Business Meeting and Rules Interpretation Clinic

The regularly scheduled VHSSUA Business Meeting and Rules Interpretation Clinic for 2020 is Sunday, March 15 at Spaulding High School, 155 Ayers St., Barre, VT.

The Vermont High School Softball Umpires Association (VHSSUA) Bylaws, Article 3, Section 1, state that to be eligible for membership, a person must complete a National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) rules interpretation clinic as required by the Vermont Principals Association (VPA). If a member is unable to attend the Vermont offering, s/he may attend an approved NFHS rules interpretation clinic in another state.

The Bylaws further state, “Should a prospective member be unable to attend any NFHS rules interpretation clinic, he or she may petition the Board of Directors for a waiver.” A member may petition the VHSSUA Board of Directors, in writing, for a waiver via the Grievance Committee. If a waiver is not granted, the member will be ineligible for varsity assignments in that year. Request for Waiver may be sent to Richard Long at 1955rmlvt@comcast.net. If a member is granted a waiver, the Clinician/Rules Interpreter, will arrange a rules interpretation clinic with said member.

Out-of-State Clinic Dates and Locations

New Hampshire 

A member exercising this option must provide evidence of this attendance in the form of a signed certificate by the sponsoring state’s leadership and delivered to the VHSSUA Secretary/Treasurer in a timely fashion. If an Amateur Softball Association of America National Umpire School is held the same weekend as the VHSSUA NFHS clinic, a member may attend this event instead of the NFHS clinic, but must provide proof of attendance.

Any VHSSUA members seeking to meet their NFHS refresher clinic obligation while living in Florida may consult the following webpage of the Florida High School Athletic Association: http://www.becomeanofficial.org/directory/. At this site, you may search for the local association by what county you may be in. It will have all the contact information listed. 

A member exercising this option must provide evidence of this attendance in the form of a signed certificate by the sponsoring state’s leadership and delivered to the VHSSUA Secretary/Treasurer in a timely fashion. If an Amateur Softball Association of America National Umpire School is held the same weekend as the VHSSUA NFHS clinic, a member may attend this event instead of the NFHS clinic, but must provide proof of attendance.

4-Year Refresher Mechanics Clinic

The regularly scheduled VHSSUA Mechanics Clinic for 2020 is Sunday, March 15 at 12 Noon at Spaulding High School. At least once in every four years all members are required to attend a VHSSUA mechanics clinic in order to be assigned Varsity games. The mechanics clinic will take place after the Business/New Rules Interpretation Meeting. Any member that cannot attend a needed mechanics clinic one time in a 4 year span may request, and will be permitted, a one-time waiver. Request for Waiver may be sent to Richard Long at 1955rmlvt@comcast.net. Currently, the mechanics clinic is offered one time per year.

New Umpire Requirements

New umpires are always welcome! They are required to attend (1) the annual Business Meeting and Rules Interpretation Clinic, (2) Mechanics Clinic, and (3) a scheduled Play-Day. Request any information needed from the Clinician Committee at VHSSUAclinician@gmail.com.

1.    Business Meeting and Rules Interpretation Clinic: March 15, 2020 at Spaulding High School, 155 Ayers St, Barre, VT.

2.    Mechanics Clinic: March 15, 2020  following the annual Rules Interpretation Clinic, at Spaulding High School.

3.    Play-Days: Live, on-field training sessions

            Dates to be announced in the Spring