CURRENT NORTHWOODS LEAGUE UMPIRES | ALUMNI IN THE PROS  |  UMPIRE SUPERVISORS  

The Northwoods League, in addition to being a developmental league for players and coaches, also develops umpires.

The concentrated game schedule and Minor League-like game conditions give NWL Baseball (NWLB) Umpires a pre-professional seasoning unparalleled in all of amateur baseball. As a result, more than 100 former NWL baseball umpires have worked in affiliated professional baseball. About 1 in 5 Minor League umpires are Northwoods League alumni during any given season. NWL alumni currently work for MiLB Umpire Development (Tyler Funneman ’02, Mark Lollo ’01, Brian Sinclair ’04) and the Wendelstedt School (Malachi Moore ’11).

Northwoods League Softball (NWLS) similarly provides a developmental ground for umpires in the sport of softball. NWLS is collaborating with former NCAA National Umpire Coordinator, Craig Hyde. NCAA softball umpires from across the country will call NWLS games to ensure a level of umpiring matching what is seen at the highest ranks of collegiate softball.

NWLB has 13 three-person crews rotating games during the regular season.  A six-person crew is used during the mid-season All-Star game, with four to six-person crews working playoff games. NWLS will utilize four three-person crews rotating games throughout the season. Umpires receive training throughout the season, plus access to game video for self-evaluation.

The Northwoods League works with the Umpire Placement Course to recruit and place baseball umpires each season.

Climbing the umpire ranks from Minor League Baseball to Major League Baseball is a long and difficult journey. To date, four former NWL Umpires, Delfin Colon (2000), Mark Lollo (2001), Tyler Funneman (2002) and Toby Basner (2004), have worked regular season MLB games. Several others have worked MLB Spring Training games.