Uniform and Equipment Essentials for New Umpires

Congratulations! You made the decision to be a part of the umpiring family. What comes next? What will you need? We’re here to help get you started.

Unfortunately, there are startup costs that must occur before even stepping onto the field. Umpire uniforms and protective equipment are needed. Start with the essentials at first. You can continue to add to your collection or upgrade items as your career progresses. This strategy has worked for me since I started umpiring in 2006.

The following products are my recommendations for you as a brand new umpire looking to make the initial investment to start your umpire career.

Uniform

You will quickly learn that perception is reality when it comes to your appearance on the field. It is vital for your uniform to fit properly and be well kept in order to command the respect of coaches, players, and spectators.

Every association or league has different uniform standards. You will want to ask those in the association or league what style or color to buy. Most umpires have a black umpire shirt and a powder blue umpire shrt in their closet. We recommend the Smitty Short Sleeve Body Flex Umpire Shirt - Black to start. There are many colors in this traditional style, but black, powder blue, and navy blue are the most popular. As you work games, you can add to your color selection.

In order to keep cost down, it is recommended to invest in one pair of Smitty Combo Umpire Pants rather than buying a pair of plate pants and a pair of base pants. Most upper level umpires wear plate pants when working the plate and base pants while on the bases, but combo pants will certainly get the job done to start. The Smitty Combo Umpire Pants come in both Charcoal Grey and Heather Grey in standard polyester fabric or an upgraded Poly Spandex. Again, you may want to ask your association or league what color pants they prefer.

Helpful Hint: All umpire pants come unhemmed. When having them hemmed by your local tailor, it is recommended to wear your shin guards and plate shoes (for plate and combo pants) to ensure proper length.

Don’t forget about the belt. An umpire belt is wider than the standard dress belt to provide extra strength for the belt to attach your ball bag(s) when working the plate. We offer both Genuine and Patent Leather 1 ¾”. For proper fit, it is recommended to go 2” to 4” larger than your pants size.

There are a few options when choosing which cap you want. There are four, six, and eight stitch bills (length of bill varies) and wool, mesh, or Richardson Pulse Performance moisture wicking fabric.  I personally wear a four stitch hat the plate and a six stitch hat on the bases. You may want to start with a four stitch hat for the plate until you master removing your mask without removing your hat.

Depending on where and when your games will take place, you may want to consider purchasing an umpire jacket. There are three styles: traditional half-zip (medium weight), fleeced lined full zip (heavy weight), and convertible jackets (light weight) where the sleeves can be removed at the elbow. The traditional half-zip is most common and again, the black with white shoulder stripes and navy blue with red and white shoulder stripes are the most popular color options.

Shoes

Wearing quality footwear will make those long games feel like a walk in the park. You should invest in both plate and base shoes. Umpire plate shoes have a composite toe box and a metatarsal plate to protect your entire foot from pass and foul balls. You will not regret making this investment. 

The New Balance V3 Plate Shoes are the best plate shoes on the market and are worn by Major League Umpires. Low and mid cut are available in most sizes and widths. 3n2 Reaction Pro Umpire Plate Shoes are a good entry level plate shoe at a value price for umpires just starting out.

Base shoes should be comfortable to stand in for gravel or dirt but also have traction in grass. The New Balance Base Shoes also come in low and mid cut in most sizes and widths.

Some associations and leagues have uniform policies to what style of shoe they require. It is best to ask your group if there are any color restrictions (some do not approve of “white” on the shoe) before making your purchase.

Protective Equipment 
Mask

I am a firm believer in investing more in head safety. There are many options when picking which umpire mask or helmet is right for you. Materials and colors vary in both frame and pad options. The aluminum mask frame is becoming a very popular choice given the lighter weight than steel and lower cost than titanium. The Diamond iX3 Aluminum Umpire Mask and Wilson Dyna-Lite Aluminum Umpire Mask are both excellent frames. There are multiple colors and pad options with each frame.

Chest Protector

Finding the right umpire chest protector is determined by body frame size and the level of baseball or softball you are officiating. I recommend a hard plastic outer shell for any level higher than about 12 year olds. The Champion Body Armor Umpire Chest Protector is cost efficient and offers adequate protection. It comes in three sizes so finding the proper fit is much easier than a one-size-fits-most chest protector. The Champro Pro-Plus Umpire Chest Protector does not have a hard outer shell, but has a hard plated shoulder and collarbone pads which provides sufficient protection for lower level baseball or softball. You can choose to add more padding with Champro removable stomach protection pad and removable bicep protection.

Shin Guards

Of all the protective umpire equipment, shin guards are the one item where you can choose economic value over protection. The Diamond Umpire Shin Guards or the Diamond Featherweight Umpire Shin Guards are a great pair of shin guards to start with. They are both lower profile (so they will fit under your combo pants better) and lighter weight than some of the higher end shin guards.

Accessories and Kits

You will need an indicator, plate brush, and ball bag(s). The Ump-Kit consists of a black or navy Smitty Ball Bag, Champro Plastic Plate Brush, and Champro 3-Dial Optic Yellow Plastic Umpire Indicator with 4/3/3 Count. All three tools are necessary, so you might as well purchase them together. If you want to wear two ball bags, you will have to purchase the second one separately.

If you are looking for one-click shopping, you may want to consider the a starter set which includes a mask, chest protector, shin guards, ball bag, plate brush, and indicator. The equipment in the package is the most economical equipment option.

Summary

It can be overwhelming knowing you need to make such a large initial investment to start your umpire career, but you will have the peace of mind knowing you are well protected and looking your best. As you continue to progress and work more games, reinvesting your game fees in your umpire equipment and uniforms will allow you to continue to rise through the ranks and score the top assignments.

Want more detailed information about products or sizing? Check out the following pages:

• Buyers Guide
• Fitting Room

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WARNING: Participants in any sports activity assume risk of injury. This equipment may be used to help aid in preventing or reducing the extent of injury. No equipment can guarantee umpire or player safety from injury during participation, and use of this equipment carries no such guarantee. Do not use any umpire equipment that is damaged in any way.