Bullock Creek Hosts 35 Aspiring Umpires

January 27, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

More than 35 aspiring baseball and softball umpires met for instruction from a number of veteran officials as part of the Mid-Michigan Clinic on Jan. 21 at Bullock Creek High School.

High school-aged umpires who received instruction are part of the MHSAA Legacy Student Officials Program, which works to provide opportunities and mentoring to high schools interested in becoming part of the officiating avocation.

Saturday’s instructors included 10 who worked at the college level and three who worked in the minor leagues last season. The clinic received financial support from the Mecosta-Isabella-Clare, Midland and Bay Metro officials associations, plus all adults who attended including those who presented. All legacy umpires also received indicators, brushes and hats as part of their clinic experience.

“An excellent staff provided a full day of training, and it was wonderful to see so many faces young and old,” said MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl, who serves as director of officials. “This is one of the largest clinics of its kind in our state, and we’re thankful for the work of all who had a hand in such a great event to provide instruction for our next generation of umpires.” 

Officials also received assistance from the Lancers’ baseball and softball programs, and in return all revenues from the clinic were donated to those programs. 

Be the Referee: Video Clip Library

February 20, 2015

This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains MHSAA policy for video submitted to argue an official's call. 

Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment - Video Clip Library - Listen

Throughout the year, callers and e-mailers to our office will often complain about an official’s call, and this concerned person will then tell us that they have video to back up their claim. 

The policy here at the MHSAA is to not review video tape for the purposes of changing an official’s call. Many times this video that is provided to the MHSAA is from a single angle, and that one angle would never allow us to overturn a call, even if our rules were similar to the college and pro level to allow for instant replay. 

We do, however,use that video to put in our video clip library to help officials and others continue to train and learn from different situations.

Past editions
Feb. 9 - Cheer Safety - Listen
Feb. 2 - Basketball PA Announcers - Listen
Jan. 26 - Wrestling Health Concerns - Listen
Jan. 19 - Basketball Physical Contact -
 Listen
Jan. 12 - Video Review Part 2 - Listen
Dec. 29 - Video Review Part 1 - Listen
Dec. 17 - Registration Part 2 - Listen
Dec. 10 - Registration Part 1 - Listen
Dec. 3 - Legacy Program - Listen
Nov. 26 - Sideline Management - Listen
Nov. 19 - 7-Person Mechanics - Listen
Nov. 12 - Blocking Below the Waist - Listen
Nov. 5 - Tournament Selection - Listen
Oct. 29 - Uncatchable Pass - Listen
Oct. 22 - Preparation for Officials - Listen
Oct. 15 - Automatic First Downs - Listen
Oct. 8 - Officials & Injuries - Listen
Oct. 1 - Overtime - Listen
Sept. 25 - Field Goals - Listen
Sept. 18 - Tackle Box - Listen
Sept. 11 - Pass Interference - Listen
Aug. 25 - Targeting - Listen