By Ray Hamill — A free training clinic for baseball and softball umpires will be held at College of the Redwoods on Saturday.

The clinic, which is being hosted by the Humboldt Bay Officials Association, is for experienced and new umpires, as well as anyone interested in learning about umpiring.

The clinic will take place at the CR Field House from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m and organizers are hoping it will help with a current shortage of baseball and softball officials here on the North Coast.

According to a press release, the clinic “is free to anyone in the community who wants to support youth sports, improve their officiating skills, or just learn about umpiring ball games.

“Whether you are an experienced umpire wanting a refresher before the coming season or a rookie just getting interested in officiating ball games, you are welcome to take part.”

The clinic will feature some experienced trainers, including NCAA and pro-ball umpire Cecil Felkens, as well as James Cole, who has decades of experience umpiring softball games nationally and training umpires in Northern California.

“We want to encourage people to come out, whether they have experience or no experience,” said Paul Roach of the Humboldt Bay Officials Association. “Our community seems to value sports, and to be able to have sports programs we need people to step up in order to have officials.”

The focus of the training will be on mechanics for a two-person umpiring system, as well as giving umpires the confidence that they are getting the best possible look at the game.

Most sports here on the North Coast and around the nation are experiencing a shortage of local officials for high school and community sporting events, and the Humboldt Bay Officials Association is hoping this weekend’s clinic will help bring more officials on board for local baseball and softball, two sports that continue to thrive here on the North Coast.

“We need to try to get more officials for baseball and softball,” said Jon Swanson of the Humboldt Bay Officials Association. “That’s our goal, to start them while they’re young.”

For more information on the weekend clinic, anyone interested can contact Jon Swanson at Humboldtbayofficials@gmail.com or (707) 496-0519, or Clyde Carrick at (707) 499-2071.