It is with profound sadness to announce the passing of our Chapter Treasurer, Frank Fuzo, on Wednesday, June 3rd. Frank was one of the original Diamond Nation umpire staff members Frank was a true team player, a great umpire, a supportive partner, and a mentor to many new umpires. Frank will be dearly missed by all those who have known him and have had the opportunity to officiate with him. RIP Frank
Blast from Elliott Hokins of the NFHS:
to all umpires:
“Effective immediately, the 33 ” model Louisville Slugger META
composite bat is NON-COMPLIANT pursuant to NFHS baseball
rules 1-3-2d and 7-4-1a”
A quick study of the basics.
NEW JERSEY STATE INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 1161 Route 130 North, Robbinsville, NJ 08691-1104 Phone 609-259-2776 ~ Fax 609-259-3047
NJSIAA Approved Baseball Umpires Uniform
The Navy-Blue baseball umpire uniform shall consist of:
1. Navy-blue short sleeve pullover style shirt with red, white and blue trim. The approved NJSIAA logo shall be sublimated on the left pocket. The American flag with a white border may be placed on the left sleeve. 2. The navy-blue long sleeve pullover style shirt with red, white and blue trim may be worn
when appropriate. The approved NJSIAA logo shall be sublimated (if available) or embordered on the left pocket. The American flag with a white border may be placed on the left sleeve. 3. The navy-blue pullover jacket with red, white and blue trim may be worn when
appropriate. The American flag with a white border may be placed on the left sleeve. 4. Charcoal gray pants, black belt, primarily black shoes, black socks and a navy-blue cap
shall complete the uniform. 5. Ball bag(s) shall be navy blue or charcoal gray.
The Black baseball umpire uniform shall consist of:
1. Black short sleeve pullover style shirt with white trim. The approved NJSIAA logo shall
be sublimated on the left pocket. The American flag with a white border may be placed on the left sleeve. 2. The black long sleeve pullover style shirt with white trim may be worn when appropriate.
The approved NJSIAA logo shall be sublimated (if available) or embordered on the left pocket. The American flag with a white border may be placed on the left sleeve. 3. The black pullover jacket with white trim may be worn when appropriate. The American
flag with a white border may be placed on the left sleeve. 4. Charcoal gray pants, black belt, primarily black shoes, black socks and a black cap shall
complete the uniform. 5. Ball bag(s) shall be black or charcoal gray.
Note: Chapters may dictate which color they want their umpires wearing during the regular season. During the NJSIAA tournament, either uniform combination is fine. During the state tournament all umpires must match in color for all parts of the uniform. If umpires cannot agree on the uniform color, then the default color will be the navy-blue.
Baseball Umpire Uniform Changes
Starting with the 2020 season, all officials that are registered with the NJSIAA are permitted to purchase hats with the approved NJSIAA logo from an NJSIAA approved apparel provider.
Hats – 2020 Regular Season Games Any of the three hats listed below will be acceptable for all regular season games. Umpires do not need to have matching hats.
• NJSIAA Approved Logo Hat
• Chapter Hat
• Blank Hat
Revised July 2019 Page 1 of 2
NEW JERSEY STATE INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 1161 Route 130 North, Robbinsville, NJ 08691-1104 Phone 609-259-2776 ~ Fax 609-259-3047
Hats – 2020 NJSIAA State Tournament Any of the two hats listed below will be acceptable for all NJSIAA tournament games. Umpires do not need to have matching hats. The 2020 season will be the last year the NJSIAA will supply hats for the state finals.
• NJSIAA Approved Logo Hat
• Blank Hat
Hats – 2021 Regular Season Games Any of the two hats listed below will be acceptable for all regular season games. Umpires do not need to have matching hats.
• NJSIAA Approved Logo Hat
• Chapter Hat
Hats – 2021 NJSIAA State Tournament Only the hat listed below will be acceptable for all NJSIAA tournament games. Umpires must have matching hats for all rounds of the state tournament.
• NJSIAA Approved Logo Hat
Jackets Starting with the 2020 season, all umpires may wear either the plain Jacket (no logo) or the jacket with the approved NJSIAA logo. In addition, a NJSIAA patch with the approved logo will be available for those umpires that wish to have it sewn onto their plain jacket. The NJSIAA will not require umpires to wear the jacket with the NJSIAA logo at any time, however, our approved vendor will no longer sell the plain jacket to NJSIAA registered officials. Only the jacket with the approved NJSIAA logo will be sold.
Shirt Starting with the 2020 season, all shirts must have the sublimated approved NJSIAA logo on them. Either the navy-blue or black shirt may be worn for all regular season and all NJSIAA tournament games, however all umpires must match for all games. If umpires cannot agree on the shirt color, then the default color will be the navy-blue.
Our Vendor will be looking into providing an upgraded style shirt that will look the same as the current ones. If that happens either shirt will be acceptable. Umpires will have a choice as to which style to choose from.
Revised July 2019 Page 2 of 2
To: NFHS Member State Associations’ Baseball Liaisons
From: B. Elliot Hopkins, MLD, CAA, Director of Sports, Sanctioning and Student Services
Subject: New NOCSAE Chest Protector Pad is Identified
Date: November 25, 2019 ________________________________________________________________________
We recently identified that a NOCSAE certified chest pad that protects the heart and the cardiac silhouette is being offered by chest protector manufacturers to fit on top of an existing non-NOCSAE approved chest protector making the chest protector compliant with our rules. This pad meets the criteria of our NFHS Baseball Rule 1-5-3. Coaches are responsible for knowing if their catcher’s chest/body protector equipment meets the rule and should affirm that fact with the umpire-in-chief prior to the start of the ball game.
This new pad adds another alternative to the new chest/body protector rule. You now have three options: 1) a new traditional chest protector that protects the heart/cardiac silhouette and meets the NOCSAE performance standard; 2) a body protector (compression shirt with heart guard built into the shirt) that that protects the heart/cardiac silhouette and meets the NOCSAE performance standard under the traditional chest protector; 3) a chest pad that that protects the heart/cardiac silhouette and meets the NOCSAE performance standard that fits on top of the traditional chest protector. As we receive more information as to what these pads look like, we will share their images with you.
NOTE: Chest pads that meet the NOCSAE performance standard are not proprietary to a specific chest protector manufacturer. (ex. A Brodell brand chest pad can be worn on a Dolan brand chest protector. It is not specific to only a Brodell brand chest protector.)