Regional Umpire Training Course to be Held on Aug 23

DATE: Friday, August 23, 2012 TIME: 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm instructor: Beth Sopka
LOCATION: Boston Badminton Club, 169 Flanders Rd, Westborough, MA 01581

Why become an umpire?
1. You get the best seat in the house for the best badminton matches!
2. You love this sport and you really want to help make more good badminton happen in your area.
3. Improve your own game:
a. You will really learn all the rules in detail and understand why, for example, your 'perfect'
winning serve gets faulted when there's an umpire on court!
b. You will learn what umpires can and cannot do; when and how to ask for an umpire if you have
a problem on the court; what to do if you disagree with an umpire's ruling; etc.
4. You are a parent and your child needs you to travel for tournaments and then you are stuck in a gym
and you are driving each other crazy!
5. Umpires are totally cool (well, we like to think so).
6. There are definitely other reasons as well, but these are excellent ones to start. By the way, you likely
will never learn the others until you become one!
This course is timed specially to encourage parents of juniors planning to compete this season - note Reason # 4
above! The ‘classroom’ portion of the course is being held Friday in anticipation of the Boston Summer
Challenge event on Sunday, August 25 at Boston Badminton Club during which on-court training will be
conducted. The following weekend will be IBC’s Junior Championship competition in Edison, NJ, an excellent
opportunity to develop further while helping an important event run smoothly.

While timed to help junior parents receive training, others are strongly encouraged to participate as well – the
new tournament season for adults is starting soon as well with North Carolina, New Jersey and Massachusetts
all planning significant tournaments in October and November.

Course Instructor will be Beth Sopka, USAB certified National Level III umpire and Referee. Course cost,
normally $25, is being offered at a reduced rate this time only to $10 per participant. You will receive a course
booklet as well as the ‘tools of the trade’.

More information regarding the course, its prerequisites, an overview of all components of the training program,
as well as a registration form to complete and return to me, are all attached to this email.
REGISTER NOW!