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Originally Posted by socalumps
I guess ya can lead a horse to water....but ya can't make him drink?
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Obviously, the horse is too smart to drink the Kool Aid (or FlaVor-Aid, if you prefer).
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And, yes, when it comes to positioning, those teaching NCAA mechanics are turning their blues into robots. I disagree. But it probably depends on who you think teach NCAA mechanics. Based on the SUIP and the Umpire Manual there is way less robotic requirements that any other softball affiliation I can think of.We saw it demonstrated in the NCAA Championships where umpires were so driven to get into the prescribed position, they almost missed a play or placed themselves in the middle of it. Examples?? Pretty broad statement?? Reportedly the best officiated WCWS in recent memory according to the various decision making committees.I can remember a call or two that from the outside looking in might be debatable....but over 15 highly scrutinized games....thought it was outstanding personally.
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Again, I was referring to the umpires forcing themselves into prescribed positions even though it placed the umpire in a poor position. I'm not going to rehash everything that was posted a couple months ago, but three instances I recall clearly.
One was an umpire so involved on getting the 90 degree to the throw from the plate, when the defender turned to throw to 2B, she had to check up because the throw would have clocked the umpire.
Another was a play (runner on 2B) where the ball got away from (behind) F4 and the BU started inside, but then remember the "rim" and made a valiant attempt to get back outside and ended up in the middle of a potential play.
The third was PU with a play coming to 3B. With the throw on the way and the runner sliding to the inside, the PU was so involved on getting into his postion between the play and coach, that he over ran the play. Meanwhile if he just stepped inside about 10-15' from 3B, not only would he had his 90, but also the ever-important "4th dimension". I have no idea how he was expected to see that play.
Point here is you talk about "robotic" with ASA umpires as it is a bad thing. There is nothing in ASA's "robotic" mechanics that points them in the wrong direction. Even the evil ASA instructs their umpires that their directions are merely referenced starting points allowing adjustments and deviations as needed to see the play. It seems from the demonstration I witnessed during the NCAA's, these umpires were intent on following the prescribed mechanic regardless of the play at hand. That is not a good thing, but luckily there was no direct affect on the games.
I don't blame the umpires as they were doing what they were told, I've been in a similar situation. And I don't disagree that the finals were well done and event free. I just think the priorities are a bit askew.