Attention Softball Umpires

USA Softball Of Cincinnati
Jerry Fick Umpire In Chief
3016 Ambler Drive Cincinnati, Ohio 45241
Phone: (513)563-2755 <(513)%20563-2755>
asauic@fuse.net

January 1, 2018
Dear Umpire:

It is another new year and the softball season is coming soon. This is my 41st year writing this letter as your Umpire In Chief and I remind you that we are now USA Softball and looking forward to again being an Olympic sport in Tokyo!

Umpires Clinic Our 41st annual Umpires Clinic will be Sunday, February 18 AT MID AMERICA BALLYARD AND RUN FROM 9AM TO 4PM. Mid America Ballyard is located at the corner of Blue Rock and East Miami River Road in Colerain Township – 6960 Blue Rock Road – 45247 .

Our clinic program will this year feature our local staff. Our topics will include new and difficult rules, interpretations, game management and tournament procedures, with an additional emphasis on umpire mechanics. Don’t miss this great clinic and remember the COST IS STILL INCLUDED IN YOUR REGISTRATION FEE. This single day format will be more efficient and effective for all of our umpires. High School umpires attending will receive OHSAA local meeting credit.

We will also recognize umpires who participated in National Championship play or earned other special recognition in 2017. Remember that USA Softball offers umpires the opportunity to participate in Championship play each season. Last year our local umpires received thirty assignments to National Championships.
Mandatory Clinic Attendance Clinic attendance is mandatory for Cincinnati umpires interested in working any USA Softball championship play, sponsored tournament, or special event. The cost of the clinic is included in your registration fee. USA Softball of Cincinnati will provide your lunch.

One thing that has not changed for this year is your registration fee! This fee is only $55 and must be paid prior to the clinic. Fees paid after the clinics will be subject to a late charge of $10. Mail your check, payable to USA Cincinnati Umpires, to the umpire office at 3016 Ambler Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45241 . Registration paperwork is included with this mailing. USA Softball of Cincinnati umpires do not need to pre-register for this clinic, however, out of town umpires/guests should do so by mailing name, address, and contact information to our office.

In addition to the clinic, your registration fee includes your USA Softball Rule Book, Umpire Manual, the USA Softball Comprehensive General Liability insurance coverage, Excess Medical insurance coverage, weekly rules meetings, all of our other educational programs, tests, USA Softball tournament assignments, and all the other benefits that go with being part of the world’s largest organization of softball officials.

Umpire School We will be hosting a weekend umpire school May 19 and 20 at the Evendale Recreation Center. Our format will be similar to the National Umpire School held there in 2015 and our guest instructors will include Kevin Ryan, USA Softball National Director of Umpires, Dave Chandler, Deputy Director and others. Details are being finalized and will be forwarded to you in early January.
Reminder – JO Umpires – Background Checks All umpires working youth games must complete a mandatory USA Softball background check. The cost is paid by USA Softball of Cincinnati. The form authorizing the background check is included with this mailing and should be returned with your registration application. No assignments to youth games will be made until the registration process has been completed – the forms submitted and the process finalized.

Weekly Meetings We encourage umpires to attend our weekly meetings. For Fast Pitch Umpires we will again meet in conjunction with the Blue Chip HS Umpires at Landmark Baptist Temple, 1680 Glendale Milford Rd . in Evendale. Dates are February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26. These meetings start at 7PM. We will also have a FP Weekly Meeting (in conjunction with Blue Chip) on Monday, April 2 – 645PM at Mid-America Ballyard.

Information for Fast Pitch Umpires I am pleased to inform you that Tom Hathaway will be continuing in the assigning role for 2018. During our spring clinics and meetings Tom will share with you plans for this season. We are working on a series of championship events that will include qualifying tournaments. We are also working with Major League Baseball, the Cincinnati Reds and the Urban Youth Academy to GROW SOFTBALL in 2018. We are excited about this growth in the game. Please note the information above concerning umpires working youth games and the required background checks.

Recruiting New Umpires In recent years, participation in our events has continued its rapid growth. Our umpire program has not been able to keep up with this growth and we have reached a point where we must increase the number of umpires available for our program. Our best recruiting source is you – the current USA Softball umpire. Take a moment to recruit a relative, friend, neighbor, or co-worker and bring them to one of our meetings. Umpires bringing a new recruit to register at the clinics will receive a uniform gift. This will allow our program to grow and will keep your assigners from having to beg you to work those extra games this summer.

Conclusion We are happy to have you as part of our USA Softball of Cincinnati program; our goal is to provide you with the finest training opportunities that allow you to be the best you can be. The programs available this year are outstanding and we are looking forward to having each of you participate to the greatest extent possible.

Please email me at asauic@fuse.net or call me at 513-563-2755 <(513)%20563-2755> with any questions or for information on any of the events described in this letter.

Sincerely,
Jerry Fick