ASA Rules Changes??

[AtlUmpSteve]

This may be the first year where we didn't discuss proposed ASA Rules changes. Usually IrishMafia brought the agenda, and he and/or I reported the process. Since neither of us is still in the "team", I guess it slipped by.

Well, the National Council Meeting is over; what happened?? Andy, anyone else that was there?

[RKBUmp]

I would hope they did something to correct the mess the free substitution rule created last year.

[BretMan]

They already corrected that last summer. See the "Plays & Clarifications" page on their website.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Steve,

I was thinking the same thing yesterday. Boy, do I miss the good ol' days.

[RKBUmp]

Originally Posted by BretMan

They already corrected that last summer. See the "Plays & Clarifications" page on their website.

Yes, that clarifies what it became. But, my understanding was the original rule change was intended to be a bat the lineup and free substitution arrangement. That is not how it got worded in the change and then all the lineup reporting etc was required by the rest of the rule book.

[Big Slick]

I spoke with someone who was there; he didn't remember anything that shocking. I do know two rule changes, both in slow pitch:

-- In the E class, a home run will not end the at bat for the inning.

-- A courtesy runner (one per inning, can be anyone) will be allowed in classifications that did not previously have CR's.

There is also some realignment of local associations.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Big Slick

I spoke with someone who was there; he didn't remember anything that shocking. I do know two rule changes, both in slow pitch:

-- In the E class, a home run will not end the at bat for the inning.

-- A courtesy runner (one per inning, can be anyone) will be allowed in classifications that did not previously have CR's.

There is also some realignment of local associations.

They continue to bring the game back to the sand lot. IMO, the wrong direction for championship play.

[Andy]

I was there.

Unfortunately, I had to leave before the vote on rule and code changes on Thursday afternoon. I have a list of what passed and what did not, however, I haven't really had a chance to study it yet.

There was a rule proposal to delete the requirement for batting helmet chin straps for JO play, which I believe passed. There was also a proposal to align the ASA hit by pitch rule with all other orgs and eliminate the requirement to make an attempt to avoid a pitch that is within the batter's box. This proposal passed every committee, and was then defeated on the floor...I'm still trying to find out what happened there.

There was also much discussion about a proposed realignment from 15 regions down to eight regions, with a map and everything. There was no legislative proposal to be voted on, just distribution of the map and much discussion in committees.

I will get an update on the rule changes together and post it

[CecilOne]

Thank you, Andy.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Steve,

I was thinking the same thing yesterday. Boy, do I miss the good ol' days.

Just for nostalgia:
https://forum.officiating.com/softba...committee.html

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Big Slick

There is also some realignment of local associations.

It will be interesting to see who and how this plays out. There is one pretty high profile situation openly played out on Facebook and openly stating that a commissioner of an association with rising registration numbers (while most others are declining) was "fired" for not being sufficiently supportive of the current President and Executive Director versus the needs of his association.

That one scenario (if not others that I'm not aware of) was made public enough by the Facebook postings that ASA felt the need to make a PR statement and news release (Information on ASA USA Softball) to counter public opinion.

Most large organizations tolerate contrarian views, it helps them get a read on what other options could be considered, if nothing else; some even welcome those thoughts. Previously (and probably to their detriment, as much of the old guard appears to have little knowledge or concern of what their membership wants), the Board of Directors never supported replacing Commissioners without substantial cause (missing funds, charged with a crime); probably because it made their own positions more secure. So, although some (including at least two on this board) with much lesser positions serving at the whim/will of a Commissioner have been shown the door, this is a relatively new process (at least in that one situation).

It has always been very difficult to get ASA to consider any new ideas. I'm afraid this, if accurate, will silence more and others with fresh and contrarian views. Rebranding won't fix that, or the perception.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Big Slick

There is also some realignment of local associations.

IMO, this is something that started a couple years ago.

When it was suggested that this was the track on which ASA was heading, I didn't buy it right away. At least, not until some of us felt like we were run over by a train.

Again, JMHO, I am less than impressed with the present regime and the path they are taking what was one THE softball organization in this country down.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I would like to know if there was any discussion of changing the logo on the shirts and hats for 2016 or is the scuttle butt concerning that going to come down the pike in 2017 or 2018?

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

I would like to know if there was any discussion of changing the logo on the shirts and hats for 2016 or is the scuttle butt concerning that going to come down the pike in 2017 or 2018?

The absolute earliest the umpire uniform logos could be changed is 2017.

After that, there will be a phase in period for the new uniform logo just as there was with the recent logo change. Most likely 3-4 years before the new logo is required in National Championship Tournaments.

[teebob21]

I just bought shirts and hats with the new logo. So of course there's talk of updating it yet again.

In all honesty, I'm pretty sure not a single playing participant in the game cares what font and typeface we wear on our hats/shirts/ball bags.