BASU, the British Association of Softball Umpires, has announced the schedule of courses it will run between now and the start of the 2015 playing season.
BASU has also announced a change to umpire re-qualification procedures. Previously, successful completion of a two-day BASU course and assessment qualified umpires for four years, with a game assessment after two years. However, from 2015 onwards, those passing the two-day course for the first time will have to re-take the same course after two years, and thereafter every four years, with game assessments remaining every two years.
Advanced Courses
The highlight of this year's course schedule is two one-day Advanced Courses that BASU will run by invitation only – one in the North, in Manchester, and the other in the South, in Maidenhead. Both courses are now fully booked.
Pete Saunders and Chris Moon will deliver the Manchester course on Saturday 14 March at the Trafford Soccerdome, while Chris and Mike Jennings will deliver the Maidenhead course on Saturday 18 April at Maidenhead Cricket Club.
More information on these Advanced Courses and why BASU is running more of them this year can be found in this article from the BSF website.
One-Day Courses
So far, BASU has been booked by two leagues – the Bristol Softball Association and the Greater London Softball Mixed League (GLSML) – to run six one-day courses for league umpires.
The Bristol courses will run at Clifton College on Saturday 14 March and Sunday 29 March, while the GLSML courses will be held on four Saturdays – 11 and 25 April, 30 May and 6 June – in Ealing, on Primrose Hill and at two locations yet to be determined.
Anyone interested in attending one of the Bristol courses should contact Hans Daanen (uic@bristolsoftball.com) while those interested in one of the GLSML courses should contact Jessica Lau (umpiring@glsml.co.uk).
Two-Day Courses
Six leagues have booked two-day BASU Qualification Courses in March. To apply for any of them, please get in touch with the contacts listed below.
EAST MIDLANDS SOFTBALL LEAGUE
Dates: 21-22 March
Venue: Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Services HQ, Bestwood Lodge, Nottingham NG5 8PD
Contact: Ian Tomlin
Trainer: Pete Saunders
BRISTOL SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION
Dates: 21-22 March
Venue: Watsons Pavilion, Clifton College Sports Ground, Abbots Leigh Road, Bristol BS8 3HE
Contact: Hans Daanen
Trainer: Hans Daanen
SOLENT SOFTBALL LEAGUE
Dates: 21-22 March
Venue: Swordsands Bowling Association, Tangier Road, Portsmouth PO3 6QA (tbc)
Contact: Adam Charlton
Trainer: Chris Moon
GREATER LONDON SOFTBALL MIXED LEAGUE
Dates: 28-29 March
Venue: Finsbury Park Baseball and Softball Club, Endymion Road, Finsbury Park, London N4 2NQ
Contact: Jessica Lau
Trainers: Mike Jennings, David Hurley
WINDSOR & MAIDENHEAD SOFTBALL LEAGUE
Dates: 28-29 March
Venue: TBC
Contact: Andy Chase
Trainer: Chris Moon
MANCHESTER SOFTBALL LEAGUE
Dates: 28/29 March
Venue: TBC
Contact: Jeremy Fothergill
Trainer: Pete Saunders
Any other leagues or clubs that would like to book a BASU umpire course this spring should contact BASU Training Officer Chris Moon.