The Ladner Minor and Tsawwassen Amateur Baseball Associations are joining forces to host an umpiring clinic next month.
The BC Baseball Umpires’ Association (BCBUA) Umpires’ Clinic will take place Sunday, Feb. 23 (8 a.m.) at Southpointe Academy.
In the past, although the LMBA and TABA tended to draw from the same pool of officials, training was always done separately.
This year, the associations will come together pre-season and host the BCBUA clinic at the Tsawwassen location. The clinic instructors are national level umpires that have received instructor training through Baseball Canada.
John Pentland, the Umpire-in-Chief for both the LMBA and TABA, sees a benefit to combining associations for training.
“Historically the associations share the pool of umpires, and for them to get to know one another from the pre-season, and for them to train together, I believe it will create a stronger bond between the officials” says Pentland.
In addition, Pentland is offering weekly training sessions for the umpires at Delta Secondary School on Tuesday nights.
“The additional sessions allow for some more personalized instruction and the umpires can bring up scenarios from previous years, or ask for interpretations of events they have seen in professional baseball,” he continued. “The evening training sessions are also a good opportunity for someone to find out if being a baseball official is for them. Adults are always encouraged to become umpires and the training and the clinics are open to them as well.”
Pentland adds that Baseball BC is taking a strong stand on abuses that officials have had to endure in the past.
LMBA and TABA are affiliated with BC Minor Baseball and, as a member of Baseball BC, they are supportive of the non-confrontation rules that are going to be put in place. Coaches and players will follow the non-confrontation rules or be subject to ejection and suspension. In addition, coaches will be responsible for the conduct of their fans.
“Baseball BC is looking to ensure that the environment provided for players, coaches and officials is one where everyone is treated with respect” said Pentland, referring to Baseball BC’s Code of Conduct.
For further information on becoming a BCBUA umpire for Ladner or Tsawwassen, contact John Pentland at [email protected]
