Veronica Shields is only 15 years old and already breaking down barriers as the only girl officiating games with the Newmarket Baseball Association.
Shields grew up playing baseball with her brother, James, but didn’t think about becoming an umpire until her father, Tim, suggested the idea to the two of them.
“I was pretty skeptical because I haven’t been involved with baseball for quite a few years at that point,” said Shields. “Eventually I figured, why not? The worst-case scenario is that I don’t accept any games. I ended up doing it and I’m happy that I did.”
Shields is in her fourth season as an umpire for the association. She covers house and rep league games, particularly 11U and 13U. She would like to see more girls involved in the sport in town.
“It would be great if there were some more girls,” said Shields. “I feel like that would be a lot of fun and maybe some more girls will also come out and start playing because there are not too many in baseball.”
To become certified as an umpire, participants must complete courses with Baseball Ontario ONDeck, which includes an online and in-person component. From there, they will be required to attend a clinic developed by Newmarket Baseball.
“I have 94 umpires and she is my only young lady,” said Doug Yarenko, umpire in chief for the association. “She is a level two umpire, which means she has had a minimum of four years and she does a great job on the diamond. She is disciplined and knows the rules and how to control the game. She is a good, young umpire.”
Yarenko said Shields was shy at first. He said she didn’t want to take on rep league games because she wasn’t sure she could do it. He, however, saw her do a good job officiating them.
“She progressed well,” said Yarenko. “She is one of the umpires, along with a number of my good, young umpires who will look at what game they are assigned and look up the rules for that assigned game,” said Yarenko. “Each level of baseball has specific rules for that level.”
Umpires have to learn a lot of rules and keep track of them. Shields has to know general baseball rules, Ontario Baseball Association rules, York Simcoe baseball rules, and house league rules.
“Before every game, in the car on the way there, I’m reading the rules because even if I was at the same division with the same age, the night before, I won’t remember all the rules,” said Shields. “I will have to reread them. I end up doing that for every age.”
When she started officiating, she would write down the most important rules on a sheet for reference and would glance at it between innings. She has since memorized them — a skill that has helped her in her academic studies, too.
Another significant component of the game is learning to stay calm.
"Being able to stay calm and make the right calls, I feel like has helped me in more stressful situations,” said Shields.
While it is important to know the rules of the game, she also has to deal with coaches. She said they are not always going to agree on a call but she tries to filter out comments from spectators and coaches.
“It is better to keep a positive mind and not waver in your confidence.”
She meets with coaches of both teams before a game to exchange names and go over rules and consults with another umpire in the field when she feels the need to.
“You have to be able to be stern but fair, because for every call you make, whether it be a safe, out, ball or strike, you’re 50 per cent right for one team and 50 per cent right for the other team,” said Yarenko. “If you’re calling a strike, one team is happy, and if you’re calling a ball, another team is happy. You have to be in the middle and umpires do not care who wins.”
Shields has a support network of women who officiate in Nova Scotia and Ontario. They go over the rules and discuss their experiences officiating the game over Zoom calls.
“I learned a lot from the umpires on the call,” said Shields. “I feel it is great to have that support system.”
While she has to know the rules and manage different personalities, she also has to keep a sharp eye on the action of the game.
“You have to see when the ball leaves a pitcher’s hand and when a runner leaves a base,” said Shields. “There are also some rules where you have to look outside the dugout to make sure they’re doing everything correctly.”
