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Umpires course to resume next week
An umpire watches action at third base during last season’s game in the Senior League division of the Saipan Little League Baseball. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Rogolifoi said three aspiring umpires have religiously attended the last three sessions, which started last Thursday. Sessions were also held from 6pm to 8pm last Friday and Monday night. Each class lasted for two hours and an aspiring umpire must complete the 10-hour course to earn the certificate.
“We just covered the basic rules and the complicated ones so they would know what to do in making the hard decisions in every game,” said Rogolifoi, who has conducted six hours of the five-day course.
The classes resume on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 29 and 30 at 6pm.
Rogolifoi said that after the class sessions he would give a written exam, composed of 38 questions, to the three aspiring umpires.
“The passing grade is 71 percent and after the exam I’m taking them outside on Jan. 3 to see how they would apply what they’ve learned during the five-day umpiring certification course,” he added.
Rogolifoi said baseball leagues on Saipan need new umpires, particularly for the Little League program.
In related news, the Northern Marianas Sports Association executive director said that he would also give out certificates to seven individuals who passed a similar umpiring certification course on Rota last year.
“I spent a week on Rota and 10 joined the umpiring certification course with seven of them passing the similar tests I conducted there,” Rogolifoi said.
Rogolifoi also conducted coaching and players clinic for baseball on Rota and the weeklong trip and clinics were funded by the Division of Youth Services. (Jon Perez)
