SEASON 2 IS HERE!

First session in the new season of the British Baseball Federation (BBF) and Amateur Baseball Umpires’ Association – Europe Umpire Webinar Series will be hosted by Minor League Baseball Umpire, Zděnek ‘Z’ Židek!

Reflecting on the unprecedented times and the impact of COVID-19 on all our lives, ‘Z’ will share insights into his preparation for the shortened professional season last year and the learnings for this coming season.

Get in the mindset! Get in shape!

Please register via this link (if you have registered last year, you don’t need to register again):

https://zfrmz.com/cgXgSpWkpf7saEoKbzI9

Call details will be shared before the event.

Former MiLB umpire Brian Hertzog will share all we need to know about positioning at home plate. Brian is currently working at NCAA baseball and has a wealth of experience.

Please register here: https://zfrmz.com/cgXgSpWkpf7saEoKbzI9

Known as the person who devised the basic mechanics of the 2-man umpiring system, Sarge is the man behind the core of all umpire systems we are using today.

Join next Thursday for the next session in the British Baseball Federation and ABUA-Europe Umpire Webinar Series for an in-depth view of the multiple umpiring systems. The session starts with details of the 2-man mechanics than explores the connection to 3 and 4-man crew rules, responsibilities and mechanics.

Start at 7 pm UK time.

Please register here: https://zfrmz.com/cgXgSpWkpf7saEoKbzI9

Jim Kirk, CEO of Ump-Attire.com, is the next guest speaker in the Webinar Series.

As the head of the largest and best known online retailer of officials’ products, Jim will bring his expertise with umpire equipment and insights to product developement as well.

Please register here: https://zfrmz.com/cgXgSpWkpf7saEoKbzI9

Dear fellow umpires!

The ABUA-E board wants to wish you a happy and successful new year, full of exiting games and experiences.

Sascha – Chairman

Andy – Secretary

Thomas – Treasurer

In most European countries baseball is usually played under the Official Baseball Rules of the last year, that means this year with the version of 2017. The most remarkable change concerns the Intentional Base on Balls rules.

Official Baseball Rules 2017

Definition of Terms: A BASE ON BALLS is an award of first base granted to a batter who, during his time at bat, receives four pitches outside the strike zone or following a signal from the defensive team’s manager to the umpire that he intends to intentionally walk the batter. If the manager informs the umpire of this intention, the umpire shall award the batter first base as if the batter had received four pitches outside the strike zone.

Rule 5.05(b)(1) Comment (Rule 6.08(a) Comment): A batter who is entitled to first base because of a...

Hello baseball umpire colleagues and Happy New Year!

My name is Tony Jones and I am a student at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences – Vierumäki. I am in the process of completing my Bachelor’s thesis and my topic is “Recruitment and Retention of Baseball Umpires in Europe.” To assist my thesis, I have produced a questionnaire via Google Forms to survey the situation for baseball umpires in Europe. With this I hope to get a full picture of the baseball umpire scene in Europe. I have also added a link to a separate survey, the Referee Self-Efficacy Scale to measure umpire confidence in carrying out our duties. I kindly ask you to take the time to go through both questionnaires as carefully as possible...

…for your support in 2017! See you all in 2018. Keep care!