Umpire Testimonial: Brian Callahan

Leading up to the season, we will be featuring testimonials from some of our umpires, which we hope will inspire you to consider joining the Blue Crew this year.

This testimonial will focus on Brian Callahan!

 

What initially motivated you to volunteer as an umpire for PHBA?

At the start of the season, my daughter’s softball team no longer had their prior parent umpire and no one wanted to volunteer for the role. The previous season, my wife and I had performed the field preparations for the team and decided that together we could meet the team’s commitment.

 

What have been some of the most rewarding moments you’ve had while umpiring?

To me, the most rewarding part of umpiring has been the opportunities to educate and help our players better understand the game and have fun while doing it! Umpiring scrimmage games gave me the opportunity to connect with our players and give them insights and bolster their confidence at the plate. Watching our young players grow throughout the season was truly special.

 

What kind of training and support did you receive, and how did it prepare you for the role?

The PHBA ULT puts on a great course at the start of the season to get new umpires comfortable with the mechanics of officiating. Q&A with seasoned umpires in the classroom session allows you to get direct feedback and on the field training allows all new umpires to put those concepts into practice before the first game ever begins.

The entire PHBA umpire crew is so willing to help and provide support with learning so that you can be a success. Off the field, our Umpire Leadership Team is ready to review your questions and help you learn more about challenging situations so that you can be confident in your calls on game day.

 

What would you say to someone who is on the fence about volunteering as an umpire?

There is no better view of the game than in the field! I’ve seen incredible plays happen right in front of me and seeing the joy on our players faces when they made a game deciding play is quite an experience! We’re always ready to help you learn and find out just how much fun it is to be a part of the game.