Nafa?
 

Has anyone ever worked NAFA Fastpitch? I have a rules book and I am trying to go through it before the tournament starts tomorrow.

I know that I will be wearing this lovely GRAY shirt with my heather gray slacks: http://www.btlofficialsgear.com/catI...FA-Dalco_L.jpg Why oh why couldn't we be wearing the black? ugh

I know that the BU is supposed to start in the B slot and call all fly balls not down the line...Yes, that would be all fly balls-even with runner on. I have not figured out what happenes if the ball is not caught. Hopefully this will be covered in the meeting this afternoon.

Does anyone have any experience with NAFA?

Wondering what I have gotten myself into,

Joe in Missouri

Next year, I plan to start the NAO softball association and require the umpires to wear chartreuse shirts with green slacks and white caps. :rolleyes: Also, a clean shirt will be required for each game. ;)

First off, be glad it is the gray, the black is too hot.

Are you doing FP or SP? What with the question of BU starting in the B slot
then I am thinking [not going to assume], SP.

What do you need to know about the PLAYNAFA.com?

CecilOne:

And don't forget white patent leather belts, white socks, and white patent leather shoes. :D

MTD, Sr.

NAFA has been around in the men's game for a while. This is the first year they have ventured into youth as far as I know. I have done the men's side of NAFA for several years. It's a lot of fun. They are having their men's world series in my hometown in August. We have always worn white shirts. They are pretty comfortable.

I have done AFA and used the grey. I think they look pretty ugly. All I know is I have 5 different types of shirts and I really don't want to buy another one.

I'm familiar with NAFA from the men's game - they've got a similar approach to the ISC ball that I do. I've not seen their youth games - doesn't exist in Pa, so far as I know.

You know me, I gotta be different. I got the gray that is made from the same
material as the ASA and NFHS shirts

You are right, the originial AFA grey were and are ugly. I understand the ones
offered at the tournament [NAFA] will be of the same material, however, I
have as stated, the other material.

Yeah, well....It is 18U Girls Fastpitch. Starting in B and the BU is supposed to call all fly balls not down the line. ANNNNNNNNNNNND, the BU is supposed to meander back into the fray in no specified manner...just kinda get in there any ol way. What sort of numbskulls came up with this?

Joe in Missouri...not wondering what I got myself into...now I am SURE what I got myself into.

jw,

:eek: Around here, we use the standard FP mechanic. May not always be
correct in our decisions, :rolleyes: , but the mechanics are same as ASA and
most associations.

Sounds like this is a local procedure. Hope it does not migrate this way.

Good Luck and Have Fun. I am doing the 18U NAFA 43' Elite Nationals in
Sulphur, La.

I was told it was a national mechanic but, I guess not. How could anyone think this would work?

I am in my first year NAFA in Tulsa. We were in AFA but moved to NAFA, long story.

Pretty much AFA or NCAA rules.

Doing a NAFA National this week here, just got back in from opening ceremonies a little while ago. Forecast, high in the upper 90's all week!!!

If it is, they failed to notify the Texas and Lousiana umpires. We start pre
Nats on Sat. Course we have not had a briefing as of yet.

Cliff Whitson is the National UIC.

Rachel,

Is this the same Cliff we worked with in Beaumont during an AFA tourney?

When in Rome do as the Romans do.
 

Working from B is not that bad. There is a lot less stress on the legs and an umpire can help on a sinking liner and turn and still get a great look on a play at 2nd. On a triple just cut in behind the runner going to 2nd and take her into 3rd. Just communicate with your partner and it works.

The base umpire will not get in the way on a hit to right field and they will not get pinned either.

Of course standing like a cone out there will just make you a lazy umpire. There was one guy that bragged that they didn't have to move for 4 innings and figured they could umpire til they were 80. That would not be a good idea.

It is more difficult to see illegal pitches so when a 3 umpire system is used some pitchers will wonder why they hadn't been called all year and now they are getting called for it.

Yes, that is Cliffy. No, he is not the lazy guy. He's a lot of fun and knows his stuff.

This system was developed by Billy Peterson another great umpire.

Totally agree on both statements.

Is the mechanic for BU to sart at 2B or B slot. Know one has told us not
to use the standard mechanic.

I remember Cliff. He is not the one that went down 18 minutes in his first
game, a pool game either.:)

I may be wrong, but was there not a power struggle in the AFA about a year ago and a large portion of that group moved to NAFA with the youth program?

Yes you are right, hence Oklahoma is now NAFA.

The b starting position is not the biggest deal. The strangest part is for the BU to call all fly balls(not on the lines) and then mosy back into the infield somehow....Not really sure how that will work with the bases loaded and the CF drops the ball.

Joe in Missouri

I try to stay out of the politics. That doesn't mean I am successful at it. I attempt to just go to my field and call the game with the mechanics that the group wants me to use.

The starting position is the "B" slot. I would think that turning to help on a sinking liner and getting close to a 90º angle on a call would be better than running into the infield and being unable to help the PU at all. I am not talking about running all the way out there. I am not an expert but there are some advantages to it.

No, Cliff made it through the week unscathed. Now our 36 minute man is still hearing about his incident. As a matter of fact his nick name at a recent tournament was "36".:D

There was in this area. There were no AFA tornaments here that I am aware
of, all changed to NAFA.

Sounds like you are bound and determined to not like it, adjust to it, or understand it??

Just because an umpire comes inside doesn't mean s/he cannot keep an eye on the ball to help the PU, if necessary. That big thing "three feet above our asses" will turn so you can move one way and watch another.

It's not unusual for a veteran to develop a sense of where s/he is on the field, when they need to turn to watch a runner which allows them to keep an eye on the ball while still moving into position for base coverage. Many of us probably do it without even realizing it.

I would love to understand it but the guy that tried to explain it got me more confused than I was before. He said if I turn my back, don't come back to the infield...then he said, after you turn back around, you yell to your partner where you are going to go in the infield. So, you see my confusion.

Why are they trying to solve a problem that does not exist? In order to justify such radical changes in mechanics, should we not first identify the supposed problems that these changes will rectify?

Joe in Missouri