An ESF Slowpitch Umpire Course was held in Slough from 7-11 May, with instruction at Richings Park Softball Club and assessments at Diamond Series 1 at Farnham Park. Six umpires obtained their ESF qualification.
The course was organised in the UK by BASU Training Officer Chris Moon and both Chris and Pete Saunders, who already hold ESF licenses, assisted with the course. The main instructor was former ESF Technical Director Bob Milosavljevic, who flew over from Boston to deliver it.
Seven umpires attended from the UK, one from Germany and one from Ireland. Three umpires withdrew prior to the beginning of the course.
Interactive instruction
Bob Milosavljevic set up the clinic in an interactive way with the attendees and this proved to be a successful and interesting formula. The candidates worked hard and enthusiastically to obtain their license, but also grew into a group of friends.
During the Diamond Series tournament on the weekend of 10-11 May, all the candidates were evaluated at home plate, first base and third base.
Six of the trainees – Luis Arrevillagas (UK), Maarten Blanken (Ireland) Hans Daanen (UK), Debbie Moores (UK), Lesley Morisetti (UK) and Patrick van Uffelen (Germany) – achieved their licence, while Darrell Pitman (UK) was proposed for a provisional licence, pending assessment at an ESF competition.
Slowpitch revelation
ESF Vice President Gilbert Tobback was on hand during the course, and both the ambience and levels of play at the Diamond Tournament came as a bit of a revelation to him.
In an article on the ESF website, Gilbert wrote: “During the tournament I was surprised by the high level of the games, the beautiful plays and the marvellous outs which were made. Slowpitch on this level is far from only recreational, it is a top sport – but there were also friendships witnessed during the whole weekend. People came from all over the UK, Ireland and sometimes from further away, they paid their own costs and a lot of them camped at the grounds. For the players and their families it is a way of life.
“In this tournament,” Gilbert continued, “50 teams competed and it was a pleasure to see the players being very competitive, but also playing in friendship with all others. The NSL teams collect points throughout the year and the top eight teams play the NSL [Premier] Nationals at the end of the season and the winner of this will represent GB at the European Cup.
“I believe slowpitch needs more attention [in Europe],” Gilbert concluded. “It gives a very good possibility to involve more players in our beautiful softball sport.”