Glen:

What part of East Texas? I call out of the Bonham chapter. We have registered, but we never test until January here.

Scott

I disagree. I believe everyone should take the test each year. Of course, I also believe it should be an open-book test with a group of umpires.

The purpose is to get people to open the book and read about the new rules. Too often I have run into people (including on some boards) that think longevity and experience are a substitute for staying abreast of the rules, new or changed, written or interpreted.

In Delaware, ASA requires a test, open-book. You can even take it home and bring it back in a month. You would not believe how many veteran umpires who get less the 75% correct. DSSAA (NFHS) requires a test each year, the first one being closed book and every year after that, open book. However, you may not discuss it with other umpires as the test is proctored.

[QUOTE]

1..The CR was put in for the pinch hitter. The pinch hitter is NOT the pitcher of record. F1 cannot be accepted as a re-entry until the team goes back on defense.

QUOTE]

I disagree with this. A re-entry is most often an offense strategy. I cannot find anything which restricts a pitcher as to when they may re-enter a game when the option is still available.

But then again, I think the Fed rulebook is so fubar, in my mind, it is not a rarity for me to miss a rule.

My college group test each year with an open book test that we have two weeks to complete. That works out pretty well as the purpose is to get folks into the book. In Pa, the Fed test is a closed book test - that you can only take once a quarter. I'm not convinced it's handled the best way possible as it's purpose is to show that you have enough knowledge to send out onto the field. We're hurting for officials enough that many do not spend much time at the JV level before moving to the Varsity level of games. 'Course in other areas of the state a new official will spend years at Jr High, then at JV before moving to Varsity games.

Steve,

Just out of curiousity, what test is offered for college games? ASA?

Scott,

I am with the Jefferson County and Deep East Chapters. I
live in a small community 50 miles south of Lufkin and 50
miles north of Beaumont. Since I am in the middle, I
join both chapters and have plenty of NFHS/ASA/AFA work. I
am primarily committed to Jefferson County, and when not
assigned by them take games out of the Deep East Texas
chapter.

You ever get the opportunity to go into Ok. and call? We
do about five La. schools at times. They are on the border.
You out of the Collin County chapter, Bill Baker?

glen

Mike,
If test is an open-book affair, then really just a good old
fashion round table discussion of the rules should be just
as effective as all <i>agreeing</i> to an answer then putting it
on paper. Give each individual the books a week or two in
advance of a scheduled <b>mandatory</b> meeting and go over
the rules at this meet. Make all attending participate by
reading one or two questions and giving the answers. You are
saying same thing Steve and I said, "a lot of people cannot
take written test", some sort of phobia. I also feel all
umpires assigned to a chapter should join a forum such as
this. One can learn much from reading and taking part in the
disuccsion presentated here and on others. JMO.
__________________________________________________ __________

"A word to the wise isn't necessary - it's the stupid
ones who need the advice." Bill Crosby

<FONT COLOR = Red>ABOVE IS NOT AIMED AT ANYONE ON THIS FORUM</FONT>

glen


[Edited by whiskers_ump on Nov 3rd, 2001 at 11:32 AM]

Mike,
The test we take for college is based on NCAA's book and put together - as I understand it - by several associations leaders. Some of our questions come from folks in the Big 10, Big East, MAC, and others. So it's not a test put out by any specific sanctioning body. 'Course you know that there's no such thing as an "NCAA ump", we're all just plain old ASA umps who gotten together in an associaton & handle several conferences' schedules.

Glen,

I don't consider a take-home, open-book test as any type of challenge compared to a time-restricted, written exam. Especially when it is multiple choice and true or false. I don't think you can find an easier test than ASA's though most Fed-oriented folks have disagreed in the past.

For the three years I was the association's rule interpreter, I tried to get a meeting to go over the test as a group. I will not use the term "mandatory" as some take this as a challenge to NOT take the test. It never worked as people just would not show up.

Even as small as Delaware is, there are too many people out there with the, "If I schedule it, umpires will appear to officiate it" attitude. There's one horse's *** who has sued us for not having enough umpires to work his tournaments. We told him to knock himself out as our treasury had less than $100 in it and our lawyer would work for nothing. We still didn't have enough umpires to work his tournaments.

We are so short on umpires, there is no chance of any discipline for anyone who doesn't want to abide by the rules. The assignors could care less as they don't make their money if the game doesn't get covered, so they will assign anyone to the game. That eliminates the threat of loss of income to those who could care less about the association or requirements. The point being that there are always games available to work so the umpires can always find a game whether you like the way they do things or not.

It is a losing battle even at the States level. The umpires just don't care. There is no more pride in being selected to work States or even Regionals in this area. Around here, it just isn't the same as it use to be d:-(