Softball Ontario FP Umpires Program Update from Peter Kluszczynski, FP PUIC

May 30, 2008

I would like to thank the Umpires of Ontario who have alreadyregistered with us this year and encourage all umpires to join ourgreat program. I would also like to thank those Umpires who have participatedin clinics and those that have instructed our clinics.

Clinics
All ZoneUmpire-in-Chiefs and Instructor/Evaluators are all in place for theupcoming year.  We have a total of over 80zone and program personnel in place to provide assistance toall umpires in the Province. This unbelievable number of dedicatedvolunteers surpasses the numbers from previous years and is agreat indication that our Program is getting stronger everyday!!  We should all be very proud of all ofthe accomplishments to date!   I would like to saythat everyone deserves a huge “THANK YOU” from Softball Ontario!  Ourumpire clinic season is almost done and we have established our clinics in allareas this year with great success. Jack Van Bynen and I instructedat a Refresher clinic this year in Woodstock to show our mutual supportto our program and show that the PUIC’s in this Province care!  We rana "FREE" Intermediate clinic exclusively for youngfemale Umpires in Toronto at the end of May.  This is only the tip of theiceberg for putting on free clinics.  We are hoping to put on manymore in the future!

Member Associations ProvincialChampionships
Our focus now will be servicing all of our MemberAssociations Tournaments.  The Zone Umpire-in-Chiefs have theirlist of Member Association Tournaments and with the help of all ofyou, we will work together to ensure that everything willbe properly looked after.  We will make sure that everytournament will be well serviced in a very professional and timelymanner.  For those of you who would like to get evaluated andtake advantage of an opportunity to progress upward to the next level, contactyour Zone Umpire-in-Chief to see if there is an event in your area that youcan participate in. 

The International Series andTri-Nations Cup
The International Series and Tri-Nations Cup comingup in July, brings together a great number of eliteumpires to work the games that will serve as a tune-upfor teams competing in the Olympics.  At the Tri-NationsCup in Kitchenerall of the game assignments will be covered by working Level Vumpires!!  I hope to see many umpires come out to these events,maybe pick up a few tips, and possibly introduce yourself to the umpiresworking the events.  I will be there as a working Level V andI welcome anyone to come over for a chat.  Two of the umpiresthat will be working in Kitchener will be going to Beijing for theOlympic Games. Greg Pipher and Nancy Morrison are the only twoumpires representing Canada at the Olympics.  I am very proudto run this event on behalf of Softball Ontario.  It will be “Outstanding”! 

I would like to address a couple of other topics for ourmembers: 

Discipline
I am pleased that all Member Associations have updated theirRisk Management Policies to properly address all issues regardingdiscipline.  I will continue to work with each of the MemberAssociations to create a fair discipline policy for all Umpires in theProvince.  I am insisting that the Provincial UIC  (ordesignate) be included on each Member Association'sDiscipline Committee for all incidents  involving anumpire to ensure that all incidents are dealt with properly andto assist in determining penalties.

Softball Ontario
I want everyone torealize that WE are the membership of Softball Ontario. Softball Ontario is the ProvincialBody that was created to act as a voice for all of us - players, coaches,teams, leagues, Associations, and yes - even the Umpires. WEare Softball Ontario and WE are the membership thateffects change to policy and the way that things are run for the betterment ofall aspects of the sport of Softball in Ontario.  The Softball Ontario Umpire Programsare the only groups that have a working relationship with theODC  (Official Development Committee) and SoftballCanada and we willcontinue to do the best job possible in delivering the Softball Canada programto all umpires in Ontario.  It is the dedication and passion of all of ourgreat volunteers that continues to make this possible. 

It is my goal to continue to keep everyone up to dateon the happenings in Softball Ontario Fast Pitch Umpires Program.  Ihope to be able to reach everyone on a regular basis to keep youinformed on all aspects of the umpiring program.   If anyonehas any questions about our program - I will always answerthem to the best of my ability. I will always have an open doorpolicy to all the umpires of Ontario - including those that are not members of Softball Ontario. 

would invite all umpires to join us in “SOLIDARITY”!!!!  Let us all worktogether to achieve all our goals in all areas of umpiring throughout theProvince.  I know we can all bring “SOLIDARITY” back for good in ourprogram!!!

Keep in touch!!!

Peter Kluszczynski
Softball Ontario
Fast PitchProvincial Umpire-in-Chief