News

• The annual NCUA Umpires Dinner was held at Caesar's Italian Restaurant on January 23, 2012, recognizing NCUA friends, Lifetime members, and 2011 Award winners:
  • Softball Dick Code Umpire of the Year:  Dave Mitchell
    Softball Rookie of the Year: Kevin Valdry
    Baseball Phil "Goose" Gosland Umpire of the Year: Rick Robles
    Tony Patch Jr. Baseball Rookie of the Year: Matt Armstrong & Corey Simon
    
    NCUA has a history of Award winners.  The NCUA has its roots in the San Francisco Umpires' Association from the 1930's.
• The 21st annual ASA San Francisco Softball Umpire School will be held March 3 and 4, 2012 at Park Community Police Station by Kezar Stadium. Contact Chuck Louie at (415) 566-6282.  We need more softball umpires for the 2012 season!
• NCUA Baseball classroom clinics for Applicants and Members are held at the Pacific Rod and Gun Club, 520 John Muir Drive, San Francisco, CA 94132 on Lake Merced in the Trap House which is the last building on the left after entering the gate.  There is plenty of parking but the lot is fairly dark.  The 18 Muni bus (SFMTA) 46th Avenue stops across the street approximately every 20 minutes.
• Baseball High school league play starts Monday February 27^th.  All who have not made all five of the clinics during October must make up these clinics in order to umpire High School Games this year.  The Make up dates for these clinics are:

Clinic # 1 - with the New Applicants - Wed. January 25 or Thurs. January 26 - 7:00 to 9:30 pm

Clinic # 2 - Pitching - Thursday Feb. 2

Clinic # 3- Batting and Baserunning - Thursday Feb. 9

Clinic # 4 - Fielding - Thursday Feb. 16

Clinic # 5 - Game Management - Thursday Feb. 23

All Clinics at the Pacific Rod and Gun Club - Trap House at 7:00 pm

Umpires who can not make these Clinics must contact Don Simon 415 602-3302

In addition to the above Clinics:

Organizational Meeting for 2012 - either Tuesday, February 7 or Wednesday February 8 - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Trap House

Test Meeting for 2012 - Thursday February 23 or Monday February 27 - 7:00 pm  to 9:00 pm, Trap House

Field Clinics- Times and Places to be determined: February 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 20.

• Get familiar with San Francisco Middle School 2011 baseball league Rules. See the AAA site for more information. Game time is 3:30 pm.  Points of emphasis:  Distances are 54 foot pitching and 90 foot base paths, 20 minute start time grace period, 15 run "White Flag Rule", accomodate player uniforms, and check bats.
• The San Francisco AAA High School Championship baseball game was held at AT&T Park on May 12th, 2011 between Balboa and Washington High schools.  The Four Man NCUA umpire crew  Scott Armstrong, Mark Buscheck, Dave Ledda, and Nils Nilsson did a great job!
• NCUA Softball training was held in 2011
• NFHS 2012 Rules changes emphasize safety.  NFHS and CIF bat guidelines for 2012 are complex.  All high school bats must have the BBCOR stamp.  Many of the bats used in 2011 are illegal for 2012!  Get familiar with interpretations of the new rules.  Our client leagues may have further differences from NFHS and CIF.  Baseball umpires must know which bats are legal and illegal.   No more pre-game bat and equipment checks!
• See the 2011 NCUA Baseball uniform policy.  There are some changes
• Billy Cunha, NCUA 2009 Tony Patch Jr. Baseball Rookie Umpire of the Year, completed his first season of Minor League Baseball and has a message for his NCUA friends. 
• Everyone is talking about the strike zone, including Major League umpires.  Watch and listen here.  What do you think?
• Have you wondered about the path to becoming a Major League umpire?  It requires attending one of the two professional training camps:  The Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring or the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Read about it all in Bruce Weber's excellent book "As They See 'Em: A Fan's Travels in the Land of Umpires".   

• NCUA provided umpires for the JCC Maccabi games August 2-7, 2009.  Thanks to Rich Cerny for organizing and assigning the games.
• The San Francisco Youth Baseball League Championship games were held in May, 2009.  Check out the NCUA umpire crews. 
• The San Francisco AAA High School Championship girl softball game was held at Lang Field on May 12th, 2009 between Washington and Lowell High schools.
• The Bruce-Mahoney game was played on March 31, 2009 between St. Ignatius and Sacred Heart Cathedral High Schools at AT&T Park in front of about 3500 fans.  The NCUA umpire crew consisted of Tony Patch, Don Simon, and Alex Andrus.
• Review the Three-Man and Four-Man Mechanics baseball training materials.  Thanks to Rich Cerny and Don Simon for preparing these great new training materials.  Let them know what you think.
• Our friend Ben Legere passed away Wednesday, March 10, 2010 after umpiring a youth baseball game.  Ben was a softball and baseball umpire and basketball official for more than 50 years.  Ben was an NCUA Lifetime member and former Vice President of baseball.  He personally mentored many of our members and touched the lives of thousands of San Francisco kids and their parents.  Ben was admired and respected for his total commitment to local youth sports and will be greatly missed.
• Long-time NCUA President, Tony Patch, died on June 27, 2009 while umpiring summer baseball.  Tony will be remembered for his dedicated commitment to Bay Area youth sports and will be missed by his fellow NCUA members, coaches, players, many friends, and his loving family.  

2011 Executive Board
Officers:
Chuck Louie       President                        
Alex Andrus       Secretary                       
Anna Louie        Softball Vice President      
Don Simon         Baseball Vice President      
Henry Jung        Treasurer                      

Board Members:
Alex Alexander
Isac Gutfreund
Tony Hoover
Harvey Maxey
Dan Rumpff