Biography
Sharon Sinclair played softball since childhood and started officiating in 1965 after finishing umpire’s school with top marks. Her enthusiasm and ability took her to the championship level provincially, nationally, and internationally. She umpired her first Softball Canada Canadian fastpitch championship in 1976 and served as deputy national UIC at their first championship in London, Ontario in 1979.
Sharon served for 5 years as provincial UIC for Softball Ontario and, while serving as deputy national UIC for Softball Canada, she initiated an umpire clinic package which was used in Canada, the USA and Australia. She became Canada’s first female level five (international) umpire in 1979 and represented Canada at the 1982 Pan American games in Mexico and the 1984 International Cup in Los Angeles where she did the plate in the final game between the USA and China.
Sharon joined the newly formed Slo-Pitch National Softball Inc. in 1989 as umpire consultant. She helped shape the tournament organizing body and worked with the new officiating committee in establishing a national rulebook, umpires manual and casebook. She also developed clinic packages suitable for use in training new umpires across the country.
When the SPN officiating committee recommended the appointment of a National Umpire-In-Chief Sharon was the recommended appointee. During her tenure she conducted trainee clinics across Canada and acted as SPN delegate to many SPN nationals. She served as National UIC until the end of 1995 and continued to serve as committee consultant until the end of 1996.
Her contributions to SPN have been acknowledged both nationally and internationally. The SPN rulebook and umpire manual have been admired by other softball organizations, some of whom contacted her for advice on structuring their material.
Slo-Pitch National would not be the organization that it is today without the dedication, guidance and expertise provided by Sharon Sinclair.