International Evaluation Committee
The Baseball Canada Umpire Development Committee (hereinafter referred to as BCUDC) Chairperson shall appoint 4-6 committee members, which is to include 1 Baseball Canada Staff, to create a committee to assist in making International recommendations. This committee shall be known as the International Evaluation Committee (hereinafter referred to as IEC).
Any questions regarding the process of recommending umpires for the International list or eligibility of umpires on the International list shall be directed through the Provincial Supervisors who will contact the BCUDC Chairperson.
Introduction
The IEC in consultation with the BCUDC Chair is responsible for recommending umpires for international events to Baseball Canada for final approval. WBSC/WBSC Americas has sole jurisdiction in making International Umpire selections and may decide to select from outside the Baseball Canada recommended list.
To be considered for inclusion on the International Recommendation List, umpires must meet all current criteria as established by the WBSC and must be endorsed by their Provincial Baseball Association and Baseball Canada.
Candidates will not be considered if they are currently under suspension by Baseball Canada or by a provincial association.
An International recommendation is available for self-identified male, female and non-binary umpires. Self-identified non-binary umpires may choose their pathway.
This procedure will clearly identify the route that umpires in Canada will follow to receive considerations for recommendation to international baseball.
Pathway Selection Events Self-Identified Male Umpires
- U18 National Championship or higher
- Self-Identified Male umpires who receive an overall rating of Accomplished or higher shall enter the International Pathway.
Pathway Selection Events Self-Identified Female Umpires
- U15 National Championship or higher
- Self-Identified Female umpires who receive a Major National recommendation shall enter the International Pathway.
International Evaluation Event(s) Step 1
Each year by December 1st, Baseball Canada shall announce if they intend to hold an Evaluation Event(s) for the following season. An Evaluation Event must be held, at a minimum, once every 2 years.
The purpose of the Evaluation Event(s) is to identify umpires who may be ready for an International Recommendation, and also to identify and train umpires who in the future may be ready for an International Recommendation.
The IEC shall select at least 50% of umpires from their allotment to attend the Evaluation Event(s) by the end of March. The cost of airfare or mileage, for the IEC allotted assignments, shall be split 50/50 between Baseball Canada and the Province. If the Province is unable or unwilling, the cost shall be the responsibility of the umpire.
Umpires shall be selected in the following order:
Attendees shall only be entitled to attend the Evaluation Event(s) once by qualifying through the National Championships. Any further invitations shall be at the discretion of the IEC.
Baseball Canada or the hosts shall be responsible for hotel accommodations and per diems.
Current WBSC 4 person mechanics will be used at the Evaluation Event(s) and will be covered during the pre-tournament meeting.
Supervisors shall be selected by the IEC in the following order:
The Evaluation Event(s) Supervision team shall meet with each umpire at the conclusion of the event(s) to discuss the umpires’ performance and provide feedback.
Self-Identified Male umpires who receive an overall rating of Accomplished or higher as well as an Accomplished or higher in all Key Metrics categories shall receive an International Recommendation.
Self-Identified Male umpires who receive an overall rating of Accomplished or higher BUT do not receive an Accomplished or higher in all Key Metrics categories shall enter the Mentorship program.
Self-Identified Female umpires who receive an overall rating of Effective or higher as well as an Effective or higher in all Key Metrics categories shall receive an International Recommendation.
Self-Identified Female umpires who receive an overall rating of Effective or higher BUT do not receive an Effective or higher in all Key Metrics categories shall enter the Mentorship program.
International Pathway – Mentorship – Step 2
Umpires whose outcome is an invitation to mentorship will be given an individualized training plan to help them achieve their goal of receiving an International Recommendation.
Each umpire will be assigned a Mentor. The Mentor will be a current or past International Umpire selected by the IEC. In conjunction with the IEC, the Mentor will be responsible for the execution of the umpires’ training plan. Areas that the Mentor may focus on include, but aren’t limited to:
· reviewing the umpire’s schedule including level, partners, 3 or 4 umpire system games
· fitness plans
· rule review
· mechanic review and practice
· at least once per year, supervise or work with the umpire in a 3 or 4-umpire system and provide feedback
· at least once per year, provide the umpire with an evaluation
The mentor will be reimbursed for their expenses in conjunction with the mentorship program, up to an annual limit as established by BCUDC. The mentor shall provide their proposed budget to the IEC for approval.
Responsibilities of the umpire include:
Responsibilities of the Province:
The umpire may only be in the Mentorship stage for 3 years.
Self-Identified Male umpires shall receive an assignment to the Evaluation Event(s) if they receive an Accomplished or higher overall rating as well as an Accomplished or higher in all Key Metrics categories from their mentor.
Self-Identified Female umpires shall receive an assignment to the Evaluation Event(s) if they receive an Effective or higher overall rating as well as an Effective or higher in all Key Metrics categories from their mentor.
Umpires who aren’t successful in receiving an International Recommendation during that period will be removed from the International Pathway.
The IEC may also remove an umpire from the Mentorship stage at any time during those 3 years as they deem appropriate.
International Recommendation List
Members of the IEC are not permitted to be on the International Recommendation List.
Each year immediately before the Baseball Canada Convention, the IEC Chair in conjunction with the BCUDC Chairperson shall make available to the Provincial Supervisors the list of Internationally recommended umpires.
This list shall be comprised of umpires who have successfully completed the International Pathway from the previous year, as well as returning umpires from previous years’. Returning umpires must have umpired at an International Event, Baseball Canada National Championship or Selection Event once every 3 years.
Baseball Canada shall have the authority, under special circumstances, to remove an umpire from the International Recommendation List.
