Notes from Umpire Commitee ASA Council Meeting

[Andy]

ASA Properties speaking now....

New shirts will be the same as being worn by MLB umpires
Decision to put the Block USA was made to be easily identifiable
Caps- only Richardson as manufacturer. No more 4 stitch will be sold. Only the poly-serge blend to be sold. Colors are powder blue, navy, pink, discussions going on about adding a cream color or white

...more to come as the meeting goes along...

[Andy]

New National Umpire School formats.....

More interaction
Differentiation of instruction based on experience level
Less standing around during drills
More discussion of why things are done
More opportunities for feedback from attendees

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Andy

ASA Properties speaking now....

New shirts will be the same as being worn by MLB umpires
Decision to put the Block USA was made to be easily identifiable
Caps- only Richardson as manufacturer. No more 4 stitch will be sold. Only the poly-serge blend to be sold. Colors are powder blue, navy, pink, discussions going on about adding a cream color or white

...more to come as the meeting goes along...

Don't know what "" means, but maybe NFL shirts next, just as relevant.
Are the current micro mesh poly-serge? I just ump, don't analyze fabrics.

More colors means more money. Have they ever seen a white or light color cap after being under a mask or just sweat & dust?

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Andy

New National Umpire School formats.....

More interaction
Differentiation of instruction based on experience level
Less standing around during drills
More discussion of why things are done
More opportunities for feedback from attendees

From what I remember of National School, basically good ideas, especially "Differentiation of instruction based on experience level"; which should be in separate schools if newbies allowed at all.
The "feedback from attendees" also should vary by "experience".

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Andy

Differentiation of instruction based on experience level

IMO, this wasn't a problem until state/metro associations started getting lazy and cheap and pushed newer umpires toward national schools instead of doing their own training.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

IMO, this wasn't a problem until state/metro associations started getting lazy and cheap and pushed newer umpires toward national schools instead of doing their own training.

I almost could have predicted your response.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

IMO, this wasn't a problem until state/metro associations started getting lazy and cheap and pushed newer umpires toward national schools instead of doing their own training.

I've only umpired 11 years now. When I first got into it I had the benefit of a local group that put on training for folks wanting to become an ASA umpire. There were some annual clinics that were available, but many of those were not as helpful for training as I might have liked.

I did finally find out about National Umpire Schools and National Tournaments. A lot of that information came from this forum for which I'm grateful. I ended up going to 3 National Schools and as a result 4 National Tournaments. But less than a handful of umpires in my area are inclined to attend a national school. The cost (including school, hotel, travel) is a detriment to some and others for legitimate reasons can't manage to get weekends off from work to attend.

We have a lot of umpires who don't even bother to take the umpires' exam each year and/or don't attend any of our state clinics. Some of these are the "uppity college umps" who tend to look down on those that don't work college.

We're doing more for training and offering clinics and hands-on training. But getting folks to show up is still a problem. To improve, we rely a lot on self-motivation. And that, for some, is sorely lacking.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Have they ever seen a white or light color cap after being under a mask or just sweat & dust?

I'll guess caps will only come in navy. The other colors may likely be for shirts.

But even a white or cream shirt will get dirty quickly. Can't wear one of those multiple times during a tournament!

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

I'll guess caps will only come in navy. The other colors may likely be for shirts.

But even a white or cream shirt will get dirty quickly. Can't wear one of those multiple times during a tournament!

We could only get a handful of our local group to buy the navy blue shirts....

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

I'll guess caps will only come in navy. The other colors may likely be for shirts.

But even a white or cream shirt will get dirty quickly. Can't wear one of those multiple times during a tournament!

And, we are not a fashion show or USSSA.
Even worrying about which shade of blue goes with grey pants is ridiculous.

[Crabby_Bob]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

IMO, this wasn't a problem until state/metro associations started getting lazy and cheap and pushed newer umpires toward national schools instead of doing their own training.

^This.