2011 UMPIRE ACADEMY PROGRAM
2010 MLBAAP
Information pertaining to the 2011 MLBAAP Program and a quick quiz
ACADEMY PROGRAM
The MLB Australian Academy Program will be conducted on the Gold Coast, Palm Meadows Baseball Complex, 26 June to 13 August, 2011 totalling approximately seven weeks of training and games.
It is aimed at 16-18 year olds who have shown definite baseball potential to be considered for the Australian National Team or a professional contract. Enough to say that it attracts the best young baseballers in the country with some overseas visitors. There have been players from the Oceania region and from Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
The last few years the annexing of the academy to the Umpire Development Program has proved very successful and I can envisage a similar involvement in 2011.
What we are looking at is again bringing in a team of umpires to be involved in an intensive and comprehensive training program designed for umpires who show the potential to officiate at a high level of baseball.
The training program is seen as a compilation of games, training sessions, cage work using live pitching and lectures utilising some members of the Umpire Development Instructors Panel and the various coaches, ancillary staff and tutors involved with the academy.
A typical day would be tuition, cage work, games, followed up with a thorough assessment, and further tuition. It will be possible to link in with tuition sessions with the players, sports psychology, nutrition etc, or any other programs supplied by the Gold Coast TAFE available to the players.
The program will be divided into three separate sections of two weeks duration with the same program in all sections.
- June 26 to July 10
- June 10 to July 24
- July 24 to August 7
The ABF is inviting Expressions of Interest from Nationally Accredited Umpires with at least Level One Accreditation to be part of this experience.
Should you require further information or wish to discuss the proposal please contact Geoff Robertson, Technical Officials Manager, 0755106812, Geoff.Robertson@baseball.org.au
TRY THIS ONE
With a runner on third the pitcher working from the wind up commences his pitching motion and the runner breaks for home. With a left handed batter at bat the catcher steps out into the rear of the right handed batter’s box to take the pitch and easily tags out the runner.
Is the runner out?
AND ANOTHER
Runners on first and third one out, the second baseman fields a lazy pop up near second, then intentionally drops the ball. He retrieves the ball, steps on second and fires to first to complete the double play.
Is the innings over?
