• Jan Bagin, Director of PONY Europe

• Jan Drabek, Tournament Director

• Michael (Mike) Toet, Umpire in Chief @ Eagles

• Matous (Mat) Zbosinek, Umpire in Chief @ Tempo

• John (JBax) Baxendale, Umpire Coordinator @ Sabat

Whatsapp is the only communication channel.

• PonyUmps2027 IMPORTANT: Only UIC’s can post in this group. Assignments, game schedules, transport. 

• PonyUmps2027: All umpires may post in this group. Questions, dates, talks, gossip.

• If you have an important message for an UIC, please send a WhatsApp message directly to the UIC (not in the group). 

Transfers from Bus, Train or Airport (Wednesday)

• At Airport PRG, a representative of Pony Europe will be in Terminal 2, next to the Visitor Centre. If you arrive at Terminal 1, please walk to Terminal 2.

• At Praha hlavní nádraží Main Railway Station and FlixBus station, the pick up will be communicated individually (phone or Whatsapp).

Transfers to Bus, Train or Airport (Sunday/Monday)

• Information will be available Saturday evening.

Transfers on Game Days (Thursday thru Sunday)

• If you have any questions about transport, please contact Mat. 

• Schedules will be communicated in the Whatsapp group.

• In the mornings, we have a tight schedule. Be on time to load your bags and yourself, so we can leave on time!! 

• Be kind and flexible!

Parking

• Hotel: at the hotel parking lot, entrance at the right side of the hotel.

• Eagles: only with a parking permit. Ask Mat for a permit if you need one. 

• Tempo and Sabat: at parking lot or on the street.

• Parking is always at your own risk!! Please be sure to park your car properly, not blocking any other cars, emergency entrance, street, entrance or passageway.

• Breakfast: at hotel, all food and beverages included are free here.

• Lunch and dinner: at the ballparks (clubhouse). Food coupons will be distributed on Wednesday. More information at the Crew Meeting. 

• Bottled Water: There will be plenty of bottled water available (free) in the umpire dressing rooms. In case there is no water available (anymore), please contact your local UIC or the ballpark manager. 

• Beverages @ ballpark clubhouses: at your own expense. Drinks are very affordable!! Please drink responsibly! 

• Wednesday 20:00 - Crew Meeting @ Hotel ILF  MANDATORY!! 

• Wednesday 18:00 Softball | 19:00 Baseball - Technical Meetings for Teams (Managers/coaches) @ Eagles

  • • The UIC’s will attend both TM’s to assure that teams and umpires get the same information.

• Saturday evening (probably, time & info t.b.a.) - Appreciation diner @ Eagles  MANDATORY!!

• Assignments are done by and at the discretion of the UIC’s. 

• Assignments are communicated in the Whatsapp group (and maybe also here).

• Assignments will be for 2 or 3 umpires. Finals will have 3 or 4 umpires. 

• Please be sure to study the appropriate (UPDATED!!) WBSC mechanics, and have a pre-game talk with your crew.

Jump in!

If you want to do more games, you are allowed to ask any 2-ump crew if you can jump in as 3rd or 4th ump. It is at the discretion of the 2-man crew to allow you to jump in or not. Jump-in-games may NEVER conflict with assigned games!! 

• Thursday 18:30 @ Eagles, Central field. 

• All Umpires are invited to attend the opening ceremony. Attendance is highly recommended. 

• Wear umpire clothes!

• Games at Tempo and Sabat end in time to transfer to Eagles. 

• Bring your own umpire clothes and gear. 

• PONY will not provide any caps, shirts or other apparel.  

• Shirts

  • • Navy blue, powder blue, black, white, green, orange, red, pink, yellow … Whatever you have, bring it!

    • Just make sure your field-crew wears the same color shirts!!

    • No shirt? No problem! We have a S.Y.S.tem (Share Your Shirts).

• Pants / Slacks

  • • Wear whatever you have. Preferred colors are navy, charcoal grey and heather grey.

    • Your field-crew does not have to wear the same color pants.

• Caps

  • • Wear whatever you have. Preferred colors are navy and black.

    • Try to wear the same color caps as a field-crew.

• Logos / Flags / Text

  • • All flags and logos of your national league on your clothes are OK.

    • Please no visible logos or texts of any rival leagues of Pony (like Babe Ruth, Dixie or Little League). You can use their shirts/caps if you tape them.

• Laundry

  • • There are no washing machines at the ballparks. 

    • No problem! Google is your friend to find a laundromat.

Umpire Compensation

The umpire compensation will be 1x CZK 2000 (approx. EUR 80) for four days. Payment will take place Wednesday evening.

Hotel Preference Charge

• Free: If you stay in a shared double room. Breakfast is included.

• €40/night: If you stay in a double room with your partner (breakfast included), or in a single room. Payable on Wednesday to Jan Drabek. Cash Euro's only!

Pay at the Bllparks

• Food: “Pay” with the coupons you get on Wednesday.

• Drinks and extra food Items: Cash (CZK), with most Mobile devices, debit card, most credit cards.

Pay at Honig’s Umpire Shop (at Eagles clubhouse)

• Cash (CZK), most Mobile devices, debit cards, most credit cards.

Pay in Prague

• Cash (CZK), most Mobile devices, debit cards, most credit cards.

• There are no ATM’s at the hotel or the Ballparks. But many in town. Google will help you find one.

"Do I need to bring cash?"

Only if you have to pay for Hotel room preferences, you need to bring sufficient Euros (€ 40 /per night).  

Michael: “It’s my experience that all the cash I need is the CZK 2000 we get from PONY Europe. I use cash or card/mobile device to pay for the (very cheap!) drinks at the ballpark, and at a bar if we go out in the evening. If I buy something at Honig’s or somewhere in Prague I use cards or mobile. And in case I do need (more) cash, an ATM is always close. No problem!”