With the 2026 season heating up, Little League® umpires from 11 different countries across the Europe and Africa Region made their way to the Little League Baseball European Leadership Training Center in Kutno, Poland, to develop their skills at an annual baseball and softball umpiring clinic on March 27-29.
The 26 participants traveled to the region headquarters from Czechia, Poland, Italy, Ukraine, Spain, Latvia, Germany, France, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Georgia.
During the three-day event, participants ran through a series of different training sessions, including on-field training, classroom sessions, and a focused curriculum on four-umpire crew mechanics. The clinic was led by instructors who traveled from five different countries, representing Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Czechia, and the United Kingdom.
The 2026 Little League Europe and Africa Region Softball Tournament is scheduled to kick off on July 1, 2026, in Kutno, Poland, and will crown a champion on July 5, with the Little League Europe and Africa Region Baseball Tournament following from July 19-26.
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. As a way to continually develop these umpires throughout the year, Little League International offers a variety of digital training and educational resources available on LittleLeague.org/Umpires, a bi-monthly Fair Ball Newsletter, access to the free Little League Umpire Registry, and formal training through Umpire Clinics and Schools around the nation. Additionally, the umpires for the 2026 Little League Baseball and Softball World Series will once again participate in a multi-day orientation.
Looking to step up to the plate and be an umpire this season? Visit LittleLeague.org/Umpire to learn more and find a league near you. Also, don’t forget to shop for all your umpire polos, caps, and accessories by visiting ShopLittleLeague.org.