inaugrual umpire challenge

The 2026 “Beyond the Dirt!” Umpire Challenge is a competition for high school, travel baseball, little league, non-professional men’s leagues umpires; Division II, III, IV college umpires, summer league college umpires and independent leagues umpires. The field locations for this challenge are Lake Point at Emerson, GA and including designated offsite fields.  Umpires must complete the "Beyond the Dirt!" Registration form located on the Umpiring Beyond the Bases HOME page to be eligible.  Registration and Challenge fee 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.  This "Beyond the Dirt!" challenge is focused on the plate umpires ability to simply get, “Beyond the Dirt!” as play dictates on the single batter-runner going to first base and on their fly balls. 

"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 status at midnight on July 31, 2026.

Bracket Points

• 90 to 100 points gets five (5) entries

• 80 to 89 points gets four (4) entries

• 70 to 79 points gets three (3) entries

• 69 points and below NO entry

Guidelines: Umpire must register to enter challenge and to be eligible for prizes.  Each registered umpire starts with 100 Bracket Points (BP) and one (1) BP will be subtracted per submitted observation received.  UBB cannot provide Bracket Points status during challenge.

• One (1) point will be subtracted for not getting both feet “Beyond the Dirt” 
• Each registered umpire shall observe and will submit one (1) observation on ten (10) separate/different umpires between June 1, 2026 and July 31, 2026 to be eligible to win. 
• All registered umpires are “Challenge Observers” and are eligible to submit observations. Observations must be submitted within 24 hours of date of observation.
• NON registered umpires can submit observations (one per umpire) 
• Professional MiLB umpires, Division I 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 sponsorships, etc. 
• Observations will be submitted via cell phone only using the following process:

- Go to ubbmatters.com

- Click on Menu

- Click on Ump Report   [Observers will Click on Observers Report]

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

- Click send.

                      Umpire Challenge Competition 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 (NO more than one per umpire)

EXPECTION(S): Get BOTH feet "Beyond the Dirt" on single batter-runner and on their fly balls

NOTE: Different umpire challenges, requirements and expectations added annually

                                   Annual Challenge TENURE 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          Five consecutive registration years (Indefinite "unless broken tenure occurs")

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