Our association is very similar, in all respects. However, it seems as though out of 100 or so umpires, only about 20 really seem to adhere to all that is taught, another 20 listen and learn the rule changes, and the rest just see the meetings as a necessary evil to get them out there "making money."

Of course, this is all assuming that you can get umpires to come to the meetings in the first place.......

The Good. Partner showed, late, but showed.

The Bad. Had on his ASA cap, [This NHFS game]. Had same shoes in same
condition he left the tournament on Sunday in.
Called time everytime he was crossing the field to change positions.
In "B", he was right behind 2nd. Guess on pickoff attempts. Luckily there
was only one. Guessed right.
In "C", right behind 3rd regardless of where runner was.

The Ugly. Ball hit down 3rd base line, 3rd baseperson strattling the line
reaches over into foul ground touches the ball while over foul ground. Partner
in his "C" slot position behind 3rd, not only points fair, but "hollars", yes "hollars"
fair, while I am hollaring "foul", "foul".
Easy one to fix, except the offensive coach is very experienced and somewhat
of a jokester. With time out he ask my partner why it was a fair ball?
Partner said because the 3rd baseman was standing partially in fair ground
when she made contact with the ball. Then tells the coach, let my partner
explain it to you, cause he been doing this 50 years. Coach tells partner,
well, your partner called it foul. "He did"! Partner then asked me why I
called it foul.:rolleyes:

Dear sweet Jesus..apparently your partner works in the Phoenix area also...:eek:

Yah, was in Seattle over the weekend too.

We get huge turnouts. The key: free asparagus and pickled pigs feet.

I had him in Alabama last week!

For our local leagues, we have 3 local clinics and the state clinic nearby. We require that the umpires attend at least 2 of those 4 clinics to get full pay, as well as pass the ASA exam. If an umpire fails to meet those two requirements, they don't get full pay by our org. It's to our benefit to attend the clinics and study that book!

And in the Dallas area as well! :rolleyes:

Is that what they get if they don't attend??? :p

Nah, they just get assigned to Men's Modified games. :eek:

Care to expound on this, Darrell????

Is this based on some of your recent HS games?:D

You wouldn't believe some of the reports I have been getting....on second thought...yeah, you probably would....

Apparently, he only works in big States. If he has been to MD or DE, he has been hidden from me. :cool: Wait, he might have been at a tourney I worked years ago, 1995 I think. :eek:

You can have him back, if you want.

One year for our big social night, we had one of our finest blues actually stuff asparagus into his jacket pocket for later snacking. To this day, all I have to say is, "Let's have a veggie tray with LOTS of asparagus" and she gives me a "if looks could kill" look.