RDSUA

Softball Canada has announced the recipients of the Indicator Club award and it includes our very own Brad Lyon for all the work within our association as well as at the provincial and national levels.

Brad has umpired and supervised up to the national level as well as serving in a variety of administrative roles in different softball organizations in Alberta, Ontario and B.C. Most recently Brad has been our association president for two years and has instituted

• improved clinic training
• expanded the mentoring program
• updated policies and by laws
• instrumental in improving our website quality
• member of the provincial board

Also included are Jim Noble (Calgary) , Richard Korbyl (Edmonton) and Ed Ridgen (Calgary).

Learn more about the Indicator Club and see previous winners

Congratulations to all.

You are invited to attend the first National Umpire Clinic open to all members who were registered in 2018, March 9 & 10 at the Dawe Centre in Red Deer.

In addition, by attending the clinic, the RDSUA members from last year will receive a $25 discount at the regular clinic on April 6 & 7, or other RDSUA clinics that may be announced.

Some of the things that we will be offering at the clinic will be plate mechanics, 2 and 3 umpire system, game management and a lot more.

These sessions will be instructed by softball Canada international officials and some Alberta instructors as well.

This clinic is open to all ages and levels of umpires (Levels 1 to 5) who were registered last year and are looking to improve themselves and their game.  

You will be working with people with the same umpire levels that you have, with individual specialized content for each level.

The cost of the clinic will be $60.00. Early bird registration if received by Feb 15 will be $50.00 which can be sent by electronic transfer. 

If you would like to attend, please send an electronic payment to Daryl Helmer helmer@unitedsafety.net .  to send a payment by mail, contact Daryl by email for details.

Some of the things that you will need to bring with you would be

• Comfortable indoor shoes
• A book and pen for notes

If you require a room, I will have a block set aside at the Sandman in Red Deer. I will get you the info once I receive it

The clinic will be held March 9th and 10th in Red deer at the Dawe Center. Please email registrations to Daryl Helmer (daryl.helmer@shaw.ca).

And don’t forget RDSUA members from last year who attend the clinic will receive a $25 discount at the regular clinic on April 6 & 7.

Questions? Send us an email at:

info@rdsua.ca

OR

president@rdsua.ca

New Umpires: See the WELCOME LETTER below

New and returning umpires, please fill in and return the UMPIRE REGISTRATION form below.

Please read the welcome letter which gives a quick summary of what is required to become an umpire.

If you have questions please contact one of the executive shown below

Position	Name	Email	Phone
President	Brad Lyon	president@rdsua.ca	(403) 391-9014
Vice President	Malcolm Murray	vicepresident@rdsua.ca	(403) 358-2494
Treasurer	Connie Anderson	treasurer@rdsua.ca	(403) 638-3923
Executive at Large	Ross Towers	ross@rdsua.ca	(403) 350-9643
Assignor	Lisa Lemasurier	assignor@rdsua.ca	(403) 877-4708
Director – Recruitment and Retention	Chris Harper	chris@rdsua.ca	(403) 396-9502
Director – Mentorship & Website	Pat O’Callaghan	website@rdsua.ca	(403) 598-2647
Director/Mentor	Shane Sroka	shane@rdsua.ca	(403) 704-3851
Director/Mentor	Danny Baron	danny@rdsua.ca	(403) 704-5328
Information	General Inquiries	info@rdsua.ca

THE ORDER FOR SUPPLIES CLINICS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY FEBRUARY 15TH, SO PLEASE TRY TO REGISTER BEFORE THEN, OR YOU MAY NOT GET THE NEW UPDATED RULE BOOK, MANUALS (IF NEEDED) AND MORE

Please fill out and return one of the following forms so we know how many clinic kits are required.

The easiest way to register is to use Method 1 below,

Simply click the DOWNLOAD button, save the file on your device then open it, fill it out, save it again, then email it to either Brad Lyon or Pat O’Callaghan.

Method 1

If you do not have a PDF editor, then download this Free Reader If you have any questions on how to do this or how to use it, contact Pat O’Callaghan

Method 2

The Microsoft Word form (below) can be used – again, download the file, save it, open it, fill it out and email it back.

Softball Canada issues a new rulebook, and institutes rule changes, every two years. The next set of rule changes will take place for the 2019 season. The AGM and Congress of Softball Canada was held in Montreal, Quebec. During the AGM, several rule changes were approved for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. They are summarized in the following document:

Softball Canada Rule Changes – 2019-2020

Levi Wagner from Clive is both a softball and baseball umpire.

He is going to attend Minor League Baseball’s Umpire school in Vero Beach, Florida for four weeks starting in January.

The program is very extensive and is held on a complex that includes a 4,500 seat stadium, 10 ball diamonds and all the other facilities used by professional umpires in the major leagues.

Since 1998, 65 Umpires evaluated and developed by Academy Instructors have been hired full time by Major League Baseball.

From Week 1 Levi has told us “Done my first week.

They’re teaching me the 2 umpire system and the mechanics they want me to do for professional baseball.

You can see the school on Facebook at Minor League Baseball Academy and updates on our RDSUA FB page

You may also like the haircuts on the videos!

Week 2

We just finished covering interference / obstruction in the classroom, took 3 days to finish as it’s a big and important subject.

Most students are starting to figure out the two umpire system on the field by now.

We’ve had guest visits from current and past MLB umpires, and a young aspiring umpire (see MiLB umpire academy Facebook.)

Having lots of fun and excited for the last two weeks of the school!”

School website

Week 3

Routine has been same so far.

Now we’re going into review only for the field drills for the last week.

I get Sunday’s off, and I usually go to the beach, or go fishing.

But this week I got to go to the Pro Bowl in Orlando last Sunday which was great.

Can’t wait to finish my last week.

Week 4

Levi Wagner has sent his final observations from the Baseball Umpire Academy

“I finished the academy.

This past month has been a great experience.

I didn’t get a job sadly, but I am on the reserve list.

Which basically means I’m a backup.

I was told to come back next year but work as many games as I can to get more experience.”

RDSUA congratulates Levi on ascending to a higher level of learning and what it takes to be a professional umpire and wish him the best if he gets called this season to work, or returns to the school again next year.

Story of a 12 year old umpire

Last Call Story