In France, a clinic organized by WBSC Europe brought together a community of European international umpires. The Creps de Toulouse was their setting, and training for the upcoming season could begin. Meet one of the seven French participants: Franck Benasseur.
BTVF: You are known as an umpire in France’s Division 1, you are participating, like other French umpires, in a clinic for Europe’s elite umpires in Toulouse. Can you introduce this clinic to us?
This clinic hosted 78 umpires from 20 countries, supervised by 11 instructors, including
1 MLB umpire
2 MiLB umpires, including 1 Czech – plus 1 MLB Europe super visitor and 1 MLB coordinator – and 8 European coordinators, known and recognized, and with whom I have had the honor of officiating since 2011 and my first designation in CEB, now WBSC Europe, which organized this clinic.
Starting Thursday evening and until Sunday noon, we chained theoretical and practical courses in a professional, intense, serious setting, but also in a warm atmosphere.
BTVF: This clinic is sponsored by MLB and MiLB with American instructors, which is certainly a sign of seriousness and high level?
I had the chance to participate in the first two pro clinics in Europe by Jim Evans, a great MLB umpire in 2008 in Rouen and 2010 in Prague, then an IBAF (now WBSC World) clinic in 2012 in Pisa/Tuscany. But this clinic is by far of an even higher level through the quality of the instructors present.
BTVF: Emphasis is placed in particular on a three-umpire system, which is not the case in France. Is this a trend that France’s Division 1 will have to follow?
The three-umpire mechanics or 3MS are an extension of the two-umpire mechanics and require a certain mastery of the latter to move from 2MS to 3MS. It’s also the one used in WBSC Europe competitions for the Senior levels most often.
The goal of this clinic was a general update so that we can all officiate in the same way.
As for its application in France, it is first necessary to have a large base of umpires…
This is the current work of CNA Baseball: to develop umpiring through numbers and quality, then to gain experience and skills to move towards this…
Because it is better to have a very good 2MS than a bad 3MS.
And then the financial aspect is also an element to consider: more umpires on the field means more expenses… I know that clubs, managers, players, and the public can demand this 3-umpire system… but are the clubs ready to pay the price?
In any case, the work of the federal body is to move in this direction… but Rouen didn’t become a great European club in one season, so patience…
BTVF: Personally, what did you expect from this unprecedented type of training in France?
Like the other six French umpires present: Ludovic Meiller, Nathan Polis, Stéphan Laroque, François Xavier Chaffois, David Muller, Sylvain Ponge
- Learn, progress, and obtain the WBSC Europe Advanced Certification at the end of this clinic
- But also to see old umpire friends I’ve met since 2011 all over Europe and meet new ones, exchange, grow, and improve through a high-level update…
- And above all – have fun while learning more and more on a baseball field…
And I must admit that I was fully satisfied in every way…
And this weekend, I’m heading to Kutno in Poland for 3 days of Little League special clinic… when you love something, you don’t count… And as I like to say: I Love this game ’cause Baseball is an Act of Life.
Photo credits: Glenn Gervot
