Lloydminster resident Rob Anderson will umpire his first national game after five years of umping in the city.
Umpire Rob Anderson will be crew chief in this weekends mosquito baseball provincials in Lloydminster. He says that the duties of crew chief vary as he will be the go-to for officiating at the tournament.
” You have to observe a little bit, mentor a little bit and just be around the tournament all weekend to make sure things are functioning smoothly.”
In August, Anderson will Umpire the U21 Canadian Women’s Championships held in Manitoba. Anderson says he is looking forward to officiating at a higher level and taking away some information to improve as an umpire.
“You get to work with umpires from other provinces. It will be an opportunity to compare yourself to others who’re officiating in terms of strengths and weaknesses. There will be some mentoring there as well because your games are supervised so it’s an opportunity to learn how to be a better umpire.”
Anderson is also a hockey referee. He says his loves for the games and the chance to mentor are some of the reasons he chooses to officiate.
“I followed hockey religiously and baseball when I was younger. This is an opportunity to get involved in the sport because the community I grew up in I didn’t play. To be involved in the sport as an official is still rewarding and gives me and give me a reason to get out of the house and get some exercise.”