Local umpire John Sivley (right) officiates a game at the plate during a Bowling Green East Little League All-Star game.

John Sivley has fond memories of following Bowling Green East Little League teams to Williamsport, Pa., for back-to-back Little League World Series appearances.

The local umpire of Little League games for more than two decades is taking another trip to Williamsport for a much closer experience.

Sivley is one of 16 umpires across the United States and from three other countries selected to officiate games during the Little League World Series from Thursday through Aug. 26.

As a Little League umpire for 22 years, Sivley spent his first five years officiating games for Warren County South Little League before moving over to Bowling Green East Little League.

Three trips to Williamsport wasn’t exactly his plan when he signed up more than two decades ago in an effort to prove a point. Now he’ll enjoy an opportunity to officiate a nationally prominent tournament.

“I always told the kids in 20 years of umpiring that if they went to Williamsport, I would be there,” Sivley said. “It was always a safe bet. In ’15 they went and in ’16 I had to go back. I was in pretty good debt for two years in a row, but I wouldn’t have missed it. It was a blast. Really special place.”

Sivley will arrive in Williamsport on Tuesday night for volunteer meetings and then walk in the parade Wednesday before the event begins Thursday. Officials are guaranteed at least one game officiating at the plate before rotating on a ratings system between the other five positions on the field.

For umpires to be considered for the Little League World Series, they must receive a recommendation from the district administrator to work a regional tournament. Once selected and then evaluated during the regional, they can be nominated to keep working regionals or upgrade to a World Series assignment.

An umpire can be selected for one of Little League’s World Series events – Junior, Senior and Intermediate League in baseball or Little League, Junior and Senior league in softball – once every four years, but officiating the Little League World Series is a one-time opportunity.

Sivley worked the Midwest and Great Lakes regional in 2010 and earned his World Series rating. He started putting his name into consideration in 2014 and was one of 16 officials picked to work the tournament this week.

“(I am) just taking in the whole experience and trying to enjoy each moment of it without expectations,” Sivley said. “I’ve known people that have gone and got caught up in having the last plate or trying to be the best umpire in the world or whatever. … I just want to enjoy every moment of it for the experience it is, not take any expectations with me and enjoy being there. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime (experience) and you’re not going back.”

Sivley started officiating basketball more than 20 years ago when he was coaching his son’s youth league basketball games. He confronted the league president about an official from the day’s previous game and was told to “put on a shirt or shut up.”

“I said, ‘Ok, give me a shirt,’ ” Sivley recalls. “I’ll try it.”

He started off working basketball games before picking up baseball for fun at Phil Moore Park with Warren County South. Those roles reversed after knee surgeries forced him to cut back on basketball. Now he’s the umpire chief for Kentucky Little League District 1.

“It’s certainly not for everybody,” Sivley said on officiating. “There’s something about being able to manage a sporting event and manage the game, knowing the rules better than anyone else there – because you’re going to get questioned about it – and being able to make sure that contest is fair to both teams. There’s a real intrinsic sort of satisfaction that I get from that.”

Recently retired from LifeSkills, Sivley has also worked in private practice for counseling and psychology. He started a new job two weeks ago in health services and joked about immediately taking two weeks off to take advantage of the rare opportunity that comes with the Little League World Series.

Sivley said he won’t know which game assignments he’ll have until the day before. All Little League World Series games will air on the ESPN family of networks.

“To be on the field during the last game or the last championship game is pretty awesome,” Sivley said. “I always said if I get to go, I’m not giving two seconds thought to where they put me or what assignment. I’m just glad to be there.”

Follow sports reporter Elliott Pratt on Twitter @EPrattBGDN or visit bgdailynews.com.