[viperman]

On the NGB thread there was mention of a difference in the strike signal between college and ASA. One respected person posted that he has been using the same exact signal for both for many years (as I have) and believes there is no difference; most softball umpires that work both codes think the same.

I agree with you that we should have exactly the same strike signal for all fast-pitch softball. But, believe it or not, there is a slight difference. And if you umpire in an area where the UICs of certain organizations watch very carefully to ensure you are not using the "other" signal during their tournament, you will be told there is a difference.

The difference between the college and ASA strike signal is very slight. Here it is:
Strike signal
ASA –right hand (closed fist) and arm out to the side of the body and up to a 90o angle, forward enough to see your elbow with peripheral vision (222)
NFHS – same as ASA (73)
NCAA – right arm extended straight up with an open palm, then brought slightly forward while clenching the hand into a fist (269)

(I have started to put together a "Mechanics Differences" between ASA, NCAA and NFHS, similar to my Rules Differences document. I have taken the above from that section in my still-incomplete Mechanics Differences document. The numbers refer to the page number in the respective manuals - 2010 for NFHS and NCAA(CCA Manual), 2009 for ASA as I have not received the 2010 ASA Umpire Manual).

I know...WOW...what's the difference...as I said, very slight. And most of the time nobody will notice or say anything! There are some college umpires who incorrectly move their entire hand/arm too far forward toward the pitcher instead of just "slightly" and this is where, I believe, the ASA people have an issue.

In ASA you make the fist as you are raising you hand; in NCAA you raise your hand with an open palm until extended straight up, then bring it slightly forward while clenching the hand into a fist. And in NCAA the arm ends up slightly more forward than ASA (but not too far forward, as mentioned above).

I am actually sorry that I have to go into this detail, because it is ridiculous that there is a difference and some people do make a big deal about it. But when I get into these discussions I want to be completely accurate, and so my reason for starting my Mechanics Differences document. As with my Rules Differences document, I hope to point out to the codes that we have too many differences for the same game! And we need to eliminate them!