To enhance the reach and impact of its Official Leadership Program, UMPS CARE Charities, the official nonprofit of Major League Baseball umpires, has announced a new partnership with RefMasters, a leading sports officiating education and engagement platform.
This partnership marks the launch of a new cohort in Compton, California, where local instructors — including MLB umpire Malachi Moore, Edgar Cervantes, and Lisa Ballard — are guiding participants through the six-week curriculum. This free program teaches leadership, communication, and decision-making skills through the lens of sports officiating, providing both on-field instruction and off-field life lessons.
Through the collaboration, UMPS CARE will host its Official Leadership Program inside a private space within the RefMasters App, a digital hub where instructors can share lessons, engage with participants, and extend learning beyond the classroom. Students in the program will also gain access to RefMasters’ broader ecosystem, including daily educational content, film breakdowns, and professional-level instruction across multiple sports.
Jennifer Jopling, Senior Director of Programs and Development at UMPS CARE Charities, said: “Our mission has always been about using the power of umpiring to inspire, lead, and give back. Partnering with RefMasters allows us to meet young people where they are, while bringing them closer to the values and skills officiating can teach. This partnership helps us create a more dynamic, year-round experience for participants and deepen their connection to the craft of leadership.
Malachi Moore, MLB Umpire and Co-Head of RefMasters Baseball, added:
“Compton and the MLB Urban Academy is where my journey began, so being able to bring this program home means everything to me. Officiating taught me how to communicate, stay calm under pressure, and lead with integrity. Through UMPS CARE and RefMasters, we’re giving young people those same tools. Not just to be better umpires, but to be better people.”
Sony Tiwari, CEO of RefMasters, stated: “UMPS CARE is one of the most forward-thinking non- profit organizations in sports. By creating a dedicated digital space for their Official Leadership Program, they’re proving education and technology can coexist to strengthen the game’s future. For RefMasters, this partnership continues our mission to bridge the empathy gap in youth sports and to help cultivate the next generation of confident, capable officials.”
About UMPS CARE Charities
Founded in 2006 through the compassion of Major League Baseball umpires, UMPS CARE Charities provides financial, emotional, and vocational support to children, families, and youth through programs that give back to the community and cultivate leadership through officiating. MLB Umpires have used their role as the top professionals to inspire and lead the next generation of umpires and to help create a better environment for youth sports. www.UmpsCare.com
About RefMasters
RefMasters is a leading officiating education and community-learning platform connecting sports officials worldwide with professional instruction, film analysis, and mentorship. Through digital learning spaces, private partnerships, and programs like RefMasters University, the platform helps elevate performance, recruitment, and retention in officiating across all major sports. The RefMasters mission is simple: Run The Game. www.RefMasters.com
