High School Season Starts
2025-03-07 - 2025-03-09
The High School Season starts this weekend and often these matches will involve round robin games that put three teams on a field and they play 3 inning games until all 3 teams have each played 6 innings. Or they might just play normal games. You ask the coaches. Apprentice umpires are generally paired with their mentors for these games.

3 Man Mechanics Training
2025-04-12 19:00 - 21:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
For B-Tier, A-Tier and T-Tier umpires who will be assigned games in the upcoming High School playoffs, this is a chance to brush up on your 3-Man field mechanics. All umpires are welcomed to attend.
This will be an online session so watch your e-mail for the login details

Voting Begins
2025-09-08
Voting is virtual. You will all be sent information on how to cast your ballot via individual e-mails.

2025 Banquet and Awards Dinner
2025-09-13 18:00 - 22:00 | Gala Events, 18318 SR 203, Monroe, WA, 98272, United States
This is our annual Banquet and Awards dinner to be held in a new location this year. For the first time in a long time it will NOT be held the same day as our annual golf tournament.
This is our agenda so far:
* 6pm Bar opens, 7pm Banquet will get underway
* Location is the Gala Events location just south of Monroe (see below)
* Food is hosted by J&L Barbeque
* This event is for our Members & their significant others
* NBUA members are free (included with your dues), and your guests are only $35
* Many of our customers are invited as well
* Dress code is to dress nice for the evening. Most fellows wear shirt/tie/jacket. Most ladies wear a dress or pantsuit.
* This is a really fun event for the ladies too!
* Several awards will be given out including Rookie of the Year, Outstanding Umpire(s) of the Year & more.
* This event is where/when all promotions are announced…

Hope to see you all there.

Voting Closes
2025-09-15 00:00 - 18:00
Voting will close at 6PM and the votes will be tallied that evening by the election committee.

Apprentice Training
2026-01-22 18:30 - 21:00
Hello to new umpires! If you have not done so yet, please make yourself known to our staff by applying via the New Umpire Application form on the homepage of this website. This will be a virtual training session using Zoom. Please download and test your Zoom application before the meeting. For login information please contact Brian Sweet (Director of Training) see contacts section of this website.
Session contents include:
Director of Training (Welcome to NBUA, …)
Apprentice Training 1st day
Basic List of NBUA Items Required
NBUA Uniform and Equipment
NBUA Umpire Terminology
Signaling the Basic 8
Apprentice / C Tier Expectations
WOA Umpire Mechanics (intro for apprentice)

Apprentice Training
2026-01-24 09:00 - 12:00 | 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
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
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
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
More scrimmage games to get you ready for the regular season.

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

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

Apprentice/C-Tier Training
2026-02-03 18:30 - 21:00
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
More scrimmage games. Possiblly at Meridian Park. Stay tuned.

High School Rules
2026-02-19 18:30 - 21:00
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.
