How much travel is involved?

The ever-expanding reach of Next Level Officials makes travel for our organization easier than ever. Umpires associated with our association find that Next Level game sites are not far from where they live or work. Travel is always left to the preference of the individual umpire. The location of your job and home can influence these preferences. Assignments are made to ensure umpires officiate games close to home when possible. However, some umpires find better variety and quality-of-play as an incentive for additional travel.

Is there a minimum age?

The minimum age is 17. We have had several umpires start umpiring with NEGOA during their high school year. We encourage men and women of all ages to umpire.

Must I have prior playing experience to umpiring?

No. Your dedication to the sport and desire to be a part of it is all that is required.

What kind of time commitment should I expect?

That’s up to you and your schedule. A benefit of Next Level Officials is our flexible assigning practices. In a given season, some umpires work as many games as they want and as few as they want. Prior to the season, umpires complete their availability on the Ref Town website so the assignor is aware of umpires’ preferences and availablity. For example, several umpires choose to officiate only a few games to accommodate their work schedules. Time spent studying the rules can add to the time dedicated to umpiring, but this is at the discretion each individual umpire. We do ask that you attend our mandatory meetings starting in early August and ending just before the season starts.

What levels of softball can I umpire?

Experience, skill, dedication and hustle influence games assigned. The opportunities available can be at any level...High School, College, local Travel Ball, and more however, performance evaulations by Next Level Officials instructors will determine the level of games assigned.

What do you need to get started?

Next Level Officials will guide you through the entire process, which starts with you contacting Next Level Officials. We will instruct you on when our meetings will held and assist with pairing up with a veteran umpire for a season start. This will depend completely on how much experience you have. Next, a uniform and equipment are required. Next Level Officials will walk you through this process:

• A uniform shirt/pants can cost as little as $95 and an equipment starter package will run as low as $175. Check out or Vendors page.


• For the budget conscious, second-hand equipment is available from Next Level Officials members at a fraction of the cost or check-out websites like: Craigslist or Ebay. Contact us at [email protected] and we’ll get you in contact with the right person.


• Umpires usually find the initial outlay of cash for equipment and apparel negligible compared to the potential income from game fees and everything you purchase (including your mileage) is deductible from your yearly taxes.

Will I need to take a test? Attend training?

Next Level Officials holds several meetings prior to season with our new, returning, and veteran umpires to ensure they understand the rules of softball. We review the GHSA Official Rules and how they differ from year-to-year. We highly encourage you to get to know a veteran umpire and regularly contact him to ask questions and how they would handle a situation. You will need to take an "online" rules clinic through GHSA as well as a rules exam (must score higher than an 85 to call varsity) also by GHSA. All tests will be reviewd and debated at Next Level Officials meetings prior to any exams.

Will I receive feedback?

Your performance on the field directly correlates to your satisfaction with umpiring. Providing you with feedback is a priority for our association and we make every effort to make that feedback worthwhile. You may also take advantage of requesting your performance be evaulated by our Next Level Officials during the season. You can call and request an eveluation for an upcoming game. Your performance evaluation will be passed on to our game assignor for a possible level promotion resulting in higher level games. Keep in mind, you MAY be evaulated by an anonymous person from GHSA that can effect your post-season assigments.

Would I be an employee of Next Level Officials?

No. We are merely an agent to broker games between umpires and schools.

• As an umpire, you are considered an “Independent Contractor”.
• Your independent contractor status gives you the bonus of tax deductibility of your expenses.
• As a not-for-profit organization, Next Level Officials does not hold liability for worker’s compensation or unemployment insurance.
• Taxes are not withheld, but 1099 tax forms are issued through Dragonfly annually.

Thank You for your interest in Next Level Officials

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us. Good luck to you with your umpiring career. You will find that our umpires will accept you into our organization and will do anything they can to help you with your career.

Next Level Officials are involved in our community and work hard to assure the utmost in integrity.
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