Chronicle EditorLovemore Zigara in Gweru
THE Zimbabwe Baseball Association has held a refresher umpiring course for umpires at Chaplin High School.
The exercise was overseen by veteran umpire and national team coach Americo Juma, while American baseball coach Bart Bratcher conducted a coaching clinic to equip school teachers, baseball coaches and senior players with modern baseball techniques to raise the standard of the game in the country.
The American came at the behest of the Zimbabwe Baseball Association (ZBA) with the support of JET Baseball Foundation, an organisation, which is funding the exercise.
Juma told Chronicle Sport that they are encouraged by the number of primary and high school teachers taking up baseball umpiring, which he said will develop the game.
“We have been overwhelmed by this technical umpiring clinic and the good thing is we are getting more educators, which is our key area of development. Our aim and objective as ZBA is to try to capacitate the umpires because our game is very technical. If we do not have good umpires, our game will not develop at the pace we want,” said Juma.
Bratcher said he is encouraged by the number of young players taking up baseball as a sport and the amount of talent being exhibited at the coaching clinics.
“The number of players participating is increasing and there are a lot of talented youngsters coming up, but we need experience in the game and that will improve these players and advance the game,” Bratcher said.
He called on Government to invest in sporting infrastructure to improve the standard of the game in the country, which he said had so much potential.
Bratcher played university baseball for Baylor University in Texas between 1968 and 1972 and is currently teaching the game at Round Rock Westwood High School in Texas. He holds a Masters degree in Physical Education.
@lavuzigara1
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter