About UBB Umpires Information Baseball

“Beyond the Dirt!” Umpire Challenge is a competition for any umpire working Division 3 and 4, college summer league, independent leagues, or lower levels including high school, travel baseball, little league or equivalent; nonprofessional men’s leagues, etc. Umpire must complete the UBB Beyond the Dirt challenge registration form to be eligible. Form must be submitted no later than May 25, 2026. Challenge starts June 1, 2026 and ends July 31, 2026.  Winner announced August 17, 2026. Each umpire has a personal commitment to themselves, UBB, their associated umpire organization(s), any event/tournament they work, and the teams to simply get, “Beyond the Dirt” at home plate as play requires when working as the plate umpire.

Registration Fee: $10 (paid by May 31, 2026)

Prize:  Winner receives $250 (plus additional $250 with registration of 25 or more paid umpire participants bringing the total prize amount to $500). Number of entry’s is based on total Bracket Points status at midnight on July 31, 2026.

Bracket Points

• 90 to 99 points gets five (5) name entries

• 80 to 89 points gets four (4) name entries

• 70 to 79 points gets three (3) name entry

• 69 points and below NO entry

Guidelines: Umpire must register to enter challenge and to be eligible for prizes.  Each umpire starts with 100 points and one (1) point is subtracted when a submitted observation is received via email only.  Umpires and observers provide information only and can have no knowledge of their own or other umpires Bracket Points status during this challenge.

• One (1) point will be subtracted for not getting both feet “Beyond the Dirt” 
• Each registered umpire shall observe and will submit twenty (20) observations on twenty (20) separate/different umpires to umpchallenge@ubbmatters.com between June 1, 2026 and July 31, 2026 to be eligible to win. 
• All registered umpires are categorized as “Challenge Observers” and are eligible to submit observations. Observations must be submitted within 24 hours of date of observation.  
• Professional MiLB umpires, Division I and II college umpires, Umpire Organizations presidents and up to five (5) select staff members, and Tournament UIC(s) will/can only be observers and are not eligible      to win. All are encouraged to register to be eligible for other prizes i.e., umpire equipment, raffles, auctions, 50/50 events, golf, travel/room reimbursement, etc. 
• Email observations will only include: Date of observation, umpires first & last name, and location.

                      Umpire Challenge Competition Requirements and Expectations

REQUIREMENTS:

1. MUST register for competition
2. MUST observe and submit 20 separate emails on 20 different umpires

EXPECTION(S): Get BOTH feet beyond the dirt (when required).

NOTE: Different umpire challenges, requirements and expectations will be added each event

                                                             Annual Challenge Prize Chart

Year     Amount       Registration Tenure

2026    $250            Plus additional $250 when 25 registered participants are signed up

2027    $500            Two consecutive registration years

2028    $750            Three consecutive registration years

2029    $1000          Four consecutive registration years

2030    $1000          Indefinitely Five consecutive registration years

Note: If consecutive registration is interrupted, $250 will be the prize amount for that umpire with next registration and the consecutive registration tenure starts over.