP.com — LITTLE SILVER — A parent was arrested on an assault charge and both teams were ejected from the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional at Red Bank Regional baseball game after a brawl emptied benches in the bottom of the sixth inning Saturday morning.   “Both teams were ejected entirely, the game was terminated by me and everything else will be settled by the NJSIAA and the Shore Conference,” said the game’s umpire, Vinny Smith. The NJSIAA is the governing body of scholastic athletics in the state. The Shore Conference is the governing body of scholastic athletics in most of Monmouth and Ocean counties. During the scuffle, a Rumson-Fair Haven parent came on the field and assaulted a Red Bank Regional player, Little Silver Police...
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