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I debated myself as to whether to post this or not...
Recent events during ASA softball clinics, games, etc, have left me extremely disenchanted with umpiring softball any longer. First let me say that I am in this for the girls and for the love of the game. Not the power, and not the money (the money is nice, but it's just an extra - not my motivation).
Here's what gets me.
I also officiate football. Here in Texas, football officials are required to complete (successfully) a closed-book exam to prove they actually understand the rules. Officials are also required to go to weekly meetings throughout the season. We have between 300 and 500 people at these meetings, which feature large group sessions (occasionally, an NFL or NCAA ref will address us, occasionally it's to discuss an overall issue - often we watch film, decide what we'd call, and discuss), as well as small group sessions where officials can hone their skills in specific areas. Specific attention is paid to newer officials as well.
However, in softball, any old yahoo (or young yahoo for that matter) who is willing to spend 4 hours in a meeting being given the answers to a test can officiate. Many "experienced" officials have no more rules knowledge than my 6-year old son. I've determined that the worst thing I can hear from a new partner is, "I've been doing this for 25 years" - those guys are INVARIABLY the dumbasses or the OOO's.
In the past 3 weeks, I've come across an umpire who's been doing this for 25 years (who is also IN CHARGE of umpires in his area) who, while coaching, practically ripped my head off for not calling an opposing player out for BOO, twice in the same inning, when he brought the matter to our attention A) after the BOO batter had advanced from 1st to 3rd on 2 passed balls, and B) after the BOO batter had stolen 2nd on a strike. (Worse, my partner, an umpire for 10 years, was ready to ring up an out until I stopped him.) I came across an umpire who's been working for 20 years that had never heard of obstruction (he thought the only obstruction was when a runner tries to break up a double play). I watched as a 10-year umpire called a batter out for failing to immediately run on a D3K, saying, "No - any hesitation and she's out".
2 years ago, I worked with the 25-year official who called Verbal Fan interference, and loudly called me a "F#&$#ing Idiot" for thinking that the batter can attempt to reach first on a 3rd strike that bounced, but was fielded cleanly by the catcher.
Last year it was the woman ("I've been doing this forever")who called an out and ejected a runner at 2nd during a tournament (I was watching, waiting to do the next game), when said runner failed to slide at second as the throw CAME INTO THIRD BASE!
Let's not even discuss the Dixie clinic I went to where the TRAINER told us that if the pitch bounced before it reached home plate, it was an illegal pitch, and all runners advance. Same guy recommended ejecting for first offense on catchers that obstruct at the plate (even without maliciousness or intent) if they cause a collision.
Where is the training? Why the horribly lax certification? I don't believe these guys are intentionally unknowing on the rules... it's the Softball Organizations that do not FORCE officials to know the rules.
I work at this craft, and I take it seriously. It is 100% disheartening to constantly run into this sort of nonsense. I don't consider myself an OOO --- but I DO consider myself a "rules-guy", and am constantly baffled by the lackadaisical rules knowledge out there by supposedly experienced folks.
Judging from the posts on these boards ... you all are seeing these guys out there too.
Why the lack of caring by our softball organizations to make sure we ALL have a solid understanding of the rules?
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