We look forward to another exciting season in the FBL and your participation as an umpire will ensure that games are contested fairly, within the rules and without incident.

As with seasons past, to ensure we are applying the FBL and Major League Baseball rules consistently across all leagues we will conduct 5 training sessions, you must attend at least 3. The training sessions will be held on the following dates:

The annual rules test is now available and on-line Managers and Umpires must complete it as soon as possible:

2018 Rules Test

Umpires please note that the results from this test will be used to prioritize game sign-up this year and you will not be paid for any game you umpire until the test is completed (and passed!) 

Click Here for the list of Rule Changes for 2018

2018 Umpire Manual
Click on the link above to access a .pdf version of the Umpire Manual

All Umpires under the age of 18 are required to get a Work Permit before they will be allowed to umpire

Please visit this link for more information: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-6530_2629_59590---,00.html

Click here to see the current schedule in an excel file

Make sure you join the Umpire facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/355666044495281/

Click Here for Excel File of Umpires (with Phone and e-mail)
Above is the current list of active umpires for the current season (click on it to open the excel file - Note the file is password protected - if you are an umpire you should have received this information via e-mail - if you would like to have access please contact franklinbaseball@comcast.net) - if you would like to register please click here: http://www.leaguelineup.com/formpreview.asp?url=franklinbaseball&FormID=86833

Umpire Rating Guidelines*

• ALL umpires must be 13 by end of season (6/30) (all under 13 will show as a rating of "X")
• No Demotions
• Rookies automatically move-up ("P" will become "C-A")
• New Umpires less than or equal to 14 years old at end of season will get a "P" rating
• New Umpires older than 14 but less than or equal to 17 years at the end of the season will be rated "C-A"
• New Umpires older than 17 at the end of the season (with Baseball/Softball experience) will be rated "L-A"
• Automatic 1 grade promotions for umpires who achieved a manager evaluation average greater than or equal to 75%

• Remainder will be assessed based on Umpire Committee review and consensus

*Umpire Committee has option to override the above guidelines in special circumstances

As we have mentioned in the past we want to provide more recognition to the umpires who get positive feedback from Manager post game evaluations. The input was used this year in the rating allocations.

We will now be using the feedback, together with your completion of the rules test and participation in the mandatory training sessions, to prioritize the process for allocating games.

There will now be 4 groups established and your grouping will dictate when you will be able to join one of the lines to sign-up for games - below are the guidelines as to which group you will qualify:

Umpire Sign-up Process

Prioritized Allocation:

Group A  (First 10m)

• Umpires with Last Year Manager Evaluation ratings >=85%

Group B  (Next 10m)

• Umpires with Last Year Manager Evaluation ratings >=70%  AND
• Umpires who attended all training sessions (or have been excused attendance by an Umpire Committee Representative)

OR

• Umpires who didn't umpire last year  AND
• Umpires who attended all training sessions  AND
• Umpires who got more than 90% in Rules test

Group C  (Next 10-15m)

• Umpires with Last Year Manager Evaluation ratings >=60% OR Umpires who didn't umpire last year  AND
• Umpires who attended all training sessions  AND
• Umpires who got more than 80% in Rules test

Group D  (Next 30m (or until all games allocated))

• Everyone

How You Play The Game Article
A poignant story to remind us what our league and recreational sports is all about!

Click here to view Extract

Click below to post questions you have on rules:

http://www.leaguelineup.com/forumsdetail.asp?sid=167117669&url=franklinbaseball&itemid=3116955

(Note: you will need to establish a membership login - it is free and only takes a few minutes)

Baseball Signals (Click Here)

Softball Signals (Click Here)
Above are two files that explain (and show) all Umpire signals for both Baseball and Softball