Thursday, January 5, 2006
NBUA Training set for 2006
by Mike Brancheau
Director of Training
It is not possible that it can be 2006 already! But there it is, right in front of me on my calendar... January 2006! Time for training!!
First, A Special Word: This is my first year coordinating NBUA Training. I have learned it takes a tremendous amount of time, work, resources, and organization. As such, it is appropriate and I am glad to take very special notice to the incredible job done by Gavin Anderson in the role of Training Director for the past two years. Gavin assembled a wonderful team of dedicated and skilled instructors, and managed to get them all talking the talk and walking the walk, together! Same direction, same focus, across all the tiers. I was very impressed by their service and loyalty to the organization. Many of these people are back as Staff Instructors, and I am very pleased that Gavin accepted a role as the B Tier Training Coordinator. Thanks so much Gavin for the great work, and for stepping up again! Now, on to this year.
The Schedule and Venues: Once again, we are fortunate to have use of classrooms and facilities at Eastside Catholic High School in Bellevue. Below are links to the schedules for the various tiers. Please use this initially to work out your own scheduling for training. Agendas and curriculums and other specific information will be coming shortly.
• C Tier
• B Tier
• A Tier
Download Master Training Schedule here
See More Pitches! In the afternoons of Saturday Feb. 11 and Saturday Feb. 18, in addition to our Eastside Catholic facilities, we have available two cages for plate work at the Stods Batting Cages, just around the corner from ES Catholic. We will work (hopefully) everyone through there, giving everyone much more plate work training. Watch the schedule for specifics, however, A and B tiers will use these on the 11th and Cs and First Years will work there on the 18th.
Agendas and Curriculum: We will strive for provision to all members, in a timely manner, of complete agendas and curriculum for each days training at all levels. At a minimum, before any days training, you will be able to get from the NBUA site the outline and details of that days discussion. Of course, this means you as attendees will want to be prepared with questions or experiences regarding that days topics.
Items of interest
Opt- Up Program: An NBUA member who has attended all or most training at the C tier or B tier for 3 or more years within that tier, may request permission to attend training for the next higher tier. This is strictly optional for the umpire to apply. If you would like to make this request, send an email to me. The request will be considered by the Coordinators of your current tier and the higher tier. Again, note this is available only to officials that have completed THREE or more years within the C or B tier. Also note that the Required Hours for your actual tier does not change. Thus a C tier umpire who does "opt-up" will still need to attend some of the C level training.
Combined Rules Classes: On Wednesday, Feb. 8 and Wednesday, Feb. 15 we will present Combined Tiers Rules Clinics. This presentation will be for all C, B, A, and College tier officials and will deal with intermediate and advanced OBR concepts. On these same days, First Year umpires will have a segregated Rules Instruction class covering the Official Rules of Baseball on a more basic level. Second Year Umpires or any other C Tier umpires are welcome to attend the Basic class these days if they prefer.
Jim Evans Clinic: We endorse attendance at the Jim Evans weekend clinic, now in its fifth year. Any NBUA member who attends the Evans camp will receive 15 hours of Training Credit toward the hours of training required at their tier. Go to the Evans Clinic website for information and to register. Note there is no scheduled NBUA training over this weekend, so go see Jim!
Training Credit and Incentive: Repeating the successful plan from last season, all umpires who attend 80 percent or more of the required training within their tier will have their assessments reduced by 1percent.
Session Feedback: We will solicit feedback from all members at the end of each training session! If possible, we will make adjustments within the program to better serve the members, or use this feedback to improve the program in 2007.
Final note: This is a work in progress. Check back here often for changes and to see detail added to the training schedule. Each member of the Training Staff wishes everyone to know that it is our intention to make "Every Minute Count" this season for training. If you come, we will make it worth your time!
Your input and ideas are always welcome. Many of the "new" ideas or adjustments are based on your feedback from last season, and from the Training Survey. Feel free to email me with suggestions or ideas for training.
Mike Brancheau can be reached at this email.