Special Articles

Umpiring a baseball game involves a number of skills: rules knowledge, judgement, a grasp of mechanics, and management of the game. Part of your ‘game management’ skills should be the ability to document and report anything that may have affected normal conduct.

In my first article in BCN, I reviewed and commended the fitness program at The Exercise Coach, where I had just started. This then is a follow-up, progress report and some new information that will be of interest to umpires and their own personal fitness programs.

Special Article Read, White, and Blue By Collin AgeeIn May, we considered MLB.com’s list of the best baseball books. This...

One of the most important disciplines an umpire can develop is maintaining professional distance during the course of a game. Players are not our friends. Coaches are not our friends. Fans are certainly not our friends.

Special Article The Complaint Department Norm Gordon, Situation Management Coordinator Steve Levine, Assistant Situation...

Special Article Best Baseball Books By Collin AgeeAt the start of the new season, MLB.COM republished this list of the best...

Almost three years ago, association commissioner John Porter contacted me about assisting him with the volume of calls, emails, and texts he was receiving from coaches, administrators, fans (and umpires) about ‘things that happened’ in recent games.

On February 24, I participated in a webinar with renowned sportswriter Terry Pluto, as a member of the Cleveland Club of Washington DC.

The NVBUA Uniform Committee and the Board of Directors have recently updated the uniform policy to clarify the transition to black as the association-standard shirt color for 2027 and to add detailed high school information.

I recently had a discussion with one of our colleagues about relevant tax issues, especially as they relate to sports officials. I want to talk about three issues: Form 1099-K, reporting pay on your tax return, and the new “One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) deductions.

I was a left handed pitcher at West Point from 1976 to 1979. The Army Baseball Team does a great job keeping in touch with their alumni, via e-mail, webinars, and this newsletter.

The offseason offers umpires a break in their game schedule and time to focus on strength and conditioning. This year, I tried The Exercise Coach in Oakton.

Special Article Update on Tax Changes By Rick McIntoshBy now, you all know about the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill...

Special Article Sharing The Heritage Robert Fobian, Editor – Blue Crew NewsRecently, during a creative session for the Blue...

By now, you have all heard about the New Jersey Little Leaguer who, on July 16, 2025, flipped his bat 20 feet into the air after hitting a home run…

Special Article Crew ConsultationsThere are so many things that go on during a baseball game and the general expectation of...

Recently, Steve Levine reached out to us here at BCN to give us an update on some legal protections for sports officials in Virginia.

Some of you know that I volunteer for the AARP Tax-Aide program. I have been with them for 17 years as a tax counselor and now as site leader…