FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17th, 2011

Brian Van Os re-appointed as Softball Canada National Director of Umpires

(Ottawa, ON) Softball Canada is extremely pleased to announce that it has re-appointed Brian Van Os (Coquitlam, BC) as Softball Canada's National Director of Umpires through the 2013 season. Van Os took over the position from Bob Stanton, who was named the International Softball Federation's Director of Umpire in 2008. Under Van Os' direction over the past two years, the Officiating Development Committee (ODC) has increased umpire registration and opportunities for both Slo-Pitch and Fast Pitch umpires, held a successful Blue Convention in Regina, and maintained strong national and international relations in the umpiring community, among many other highlights.

'I am pleased to be part of the Softball Canada umpire program for the next three years' stated Brian Van Os. 'I am very fortunate to work with a great team on the ODC and with Donna Ozarko, our Officiating manager. Together with our team and the provincial partners we have been successful in creating a first class umpire program. We all know we have to continue to work in bringing new umpires into the ranks to keep the sport healthy.'

Van Os began his umpiring career in 1971 and became a registered Softball Canada umpire in 1981. He was both a Fast Pitch and Slo-Pitch official throughout his umpiring career. He has also been involved administratively with Softball British Columbia and Softball Canada since 1985, serving in numerous different positions. He was involved in umpiring at the international level from 1986 to 2001, including the 1988 ISF Senior Men's World Championships and the 2001 ISF Junior Men's World Championships. He served as Softball BC's Umpire-in-Chief from 1989 to 1997 and later joined Softball Canada's Officials Development Committee (ODC) in 2002, notably working on the evolution of the rulebook and offering rule interpretations to the umpiring community.

'I am extremely pleased to have Brian Van Os returning as Softball Canada's Director of Umpires for the next three years' said Softball Canada President Kevin Quinn. 'Brian has worked aggressively to obtain international opportunities for both Fastpitch and Slo-Pitch officials. He is highly respected around the world which opens the doors for Canadian umpires to receive numerous international assignments.'

For more information, please contact:

Gilles LeBlanc
Manager - Marketing and Communications
Softball Canada
(613) 523-3386 x. 3105
gleblanc@softball.ca