ASA Rule Books
 

Are in!

Umpire Manual part look good including using stills of the DVD.

There is no mention of moving toward the line on a swipe tag at 1B, just adjust position as was previously noted.

There is a 41-page "Safety Awareness Guide" covering everything from Field Conditions to CPR, Sexual and Physical Abuse to First Aid Kits.

Wow, have things gotten to the point they had to include this guide? I know some blues haven't got a clue as to what is unsafe when it comes to field conditions, or weather conditions, but didn't think we would need a whole section added to our rules book/mechanics manual to cover this stuff.

Simple bottom line. The risk management group believe strongly that the participants (coaches, parents) need that education and information; in fact, future insurance premium cost relates to ASA having made that information available in defense of anticipated lawsuits (if not already a proven factor).

While there are already two separate rule books (the teams don't get the umpire manual), there is certainly a proven trend that the participants (coaches, parents) don't read it, and that they learn more from the umpires. At worst, it cost ASA a few thousand $$ to include it in the umpire version of the rule book; at best, it may protect someone, or help successfully defend a lawsuit alleging ASA was negligent because ........

Or help the plaintiffs successfully prove their case that the umpire was negligent because...

Exactly. Once it is in writing, the umpire would be well advised to follow the worst-case interpretation by the book each time, every time. Just what we don't need, IMO.

Of course, you two haven't seen it, so your statements might be true if the manual implied or stated any added umpire responsibilities.

However, that is not the case, in every case but one, the coaches and participants are told THEY are responsible for knowing the issues and dangers, and to have a plan how THEY will address a stated case.

The one exception is that the umpire is primarily responsible to determine when to stop and start a game when lightning is pressent. Of course, everyone knew that already, so it hardly adds any liability.

Funny, but I don't see anything about lightning in the 2008 rule book (is 2009 different?).

It doesn't say "required," it only says "empowered." Very vague, which is how I want it.

Preamble to Safety Awareness Guide:

"Use of the techniquet in this Softball Safety Awareness Guide should not be considered a guarantee that participants, spectators or others will be safe or free from injury or harm while participating in the contact sports of amateur softball. ...."

There is also an entire page of disclaimers at the end.

It has always been (as it still states) a published guideline, available, and thus a potential liability; it is (and has been for several years) a link on the National ASA website. http://www.softball.org/about/lightning.asp Now it is incorporated into the safety manual.

And that language hasn't changed. Nor any requirement. Once you have seen and read the actual document, that would be a good time to state a conclusion, rather than jump to an unfounded assumption.

Now you're just trying to ruin this for everyone... :D

Seen it already. Got no problems with it. :)

Okay, I'll offer my opinion when I see it. Might resurrect this thread then.

How would someone in the general public (i.e. me) get the new ASA rule book? (If they are available for puchase by anyone, that is.)

If I help my friends on their city league team or play on my other friends' social club team, I'd like to get myself more familiar with the differences in ASA SP and the NFHS FP I'm more accustomed to.

Apparently, the rules books are no longer for sale. (See here.) It seems you have to register as an umpire or else register a team to get the book.

Actually, ASA didn't sell rule books before, either. But you could get "training material" which included the rules. Apparently, that is not yet or no longer available

Skahtboi: I didn't realize that the ASA Rule bookw as for teams & umpires-only. I guess I'll just ask our team manager if he'd mind parting with his copy of the rule book. Somebody has to straighten him out on the differences between playing with EPs and substitution/re-entry rules. :D