As a major step to improve the quality of games in our league, an agreement was reached with our umpires to form the “Rhode Island Umpires Association” (RIUA). This association will train umpires on an ongoing basis to improve their skills. This year will mark the first group to go through this training. Four professional umpires are administering the training program. Each of our umpires will pay $200 to go through this training.Typically this training is offered at the Jim Evans and Harry Wendlestedt umpiring schools. All umpires working in RIMSBL must take this training before they will be allowed to work in our league. The program is eight weeks long and will comprise approximately fifty hours of classroom, home plate and bases instruction. I am personally taking the course and can assure you that you will realize a marked difference from our umpires this season. They will know the rules and their positioning on the field.This step had to be taken as our league games are of a high caliber and need quality umpiring. Undoubtedly, differences with umpires will take place, but the training received will help take our games to a higher level.