umpire challenge

The UBB Summer Umpire Challenge, requires the plate umpire to get both feet, “Beyond the Dirt” surrounding home plate.  Our focus is on the first batter of each half-inning or the single batter-runner.  The challenge is BONUS structured on umpire movements with Peer and FAN observations.

Registration fee is $10 per umpire and the next Summer Umpire Challenge starts Memorial Day weekend, May 2027 and ends July 31, 2027.  Winner(s) drawn August 21, 2027.

                                       Umpire Participant Requirements and Expectations

REQUIREMENTS:

1. MUST register and pay no later than May 15, 2027
2. MUST submit 1 umpire challenge observation on 5 different umpires

EXPECTION(S): Plate Umpire gets BOTH feet "Beyond the Dirt" surrounding home plate 

Registration Fee: $10 paid NLT Saturday May15, 2027. Fee is $20 beginning May 16, 2027.

PRIZES:

1st:    Place$250 (with 25 or more registered PRIZE increases to $500)

2nd:   Up to $500 towards Crew of Three Umpire Camp

3rd:    $100 towards umpire dues

Participants number of enteries to win are determined by their Bracket Points/Entries status (below) at midnight on last day of challenge.

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
• Challenge Expectation: U1 must get both feet  “Beyond the Dirt" around home plate.
• Must register to be eligible to win
• Bracket Points status determines total entries to win
• Registered umpires starts with 100 points
• Registered umpires lose one (1) Bracket Point per observation received on them
• Registered umpires must submit ten (5) observations (minimum required)
• Registered umpires can only submit one (1) observation per umpire.
• Observations can be submitted by registered, non-registered umpires, and FANS.
• 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
• Winner to be drawn August 21, 2027

Observations will/must be submitted via cell phone only and using the following process:

- Go to www.ubbmatters.com

- Click on Menu

- Click on Fellow Ump Observation

- Put Ump number. YOUR email

- Click send.

                                        “BONUS POINTS BREAKDOWN"

There are SEVEN (7) avenues umpires can earn or be awarded Bonus Points (BP):        

1- “Select Individuals” observation being submitted

2- Umpires Movement during their games

3- The Goose Egg Game with (“0”s) on the scoreboard

4- Defensive Plays by either team (i.e., Triple play; ground ball reverse double play)

5- 101+ Bracket Points status at end of challenge

6- FANS on Plate Umpire getting "Beyond The Dirt"

7- Coaches on Consistant Strike Zone

***NOTE*** Request for BP for numbers 2, 3 and 4 are submitted by the game umpires themselves and must be submitted before 8 am the next day.

1 - “BONUS Points” by Select Individuals (SI) (Individual umpire 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)

2 - “BONUS Points” by Umpire Movements (Individual umpire 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)

3 - “BONUS Points” for Goose Egg Game (Both umpires 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

4 - “BONUS Points” for Defensive Plays (Both umpires 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

5 - “BONUS Points” for 101+ Bracket Points (Individual umpire 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)

6 - "BONUS Points" by FANS (Both Feet Challenge ONLY) (plate umpire gets points)

- Is focused on the first batter only of each half-inning

- Can only submit ONE (1) observation per plate umpire per day

- Must be submitted same day of game

7 - "BONUS Points" by Coaches (Consistency of Strike Zone)

Only one (1) observation can be submitted per coach, per game, and per tournament

Must be submitted on same day as game

                                       Annual Registered TENURE Amount Chart for Winning 

 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, and this list is not limited to, i.e., late registration, did not register, etc.  Beginning with the next challenge registration, the TENURE time will start over and $250 will be the beginning prize amount.  TENURE will also start over if there are Two (2) consecutive disqualifying status/points/actions.  Conduct unbecoming of any umpire is an IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION and umpire is ineligible to win for that summer.

                                                            FAN's and Parents

                                                     We Need Your Feedback!

           Here is your IMMEDIATE way to impact on your Plate Umpires Performance!

                                            You can Give-1-Point or Take-1-Point

Where Is The Home Plate Umpire at the End of Play?

1- Each half-inning on the first batter only. Where’s the Plate Umpire at the end of the play? Was he consistant at having BOTH FEET outside or  “Beyond The Dirt” circle surrounding home plate?  If YES, you can Give-1-Point to that plate umpire.

On your cell phone Scan QR code

Click Menu

Click FAN GIVE-1-Point

Put Umpires No. and your email

Click Send.  It takes 20 seconds or less.

2- Each half-inning on the first batter only.  On any fly ball to the outfield.  If the Plate Umpire DOES NOT get BOTH FEET “Beyond The Dirt” circle surrounding home plate... , then you can Take-1-Point from that plate umpire.  

On your cell phone Scan QR code

Click Menu

Click FAN TAKE-1-Point

Put Umpires No. and your email

Click Send.  It takes 20 seconds or less.

3- IF THE PLATE UMPIRE DOES NOT HAVE A NUMBER DISPLAYED.

Go to ubbmatters.com or on cell phone scan QR code on UBB signage

Go to MENU

Click on NO Number Displayed

Complete the two fields

Click Send