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ASA Umpire |
Hey, Blue!
A memo from
John Orlowski, Greater Kansas City Metro
Umpire-in-Chief
At the second annual Kansas City Metro Umpire Clinic on
Feb. 27, almost five dozen Kansas City umpires got a
chance to listen to the Region 12 ASA Umpire-in-Chief and
Hall of Fame Umpire Dave Epperson cover a variety of topics
of interest for the upcoming season.
Epperson discussed the 2010 rule changes, mechanics and
how the 3-man, 2-man and 1-man umpiring systems
work.
Based on feedback from the umpires who attended, this was
a great way for them to refresh their knowledge of the
rules and the mechanics for the upcoming season. The
clinic, held this year at Blue Valley West High School,
in Overland Park, Kan., will become an annual event. Plans
for next year call for the clinic's location to be in the
northwest part of the Kansas City metro in
Gladstone, Mo.
Several years ago the Metro Clinic was not only an annual
event, but umpires with aspirations to work in the
Metro, Regional, and National tournaments were required
to attend either an ASA National School and/or the annual
Metro Clinic. Last year our Kansas City Metro was
the host for the Girls' 14-and-under B Northern National
Tournament and the Hooters Men's Class C Slowpitch
Northern National Tournament. And this year the Metro
will be hosting the Girls' 18-under Gold Northern
National Tournament and the Hooters Men's Class D
Slowpitch Northern National Tournament. With this
much annual activity in the Metro area, we need to
be able to staff large numbers of trained, knowledgeable
umpires. Therefore, we need to continue pushing for
umpire attendance at the annual Metro Clinics.
Let's all make an effort to be at next year's Kansas
City Metro Umpire Clinic. The planned agenda for next
year will include separate breakout sessions for
fastpitch and slowptch umpires. Every attempt will
be made to continue to bring in National Staff clinicians
to lead the instruction. There will be no cost for
you to attend these clinics. Watch the website for
dates, times, and details for next year's clinic.
I hope you have a great 2010 season, and do not hesitate
to e-mail me if
you have any questions this year.
Play Ball!
