Disclosure

• One Umpire Bond will be offered to each team in the following divisions:
  U9, U11, U13 Div 2/3, U15 Div 2/3, U17 & U19 Div 2/3.

 

Outcome

• To foster a fun, safe, and fair playing environment for players, umpires, coaches, and families.
   

Objectives

• Deliver quality, confident, and consistent umpiring at Rockies home games and potentially beyond, depending on umpire participation.

• Successfully execute the pilot umpire program during the 2025 Spring/Summer season.

• When proved successful, present the program to CMSA, CMUA, and other softball affiliations with the goal of city-wide adoption.

Benefits of Becoming an SBR Rockies Bonded Umpire

• Help resolve a pressing issue facing CMSA/CMUA by providing a low stress environment to gain experience. Which in turn will hopefully get more people to get certified under CMUA.

• Once certified, it will provide umpires—whether minors or adults—with a primary or secondary source of income. (This does not refer to games that fall within your bond obligation)

• Fulfill your SBR Rockies volunteer bond of $250.

• Support your daughter’s coaches by relieving them of umpiring concerns, giving them more time to mentor your players.

• Count your umpired games toward an official, carded umpire designation.

• Set a great example—your kids and peers will remember your contribution to this initiative.
   

Bond Fulfillment Requirements

• Commit to umpiring the majority of your player’s SBR Rockies home games (if a CMUA umpire is not assigned).

• If you are unavailable for a game, it is your responsibility—not the coaches’ or manager’s—to find a replacement (either another parent or a bonded umpire).

• If a sibling or family friend is fulfilling the role, they must be in the age group above the player’s division (e.g., must be 16+ to umpire a U15 game).

• Attend the mandatory 2–2.5 hour in-person training session provided by SBR and hosted by Jim Portman, President of the Calgary Minor Umpires Association. This session will build your confidence and cover key rules and on-field positioning. You’ll also receive CMSA and Softball Canada rulebooks.
   

Reporting

• A member of the coaching staff or team manager will track which games are umpired by whom. This record will determine bond fulfillment at the end of the season.
   

How to Sign Up

• See below for Umpire Training Clinic information and sign up or reach out to SBR Umpire and League Support at respectthegame@sbrsoftball.com