Mike,
ASA protects the distribution of their rule book as if it were the Holy Grail. Do they want to be known as book publishers/sellers or information sharers?
I have no beef with ASA, but they should not bury their heads in the sand as players & teams turn to the other organization options available. I believe ASA is the better of the organizations, but in my area AFA, USFA, and USSSA are making inroads in fastpitch. NSA is established here.
Before I became a softball umpire, I tried to acquire a rule book from the local ASA commisioner. You would have thought that I had asked for his first born. This was the first time any organization had asked me to send off for & pay for their rule book. Little League, Pony, USSSA all in the past were happy for the interest and gladly gave me their rule books. I don't mind paying for the rule book - we all pay for them with our dues, equipment purchases, insurance, etc.
If the rule book was on the ASA website, the information would be readily available to anyone - at any time. Isn't that how it really should be?
Gary
[Edited by ntxblue on Apr 3rd, 2002 at 04:01 PM]
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