Weekend Clinic Helps Umpires Prepare For Season Ahead

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With the 2014 season rapidly nearing its start, Saturday marked an opportunity for many of the county’s newer umpires to take part in their own form of Spring Training.

Several dozen umpires were graciously hosted at neighboring Highlands Christian and Deerfield Beach, as well as south at Nova High. The programs hosted umpire clinics to provide a chance for them to practice live action and fine tune their skills for the season ahead. They conduct drills and also take part in a state-approved scrimmage. Each school also provides complimentary meals for everyone involved.

“It’s sponsored by the county and the emphasis is on new young umpires or umpires who just transferred in who we haven’t seen yet,” said Dick Rushin, Booking Baseball Commissioner of the Broward County Athletic Association. “They’ll get work, they’ll get fed and hopefully they’ll learn something.”

The umpires are given a strong crash course to prepare for the season. Many veterans come to lend a hand, and it began on Friday night with a four-hour classroom clinic. There are a lot of conditions to go through, and they go through the steps and learn their responsibilities. It is important for umpires to know what to do with the options once the ball is hit and then commit that to memory so it becomes automatic.

“Doing it is better then seeing it and reading it,” said Rushin. “What we have taught them a lot of them aren’t doing, but they will. It comes with time. You don’t pick up everything in a four-hour class. We are fortunate to have Eddie Rapuano here, who is a retired Major League umpire, and a very good one. He worked the plate and in a half hour he taught them everything they need to know. They may not grasp all of it, but they’ll see what they’re doing wrong.”

This clinic has been held each of the past 28 years, and Deerfield Beach has long been involved in it. Bucks Athletic Director Vince Tozzi has always supported the process and provided a welcome environment for the event. With Highlands Christian matching suit right next door under the assistance of Knights Manager Bruce Charlebois, Saturday marked an umpires’ block party in Deerfield Beach.

“We are happy to host this, and hey, maybe it will help us get a call or two during the season,” joked Bucks Manager Angelo Trento.

Deerfield Beach hosted South Broward on Saturday, while the Knights hosted Pompano Beach next door. With so little time left before the games start to count, the coach appreciated the opportunity to see their players against another team.

“It’s basically an extra preseason game. Most schools get only two but we get a third,” said South Broward Manager Joe Giummule. “It helps us as coaches and for our players to build relationships with the umpires. It helps us get clarification on any new rules. The weather cooperated and it was a beautiful day to play baseball. We are thankful for the opportunity Coach Tozzi and Deerfield gave us.”

Even while the format was serious and with strong purpose, it did not hurt that they kept things light and playful as well. Managers were loosely encouraged to push the levels at times; to question calls and challenge umpires in order to give them a chance to experience such an event as often happens in baseball.

By day’s end the umpires have experienced just about every scenario they can reasonably expect to encounter. They know what is expected of them in their roles. The real games will begin in short time, and the county’s umpires are ready and waiting.

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