SDLL Young Umpire Program

Help the next generation learn the game you love by joining our Young Umpire Academy. Umpires are well-trained, provided uniform and equipment, and paid $40 per game. 

We invite all those interested to apply! The deadline is August 31st, 2025 at 11:59pm. Please apply ASAP so we can better plan.

South Durham Little League is excited to continue the Young Umpire Program. We learned a lot last year and heard great feedback. Here are some new improvements and expansions for this Fall season!

• Some Young Umpires with experience will have the opportunity to call balls and strikes during the kid-pitch division

• After a successful rollout, we are continuing to develop our scheduling system to improve planning, communication and scheduling.

• We will be expanding the number of leagues that Young Umpires provide service for, giving more opportunities for umpires!

• We are continuing to grow our Softball division and hoping many of our softball alumni will join us! 

• We will open the schedule to allow game signups for the entire season, giving families the ability to plan ahead as much as possible. 

• Steven King will again serve as the Young Umpire Trainer. He will lead the workshop. During the season, he will support SDLL’s Umpire Coordinator (Zack Capozzi), who will take the lead in helping the Young Umpires grow into their authority on the field.

Good umpires are critical to the long-term success of SDLL. It is our goal to build a strong squad of umpires in the SDLL family to help us provide safe, fair, and consistent play for all teams and players. We also want to provide this opportunity for players who have been in SDLL to continue to be a part of the community, demonstrate real-world leadership skills and thrive. Last, this gives all our current players role models to look up to.


This program requires committed umpires who hustle and whose confidence and decisiveness will earn the respect of the players and coaches.


To participate, the Young Umpire Program requires an on-field, in-person workshop, working knowledge of the Little League Rule Book for the respective age division, and completion of the USA Baseball - Abuse Training for Minors course

By attending the training session,
Umpires will learn to maintain a safe, fair, and fun game environment for all players, coaches and fans.
Umpires will learn how to act professionally and confidently and communicate clearly.
Umpires will learn how to handle disagreements and safety issues with coaches.

The workshop will be at Parkwood Ball Field on:
Sunday, September 7th


(If this is your first year in the program, you must attend this session; if you are a returning Young Umpire, you are encouraged to attend.)

Young Umpires who successfully complete the program will be invited to participate in umpiring ball games. This is an academy aimed at helping you develop. We know that development takes time and commitment, so to help you with expenses and to ensure commitment, Young Umpires will be paid $40 per game as a 1099 independent contractor (we can explain what that means at the workshop).

Young Umpires will be provided with an umpiring shirt, hat, ball bag, brush, and clicker. Umpires will be expected to wear their own gray or black pants/slacks with a black belt. NO SHORTS.

Requirements to Apply
13 years of age or older
Strong knowledge of baseball and/or softball
Previous experience as a player in a Little League strongly encouraged
Complete the application form prior to midnight ET on August 31st, 2025.

Requirements to Umpire Games
Attend an in-person workshop 
Affirm reading of Little League Rule Book
Pass Rule Test
Register as a Little League Umpire 
Completion of the free USA Baseball - Abuse Training for Minors course

If you have questions, please contact Zack Capozzi ([email protected]).