[IowaBlue]

Whether you like the reasoning or not, we have all heard it many times and places, there needs to be one standard when training so many umpires. The NCAA, nor the franchised associations, doesn't have to train umpires. People don't get out of bed one morning and go to an association meeting, register and pick up a college schedule. Those dealing with college-level umpires are getting a broken in product which in many if not most cases was trained by an ASA affiliated association.

Billy P was correct in his assertion that it should not be an advanced school for umpires, but a school for advanced umpiring. The only problem is that unless every umpire has had similar training, the mechanics for that particular game must be the lowest common standard among the crew.

The NCAA has a closed shop and limited spectrum of a single game. ASA has to address at least three different games with participants from 6 to 80 and in some cases the same age range in umpiring.

You make good points, but are also missing the forest for the trees. Yes, virtually all good umpires started with ASA training. This is part of my disillusion. I think that training can be improved and it hurts some umpires that fail to see the larger picture that there is a world outside of the ASA manual, and this can in turn hurt the games and teams that they are working.

And as far as the "lowest common denominator," that is entirely my point. Many of these NCAA mechanics such as the GD stance and "rimming" are much easier and simpler to utilize than what ASA offers. So why are they excluded entirely from ASA doctrine?

Umpiring is just like everything else in life, you preform as directed for that particular game. If you have worked nationals, one of the things your UIC should impress upon you is that you do whatever the UIC tells you to do even if you know it isn't that way in the book. Say screw it and do it your own way, you may not return. BTW, pretty much the same with everything including the job which provides for your family.

No s*** , Sherlock.

I've been around the block enough to know that this is the deal, thus my reluctance to work ASA anymore do to not wanting to compromise down to their standards.

I eventually moved to the slot after a couple years. I was in my mid-teens and already having issues with my back and neck working the scissors and the GD-equivilant stances.

My experience has been just the opposite. The old, ASA style stance just killed my back and knees. Now I use the GD and could go all day long behind the plate.

I have also found that umpires who set with their hands on the knees always get the same view of the ball, but not a strike zone since that changes with every batter.

I don't really understand your point here. With GD, you get EXACTLY the same look on every single pitch. This is what you should be shooting for. Yes, batters change height, and you adjust the zone accordingly. Maintaining the same view throughout the entire game leads to a more consistent zone than from one where you are changing perspective with every single new batter.

FWIW, all of the top level D1 umpires in my area use some variation of the scissors.

If you find it too demanding, might I suggest you are either not executing correctly or are out of shape.

Execution, possibly, but you will find few umpires in better physical condition than me. I am relatively young and still in "fighting shape."

Its called a "uniform" for a reason. I've seen umpires show up with masks they had left from their HS days because they were comfortable. The problem is they also came in the school colors. I have seen green, royal blue, purple, maroon and orange. I understand why there needs to be a standard.

Apparently the all-knowing ASA pooh bahs agree with me and not you, as they have recently changed their uniform requirements to be more inclusive.

How does it waste time? You need to be heading toward the plate anyway, why fight for space with the coach and runner. If you were walking the line, it shouldn't be an issue.

You are not heading to the plate unless and until the BR commits to 2B, drawing the plate umpire up to 3rd. If this does not occur, which is quite common, you are indeed wasting energy and wasting time that you could be concentrating on the 1st base area to witness possible obstruction, BR touching the bag, rounding the bag hard and then diving back to 1st on a close play, etc.

What other reason do they need? You are in their sand box, you play by their rules.

As noted, I'll just stay out of the sandbox altogether. I think it hurts the majority of the children, however, when the sandbox is too small to include every interested participant.

s what you do regardless of personal opinion. There are things ASA demands that I believe to be ludicrous, but when on their field, that is what you do. An umpire who shows up at a national who is not qualified or doesn't know and execuate the proper ASA
mechanics will very possibly earn a phone call from KR or the deputy supvr of that area to the state UIC.

I have worked numerous nationals all over the country and have been exposed to a LARGE number of umpires that had little understanding of basic ASA mechanics. You should know as well as I do that in many instances "bodies" are assigned to fill out a tournament. I have heard horror stories from others as well. You really need to get off of your high horse on this topic.

It is a shame that you are not going to register ASA, but considering the passion of your opinions, it may be better for all parties.

There are literally dozens of reasons behind why I am leaving ASA, and mechanics is only a very small part of it.

But since you asked, I felt I would share some of my concerns.

It appears that there is very little change forthcoming on the horizon, so perhaps I am getting out at the right time.