Whether they are shaking out the nerves as they prepare for their first season or putting on the same pair of lucky socks that they have worn every game for the last 20 years, it is important for umpires to be just as ready to go as the athletes running onto the diamond.
Ahead of the 2025 season, to help their umpires be as prepared as they can be, the Little League® Europe and Africa Region hosted a weekend clinic at its headquarters facility in Kutno, Poland, with 30 participants from across 10 different countries, including Poland, Italy, Turkey, Germany, Slovakia, Denmark, Netherlands, Greece, United Kingdom, and France. Hosted by four Europe and Africa Region Little League umpires, the participants arrived Friday evening for a classroom session where everyone introduced themselves, kick-starting the networking and relationship-building aspect of the clinic.
“It’s good, and now we get to grow that umpire family, especially with the number of different countries this year, including a few areas that have not been there in the past,” said Blake Taylor, clinic instructor and 2022 Little League Baseball® World Series Umpire. “Every time I do these clinics or work as an Umpire-in-Chief at a tournament, the best part is getting to know all of the people, helping them out, and providing information for future opportunities.”
On Saturday, the participants experienced an all-day, hands-on experience session, adjusting to the different levels of skills, teaching proper mechanics for each position on the field, and walking through scenarios that could play out in a baseball or softball game. Taylor – along with Fred Temples, Europe and Africa Region Umpire-in-Chief from Germany; Riz Zwanenberg from the Netherlands; and Alessia Ciccioni from Italy – ended the weekend with a final classroom session on Sunday, where the participants received Certificates of Completion before saying goodbye to their new friends.
To learn more about his role at the umpire clinic hosted in Poland and about his journey as an umpire, Little League sat down with Taylor for a “Full-Count Conversation.”
1-0 Count: What did it mean to you to be selected to umpire at the 2022 Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania?
That was amazing for me. My first year doing work with the Little League Europe and Africa Region was in 2018, and I did a few games for the qualifiers and region games. I loved the different atmosphere with the kids and got to know the staff in Poland. After a year, I thought I should at least put my name in the registry and to potentially work the Little League Baseball World Series. Then, in 2020, I woke up randomly to an email congratulating me for being selected for that year’s series. Unfortunately, I got deferred for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but finally getting there in 2022 was a bucket list item, and it was just as fun and exciting as I thought it would be! It was such a privilege to do it, and being the first British-born umpire in Williamsport for the tournament was just absolutely crazy and such a wonderful experience.
1-1 Count: What is some advice you received early on that you have carried with you throughout your career as an umpire?
Just try to always be calm. Try to settle your breathing, and don’t get too worked up. Remember to step back occasionally, take a deep breath, and reset. I had the home plate assignment on Thursday night, and the pregame ceremonies included the umpires, so I had to be on the field, finish the ceremony, run under the stadium to get changed, all while worrying the game was going to get delayed because of me. Then my Crew Chief came up to me and said, “Just breathe, just relax, we will go at your pace, so just take it easy.” That’s exactly what I did, and it helped. If you’re getting flustered, just take a step out of the box, take a breath, and then step back in.
2-1 Count: What strategies or unique practices does the Europe and Africa Region use to help develop their umpires?
It’s that building up of the network. It is working together and having people available to you, but also trying to train more experienced people across the various countries. If we see someone with experience who is going back to their country after a clinic, we keep an open line of contact so we can continue to help others in their country’s network of umpires. We invite them to umpire a qualifier tournament because it is a great place to learn, because we can help them adjust so they don’t make the same mistakes at the next level of play if they want to get there.
2-2 Count: Why is it important for umpires, whether they are heading into their first season or heading into their 20th season, to continue to attend clinics?
There are always new mechanics coming out. Even for myself, from where I started to where I am now, it is all the little mechanics and all of the little bits of training that add up year after year. For example, I completely changed my plate stance after I watched some of Gerry Davis’s trainings and went to a new lock-on-knees position. Then, as soon as I heard about Little League going to the hammer for a strike call, I adjusted and went straight to that. When you go to trainings and clinics, you learn the proper mechanics, about “the why” behind certain mechanics, and the best way to implement them into your umpiring.
3-2 Count: What advice would you give to an individual who is thinking about becoming an umpire?
The one thing I suggest is to try to do more Little League games. If you want a no-pressure, fun atmosphere with kids, that is always a great experience, then Little League is a great starting point. Also, if you’re not feeling confident as a plate umpire, perhaps do a few games from the bases with a senior umpire behind the plate. Watch them work and build a mentorship with them. Just be confident and look to find a mentor who’s willing to work with you.
Interested in becoming a Little League umpire? Visit LittleLeague.org/Umpires to learn more. To find events and clinics to attend as an umpire, visit LittleLeague.org/Events. For more information on the Little League Baseball and Softball World Series, visit LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries.