I'm scheduled to call an NSA fastpitch tournament this weekend. Never called NSA before, but downloaded the rule book from their website. ASA needs to take notice of other organizations sites.

I've been pouring over the rule book preparing for Saturday. Don't like the EP & DH rules, but they are NSA's rules - so that's what I'll call.

Any tips that you can share from your NSA "experience" concerning rules differences that caught you off guard?

ASA doesn't need to take notice of anything. Why should they give the books away?

Mike,

ASA protects the distribution of their rule book as if it were the Holy Grail. Do they want to be known as book publishers/sellers or information sharers?

I have no beef with ASA, but they should not bury their heads in the sand as players & teams turn to the other organization options available. I believe ASA is the better of the organizations, but in my area AFA, USFA, and USSSA are making inroads in fastpitch. NSA is established here.

Before I became a softball umpire, I tried to acquire a rule book from the local ASA commisioner. You would have thought that I had asked for his first born. This was the first time any organization had asked me to send off for & pay for their rule book. Little League, Pony, USSSA all in the past were happy for the interest and gladly gave me their rule books. I don't mind paying for the rule book - we all pay for them with our dues, equipment purchases, insurance, etc.

If the rule book was on the ASA website, the information would be readily available to anyone - at any time. Isn't that how it really should be?

Gary

[Edited by ntxblue on Apr 3rd, 2002 at 04:01 PM]

Sounds as if Gary is advocating a softball utopia! :D


Scott

Scott,

<font color = red>OOuuuch</font>

Sounds as though Mike hit a sore spot. However, Gary
does have a point. Everyone else has rules readily
available, and as Gary stated, <b>ask</b> and they send,
or <b>surf</b> and print.

glen

Hey Gary
 

I think ASA should also post the rules on the internet too. I dont see any harm and probably would save them alot of inquiries.

Anyway on your NSA question I dont have lot of help but a couple of things you probably want to check on before game time

These guys if you hadnt worked with them before are real strict on bat restriction so I would check on those

The 3' base lane is called base line in NSA and does not extend into fair territory when a throw is coming from the foul side

Check to see how they are going to call the safety side 1st base. In the slow pitch games the BR had to hit only the orange side if the runner hit any white NO APPEAL the runner was called OUT when a play was being made at 1st

I notice in their rulebook they dont use the word disqualified everything is "Ejection"

You might want to also post on e-teamz fast-pitch forum seems to be alot of parents and coaches there that have played NSA ball. Dont know how good some of the advice might be but might be worth a try


Hope you have lots of fun

Don

Scott,

UTOPIA?!? Hey, we're still talking about softball. Or was that an NSA term?


Glen,

Not a sore spot, just would like the convenience of the access. I don't always have a rule book with me at work, but it would be nice to be able to log on the web to check something out. Heck, with my web access from the mobile phone, I could even check out a rule from the C slot!!(grin)


Gary

FastPitch
 

Don,

have you done anymore FP Games?
Opportunities should start coming up
real soon. Most rec leagues kicking
off.

Gary,
That could revolutionize the whole aspect of umpiring. I
can see it now. "time", "hold one coach, I will have an
answer shortly". [beepbeepbeepbeep] damn still busy. "Play
it under protest until we get the ruling coach, I am sure
Joel won't be on much longer." [grin]

Hey, good luck with your tournament.

glen

Glen
 

Nope hadnt got a chance to do anymore fast-pitch yet. League play is suppose to start next week. Hopefully I will get scheduled in for some games if I hadnt already been black-balled. I have had to miss the last couple of meetings because of that slow-pitch stuff.


Have a good one

Don

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ntxblue
[B]Mike,

ASA protects the distribution of their rule book as if it were the Holy Grail. Do they want to be known as book publishers/sellers or information sharers?

I have no beef with ASA, but they should not bury their heads in the sand as players & teams turn to the other organization options available. I believe ASA is the better of the organizations, but in my area AFA, USFA, and USSSA are making inroads in fastpitch. NSA is established here.

Before I became a softball umpire, I tried to acquire a rule book from the local ASA commisioner. You would have thought that I had asked for his first born. This was the first time any organization had asked me to send off for & pay for their rule book. Little League, Pony, USSSA all in the past were happy for the interest and gladly gave me their rule books. I don't mind paying for the rule book - we all pay for them with our dues, equipment purchases, insurance, etc.

If the rule book was on the ASA website, the information would be readily available to anyone - at any time. Isn't that how it really should be?

Gary

[Edited by IRISHMAFIA on Apr 3rd, 2002 at 09:25 PM]

Mike
 

The Amateur Softball Association (ASA), a volunteer driven, not-for-profit organization based in Oklahoma City, OK, was founded in 1933 and has evolved into the strongest softball


Not like normal business situation when they add these tax free words. Even though when you attend there meeting and seminars I left with a different feeling than this


JMO

Don

Mike I working on this before you edited your prior post.

[Edited by oppool on Apr 3rd, 2002 at 09:31 PM]

For years, and may still be for as much as I know, Blue Cross/Blue Shield was a not-for-profit business also. They also owned a block of season tickets in Veteran's Stadium for Phillies games.

Being not-for-profit does not exempt a business from legal claims and the cost of doing business.

BTW, at no point in my previous post did I suggest that ASA made a profit, did I?

Mike

Not exactly profit but you were talking about how a other business that are profit business sell items not gave them away as part of their way of making the almighty $$$s.

As for ASA decision not to post their rules on-site really makes no difference to me BUT I do think they could do it and still be able to make it by and it may save them some time not having to answer what I am sure is a piss-pot load of e-mails concerning their rules and how to get a rule book

PLUS I am not trying in anyway to start a disagreement here. I still believe ASA is the best org. out there and I am sure I will continue doing 90%+ of my calling through ASA. I was just stating my opinions on the subject

JMOs

Don

I don't really care too much whether ASA puts their books online. I would like to see the rule book and case book available to load to my pc. I'd like to be able to do a search on a word or phrase. I'd like to see Fed do the same thing. I do have the NCAA book online and that has been handy to have.

I really have no idea <u>why</u> ASA makes their book available only in published form, and also only through official channels (e.g. state UIC's).

I doubt it is a money thing, though, since if that was their motivation, I'd guess they would offer the rule book for sale through every channel available (e.g. via their own web site, Amazon.com, Honig's, Lesters, etc., etc.,).

My guess it has more to do with trying to not have their book copied and then republished under a different name by every 2 bit org that wants to "sanction" organized softball.

"PLUS I am not trying in anyway to start a disagreement here."

You're no fun :)

Most umpires know that many non-officials do not read the rule book properly. They look for something which involves their problem and stop when they find anything that can remotely be used to justify their stance. Quite often, as we occasionally do, they don't read ALL the rules applicable to their situation. In other words, they forget to turn the page.

I believe there are enough "myths" out there without an entire new generation coming along with only half of the story.

If someone really wants to know the rules and get a rule book, I have no problem with them coming to a clinic. In DE, all of our clinics are free of costs and open to anyone who would like to join us.

Now, how would you feel if ASA had a password-restricted site for ASA registered umpires ONLY which would include the rule book, case book and other tools of the trade?

Mike, That would be great!!!

Where do I sign up?

SamC :D

I'm right in line behind Sam! Mike, have you got the "pull" to get this going?

Gary

[Edited by ntxblue on Apr 4th, 2002 at 03:30 PM]

Mike
 

Sounds good to me. Are you going to twist Merle and Henry arm for us?


Have a good one

Don

I'll jump in that line, too. That'd be great.

Add my name to the "that would be great" list.

Scott

Re: Mike
 

I'll be with Merle and Henry in June. I'll try to remember and ask about the feasibility of such a site.

Mike...........

I nominate you to be the Webmaster.........

I KNOW how you have such patience with such things...................grin

Joel

Gary
 

Well did you get to call any games this weekend or did most of it get rain out?? What did you think of the NSA guys and rules of you did call some on Sat.?


I will get my 1st league games in the fast-pitch world Wed night if the fields dry out by then....


Everybody fall asleep in here????


Don

Don,

I think we are all the same situation that you are in.
Getting way too much rain. We had 4 1/4" here on Sun.
and Mon. I am scheduled to for two games today and in
this case they are at different fields. One is a 4:00
and the other 7:00. About 40 miles apart. Will be a
little hairy on the second one. Called partner and the
coaches to let them know we might be starting late.

Good luck with your FP games.

glen

Don,

We got the entire tournament in on Saturday. Instead of taking a chance on Sunday, Christie decided to use ALL of Saturday. We watched weather.com and the huge front that came through late Saturday afternoon actually split in two when it got to Plano and missed the field. We only had slight rain for a short period of time. The area got 4" of rain, but at the fields we probably had less than 1/2". The fields were so dry that they just drank it up!

As far as rules differences, that wasn't bad. The mechanics differences was interesting to watch. I called only one game with someone I knew - James Williams. I had a good time - had the plate for the championship.

My league games for tonight are probably reealll iffy!!


Gary

Gary
 

Congratulations for getting to call the finals I am sure you and James did a great job. Did you get to call any games with Christie or did she just UIC? I got to call with her 2 days last year in the SPA tournament. She was great, one of the best umpires I have ever worked with. She use to coach at John Tyler until a year or two ago. So did the NSA guys feed you B-Cue, pizza or chicken or maybe all three since you had to do it all in one day and I bet they had a big chocolate cake this seems to be there specialties..

Did you get to call tonight and how were the fields of you did? I am schedule tomorrow night..WED

Have a good one

Don

Don,

My games last night were called because the fields were still too wet. You should be good to go for tonight.

NSA fed us pizza. I usually bring my own food because I don't like ball park food - too heavy. But after the long day on Saturday, that pizza tasted good around 8:30. Still had another game to call.

Christie is a good umpire. She UIC'd but still had to call games. She didn't have enough people available. I didn't get to call with her, but I watched some of her games. Whenever I am calling with a "new" group of blues, I try to watch each of them so if I'm paired with them later I know what to expect.

Good luck tonight. Remember, this is league play now, so don't expect too much!! Be sure to have fun.

Gary