Quote:
Originally posted by Tap
Mike,
My only question is why is this interpretation not in the ASA (1) rule book (rules or POE), (2) umpire's manual, or (3) case book? Many umpires are not able to attend clinics, at least those taught by people in the know. If that is the way ASA wants the black treated, then it should be disseminated in writing to all ASA umpires. After all, we are talking about home plate and every pitch delivered and some plays at the plate. Unless I am mistaken, the only people who have this in writing (other than those who read this web site) are people who teach clinics and have the clinc guide. Just my $0.02.
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1. As stated before, all home bases are not manufactured equally as there is no standards set forth other than the dimensions of a piece of equipment. As I'm sure you have noticed, unlike other sport's rules books, ASA tries not to be scenario specific. They believe this makes it easier for the umpire to learn, remember and apply the rules.
2 & 3. Ball, strike, hit the plate or did not hit the plate are judgment calls. The Umpire's Manual is based mainly on mechanics and the Case Book is based on rules. No publication can direct judgment.
An ASA umpire should not begin the season without attending an ASA clinic. Associations all have organizational steps from the UIC at the Regional/State/Metro area on down to the local ASA affiliated association's UIC/Rules Interpreter/or whatever you call the individual responsible for training. I cannot speak for how other areas set up their clinics, but if an umpire cannot get to a clinic, it is his/her responsibility to discover what they have missed. If a clinic is not available, it is the UIC's responsibility to make changes and interpretations available to whatever umpire desires them.
OTOH, there are some folks who prefer to teach their beliefs as opposed to the rules. I've attended such clinics and believe those clinicians are doing a disservice to the umpires they are instructing. You see the results in some of the posts here involving the Good Old Boys telling umpires to not call this rule or that rule in certain leagues. Like ballplayers, an umpire does something in a certain manner for so long, it becomes a hard-to-break habit which may betray the umpire when they move on to a higher level of umpiring.
I am fortunate to be the UIC for a small state. There are three counties and I schedule a State Clinic in each. The local associations actually host these clinics ON THE NIGHTS THEY CHOSE, so there should be minimal problems for an umpire to attend. They are all published in advance to give umpires with a scheduling problem the opportunity to attend another in-state clinic or a recognized clinic with regional ties (i.e. Metro Washington DC or PA ASA in State College). All state clinics are free an open to anyone who chooses to attend. If a Delaware ASA umpire fails to attend a clinic, it is usually of their own doing.
No matter how anyone feels about ASA, the one thing for which they cannot be faulted is it's training program. There is no doubt that it may take a bit of dedication and cause for an umpire to make a concerted effort to attain it, but the clinics and training are out there for the taking.
BTW, the clinic guide flip chart is available for anyone who would like to order it from ASA at the URL below.
http://www.usasoftball.org/shop.asp?...=5&pid=BKS~U12