Rob Hall always used to be roped into umpiring his son Steve’s baseball games.

“Every time I showed up, there were no umpires, so they’d ask, ‘Rob, can you come out and umpire the game?’ ” said the now umpire-in-chief for New Hampshire’s Little League District 1. “It began with that, and the next thing you know, my son moved on to college baseball, and I kept doing it.”

Now over 25 years after he first started umpiring, Hall’s leading an effort in New Hampshire to train the next generation of umpires. On Saturday March 25, he’s organized a junior umpire training event at the NH Sportsdome in Hooksett.

They had to shut down signups because they’ve already had 70 people say they plan to attend; Hall hoped to have 20.

Kids as young as 13 will have the chance to learn from Hall and Jeff Ross – the umpires-in-chief for Districts 1 and 2 in the state – as well as Ricci Hall and Dave Kudej, two umpires based out of Little League’s eastern region complex in Bristol, Connecticut, for the event. Phil Levesque, a New Hampshire umpire who worked last year’s Little League World Series, will also be in attendance.

“We’re trying to establish a Little League junior umpire program here in New Hampshire,” Rob Hall said. “As the umpire numbers have been dwindling, we need to replenish with younger kids.”

In December, the Monitor reported on how umpiring and other sport official shortages have impacted high school athletics. But the issue also trickles down to the youth level.

This six-hour training aims to help address the problem.

And beyond the opportunity for kids to gain some experience learning how to umpire, older umpires who haven’t been able to travel to Bristol to receive the training they provide, can also attend. They’ll discuss the mechanics of umpiring behind the plate and working the bases, among other topics.

Historically, Little League has prided itself on being a fully volunteer organization. But with umpires now often turning down opportunities with Little League to work for AAU or other more financially lucrative leagues, towns have had to pivot to compensating.

That aspect, Hall hopes, will help keep young kids involved.

“You can make some money during the summer, you’re outside with the kids, it’s a pleasant environment,” he said. “The parents are under guidelines that they’re not to yell at these kids during their games. There’s a code of conduct.”

Anyone interested in umpiring for Little League can reach out to Rob Hall (thehalls6@comcast.net) or Jeff Ross (jro1954outlook.com). 

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