Texas Hill Country Umpire Association

About THCUA

Texas Hill Country Umpire Association (THCUA) was created to manage, train and schedule amateur umpires for local youth baseball and softball organizations. THCUA is a non-profit organization and our goal is to build a core base of umpires who have short, mid and long term aspirations of umpiring baseball and/or softball. As the THCUA base grows, we will be able to expand and approach new organizations and provide our members with new and exciting umpire opportunities. With three complexes to schedule, our organization is dependent upon punctual reliable umpires who are willing to work and learn. THCUA will have yearly training clinics. Whether this is a first year umpire or an umpire with many years of experience, all umpires will find this training to be a great service which will improve the overall ability to call a good game.

Dues and Fees.
THCUA operates off of the dues and fees of our members. Membership dues are $20 and they cover one year. Fees are $0.50 per game called. Currently THCUA operates with no paid positions. Training and scheduling are volunteer positions. For THCUA members, this means, that the majority of money collected will be to buy hats and equipment which is distributed back to members. Dues and fees are also used for advertising, web hosting, office supplies (copies and stamps) and bank fees. THCUA accepts donations of time and money and we are happy to report that accounting services and web page building have been donated. Umpire pay checks will be issued by THCUA. Fees are deducted from the members check when they are issued. Any umpire who has not paid their membership due will have their due deducted from their first paycheck. You may pay your first year membership dues at our clinic. Checks made out to THCUA or cash will be accepted. At this time we do not accept credit cards.

Umpire reliability is very important to THCUA. Baseball and softball organizations invest a sizable portion of their budgets to paying umpires. THCUA has made a serious commitment to these organizations and will schedule umpires that demonstrate that they are reliable. It will be THCUA's responsibility to schedule and notify umpires in a timely manner. It will be the umpires responsibility to show up and call the game in a professional manner. Umpires who do not show up to their assigned games will not be scheduled for future games.

THCUA can not provide equipment for every game during a year. Because of this, an important factor when scheduling becomes which umpire's have their own plate equipment. Mask, chest protector, leg guards, and athletic supporters are a must for serious umpires. All umpires should own ball bags, plate brushes and count indicators. It is no secret that umpires who own plate equipment are scheduled for more games. Those umpires looking to make a little more money or who have an interest in calling ball games for many years are strongly urged to consider investing in a decent set of plate equipment.

Umpires become better as they gain experience. As a service to our members we will periodically offer constructive criticism in an attempt to further improve overall umpire skills. For this to occur, THCUA trainers will be out evaluating umpires while they call. It is impossible for every game to be evaluated and so members should also ask situational and rule questions as they arise. Just like players and coaches, umpires make mistakes, and one of the goals of our organization is to recognize when we make mistakes and do everything possible to correct it so it doesn't happen again.

THCUA will conduct board meetings throughout the year. These will be open meetings and members will receive notification in advance. Time will be made available during the meetings to address written questions, concerns or recommendations. Members attendance is not required.