Helena clinic recruits new umpires as statewide shortage threatens games

Helena’s spring baseball and softball calendar has started to strain under a simple problem: there are not enough umpires to cover the games. With each contest requiring at least two officials, one behind home plate and one in the field, shortages are already forcing schedules to shift, delay or even cancel across Montana.

A softball umpire clinic at noon at Mihelish Field was part of the response in Helena on Saturday, as officials tried to bring in new people before the heart of the season. Montana’s baseball and softball seasons usually run from April through July, which means the current shortage hits just as leagues, schools and tournaments fill up the calendar in Lewis and Clark County.

The clinic was designed to make the job feel more approachable. Prior baseball or softball experience was not required, and organizers stressed that rules and mechanics could be learned through training. That matters for Helena-area youth sports, where games depend on adults willing to work nights and weekends to keep contests fair, safe and on time.

Ben Wahl said games simply cannot happen without officials. Jack Hocking, the Montana High School Association umpire assigner, said some parts of the state have had to travel to other areas to help cover games, a sign that the shortage has spread well beyond Helena. Wes Hendrix, vice president of the Helena Girls Softball Association, said local organizers have even stepped in to umpire themselves at times just to keep games moving.

The pressure is not new. A statewide recruiting push reported in March said Montana’s shortage of sports officials has been building for about a decade as longtime officials retire and fewer new recruits enter the profession. The Montana Officials Association, working through the Montana High School Association platform, has been posting official resources and Arbiter information as part of that effort to recruit and organize more officials.

The need is especially visible in Helena, where the Helena Girls Softball Association is already listing 2026 registration activity and a Capital City Classic scheduled for June 12-14. Those games, along with the broader spring schedule, will depend on whether enough new umpires answer the call before the season peaks.