Blog

The Neighborhood Box Score (Community Good Highlighted) - January 2021

Jan 14th, 2021

Learn about recent and upcoming events & happenings from Umps Care Charities, WWUA, Battlefields to Ballfields and more.

Top 10 Umpire & Referee Videos from 2020

Jan 5th, 2021

Watch the top videos of 2020 from our library!

HeatShields Shoe Inserts Featured in Referee Magazine

Oct 21st, 2020

HeatShields Shoe Inserts are the latest innovation for umpires and referees to keep their feet cool on turf surfaces.

The Neighborhood Box Score (Community Good Highlighted) - October 2020

Oct 21st, 2020

Umps Care #56CoopChallenge, WWUA Initiatives, Upcoming Facebook Live with Fielden Culbreth and More

Baseball Rules Academy: Advanced Rule Lookup & So Much More

Sep 30th, 2020

Cincinnati Red commentator Chris Welsh and MLB umpire Ted Barrett have created an online platform where every baseball rule - from MLB, NCAA, NFHS, Little League and more - can be easily searched and compared. We are proud to be the Official Umpire Gear Supplier of BRA.

Mid-American Umpire Clinic Raises $2800 for UMPS CARE Charities

Sep 21st, 2020

Not only does the MAUC do a fantastic job training umpires to make them better, they give back more than perhaps any other clinic in the country!

The Neighborhood Box Score (Community Good Highlighted) - September 2020

Sep 6th, 2020

Jim Goes Parental with Umpire Cap & Bill Length Warning on Umpire-Empire Post

Sep 3rd, 2020

What umpire cap bill length should you wear when working the plate? Eject your traditional thinking. New style umpire masks are changing what cap stitch you should (and shouldn't wear) today.

VIDEO: We Went "Beyond the Basics" at the NASO Summit @Home with 5 Officials Sporting Goods Trends

Sep 3rd, 2020

Trends for all-sports of officiating include COVID-19 Wear & Essentials, Product Storage & Care and Shoes; for umpires, supplemental protection and cup systems.

Why the NOCSAE Standard Doesn't Help Umpires / Follow These 5 Steps Instead

Sep 3rd, 2020

The NOCSAE standard as it relates to umpire safety is mentioned with advice to follow these 5 steps instead. Hockey style helmets, Skull Caps, Uncaps & the Cryohelmet are all discussed.

THE DISH: All-Star Sporting Goods Cobalt Line Reveal

Aug 25th, 2020

Join us Thursday, August 27th at 8:00 PM ET for a live episode of The Dish. Get an in-depth look into All-Star's new line of Cobalt Umpire Gear featuring Stan Jurga, Matt Arcovio and Jim Kirk.

Wounded Warrior Umpire Academy to Host 1st Annual Virtual Summit

Aug 24th, 2020

Join WWUA on September 9th, 2020 for a live, virtual summit featuring retired MLB Crew Cheif Mike Everitt, LLWS Crew Cheif Kelly Dine and our own Jim Kirk.

UMPIRESTRONG Bracelet Proceeds Benefit The Randy Harvey Fund

Aug 15th, 2020

Thank you for supporting the fund with your purchases August 8th through August 15th.

Plate Pants Catching on Your Umpire Shin Guards? The Fix is as Smooth as Silk

Aug 5th, 2020

Try this quick fix suggested by MLB Replay Coordinator, Justin Klemm, to prevent your plate pants from getting caught on your shin guards.

The Neighborhood Box Score (Community Good Highlighted) - August 5th

Aug 5th, 2020

See the great work our partners have recently been doing in the sports officiating community!

"The Dish" on HeatShields Shoe Inserts

Aug 3rd, 2020

Jim Kirk & Ty Unthank discuss the origins of HeatShields and the benefits they provide to umpires and referees.

Inventors of HeatShields Serve All Walks of Life Through Cooler Feet

Jul 21st, 2020

A Tennessee family invents shoe inserts with aerospace technology that solves the sports officials’ hot feet problem from high temps on turf.

New NCAA Women's Basketball Referee Jacket for the 2020-21 Season

Jul 14th, 2020

See the new NCAA Women's Basketball Referee Jackets manufactured by Smitty Officials Apparel. These are the exclusive pregame jackets for the NCAA Women's Elite Eight and Final Four.

Top 15 Trending Summer Umpire Gear & Apparel

Jul 14th, 2020

These items are among the top 15 general items that umpires are wearing in the summer of 2020. From cooling products and supplemental protection to light color clothing and sunglasses to cloth masks, shoes and more.

Listen to "Both Sides of the Mask" Podcast with Guest Jim Kirk

Jul 14th, 2020

Umpires & hosts Liz Hammerschmidt and Tony Williams interview Jim in a free-wheeling conversation on their podcast. Specific products discussed were KoolBlues, Diamond ix3 Masks, Team Wendy Pads and Cloth Masks plus a potential trend away from heather grey pants and a solution to your shin guards catching on your pants.