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| Dennis (Hosanna)
April 16, 2012
8:58:34 AM
Entry #: 3897428
| The local Softball Canada spring umpiring clinic (hosted by the EDSUA) is being held this coming weekend at Rosslyn Junior High School (13215 - 113A). The clinic runs Friday at 6:30, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning.
The Friday evening session is traditionally a meet-and-greet plus a guest speaker. The actual clinic (i.e. rules and mechanics classes) starts on the Saturday and ends Sunday with a written exam usually about noon.
For more information, check out the EDSUA website at www.edmontonsoftballumpires.com (actually, there isn't much more there, but a contact name and number is given). It doesn't mention any fees for this clinic, but note that it is assumed that trainees would become certified with Softball Canada, so they would be charged the registration fee for that (I think it's around $65 or $75). But our association has also offered "guest" registrations for people that just want to learn about umpiring to learn more about the game of softball in the past, that has been about $25, but I'm not sure if that's being offered. If anyone is interested, please call the contact number.
Personally, I have found umpiring to be challenging and rewarding ways to continue being involved with this sport. I first took a clinic just to learn more about that aspect of the game and got 'sucked in'. I've almost left it a few times in frustration, but I've stuck with it and, I daresay, I've grown a lot as a person. It's a way to earn some extra money, but I wouldn't encourage people to umpire if that's all it was for.
Also, the local NSA and SPN umpires' associations are having their own spring clinics as well. I'm not carded with those organizations, but I certainly would encourage people to check those out if they are interested. At the very least, gaining an understanding of how umpires see the game is useful for everyone that plays and/or coaches. It also helps us see that they're just people like us (hmmm, there's a sermon to be had in there).
In any case, despite the vacillating weather, we're getting inexorably closer to ball season.
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| Dennis (Hosana)
April 16, 2012
9:04:48 AM
Entry #: 3897439
| My apologiesit looks like both NSA and SPN held their Edmonton-area umpiring clinics this past weekend. But if they're anything like EDSUA, they may hold 'mini-clinics' in the near future (our association does that if there are enough interested people that couldn't attend our main clinic). So if you're interested, check out their websites to get contact information.
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