Association Question
 

Our association members are required to take and pass the USA Softball (formally ASA) test every year. As we are having more alphabet organizations move in to our area, we are seeing more tournament from USSSA, NSA, etc.
Because of this, some of the members want to do away with the USA test and create one of our own, or not make the members take a test at all. Which I am totally against.
What do Association in your part of the country do? Any comments or feedback would be appreciated.

I am of the belief that eliminating testing will make for low ability umpires.
In fact, I always thought it would be good to have annual testing, not only on rules, but also on mechanics.

Every rule set has its own individual rules that are specific to that organization. So to be realistic, your umpires need to take tests for each individual association they work. The only way to make a universal test would be to have association specific questions for those rules which have different rulings.

If most of your games are with ASA, I would stick with the ASA test, and teach the ASA rule set primarily in your rules clinics, etc. Then, provide your umpires with a rules differences handout, and spend some time in the clinics going over the differences. Make the differences handouts available on line and at each non-ASA tournament.

One UIC I know sends umps a differences versus NFHS, more common than any XYZ. At least around here.