Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004

Umpire Assessment Slashed
Incentive program puts even more money in umpires' pockets

By Scott Johnson
Editor

The NBUA Board of Directors last night voted to let our umpires keep more of their hard earned money.

In connection with approving a budget for 2005, the Board restructured how much an umpire pays to run the association out of each game worked. For 2005 every umpire except rookies will only pay a 9 percent assessment out of each game fee. The rate for decades has been 11 percent. The rookie rate will also drop, from 13 to 11 percent. Rookies pay more as the cost associated with getting them trained to work games is higher than for returning umpires.

A new incentive program in place for 2005 will enable umpires to pay even less. Through games worked incentives as well as incentives for completing certain training levels, umpires can see their assessments drop another 4 percent.

Umpires who complete a minimum training level and then a higher level, can receive up to a 2 percent reduction. Once the season begins, umpires who work more games will pay less in assessments. Umpires will receive a 1/2 percent break at the 40, 80, 120 and 160 game levels. The more you work, the less you pay. An umpire who attends all of his required training and works 160 games will only pay 5 percent of their earnings, less than half of what they previously paid. Rookies can achieve the same incentives and reduce their assessment to a maximum of 7 percent.