A Note from the President's Desk - Billy Haze

To my fellow umpires, alumni and future campers:

I want to take a moment and thank you for checking out our new and improved 2019 website, as well as thank you for your interest in the Black & Blue Umpire Camps. We are the premier umpire training program in the Western United States. We look to launch your career or take you to the next level of your amateur baseball umpiring career. If you’re serious about your umpiring, please take the time and do your research on your training options carefully and feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions about umpiring or umpire training. Whether you are aspiring to umpire at the D-1 level or just want to improve your skills at whatever amateur level you are at, our program is designed for you.

Now we need to look forward to the 2019 season. We are excited about the success of our two new BBUC Camps. BBUC 4-Man invitational and  BBUC 3-Man. These camps will run in conjunction with our successful BBUC 2-Man and BBUC 3-Man Advanced camps.  Giving students four great options for their future.

I personally take responsibility for your training while you are in our program. Your instruction will start each day in our classroom where you will experience daily lectures on mechanics, positioning and game management, so you can implement these responsibilities on the baseball field. Each topic will be lectured in the classroom, demonstrated on the field, drilled and then put into practice in game like situations.

In addition to my personal commitment to instruct you, you will be working with the finest umpiring staff assembled in college baseball! Our staff is comprised of umpires from all levels of umpiring; from professional baseball to major college baseball; as well as the best section high school umpires. Come be evaluated by College World Series Umpires Joe Burleson (7 CWS), Jeff Henrichs (6 CWS), Billy Jo Speck (2 CWS), Pat Riley (1 CWS), myself (1 CWS) and Adam Dowdy (1 CWS). Black & Blue Umpire Camps are directed by Chief Instructor Scott Letendre (classroom/field); lead field instructors Joe Burleson, Jeff Henrichs and Pat Riley. Rounding out this incredible staff, we also have: Greg Charles, Mike Lusky, Gary DiFabio, Mike Jarboe, Joe Maidon, Ramon Arminderez in addition to other great support from Coordinators and MLB Umpires. All of these men are available and your personal instructors for BBUC 2019! The staff will offer each and every camper the experience and instruction that no other camp can provide. This fine group of instructors possess exceptional communication skills and know exactly what is required and expected to be successful at the amateur umpiring level. This will be an experience like no other camp/clinic you have ever attended before.

In closing, I want to thank each and every one of you for your time and interest in the Black & Blue Umpire Camps. This is a very important year to get to a camp like Black & Blue. “Why?” With the Pac-12, Mountain West, WCC and Big West all moving to a 4-man umpiring crew in 2019-20 and with other D-1 conferences soon to follow, it’s imperative that if you want to have an opportunity to umpire at the college level, this is the camp to come to. So, if you want great training, evaluation and an opportunity to network, your time and investment will be best served! I thank you for taking the time to explore what our program has to offer you and we look forward to providing you with an amazing experience at the 2018 BBUC camps. I think that you’re going to discover that our training program will exceed all of your umpiring expectations! If there is anything that I or my staff can help with, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Make the right call in 2019, make it BBUC 2019!