inaugrual umpire challenge

The 2026 “Beyond the Dirt!” Umpire Challenge is to get both feet, “Beyond the Dirt!” as play determines on the single batter-runner.  This challenge is a BONUS structured, Peer-driven program and focused on the execution of movement by umpires.  It is open to high school, travel baseball, little league, non-professional men’s leagues umpires; Division I, II, III, IV college umpires, summer league college umpires and independent leagues umpires. The field locations for the 2026 challenge are Lake Point at Emerson, GA including designated offsite fields.  Umpires must complete the registration located at the bottom of the HOME page to be eligible.  Registration and Challenge fee of $10 dollars must be received no later than May 25, 2026.  Challenge starts June 1, 2026 and ends July 31, 2026.  Winner to be drawn on August 17, 2026.

                                       Requirements and Expectations

REQUIREMENTS:

1. MUST register (2026 Inaugrual fee $10; then $20 per year.  Special Challenge fees TBA)
2. MUST submit 1 observation on 10 different umpires

EXPECTION(S): Get BOTH feet "Beyond the Dirt" on single batter-runner as play determines

NOTE: Different umpire challenges, requirements and expectations added annually or by event

"Inaugrual" Registration Fee: $10 when paid on or before May 25, 2026. Fee is $20 for registrations on May 26 through May 31, 2026.

Prize:  Winner receives $250 (plus $250 with 25 or more paid registered participants [$500 total]).

Participants number of enteries to win is determined by their Bracket Points/Entries status (below) at midnight on July 31, 2026.

Bracket Points              Entries

• 90 to 100 points           Five (5) entries

• 80 to 89 points             Four (4) entries

• 70 to 79 points             Three (3) entries

• 69 points and below    Disqualified and NO entries

NOTE: 101+ points        Five (5) entries plus ONE (1) additional entry per point over (max 10 points)

                                       Rules In-A-Nutshell 

• This is a Plate Umpire (U1) challenge for a Crew of Two.
• Challenge Expectation: U1 must get both feet  “Beyond the Dirt!
• U1 Movement Focus: On single Batter-Runner with bases unoccupied
• Must register to be eligible to win (Inaugural registration fee is $10 with annual fee of $20).  Registration is TENURED; and TENURED Amount is CUMULATIVE (see below chart)   
• Registered umpires starts with 100 points
• Registered umpires lose one (1) Bracket Point per observation received on them
• Registered umpires must submit ten (10) observations (minimum required)
• Registered umpires can only submit one (1) observation per umpire
• Observations can be submitted by registered or non-registered umpires.
• Observations must be submitted within 24 hours of date of observation.
• BONUS Points are earned throughout challenge (see BONUS Points Breakdown)
• Must have 70+ Bracket Points at the end of challenge to be eligible to win
• 69 points and below: NO Entries and umpire is disqualified from challenge
• PRIZE: $250 (with 25 or more registered PRIZE increases to $500)
• Winner to be drawn Monday August 17, 2026
• Observations will/must be submitted via cell phone only, using the following process:

- Go to www.ubbmatters.com

- Click on Menu

- Click on Ump Report; Non-registered umpires/observers will click on Observers Report

- Complete the Name of umpire observed, Inning, Field and YOUR email

- Click send.

                                        “BONUS POINTS BREAKDOWN"

There are FIVE (5) avenues umpires can earn, receive or be awarded/given Bonus Points (BP):        

1- BP by Umpire Movement during their games

2- BP by The Goose Egg Game with (“0”s) on the scoreboard

3- BP by Defensive Plays by either team

4- BP having a 101+ Bracket Points status at end of challenge

5- BP by a “Select Individual”observation being submitted

Request for BP for numbers 2 and 3 are submitted by the game umpires themselves and must be submitted before the umpires next game; or if it is the umpires final game of the day the request information must be submitted before leaving the umpires parking lot. If umpire works split times or two games and has a break of one or more games and starts more games later. Leaving the umpires parking lot are separate actions. One for the initial game of the day and one for the later started game(s).

1 - “BONUS Points” by Umpire Movements (Individual gets points)

2 pts U1 takes batter-runner into 2nd/3rd base (CUTOUT)   

2 pts U1 takes 2nd base tag up play into 3rd base (with Infield Fly rule on only)

2 pts U2 on single batter-runner only, goes out on fly ball, makes call and runs to plate (circle)

2 - “BONUS Points” for Goose Egg Game (Both gets points)

3 pts “Goose Egg” Innings game (award points if umpires win)

3 pts 0 to 0 score at end of completed game (must have 4 or more innings)

The Goose Egg Game: Rules and how it is played.

The Goose Egg Game is an “On Field” silent unknown game where the umpires are a team and can only score one (1) run using the zero’s (“0”s) on the scoreboard per complete inning and by TOUCHING side by side.  The “0”s MUST TOUCH at the top and bottom of the inning(s); and or side by side consecutively for Visitors and Home teams.  Each time the “0”s touch the umpire team gets one (1) run. The Goose Egg game ends with any completed/called game (rain, lightning, etc).  BONUS POINTS are for both umpires and can only be received WHEN THE UMPIRE TEAM WINS. NOTE: Either of the game umpires must take a picture of the scoreboard, send it as an attachment via phone to www.ubbmatters.com and complete the Registration & Notes fields at the bottom of the HOME page.  Put both umpire’s names so both receive 3 BP for winning and 3 BP for “0” to “0” score.

Example 1: Top of first inning “0” and bottom of first inning “0”. Umpire team gets 1 run because “0”s touch top to bottom on scoreboard.

Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Visitors 0

Home   0 

Example 2: Top of first, and second innings are “0”s AND bottom of first, and second innings are “0”s. Umpire team gets 4 runs. Two runs for “0”s TOUCHING top to bottom plus side by side consecutively.

Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Visitors 0 0  

Home   0 0 

Example 3: Top of first, second, and third innings are “0”s AND bottom of first, and second innings are “0”s, but the bottom of third has 1 run. Umpire team gets 5 runs. Two runs for “0”s TOUCHING top to bottom and two runs for TOUCHING side by side consecutively in the first and second innings; plus one run for the continued consecutive touching to the third inning.

The Goose Egg game score would be Visitors: “0”, Home:1 and Umpires: 5

Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Visitors 0 0 0

Home   0 0 1

Example 4: Bottom of fifth inning and the score is 0-0 and game ends as a Tie. The Goose Egg game score would be Visitors: “0”, Home “0” and Umpire team 13 runs. UMPIRE TEAM WINS!! Here’s how: Five runs for TOUCHING top to bottom through five innings; Eight runs for TOUCHING consecutively by innings for both Visitors and Home teams.

Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Visitors 0 0 0 0 0

Home   0 0 0 0 0

3 - “BONUS Points” for Defensive Plays (Both gets points)

3 pts Reverse double play (from bounding/ground balls only)

3 pts Three foul ball fly outs (between both teams combined)

5 pts Three foul ball fly outs (same team)

5 pts Triple Play

4 - “BONUS Points” for 101+ Bracket Points (Individual gets points)

Umpires with 101 through 110 points total at end of challenge will receive ONE (1) additional entry for each point over 100 (maximum being ten (10) additional entries)

5 - “BONUS Points” by Select Individuals (SI) (Individual gets points)

SI submits an observation from the below listed “Targeted Plate Umpire Movements”

(A) 5 pts U1 takes batter-runner interference to 1stbase

(B) 5 pts U1 takes batter-runner into 2nd/3rd base (CUTOUT)

(C) 5 pts U1 takes 2nd base tag up play into 3rd base (Infield fly rule is in effect )

(D) 5 pts U2 on single batter-runner only, goes out on fly ball, makes call and runs to plate (circle)

                                       Annual Challenge TENURE Chart

 Year   Amount   Registration Tenure

   1      $250        Additional $250 with 25 registered participants ($500 total)

   2      $500        Two consecutive years

   3      $750        Three consecutive years

   4      $1000      Four consecutive years

   5      $1000      Five consecutive years (Indefinite "unless interrupted tenure occurs")

If consecutive TENURE registration is interrupted, i.e., (but not limited to) late registration, did not register, etc.  Beginning with next registration, the TENURE will start over and $250 will be the prize amount if that umpire wins.  This includes two (2) consecutive disqualifying status/points/actions.