Canadian Baseball Umpire Camps (CBUC), in association with Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) Commissioner John Kastner and Umpire-in-Chief Andy Herrington, are extremely pleased to announce a new affiliation intended to enhance the league’s umpire development program.

Last winter, CBUC held its inaugural Advanced Training Course, attended by 72 umpires of all experience levels from across Canada and as far away as Aruba and Curacao. This was the first multi-day umpire training course held in Ontario in over a decade, taught by instructors with over 2500 games in Minor League Baseball, combined.

In addition to the second annual Advanced Training Course in the winter, CBUC has added a specialized Three-Umpire System Training Course in the fall that will become the primary method of umpire recruitment, training, and development for the IBL, according to Herrington.

"We are always looking for ways to help raise the quality of the baseball in the IBL and that includes the umpires. We are pleased to be able to partner with a group of highly skilled professional umpires to be able to propel our umpire program forward,” said IBL Umpire-in-Chief Andy Herrington. “It will also provide the umpires of Ontario that otherwise may not have had an opportunity the chance to be seen by myself and my supervisors. We added three umpires from the 2018 CBUC Winter Program and they are performing very well."

“We’re very pleased to form this partnership with the IBL,” said CBUC Director Steven Jaschinski. “It is the premiere baseball league in Ontario. Five of our lead instructors currently in professional baseball all have significant experience and fond memories of our time in the IBL, which has helped greatly in our professional careers.”

For more information, visit CBUC online at their website, cbuc.ca

Founded in 2017 to create a new standard in umpire development, CBUC employs some of Canada’s top professional umpires as its lead instructors. Combined, the staff will have over 3000 games across all levels of Minor League Baseball by the end of the 2018 season, including seven all star game selections and nine league championship series assignments, in addition to 14 MLB Spring Training games worked. Designed for umpires of all ages and experience levels, these comprehensive weekend umpire camps have been specifically designed by professional baseball umpires in an effort to maximize learning and experience.

The Intercounty Baseball League is the top level baseball league in Ontario, boasting ex-major league professional and elite NCAA college baseball players. The 2018 season marks the 100th season of the Intercounty Baseball League. The IBL is the fifth longest continually operated baseball league in the world and serves as a valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 40 Intercounty Baseball League players have advanced to Major League Baseball or returned to the IBL following the their MLB careers, including Fergie Jenkins, John Axford, Chris Leroux, Scott Diamond, Peter Orr, Paul Spoljaric, Rich Butler, Rob Butler, and Rob Ducey.