Gold Qualifier Waxahachie

[DonnieS]

This was the late game, the field had not been dragged or rechalked so the box was obliterated.

I understand that such calls are judgement calls. I would have liked to seen to blues not make 2 of the 3 final outs in a 1 run game during an ASA Gold qualifier on judgement calls.

I've seen my share of softball, baked my brain at plenty of fields. I have never seen so many dead ball outs as I saw today, coupled with the fact that ASA is training new crews and taping the games for review, causes me to take pause and bitch about the cavalier manner ASA is treating the schmucks like me who pay and pay and pay to drag all over and play these qualifiers. I'm definately feeling butt hurt. Do the training at a lower level if the training must be done at a qualifier

Saw the same thing - it was pretty amazing - on the good side, I saw two very bad calls by a t-ball refugee - get reversed by the blue in charge on the field. But I have some very clear photographs of , among other things, base runners leaving early, a blue standing with perfect view - of the base, and the pitcher - the kid is two steps off the base and the bright yellow ball is still in the pitcher's hand. Be that as it may, our losses were not due to any bad calls by a blue - as I know very well.

[Spud]

What would you say if you were at a 18 Gold ASA qualifier and you found out that ASA decided to train new umpiring teams during the qualifier and you just played a game where 4 girls were called out for contacting the ball out of the batters box and 1 girl was called out for runner interference without making contact with the fielder? Two of the calls were in the bottom of the 7th in a 1 run game.

I have never seen the blues take the game out of the girls hands like these clowns did. Very poorly done by ASA

Wasn't there and didn't see, but did hear about a call in Sudden Impact - Cobra's game that was in ITB with Cobra's calling for an intentional walk with runner on 3rd. Blue called an IP for catcher being out of the box bringing in the winning run. With no chalk, I would hope the catcher was near the dugout to receive the pitch in order to justify that kind of a call. Just seems a little lame at that point in the tourney where the winner would qualify for nats.

[fastpitchparent1977]

Gotta agree, 18U Gold Qualifier is no place to have umps in training. We had numerous problems with calls, fortunately none resulted in the outcome of the game. I did see a few calls that did change the outcome and had experienced umps been used, calls would have been correct. Sorry for the teams who lost out due to inexperience and erroneous calls.

[Realist]

What would you say if you were at a 18 Gold ASA qualifier and you found out that ASA decided to train new umpiring teams during the qualifier and you just played a game where 4 girls were called out for contacting the ball out of the batters box and 1 girl was called out for runner interference without making contact with the fielder? Two of the calls were in the bottom of the 7th in a 1 run game.

I have never seen the blues take the game out of the girls hands like these clowns did. Very poorly done by ASA

Wasn't there and didn't see, but did hear about a call in Sudden Impact - Cobra's game that was in ITB with Cobra's calling for an intentional walk with runner on 3rd. Blue called an IP for catcher being out of the box bringing in the winning run. With no chalk, I would hope the catcher was near the dugout to receive the pitch in order to justify that kind of a call. Just seems a little lame at that point in the tourney where the winner would qualify for nats.

I actually saw both games in question. On the Hawks - Cobras game the out of the batters box call in the last inning was a good call, but you do not see it much in that situation. Rules are rules though.

In the Sudden Impact - Cobras game the catcher was clearly outside of the LH batters box on a right handed batter. And although it was the end of the game the batters box was still visible. that is a call I have never seen, but I have not seen a catcher that far away from the plate either.

[okla21fan]

Just for the sake of clarification:

ASA was not training 'new' umpires at this qualifier, but was using umpires from all over the United States in conjunction with the 2012 ASA advanced Fast-pitch umpire camp. In order to be accepted and enrolled in this week long camp, attending umpires had to be approved by their Local Association UIC or Commissioner. Just a guess, but looking at the 60 umpires who attended the camp, the average experience would be 10 to 12 years, with 10 to 15 umpires who have 20+ years experience. Also almost a dozen of the attendees called in their respective state's High School State Finals this past spring.

This camp is designed to fine tune and really knit pick the umpires to refine their game (to help them get to their next level) and the 6 ASA National Staff Instructors did just that. While it was very humbling in some ways, it was also a great experience and I look forward to applying the suggestions that my instructor, Jim Craig (ASA National Deputy Supervisor of Umpires) gave me. The 'videoing' of games was more for the plate umpire and to get a 'live commentary' from the umpire's evaluator, so the umpire could review at a later date.

Like a National Tournament, when you get umpires from different parts of the country there are 'differences' in what a specific umpire's priority might be. For instance, in my chapter, we tend to call obstruction much more stringent than others. Same could be said for the 'complaints' cited on this thread, players/coaches/teams have to learn to adjust to the umpire and what they are calling. That is simply the nature of the game.

We hear many times that 'x violation has not been called all year long', then when an umpire from another region calls that violation, it maybe more of a priority aspect, and not necessarily 'bad judgment', and something the your local umpires may not be calling as a priority. While the complaints in this thread may or may not be justified (we are talking judgment here) I just wanted to point out what can happen when one assigns umpires from all over the country and the effects that can happen. This happens in National Tournaments every year, and has happened since 1933.

[DonnieS]

Just for the sake of clarification:

That matches up with what I saw - about 1 out of 3 - to be real honest in the 5 games I saw, did not belong at this level, but if you guys are studying that close, you will see what we saw and photographed. The sad thing I saw - was two umpires - who were run into by base runners - I have coached over 800 games and I have never seen that before, and here , twice in one weekend.

[TexasYellowBall]

Just for the sake of clarification:

I personally spoke with an umpire that was from Dallas....He told me he was a slow pitch umpire that never works fastpitch. He was attempting to break into the game. Although, he was very nice, he made several bad calls on both sides that effected the game.

[okla21fan]

I personally spoke with an umpire that was from Dallas.

That would be a very untrue premise. As there were less than 5 DFW metro umpires attending this advanced camp, all had much FP experience. If you would like to go over the camp list name by name, fill free to PM me, or simply cite this dallas 'SP umpire's' name (or better yet cite the field assignment, date and time, after all, you 'saw' the missed calls, I can simply double check the umpire schedule to verify your claim ) One other thing to note, the great thing about this camp was the number of game assignments. No umpire was scheduled for more than 5 games the whole weekend (fri, sat, sun) that will never happen in a 'local scheduled' tournament. Even in the heat, as a group, we worked hard for your team and players (thats what it is all about anyways)

Bottom line, is that the City of Waxahachie and ASA put on another great weekend of Gold ball. Whether it is a qualifier or a local 'friendly', we don't always agree with the 'blue'. Thats why we have to have them there in the first place. The week before in Dallas for the Territory, there was an equal number of the ratio of 'strong to weaker' umpires and many times things simply fall into place and there is little 'controversy'. It happens.

[93players]

I have been to all 3 qualifiers and have seen 6 or more games at each one. There were more questionable calls at this one than the other two. Strike zones were inconsistent but the videos should verify that. I think the supervision and grading made the umps nervous. The one thing I hated is that the ASA umpires allowed senior coaches to bully them. It is one thing to question a call and ask for a second opinion. But to allow outright loud criticism is simply not allowed under ASA rules and it is designed to intimidate the other team.

That Am Freedom coach kept criticizing calls when his players were called out stealing. The Hawks coach kept criticizing strikes and balls. Honestly, do you think only your pitchers pitch strikes and that is every pitch they make. In fact, when a coach keeps yelling out to his team, the ball is on a tee, just hit it, over and over, it is pretty embarrassing. Let the players play. In fact, have any of these coaches learned to respect the umpires and the other team. It might be a good lesson for them and their players.

[freetacos]

I have been to all 3 qualifiers and have seen 6 or more games at each one. There were more questionable calls at this one than the other two. Strike zones were inconsistent but the videos should verify that. I think the supervision and grading made the umps nervous. The one thing I hated is that the ASA umpires allowed senior coaches to bully them. It is one thing to question a call and ask for a second opinion. But to allow outright loud criticism is simply not allowed under ASA rules and it is designed to intimidate the other team.

That Am Freedom coach kept criticizing calls when his players were called out stealing. The Hawks coach kept criticizing strikes and balls. Honestly, do you think only your pitchers pitch strikes and that is every pitch they make. In fact, when a coach keeps yelling out to his team, the ball is on a tee, just hit it, over and over, it is pretty embarrassing. Let the players play. In fact, have any of these coaches learned to respect the umpires and the other team. It might be a good lesson for them and their players.

Learn to respect the umpires????

Maybe you should learn that respect is earned..not just given freely.

ft