Mechanics clinic

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

...I think it would be almost impossible to create a single generic and universally accepted core...

Universally accepted? Agree. But, if you limit it to youth fastpitch, I would think the core would be quite large, indeed. Base it on NFHS/ASA, and everybody else just kind of goes along for the ride. Who else even DOES umpire schools that cover on-field mechanics? (No one around here.)

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Universally accepted? Agree. But, if you limit it to youth fastpitch, I would think the core would be quite large, indeed. Base it on NFHS/ASA, and everybody else just kind of goes along for the ride. Who else even DOES umpire schools that cover on-field mechanics? (No one around here.)

Well, while not specifically consider youth, the NCAA seems to have the biggest impact on variations of mechanics trickling down to ASA and NFHS. Even basics, like, how close/far to be to a play, approved/nonapproved signals, what angle and direction to hammer, working outside or buttonhooking, chasing or not chasing fly balls, and on and on and on.

The issue is that the higher level umpires that work collegiately are almost universally trainers, or assisting the trainers for ASA and NFHS. The "I do it this way in college" mentality is better than the "NCAA is a higher level game, so the mechanics are what everyone should be changing to", but that erodes at any consistency.

[Dakota]

But, if you try to do a universal mechanics school that includes NCAA, NCAA has several mechanics that would not apply to or are not recommended by ASA/NFHS for lower levels, such as "rimming" (as previously discussed here), whereas ASA & NFHS mechanics are, for all practical purposes, already identical.

Sure, many ASA/NFHS clinicians are also NCAA umpires, but they (of all people) should take seriously their responsibility when conducting an ASA or NFHS school and not make it their personal hobby horse for their favorite NCAA differences.

[DaveASA/FED]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Sure, many ASA/NFHS clinicians are also NCAA umpires, but they (of all people) should take seriously their responsibility when conducting an ASA or NFHS school and not make it their personal hobby horse for their favorite NCAA differences.

I couldn't agree with you more.....but I know for a fact that a LOT of clinicians do cross over and bring the NCAA mechanics into ASA and NFHS clinics, or at least that has been my experience in my area. The old when in Rome thing I guess wasn't announced to them. This is a huge pet peeve of mine, it leads to inconsistency and honestly I feel bad for the students that leave saying "Well this is what I learned at the ASA school I attended". Then they get to a tournament and have a UIC crawl up their backside for using the wrong mechanics!!!

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by DaveASA/FED

I couldn't agree with you more.....but I know for a fact that a LOT of clinicians do cross over and bring the NCAA mechanics into ASA and NFHS clinics, or at least that has been my experience in my area. The old when in Rome thing I guess wasn't announced to them. This is a huge pet peeve of mine, it leads to inconsistency and honestly I feel bad for the students that leave saying "Well this is what I learned at the ASA school I attended". Then they get to a tournament and have a UIC crawl up their backside for using the wrong mechanics!!!

Fortunately for me, I have had the opposite experience.
At the NFHS State and ASA (local or NUS) clinics I have attended, the clinicians have made it a point to mention that NCAA has some different mechanics but we are here to learn ASA or NFHS.
Sometimes when it was a common difference (like rimming or covering first when U1 goes out), the difference was emphasized and it was repeated that we are doing ASA or NFHS.

[PATRICK]

I sell equipment, so I go to a lot of different clinics.
I go to this baseball clinic every year run by a teacher at Evans school.
I love hearing him talk philosophy of umpiring because most of what he says is universal.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by PATRICK

I sell equipment, so I go to a lot of different clinics.
I go to this baseball clinic every year run by a teacher at Evans school.
I love hearing him talk philosophy of umpiring because most of what he says is universal.

Philosophy and people skills are two universal concepts that could probably apply across officiating any sport at any level.

When we talk about mechanics, however, the two major bodies that have published SB mechanics (NCAA and ASA), we run into some differences.

The NCAA mechanics were designed for that specific game, which is the consistently highest level of the FP game out there.

ASA mechanics were designed "for the masses". ASA mechanics will work at any level of FP or SP softball.

In my opinion, a great number of umpires that have made it to the college level become "umpire snobs" and think that the NCAA mechanics are the only way to go. Some no longer want to have anything to do with what they perceive as "lower level" ball.

I would agree with Steve, it would be almost impossible to have a "universal" mechanics clinic. However, a universal "philosophy of umpiring" clinic is viable, in my opinion.