The British Association of Softball Umpires (BASU) runs a variety of training courses for both slowpitch and fastpitch softball designed to qualify umpires either at local league level or at national level as accredited BASU umpires.
BASU can also run introductory clinics on rules and umpire mechanics for beginners, and sends experienced umpires on courses overseas to qualify at European or World level.
Qualified BASU umpires are always needed to officiate at the many weekend tournaments that take place during the season, and the incentive to train and work as an umpire (apart from love of the game!) is that umpires are paid at a rate of £14 per game (slowpitch) and £15 per game (fastpitch). An umpire working a full two-day weekend slowpitch tournament can often make £150 or more for the weekend.
For information on softball umpire training courses, including dates and course content, contact BASU Training Officer Tony Soteriou by emailing tony@basu.org.uk.
BASEBALL
Baseball umpire training courses at various levels are run annually by the Amateur Baseball Umpire Association of Great Britain (ABUA-GB), usually between January and March.
ABUA-GB also sends experienced umpires on courses overseas to qualify at European or World level.
Qualified ABUA-GB umpires are needed to officiate throughout the divisional structure of British baseball in both the north and the south, and training courses are open to all.
For information on baseball umpire training courses, including dates and course content, contact ABUA-GB Umpire-in-Chief Darrin Muller by e-mailing darrin.muller@britishbaseball.org.
