Here is the Summer edition of Hey Blue! Online. Some great articles and important news from your association. And to top it off some pictures from this year's Junior Premiere Baseball Provincials Here's the link.

Updated July 26, 2010 Important Rule information for Provincials

it has come to the attention of the Provincial Rules committee that some people in our association are using the new PRO rule for pitchers going to their mouth on the mound. Please remember that Baseball Canada has not adopted this changed rule for this season and therefore we must enforce the rule that is currently in effect here in Canada for both league and Provincial Championships. That is, if a pitcher goes to his mouth while on the dirt portion of the mound (actually the 18 foot circle of the mound), the umpire shall award a ball to the batter. However, we also encourage preventive officiating by quietly letting the pitcher know that they cannot do this if you see it.

Updated June 4, 2010 BCBUA Member to be featured on tonight's CTV News

from Baseball BC's web site:

When?: Thursday, June 3, 2010 6:00 pm to 11:45 pm Baseball BC is proud to have a Member and Abbotsford Angels umpire - a 12 year old, level one BCBUA certified umpire - featured on CTV news this Thursday during the Perry's Prospects portion of the sports. Thursday, June 3rd during the 6pm and 11:30 pm newscasts. We all are very proud of Jordan Bjornsson for representing both AAHA and the BCBUA so professionally during his interview and game segment. Jordan was mike'd while doing a mosquito plate game for clips for the segment.  Riley Werk - another one of our fine young umpires was doing the bases for this game. Please take the time to watch the segment if you can - and see one of our own in the spotlight!!!

If and when the spot goes up to YOUTUBE a link will be listed here. BCBUA is also very proud of both of our young members and of course Rhonda Pauls the Area Director for Abbotsford has to have big kudos sent to let us know of this fantastic event.

Here is the link to the site for the video: http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/perrysprospects/ 

Updated April 23, 2010 National Championship Assignments Announced

it is with great pleasure that we announce the following national assignments:

• Senior: Fabian Poulin
• Junior: Mark Bodwell
• Canada Cup: Kris Hartley, Don Violette
• Midget: Matt Lowndes
• Bantam: Jeremy Bresler
• Pee Wee: Jim Train, Andre Jean
• Bantam Girls (hosted by Richmond): Linda Sam, Rhonda Pauls , Kelly Hunter, Lisa Brown-Rooke

Congratulations to all of the above BCBUA members. A National assignment is the highest achievement that a BCBUA member can earn from this province. International assignments are made at the National Level and although the BCBUA has input into these decisions, the National Supervisor and his technical committee are responsible for those assignments. In order to be considered for a national assignment, each of the above members must be at least a Level 4B umpire for 2 years and have attended the National Clinic which was held in Kamloops over the Easter weekend where they were evaluated both on and off field. Again well done folks.

Updated April 16, 2010 Hey Blue! - Online Edition 7

Here is the Spring edition of Hey Blue! Online. Lots of important information and some great pictures from the National Level 4-5 Clinic held Easter Weekend in Kamloops. Here's the link.

Updated April 16, 2010 Exams Posted

this years exams are all now posted here

Updated May 6, 2010 Clinic updates All clinics for 2010 are now complete

If you are interested in working at a Provincial Championship this year, have a look at the PDF File for an application.

Updated February 4, 2010 Ejections

Over the years we as officials have become rather haphazard in regards to writing ejection reports. Both the BCBUA and Baseball BC have determined that this is an area of concern and is something that is going to be a major focus for the next several years. Not only is a report required after the incident for the purpose of reporting the situation to the proper authorities for further investigation and discipline, but we need to track the number of incidents that happen each year. A major source of frustration is when we know that a particular person has had problems both on and off the field, but there are no reports to back up this claim. Then when our association goes to the parent Baseball organization with our concerns they say there is no evidence in terms of reports to back up further discipline. Bottom line is that if the situation warrants and ejection, or even if the situation does not result in a ejection but is serious in nature, write a report.

The BCBUA has made this extremely easy to do as we now have an online ejection form that will send copies of the report directly to the people that can then track and forward the information to the correct authorities. Here is the link Ejection form. This link lives over on the left side Navigation Bar under the Online Forms Tab.

But how to actually write the report is always a concern. Here is an article that you can download and read that may help you write that report.

How to write an Ejection Report for the BCBUA 

Of course you can always talk to your local UIC or Area Director for more help. Again, if the situation warrants an ejection, the situation warrants an ejection report.