The Division I Competition Oversight Committee approved a four-umpire system for regionals, super regionals and the Women’s College World Series, beginning with the 2019 Division I Softball Championship.

The Division I Softball Committee proposed the additional umpire because, many times, missed calls are attributed to umpires being out of position. In three-umpire rotations, an umpire is responsible for more than one base.

Evaluations from student-athletes have consistently included officiating as one of the top three priorities needing improvement in NCAA championships.

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The addition of a fourth umpire will help provide a fair and equitable playing field by implementing a system that allows umpires to be in a better position to get the call right, which is officiating’s primary goal.