About Us - Bergen County Umpires Association

The Bergen County Umpires Association is an organization of baseball and softball umpires certified to officiate high school contests in New Jersey.

Our purpose is:

  • promote the welfare of the games of baseball and softball on the county level by uniformly interpreting and administering the rules of those games as set forth by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) and the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS).
  • promote and maintain the highest degree of baseball and softball officiating by following a uniform set of mechanics and have available at all times an adequate number of thoroughly trained and capable umpires.
  • preserve the traditions, foster the ideals, advance the interests and improve the quality and prestige of the baseball and softball umpires through a comprehensive program of classroom training and on-the-field experience and develop a spirit of friendship and maintain a high standard of ethics among umpires.

 

 

2023 BCUA Sportsmanship Awards

Members - registration for the banquet and voting for the Bergen and Passaic County schools to receive the annual BCUA Sportsmanship Awards in both baseball and softball is now open.

Along with these awards, the association also awards a worthy individual umpire the Barney Finn Award (for loyal service to the BCUA) and the Ray Farricker Award (for consistently displaying qualities of Integrity, Pride, Enthusiasm and Hustle) at the banquet.

Even if you're not planning to attend, please take the time to vote for these prestigious awards. If you have been moved by another fellow umpire or some school during the season, this is your time to show your appreciation for them.

To vote, please click here. Remember, you must be signed on with the username and password e-mailed out by John Gojdycz before you can access the form.

Ballots must be completed by the end of the day on Monday, May 23, 2023.

Prohibition of Jewelry Removed in High School Baseball Rules

Republished from NFHS.org

High school baseball players and coaches will be permitted to wear jewelry in 2023 after the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee voted to remove its prohibition from the rules. Previously, only medical and religious medals were permitted by rule.

This change to Rule 1-5-12 was one of the rules changes approved by the committee at its June 5-7 meeting in Indianapolis. The rules were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

While most jewelry will be permitted, the Baseball Rules Committee noted that the current rules still state that any jewelry worn that poses harm or injury to a player or opponent should be removed.

“The game of baseball has evolved and players have demonstrated that wearing a bracelet or a necklace does not impede their ability to play or increase any risk to themselves or their opponents,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee.

The committee also added a definition for a lodged ball, which is when a ball remains on the playing field, but becomes wedged, stuck, lost or unreachable causing it to stop abruptly or not fall or roll immediately. The ball is declared a dead ball. The definition was necessary to differentiate when a ball becomes lodged in a fielder’s glove, in which the ball remains in play.

Rule 6 was adjusted to only use the pivot foot to determine whether a pitcher is delivering a pitch from the wind-up or set position. Previously, the position of both feet on the pitcher’s plate determined either the wind-up or set positions, prohibiting a “hybrid” position where the pivot foot was in the wind-up position and the non-pivot foot was in the set position.

“The Rules Committee received tremendous input from coaches and umpires that allowing the ‘hybrid’ would assist players to succeed in pitching,” Hopkins said. “Anytime we can write a rule to improve playability or increase participation, then it is prudent that we do so for the sake of the participants.”

Rule 1-5-4 added language clarifying that eye shields attached to a catcher’s mask after manufacture are prohibited. Eye shields that are attached at the time of manufacture must be clear.

In addition, the officials signals for baseball were updated to include eight pre-pitch situations and eight signals during play and results.

A complete listing of the baseball rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Baseball.”

According to the most recent NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, baseball is the fourth-most popular sport for boys with 482,740 student-athletes in 16,170 high schools nationwide. The survey also indicated that 1,284 girls across the country play high school baseball.

2024 Registration Fee Schedule & Application

Membership Type:
Fee:
Baseball & Softball
$120.00
Baseball Only
$110.00
Softball Only$110.00
Inactive$80.00

Please note - The Executive Committee has established a new policy concerning the late submission of registration fees.

ALL REGISTRATION FEES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY MONDAY MAY 15, 2023.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND PAY ON REFSEC

MEMBERS SUBMITTING AFTER THAT DATE WILL BE ASSESSED LATE FEES!

THERE IS NO GRACE PERIOD!

LATE FEE SCHEDULE:

Postmark Date:
 Additional Fee:
 MAY 16 - JUNE30, 2023
 
$25 Late Fee
JULY 1 - SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
 
$50 Late Fee
 OCTOBER 1 -  DECEMBER 31, 2023 $100 Late Fee
AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2024
 
$200 Late Fee

Tags: 

Pages