Andrea Marcon has stepped down from his position as ESF Director of Umpires after five years of dedicated work, and the ESF has decided to split the role into two areas, each with designated responsibilities and a person in charge who will be called a Director of Umpires Co-Chair.

One Co-Chair will take on the assignment of umpires and UICs at ESF tournaments / events, while the other will be responsible for the development and education of umpires at all levels across Europe.

Two of the most experienced ESF Technical Commissioners have been appointed to these new positions.

Carolien Stadhouders has been appointed by the ESF to the position of Director of Umpires Co-Chair responsible for the development and education of umpires at all levels across Europe.  

This role will include:

• Preparing and coordinating the delivery of an umpire development and education plan.

• Revising Umpire Licence Categories, including criteria for advancement or demotion.

• Preparing end-of-year evaluations of all ESF umpires (based on ESF Umpire Evaluation Reports made by UICs) in coordination with the Director of Umpires Co-Chair for umpire assignments.

• Coordinating all exchange programs between the ESF and other Regional Confederations.

• Organizing Basic, Advanced and Slowpitch umpire clinics.

• Developing procedures and conducting re-certification of ESF umpires.

• Pro-active involvement in facilitating umpire training at national and regional levels.

Pavel Prachar has been appointed by the ESF to the position of Director of Umpires Co-Chair responsible for the assignment of umpires and UICs at ESF tournaments / events.  

This role will include:

• Communication with NFs regarding ESF-licensed umpires.

• Assigning umpires to all ESF tournaments / events.

• Assigning a UIC to all ESF tournaments / events.

• Following established Guidelines and Timelines for these assignments.

• Following the ESF Umpire Communication Protocol.

• Preparing end-of-year evaluations of all ESF umpires (based on ESF Umpire Evaluation Reports made by UICs) in coordination with the Director of Umpires Co-Chair for development and education.

• Communication with the WBSC SD regarding assignments of European umpires at WBSC SD-sanctioned tournaments.

-Helena Novotná-