WBSC completes successful clinic for officials
A total of 62 technical commissioners, umpires and scorers that will work WBSC international events attended a five-day event coordinated by four Directors of the World Governing Body in San Jose, California
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) hosted in San Jose, California, a clinic for Technical Commissioners, Umpires and Scorers that are going to work international baseball and softball events. It was the first ever clinic that combined the three types of tournament officials and the two disciplines.
A total of 62 officials participated in the five-day event, that started on Wednesday, 5 June, and finished on Sunday, 9 June. The daily schedule included classes and on-field work.
The officials had also a chance to work actual games of a High School tournament during the weekend.
The goal of this advanced clinic was to increase the number and the level of Tournament Officials.
“The number of events WBSC is managing keeps growing and so does the need of qualified Officials,” commented WBSC Events Manager Joan Garcia.
The instruction was coordinated by four WBSC Directors: Gustavo Rodriguez (Baseball Umpires Chair, USA), Jim Baba (Baseball Tournament Commission Chair, Canada), Kevin Quinn (Softball Tournament Commission Chair, Canada) and Anna Maria Paini (Scorers Chair, Italy).
They were aided by Umpire instructors Trevor Grieve (Canada), Carlos Rey (USA), Marco Screti (Italy), Takeshi Hirabashi (Japan) and Lisa Marie Turbitt (Canada), Technical Commission Instructor George Santiago (USA) and Scoring Instructor Rafael Valle (Puerto Rico).
The group of umpires
Magali Lopez, an umpire from Puerto Rico, commented: “The level of instruction was outstanding, a wealth of experience.”
“Great clinic,” added Cuti Suarez, an umpire from Spain “I now feel much more prepared for my assignment at the Euro/Africa Baseball Olympic Qualifier in September.”
All four WBSC Directors were extremely happy about the outcome of the clinic.
Jim Baba commented: “The clinic was terrific. The efforts to put this together will only strengthen the WBSC for years to come.”
Gustavo Rodriguez chaired on Monday, 10 June, the first meeting of WBSC Umpire Commission integrated by Masato Tomoyose (NPB-JPN), Larry Young (MLB-USA), Jorge Bauza (MILB-PUR) and Lisa Turbitt (CAN). Umpires certifications program, assignments for WBSC events and the implementation of instant replays and game clocks were some of the key items on the agenda.
