April 7 saw a successful softball umpire clinic hosted by Carlyle Minor Ball. Lyle Balogh of Langbank ran the softball clinic, which was open to train those just starting in the grass roots program, level one, level two, and level three.
On April 27 there will be a baseball umpire clinic held. Kevin Cooley of Estevan will be teaching the baseball clinic.
"There will be some theory to begin with and time in the gym doing positioning and making calls," Bill Wyatt, Minor Ball Board umpire coordinator, explained. "Going over the rules is the big thing."
"Teaching young umpires where to be to make the call is important."
Wyatt is a level four umpire and became involved with Carlyle Minor Ball through his experience as an umpire. He found himself being called consistently to umpire a game almost every night. From this demand he decided to take on the responsibility of organizing an umpire schedule.
"There's the coach, manager, players but everybody forgets you can't play without officials," Wyatt stated.
Wyatt now waits for the ball schedules to be developed and then finds umpires for each game. Usually he finds a younger umpire and attends games for support as a mentor.
"If a young kid is out there I'm here to help," Wyatt stated. "And that's been seven or eight years of doing that."
When asked why umpiring was a good choice Wyatt smiled and explained, "My big thing was I went to two national tournaments. It wasn't last year, but the year before I went to Nanaimo, B.C., for the week with all expenses paid. The reward is great fun and you meet many new people."
"It encourages confidence; it's good for young kids to be making the calls."
Wyatt stated that it is a great opportunity for youth around 13-years-old to take part in because it is something they can do and Carlyle Minor Ball pays $30 a game to the officials. Though a bit of cash in a 13-year-old's pocket is often exciting to them this is not what it is all about. Many youth find they very much enjoy umpiring.
Wyatt got into umpiring when he was in his 40s and wishes he had gotten an earlier start.
"I had always played my whole life and I wanted to stay in the game," Wyatt stated. "I began umpiring and enjoyed it, but wished I would have started younger. I started in my 40s, but wished I would have started at 13."
One umpire Wyatt has met along the way is only one step below the major leagues in umpiring; therefore, there is no telling where one might end up if starting young.
The umpire clinic being held on April 27 has been brought in by Wyatt because he would like to see young people partaking in this great opportunity.
The clinic will begin at 9 a.m. and will be held at the Carlyle Elementary School. Participants are asked to attend the library first. Here they will be able to register and instruction will begin. Following theory based instruction the group will then enter the gym to gain experience making calls as well as learning where the best places to stand on the field to make calls is.
For those who will be umpiring within Carlyle Minor Ball there is no fee.
Registration will happen just before the clinic starts and Wyatt hopes to see many people there to take part in this exciting opportunity.
