Thornhill Umpires

Thornhill Umpires Website

The Thornhill Baseball Club is pleased to announce that John Brent has agreed to return as the Umpire Administrator for the Club in 2008 and that Brian Gordon has agreed to act as Umpire-in-Chief until such time as the Club can find a replacement.

Most of you indicated you would be returning to umpire in 2008 when you returned your equipment last fall.  I'd appreciate if you'd send me a note ( bagordon@rogers.com ) confirming your intentions for this coming season.  As well, if you know of anyone who is interested in umpiring, tell them about the Club's Level 1 clinic.

The level 1 and level 2 umpire clinics have been scheduled for Sunday, May 4, 2008.  The location of these clinics will be Wesmount Collegiate Institute.  Registration will be from 9:00am to 9:30am.  The clinics will run from 9:30am to about 4:30pm with some time off for lunch.  Please make sure to register for these clinics with me as soon as possible as space is limited and because they are open to everyone, not just Thornhill Umpires.  You can either e-mail me ( bagordon@rogers.com ) or call me (416-558-0119).  We are hopeful that all of the Club’s umpires from 2007 will be returning in 2008 and will be attending these clinics. 

As well, the Club is always looking to welcome reliable and conscientious individuals who are 14 years old or older as umpires.  Umpiring is fun and allows those who have a strong interest in the game to earn some money officiating.  If you are interested you must register for and attend the Level 1 clinic.  You can get more information and register for the Level 1 clinic by contacting me by e-mail ( bagordon@rogers.com ).  I will need your name, date of birth, address, telephone number, e-mail address and whether you will be playing baseball and where in 2008.

Baseball Ontario has set out the schedule for this year’s Level 3 umpire SuperClinics.  All eligible umpires who want to be certified at Level 3 for 2008 must attend one of these one-day clinics.  For information on the SuperClinics and to determine whether or not you are eligible, go to this website http://www.baseballontario.com/Umpires/ .  The registration process for these clinics should be opening up soon.

All Thornhill umpires are carded and insured by Baseball Ontario every year.  The Club always welcomes additional new umpires at anytime who are carded especially if they are Level 2 or higher.

The Club's House League Rules will be reviewed by coaches and convenors during February with a view to determining if any changes are needed.  Input as to what rules work and what rules need to be changed, deleted or added will be sought from the Club’s umpires.  The Club’s existing roster of umpires will be contacted by e-mail with the date, time and location of the meeting before the end of January.  If you can't attend the meeting, you can send your comments to me by e-mail.  The Club's current House League Rules can be accessed on this site or at the Club's umpiring site www.geocities.com/thornhillumpires .

The Club's Board of Directors reviewed the umpire pay schedule and revised most of the per-game rates upwards for 2008.  The new rate schedule will be set out on the Club’s umpiring website soon.

Lastly, as noted above, I am currently acting as the Umpire-in-Chief.  I agreed to do this until the Club finds someone to take on the job for this coming season as I don't have the time to do the job this summer.  If any of you more senior umpires are interested, please let me know.

Brian Gordon
Umpire-in-Chief