Umpiring aid arrives
By THADDEUS TIRIMAN
THE chief umpire of Australia Softball Federation arrived yesterday to conduct a one-week umpiring course for local umpires in preparation for the upcoming national softball championships in Port Moresby this weekend.
Chief umpire Andrew Rindfleish flew to a small reception at the Jacksons International Airport where he was met by Papua New Guinea Softball Federation chief Chris Bais and Port Moresby-based softball officials.
The umpire course training starts today at the Sir John Guise Stadium and ends on Easter Sunday with 16 umpires, among them one woman, getting the opportunity to be graded according to the International Softball Federation (ISF) grading system.
According to information provided by PNG Softball Federation yesterday, the umpires have been selected by the national body from different associations in the country. The course will include classroom and practical sessions.
The statement said that the classroom sessions will start today until Thursday while the practical session will start during the national softball championship on Good Friday.
The umpires will get into the field and officiate and while they are umpiring the games, they will be graded according to their levels of performance. The main part of the course will be in getting decisions right when umpiring.
“Umpires must know how to make the right call when they a faced with the pressure from the players and even the crowd,” Rindfleish said yesterday.
Rindfleish stressed the importance of the course, describing it as very critical and just like any other sport it was important for the umpires because it will give them the opportunity to be certified umpires and prepare themselves for bigger tournaments, especially in the international arena.
He is accompanied by his son Scott, also a certified international umpire, who will be assisting at the workshop.
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