ASA/USA General Council Meeting

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Andy

Pre-Tournament bat testing is now mandatory at all National Tournaments, both FP and SP. The reason given for this proposal is that the umpires are the experts in this area. While I agree with this, I don't think it should fall on the umpires assigned to the tournament. I don't think it should be a big issue to get some local umpires to participate. I was a Tournament UIC a few years ago where all they did was the compression test and slapped the sticker on the bat.

As they did at the one I worked and that is my point. I don't agree that umpires are the experts at the testing stage, but they are, er well, should be the experts as it pertains to the non-approved list, appropriate stamp and the condition of the bat and the rules which are to be applied.

[Big Slick]

The official version of the rules are here:

http://downloads.asasoftball.com/abo...hanges2017.pdf

One interesting tidbit (and last item on the list) is that umpire uniforms is now removed from the playing rules. I've always wondered why umpire uniforms is part of the rule book; now we need other codes to follow suit.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Rule 4 Section 2J A participant who is hearing-impaired may use a sign language interpreter or other auxiliary hearing aid during play to assist that hearing-impaired participant. A sign language interpreter shall be allowed in the dugout, on the field of play (fair and foul territory), or in other areas in order to be able to provide communication to the hearing-impaired participant, but such sign language interpreter shall be subject to any other rules, policies or practices generally applicable to participants, including submitting to and passing an annual background check screening, if applicable. Any concerns, issues or requests concerning the specific location of such interpreters on the field of play shall be resolved by the umpire(s) during game play and such concerns or requests shall be addressed to and resolved by the applicable Local Association Member, league, tournament director, and/or event organizer in advance of game play. It is highly recommended that participants provide notice of such requests to the applicable Local Association Member, league, tournament director, and/or event organizer sufficiently in advance of and prior to or during the league or tournament registration process prior to the start of a season or tournament.

Anyone else see a problem with an interpreter on the field, particularly fair territory?

And when is it applicable for an interpreter to be required to endure a background check and how is the umpire to know this?

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

(1) Anyone else see a problem with an interpreter on the field, particularly fair territory?
(2) And when is it applicable for an interpreter to be required to endure a background check and how is the umpire to know this?

(1) Yes, of course.

(2) I don't read it as umpires being concerned about background checks, just "the specific location of such interpreters on the field of play shall be resolved by the umpire(s) during game play "?

(3) Do they really expect consistency with that?