Umpires from various European countries gathered to obtain their certifications. The clinic was organized by WBSC Europe in cooperation with the Czech Softball Association.
The Softball Umpire Certification Clinic was divided into two parts, with an online component preceding the in-person course. From April to June, participants attended four online sessions that focused on the rules of the game. These virtual sessions set the foundation for the practical session that awaited them in Havlíčkův Brod.
When the participants arrived in Czechia for the in-person course, they delved into various aspects of umpiring, with a particular emphasis on the 3-Umpire-System and plate work.
Moreover, participants had the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice during the certification games held as part of a tournament from June 23-25.
A total of 13 umpires from 8 European National Federations participated in the clinic. 11 of the participants successfully passed the certification exam: Tom Bosmans, Florence Sauvage, Luana Nucibella, Raul Perera, Aina Rajohnson, Guy Van Aarsen, Geert-Steven Gruppelaar, Alex Levine, Nils Bernard, Selin Patrick, Yampier Menendez Gonzalez.
WBSC Europe Softball Umpiring Committee member Raoul Machalet, also responsible for the umpire development, expressed his satisfaction with the umpires' performance during the clinic. "All umpires worked really hard and all improved significantly during the clinic," he stated.
