Paul Brooking

Our Season certainly is winding down Umpire in Chief. Finals were just before Easter. Winter academy will start in a month and then the long wait until September.

Hi Fast Pitch (Men & womens) Rookie Umpire based in Adelaide Australia. Got involved with Umpiring when my 13yo daughter found out she was good at softball and started to take it seriously. Graduated from junior equipment/warm-up/cleaner etc to Umpire to get out of the way of the coaches. Our association requires each team to nominate an umpire to the Association pool or team registration fees treble. I've found that I enjoy umpiring and intend to gain the highest qualification I can achieve. I knew I was on the right track when I graduated from a "green" shirt (rookie) to a "Blue" shirt (level 1) in time to umpire a "D" grade womens grand final. At the conclusion one of the pitchers (65yo and an ex All-Australian representative all those years ago) sought me out and congratulated me on two close calls I had got right. Currently studying for the National Softball exam, the result of which, combined with my mentor's observation, will enable me to move to Level 2. I enjoy reading the Baseball and Softball Forums as I have found many "pearls of wisdom" that I can apply. regards Paul