[IRISHMAFIA]

ASA mechanics are made for all games. In Men's SP, it is not uncommon at all levels to see runner taking shortcuts at the bases. An umpire's priority is to do 100% of the job, not just what makes everyone else's life a bit easier. Seeing a runner taking an 8 foot shortcut at 2B or 3B is just as important as a pulled foot three bases away from the scoring of a run.

As Tom stated, experience and practice among umpires is what makes coverage good. It's much like a BU coming inside on a ball to the outfield. As umpires develop, they peak over their shoulder as long as they can and still see the BR touch 1B. Experience allows umpires to develop a sense for the game than many players will never attain.

You always listen to your State umpires. However, you should also make every effort to attend clinics where other clinicians, particularly members of the NUS, offer presentations. Things change and usually because someone has come up with a better idea. Sometimes they are accepted at all levels, sometimes not.

As a rookie softball umpire, I use to hunt down umpires who have returned from Nationals just to see what had been added or changed as an acceptable mechanic as that is often where new mechanics are given a test run.

You also have UICs that are not locked down to a single organization and will import mechanics taught in another sanctioning body's game. Unless terribly different, most are nothing, but simple nuances that just may give the umpire a different view and are not a big deal. At other times, there are differing mechanics caused by the way a rule for different bodies are interpreted.

Just my opinion. I'll do it the way I was taught until I'm taught differently.

BTW, I have used the mechanic you prescribed at a major national a few years ago. It involved a run down between 3B and home. U3 had the inside and I was on the outside. A player lunged at the runner and apparently tagged him on the other side which I could not see. I immediately pointed to my partner with the question "Was there a tag?" I got a blank stare in return. Twice more I asked if there was a tag and eventually got a safe call. No matter what happened after that, I was cooked. BTW, my partner was a highly experienced umpire, he just wasn't ready for the question. Never again will I do that without giving up the call altogether.