Gold Qualifier Waxahachie

[DonnieS]

Bottom line, is that the City of Waxahachie and ASA put on another great weekend of Gold ball.

My second tournament in this nice community - 10 years - wish it was closer to the beach. We could have lived here.

[TexasYellowBall]

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.

You must have some kind of personal connection to the umpires at this tournament. I did not ask his name as I was speaking with him while coaching. It was idle conversation and information that he stated of his own free will. I have no reason to make it up

He stated he lived in North Dallas, and I asked him a question about Craig Ranch. He said he had never worked at those fields because he normally works slow pitch and some high school. He was not olf enough to have 20 years experience unless he started at age 15....In the end, I really dont care...Waxahachie was a nice complex and the tournament was ran well with (in my opinion) the umpire UIC's decision to hold a training camp at a Gold qualifier.

If I never hear, " I am In", 2 man" again being yelled as loud as possible, will be a good thing.. They were doing things and making calls that you really hardly ever see at tournaments, college, or high school.....I have to think this was only due to the ASA Umpire graders were present. They were all on egg shells and it showed.

[okla21fan]

You must have some kind of personal connection to the umpires at this tournament.

Yes, just as I did the week before in Dallas, but not limited to just the umpires

He stated he lived in North Dallas, and I asked him a question about Craig Ranch. He said he had never worked at those fields because he normally works slow pitch and some high school. He was not olf enough to have 20 years experience unless he started at age 15...

CR is a VTD dominated park, so there is a good chance there are a lot of ASA 'North Dallas' umpires who would not call there. But I di have news for you, this very umpire was also used the week before in Dallas. He calls SP to help his wallet, and frankly, being a 'SP' umpire does not make one a poor or lesser FP umpire.

In the end, I really dont care...Waxahachie was a nice complex and the tournament was ran well with (in my opinion) the umpire UIC's decision to hold a training camp at a Gold qualifier.

Again, the prior week in Dallas there were similar evaluations going on throughout the weekend. (less the cameras) An evaluation can happen at any tournament at any level. UIC's and other senior umpires do this every weekend, but the average fan/coach/player will never notice.

just another note: Evaluations like the ones last weekend (minus the camera in most cases) are conducted at every game of USA/ASA National Tournaments. Why? For 'training' purposes and to help the umpire.

If I never hear, " I am In", 2 man" again being yelled as loud as possible, will be a good thing.. They were doing things and making calls that you really hardly ever see at tournaments, college, or high school.....I have to think this was only due to the ASA Umpire graders were present. They were all on egg shells and it showed.

This is a giggle (about the vocals) That is something that few umpires do in this area however is now a point of emphases the national umpire staff wants them to do. Personally, I did not prefer this either.

As for the 'calls', like I mentioned before, one can expect this when the umpire crew is comprised of people from all over the country. Different regions emphasize different violations. Simply because there were some minor instances of calls that 'you really hardly ever see at tournaments, college, or high school', does not mean those violations did not occur or have not occurred before in your games since the beginning of the season. (remember, this is judgment)

I hope this helps clarify a few things, and without you, (the coach) and players, we would have little reason to put on these tournaments. We don't always have to agree on everything, but I think we both understand that the common bond we have is the love for this game.

[Lunatic Fringe]

If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, sounds like a duck and looks like a duck, it is a duck. Or in this case, bullshit

[americanfreedom]

. . . That Am Freedom coach kept criticizing calls when his players were called out stealing. . .

Since you named us by name, you should also post on here that the home plate umpire, who is among the best umpires in the state, went out to the field umpire after the second call to "counsel" him about his position on both calls. The home plate umpire came to our dugout and told us point blank that he was not seeing the runners out.

The other field umpire then made a call on a runner at first late in the game that went to ITB where video shot by the head of video for the Dallas Cowboys shows the runner safe by more than a step. This was the same umpire who called 4 illegal pitches in one inning in our first game on a pitcher who has never had an illegal pitch called ever in high school or travel. This week in Colorado, we have asked every single field umpire to pay particular attention to her stride, and she has not had one illegal pitch called yet in four games.

We saw on national television at the WCWS that we have a serious problem with umpiring at the elite level. Strikes 4-6 inches outside the strike zone and runners out/safe by a step or two do not become correct calls simply because the umpire is an NCAA Div. I umpire. Kuddos to ASA for hosting training clinics, but let's follow through and remove umpires who are not capable of calling at the ASA Gold level and who regularly effect the outcome of a game with seriously questionable calls. My humble opinion is that there are simply too many "Gold" teams playing in these tournaments and not enough highly capable umpires available to umpire the games.

[softball3421]

American Freedom,

Even if what you say is true I think the original poster was talking about how you (and others) continuously are arguing with umpires who you clearly try to intimidate.

You do not have to look far for evidence of this fact. Is it not true that you are in fact the only coach who was thrown out of a game all weekend at the Southern Qualifier in Dallas the previous weekend?

You have also been thrown out of a practice game at the Colorado Fireworks just last summer and you were thrown out of the Ronald McDonald Showcase in Houston last fall. It is my understanding that you were the only one who had those two things happen to them as well.

It's absolutely ridiculous to be thrown out of two showcases in one year. Who is it about? You or the kids?

[americanfreedom]

American Freedom,

Even if what you say is true I think the original poster was talking about how you (and others) continuously are arguing with umpires who you clearly try to intimidate.

You do not have to look far for evidence of this fact. Is it not true that you are in fact the only coach who was thrown out of a game all weekend at the Southern Qualifier in Dallas the previous weekend?

You have also been thrown out of a practice game at the Colorado Fireworks just last summer and you were thrown out of the Ronald McDonald Showcase in Houston last fall. It is my understanding that you were the only one who had those two things happen to them as well.

It's absolutely ridiculous to be thrown out of two showcases in one year. Who is it about? You or the kids?

Hmmmmm, your first post. Your "facts" aren't exactly right, and the Colorado Fireworks game involved a play where one of our kids ended up in the ER and had an MRi revealing a concussion, but since you seem to think you know more than you do, I have been ejected from exactly 4 games in 9 years of select ball, with close to a 800 games.

Do I challenge umpires, absolutely. See the post above for a reference why. Especially when an umpire seeks to intimidate the coaches and players. Today in Colorado, the home plate umpire tripped the opposing teams' catcher who was trying to catch a pop fly just in FRONT of home plate. Our kid then hit a game winning HR on the next pitch. The home plate umpire is a Div I umpire who gave nothing but attitude to both teams up until her boo boo, then she just wanted to get away like in the commercial. And just to add fuel to the fire, we had tried to tell two previous sets of umpires they had the EP rule wrong, but were "scolded," only to have them sheepishly concede they were wrong after checking with the UIC before the last pool game. The same umpires had even questioned that Triple Crown could implement the EP rule to help coaches showcase more players. The umps were worried about their cherished ASA sanctioning.

I believe we need better, nicer umpires, who recognize the game is about the players and not the umpires and you'll see less conflict with the top ASA Gold coaches.

[softball3421]

So, now you consider yourself a top ASA coach? HA!

Never-mind that you didn't defend being the only coach thrown out in Dallas and again at the Ronald McDonald SHOWCASE!!! No, instead you wanted to try and "distract" us with some half told story. I claimed that you (and other coaches) try to intimidate umpires and your response is to say that they in fact were trying to intimidate you and the players? And you try to say that they aren't out there for the players. Umpires make very little money in most cases, get NO glory for doing ASA tournaments and showcases and have to deal with arrogant a**es like yourself, but they are clearly out there for their own personal reason and not for anyone else?

I'll again go back to the fact that you were the ONLY coach at a Colorado practice game, at the Dallas Qualifier, and at the Ronald McDonald showcase to be thrown out. There were over 100 coaches in Dallas that dealt with the exact same umpires you did and NONE of them were thrown out. The Ronald McDonald SHOWCASE has VERY strict rules about arguing against the umpires with again 100's of teams and again you were the ONLY coach thrown out. You CLEARLY have an issue here and it's NOT about the kids.

Even if you are correct in saying you have only been thrown out 4 times in 9 years your behavior has then greatly deteriorated in the past year as 3 of those 4 ejections have come within the last 12 months. I'm not sure I believe this however as I know for a fact that you spent 45 minutes arguing with Steve McKnow the UIC at Dallas and while doing so tried to tell him that you had NEVER been thrown out. This was quickly called out by a local HS coach who had in fact seen you be escorted off a local HS field by the police after trying to verbally attack the coaches of your DD's team.

Are you starting to see a pattern? Of course, maybe it's just your nature. As most of us know, you are a lawyer. You probably just can't help yourself. You must argue!

[yes dear]

[texasugly1]

I am with yes dear... Get your popcorn ready, it is going to be a show...LOL Wait, should we actually get our tablets out and take notes...