NBUA

Apprentice Training
2026-01-24 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Eastside Catholic High School, 232 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA, 98074, United States
This will be our first in-person training session for Apprentices only. We will hold this training at a classroom at Eastside Catholic High School. Parking is out by the baseball field then walk to the school campus. Directions to the actual classroom will be provided by Brian Sweet.
Session contents include:
Plate Basics (Jim Evan’s PPT)
Slot basics with mechanics
Strike Zone
Practical Strike Zone
Head Height, Tracking, Strike Mechanic, Ball Call Mechanic
Signal to partner
Putting the ball in play
Calling Time!
In-Field Fly Rule signals, vocals (when to call an IFF)
Timing Plays
Check swings

Apprentice Field Mechanics
2026-01-24 13:00 - 15:30 | Eastside Catholic High School, 232 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA, 98074, United States
This will be our first training session out on an actual field. We call this “Field Mechanics”, which are the physical aspects of umpiring. We will be meeting after lunch on the baseball field at Eastside Catholic High School. Dress for the weather, bring your mask if you have one, wear shoes appropriate for running on a (wet) turf field.

NBUA General Meeting
2026-01-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Bellevue Christian School, 1701 98th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, United States
All Tiers are welcomed at the 2026 NBUA General Meeting. The new Board of Directors will be introduced along with a new proposal for changing the way future boards will be elected. The NBUA President will lay out his expectations for the year to come and answer questions from the membership. The new Apprentice class will be introduced. Various recognition awards will be presented to C-Tier, B-Tier, A-Tier and T-Tier umpires.

Apprentice/C-Tier Training
2026-01-27 18:30 - 21:00 | WA
This will be another virtual Zoom Meeting. Details will be sent out by e-mail. If you don’t get the details before the meeting, contact Brian Sweet. The Training sessions from this point forward will include both Apprentices and C-Tier umpires.
Session contents include:
Pre-Game/Post-Game
Runner’s Lane
MLB Rules: Runner Rules
What is a Trouble Ball?
WOA Umpire Mechanics

C+Tier/B-Tier/A-Tier/T-Tier Training
2026-01-28 18:30 - 21:00 | WA
A virtual training session on Zoom. Details will be e-mailed beforehand. C+Tier are umpires that have completed 3 or more years on the C-Tier.
Subjects to be covered include:
Obstruction/Interference
Malicious contact
Ejections/Game management

Apprentice/C-Tier Training
2026-01-29 18:30 - 21:00 | WA
Another virtual training session using Zoom:
Session contents include:
Baseball rules – 8.00 the pitcher
MLB Rules (non-runner, pitcher, batter)
MLB Rules: Batter Rules
Base Awards
WOA Umpire Mechanics

Apprentice/C-Tier Training
2026-01-31 09:00 - 11:30 | Eastside Catholic High School, 232 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA, 98074, United States
This will be a classroom session at Eastside Catholic HS.
Sessions contents include:
Obstruction/Interference

B-Tier/C+Tier Field Mechanics
2026-01-31 09:00 - 11:30 | Eastside Catholic High School, 232 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA, 98074, United States
This will be a morning of Field Mechanics Drills on the field at Eastside Catholic. Dress for the weather.

Apprentice/C-Tier Field Mechanics
2026-01-31 12:30 - 15:30 | Eastside Catholic High School, 232 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA, 98074, United States
Meet on the baseball field after lunch. Dress for the weather. Bring your gear if you have it, or just your mask if that’s all you have.
Field Mechanics drills

B-Tier/C+Tier Scrimmages
2026-02-01 | WA
More scrimmage games to get you ready for the regular season.

A-Tier/T-Tier Scrimmages
2026-02-01 | WA
Scrimmages will be arrange at a time and place TBD.

A-Tier/T-Tier Scrimmages
2026-02-02 | WA
Scrimmages for training purposes will be arranged at a time and place TBD

Apprentice/C-Tier Training
2026-02-03 18:30 - 21:00 | WA
This is another virtual training session via Zoom.
Session contents include:
MLB Rules: Pitcher Rules
HS Rules (15-20 diff) PPT
Keys to umpiring baseball
How to work with your Partner
How to work with players
* Catcher Report

Apprentice/C-Tier Training
2026-02-05 18:30 - 21:00 | WA
This is another virtual session via Zoom.
Session contents include:
Obstruction/Interference (4 videos and discussion)
“We’ve all been there”
Game Management Techniques
* Non HS (how to handle summer ball, …)
* HS tools (how to leverage warnings, benching, …)
Handling / Working w/Coaches (griping, chirping)
Ejections

C+Tier/B-Tier/A-Tier/T-Tier Training
2026-02-05 18:30 - 21:00 | WA
Another virtual training session via Zoom.
Subjects to be covered include:
HS/MLB rules difference
Appeals
Getting/giving help to your partner

Apprentice/C-Tier Field Mechanics
2026-02-07 09:00 - 12:00 | Eastside Catholic High School, 232 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA, 98074, United States
This whole day will be outdoors on the baseball field at Eastside Catholic. This morning session will be more drills concerning field mechanics.

Apprentice/C-Tier Cage Training
2026-02-07 13:00 - 16:00 | Eastside Catholic High School, 232 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA, 98074, United States
This is another outdoor session at the ball field but we will be using the batting cages so we can get right into the details of working the plate and calling balls and strikes, check swings, foul tips, time, hit-by-pitch, putting the ball in play and all the other things that happen to the batter at bat.
A-Tier and T-Tier umpires are requested to support this training.

Apprentice/C-Tier Training
2026-02-10 18:30 - 21:00 | WA
This is another online training session using Zoom.
Session contents include:
Arbiter
Arbiter Pay / Wisely
When to get help / when to give help
Balks
Force Play Slide Rule
Designated Hitter Rule (DH)

C+Tier/B-Tier/A-Tier/T-Tier Training
2026-02-12 18:30 - 21:00 | WA
Another virtual training session via Zoom
Subjects covered will include:
Mechanics: plays at the plate, double play coverage, unusual/close plays
1-man mechanics
Expectations for B to A and expectations of A/TT feedback to B and C

Apprentice/C-Tier Scrimmages
2026-02-14 | WA
Trainees will be assigned to work scrimmage games (practice games played before the start of the regular season). The location and time of these games will not be known until a day or two before they occur so stay alert for your assignments. Bring all your gear and expect to work both plate and field. If you don’t have all your gear yet, let someone know and gear will be provided. Instructor umpires will be onfield with you and will also be available for debriefing off the field.
Support from A-Tier and T-Tier umpires is requested.

B-Tier/C+Tier Field Mechanics
2026-02-14 09:00 - 11:30 | Eastside Catholic High School, 232 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA, 98074, United States
Field Mechanics Training at ESC

A-Tier/T-Tier Scrimmages
2026-02-15 | WA
Scrimmage games for training purposes will be arranged at a time and place TBD

B-Tier/C+Tier Scrimmages
2026-02-15 10:00 - 14:00 | WA
More scrimmage games. Possiblly at Meridian Park. Stay tuned.

High School Rules
2026-02-19 18:30 - 21:00 | WA
This is our yearly Zoom training session with Tim Stevens to learn the differences/changes/points of emphasis in the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) rules for 2026. All tiers; Apprentice, C-Tier, B-Tier, A-Tier and T-Tier are invited to attend. See Posts for login information.

Apprentice/C-Tier Scrimmages
2026-02-22 | WA
More scrimmage games. Talk to your trainers to get signed up. Locations to be determined.
We need A-Tier and T-Tier umpires to participate as trainers, please contact Bill Fitzgerald to confirm.

High School Study
2026-02-26 18:30 - 21:00 | Bellevue Christian School, 1701 98th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, United States
This is our annual study session for the High School Rules Test that we all must pass in order to be assigned games. All Tiers are invited to attend; Apprentice, C-Tier, B-Tier, A-Tier, T-Tier.
Before the session, instructions will be sent out, the group will be divided alphabetically and given a certain group of questions to research. Be prepared to discuss the questions your group has been assigned.

Apprentice/C-Tier Scrimmages
2026-02-28 | WA
More scrimmage games to practice your skills before the games begin to get serious. Talk to your trainers about assignments.
Support from A-Tier and T-Tier requested (Mentors encouraged to participate with your mentees)

B-Tier/C+Tier Scrimmages
2026-02-28 | WA
More Scrimmage games, time and play TBD probably sign up through Arbiter

NBUA Business Meeting
2026-03-02 19:00 - 20:30 | Bellevue Christian School, 1701 98th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, United States
All NBUA members are invited to attend the annual business meeting, the last time we will all be together before the season starts. The various commitee chairs will describe their functions and report their current status. Apprentices will be introduced to their mentors (if they haven’t already met during the scrimmages). The surplus equipment will be available for new umpires to pick through. The hat manufacturer will be present to hand out NBUA logo hats that have been ordered.
Apprentices, C-Tier, B-Tier, A-Tier, T-Tier

Apprentice/C-Tier Training
2026-03-03 18:30 - 21:00 | WA
This is the final scheduled Zoom class for new umpires. It will cover a wide range of topics and is an excellent place to ask questions that may have come up during the scrimmages (like why did one upper level umpire tell me one thing while another senior umpire told me the complete opposite?)
session topics include:
Appeals
Force Play Slide Rule
DH
Lineup Card
Lineup Card Management
Peer Evaluations
Plays At the Plate / Wedge
Confusing Test Questions
Plate Meeting
Open session to talk about anything that you want to.
