The 2025 season marked another strong year for the Little League® Umpire Development Program. Thanks to the dedication and contributions of umpires at every level, we saw increased participation in training opportunities, more applications for tournament assignments at the Little League® Baseball and Softball Region and World Series events, and continued growth across the program.
As we look toward 2026, Stu Hartenstein, Little League Director of Umpire Development and Operations, and Gerry Davis, Little League Senior Umpire Consultant and former Major League Baseball umpire, have outlined the key priorities that will guide the program in 2026 and beyond in a “Full-Count Conversation” – a series of content created each month to help umpires learn straight from each other’s success stories, Little League resources, and local league officials.
1-0 Count: Extend our reach to the local level.
While identifying and developing high-performing umpires for Little League Region and World Series events remains a core objective, the foundation of our program begins in local leagues and districts. Beginning in 2026, several new initiatives will strengthen communication, support, and umpire development at the grassroots level:
- National Instructor Team (NIT) – District U.I.C. Liaison Program: This new initiative pairs members of our National Instructor Team (NIT) with District Umpire-in-Chiefs (U.I.C.). These NIT members will serve as mentors, helping District U.I.C.s deliver consistent, high-quality training, identify future leaders, and better connect local efforts with the broader goals of the Umpire Development Program.
- Junior Umpire Mentorship Program (JUMP): Late in the 2025 season, a focus group of leagues using junior umpires — those under age 18 — came together to share best practices for recruiting, retaining, developing, and defending young officials. In 2026, we will share these best practices to help leagues build successful JUMP programs that use umpiring to teach service, responsibility, leadership, and other skills that prepare young people for adulthood.
- Addressing the Abuse of Officials: We are committed to promoting respect for umpires and exploring best practices to reduce the physical and verbal abuse of officials across youth sports.
1-1 Count: Amplify our training events and resources.
Our NIT members continue to study performance trends and data to shape effective, engaging instruction rooted in adult-learning principles. This ensures our umpires receive hands-on, learner-centered training designed to maximize understanding and performance.
In 2026, we will also begin updating and enhancing official resources, starting with the replacement of the Rules Instruction Manual with the new Little League Umpire’s Manual, scheduled for release early in the season. Little League is also proud to offer high-quality training in multiple formats, such as our in-person clinics and free online instruction via Little League University, The Umpire Registry, and additional training at LittleLeague.org/Training.
These resources equip umpires with accessible, easy-to-understand training and help equip league and district U.I.C.s to conduct effective clinics.
2-1 Count: Refine the process of identifying and selecting high-performing umpires.
Our robust training opportunities, along with our new NIT–District U.I.C. Liaison Program, will continue to strengthen the pathway for umpires aspiring to Region and World Series events. We are also expanding our use of technology, analytics, and data-driven approaches to support a fair, consistent, and objective selection process for both domestic and international umpires. This allows us to effectively balance opportunities for new umpires with the need for experience, mentorship, and leadership provided by returning/experienced umpires.
Internationally, we are making progress in identifying key leaders to align training and selection with the goals of the Umpire Development Program. This includes continuing to expand international representation on the Umpire Development Committee, Evaluation Team, and Instructor Team.
2-2 Count: Expand leadership development opportunities across all levels of the program.
The 2025 season saw an expanded use of the Crew Chief model at both the Region and World Series tournaments. These Crew Chiefs completed extensive leadership training based on our newly developed Crew Chief Leadership Manual. In 2026, the Leadership Development Subcommittee will continue expanding this training by:
- Strengthening leadership skills for managing crews on the field, off the field, and in the locker room
- Identifying and preparing future Crew Chiefs
- Expanding opportunities for leadership within our current structure and developing leaders at the local, district, and state levels through the NIT-District U.I.C. Liaison Program
3-2 Count: Collaborate with officiating industry leaders and contribute to the officiating community.
We will continue to collaborate with our umpire advisory board, made up of leaders in the officiating industry. As one of the largest entry points into officiating, Little League is committed to staying engaged with leaders across the officiating industry and continuing collaboration with officiating leaders from organizations such as the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS), the NCAA, the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO), and Umps Care Charities.
In collaborating with industry leaders and contributing to the officiating community, we will learn and share best practices and address issues such as the officiating shortage and the abuse of officials. This endeavor not only enhances Little League’s impact and credibility across youth sports but also affords us opportunities to learn and share best practices in recruiting, retaining, developing, and defending umpires to grow the game and improve the experience of all who take the field.
Umpires are one of the most important aspects in the success of local Little League programs around the world, and play a pivotal role in the experience of all our players throughout the Little League International Tournament. Gerry Davis Sports is the Official Umpire Uniform Supplier of the Little League World Series and Approved Licensee of Little League Umpire Uniforms and Gear.
Interested in becoming a Little League umpire? Visit LittleLeague.org/Umpires to learn more.