Every year, hundreds of Little Leaguers® run out onto the diamond to play in the Little League® World Series (LLWS™), living out the dream that so many players in the program strive for but only a handful are able to achieve. Living out the dream with those players and their coaches are the nearly 100 umpires who earn the honor to be selected to volunteer at one of the seven LLWS tournaments throughout the country.
Following its success in both Williamsport and Greenville the past few years, history will be made this year as there will be at least three veteran Crew Chiefs at each of the seven World Series events to assist with mentoring and education every step of the way.
“Having Crew Chiefs involved at these levels of play is the right move by Little League, not only for the umpire crews, but for the participants of the game, as well,” said Mike Debelak, former two-time LLBWS Crew Chief and 2025 WS Umpire Supervisor. “Having this now at all seven tournaments is the next step up, and it’s a big step in the right direction to strengthen that tournament experience.”
Also new in 2025, all individuals selected to be a Crew Chief at one of the seven international tournaments participated in the Little League Crew Chief Leadership program, a three-session virtual course designed to equip and empower them to lead both on and off the field, especially when umpiring on the biggest stage in youth sports.
To learn more about what it means to be a Crew Chief at a Little League World Series tournament, Little League sat down with both veteran and first-time Crew Chiefs for a “Full-Count Conversation.”
1-0: What is the role of a crew chief at a Little League World Series tournament?
Ricci Hall, 2025 LLBWS Veteran Crew Chief (RH): Number one, we are partners with our crewmates, and to be a good partner to our fellow umpires. Getting on the field at the Little League World Series can be a daunting task and overwhelming for people, so the concept of the crew chief is that they are able to provide some stability for the crew and help them through some of the nerves early on in the tournament.
Mike Debelak (MD): To lead the crew, be an example, be a sounding board for them, be a resource for them, and just calm the whole crew down. And, not even doing that with just their crew. All of the crew chiefs work together with the entire group of umpires, so it’s really helpful to be able to learn from someone who’s been there before.
1-1: The 2025 crew chiefs are the first group to participate in the Little League Crew Chief Leadership Program. What was the inspiration behind this program, and how will it help the crew chiefs?
Traci Duez, 2025 LLBWS Umpire (TD): We were talking about how these folks just get picked and thrown into a role… It was ‘you’ve been here a while, you should be a crew chief,’ and we thought there should be more in terms of being a leader. It’s a little different of a position because now you’re responsible for people and making sure you can provide for them on the field, as well. We are putting more emphasis on that and helping them think more like a leader.
MD: The Crew Chief Leadership Program manual is really like any manual. It’s as guideline or expectations of what we expect of crew chiefs and what their responsibilities will be. That’s important because when you go into it, while crew chief is a nice accolade and a nice title, what does that actually mean and what’s expected of you? Along with a manual, there’s a three-course section that we do for all of the crew chiefs so we can bring them up to speed on what those expectations are and gives them a little background on what they’ll need to do.
2-1: What does it mean to have a supportive community during a World Series tournament, and how do you, as crew chief, try to foster that sense of community?
Jason Kelley, 2025 LLBWS Crew Chief (JK): A supportive community helps you build up your character and the person you are. It helps you become more dependent and confident in your skills, and therefore, you can start to give back to others and build them up. As a crew chief, it’s my responsibility when we go out on the field to foster that sense of community and to be an example. My goal as a crew chief is to get at least one or two umpires that year to build them up and give them a path so they one day can be a crew chief in the coming years as well, and give that same experience to someone in the future.
Dennis Williams, 2025 LLBWS Crew Chief (DW): As the crew chief, you have to create a relaxed environment so that they’re ready. If they’re relaxed, then they can umpire better on the field. It makes it a lot easier for them if they’re relaxed and not worry about the surrounding things that come with umpiring. The biggest thing I tell them is, don’t umpire for replay, just umpire.
2-2: How does teamwork play a role for umpires during a Little League World Series game?
RH: For the umpire crew, there is no more important thing than teamwork. If one of us doesn’t perform or one of us makes a mistake, or one of us is not able to perform the way we need to, it affects all of us. So, teamwork is a critical value in the work that we do every day on the field.
Rob Ruhle, 2025 LLBWS Veteran Crew Chief (RR): It’s critical. Our teamwork started not only well before we got here, but also the number of things we talk about and go over prior to taking the field, and then being ready for whatever scenario is thrown at us. Being a part of the team builds everybody up, and I can count on whoever else is there for whatever situation there is. It’s such a vital part of teamwork. We are the third team on the field. We joke that we are the first team on the field, but really, it’s for the kids, and we are happy to be that third team that makes it all possible.
3-2: As a veteran Crew Chief, what advice would you give to umpires who are stepping out onto a World Series diamond for the first time?
MD: The game will move really fast. It’s faster than any game you’ve done. At the end of the day, it’s a game, and you officiate the game. There is a lot of hoopla and a lot of sound to it, glitz and glamour, and color to it, but it’s just a baseball [or softball] game, so settle in, get in your zone, and treat it like a baseball [or softball] game.
RH: Two pieces of advice. The first one is that while you’re here and experiencing the Little League World Series, it’s important to enjoy it and enjoy the moment. Then, when you get on the field, be at your best. These are the best teams in the world, and we’re going to be the best umpires for them. So, we need to make sure we are performing at the best possible caliber we can. Then, when you’re off the field, just enjoy the special place that this is.
RR: Take a second and look around. You’ve worked hard to get here, and now that you are here, don’t forget to look around for a second because while there’s a lot going on, it’s still nice to personally take it all in. Just like the kids, you’ve worked hard to get here, so relish it.
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. Interested in becoming a Little League umpire? Visit LittleLeague.org/Umpires to learn more. For more information on the Little League Baseball and Softball World Series, visit LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries.
For more information on the 2025 Little League Baseball® World Series, Presented by T-Mobile, and the Little League Softball® World Series, Presented by DICK’s Sporting Goods, as well as the five teenage World Series tournaments, visit LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries.