Umpires Honored for 2007
Umpires from around the state were honored for their achievements in 2007. Georgia ASA Umpire In Chief, Jimmy Derrick, the state umpire staff and State Commissioner Al Dattolo presented the awards to 36 umpires at the state's two state clinics in Atlanta and Tifton in early January. .

Georgia ASA Umpire Schools and Zone/District/Local Association Clinics Posted
The 2008 season is about to start. The best way to start id with training. Dates are now finalized on many Georgia Umpire Schools and Zone/District/Local Association clinics. For an updated list, click on the Umpire Training page. Remember, attendance at an approved school every three years is a requirement to be paper qualified. More clinics are schools will be updated on that page as they are finalized.

2008 ASA National Fast Pitch Umpire Camp Registration
Georgia ASA is proud to host the ASA National Fast Pitch Umpire Camp for the second year in a row. Umpires from around the country will converge on Cumming, GA to participate in classroom and on-field instruction from Kevin Ryan, Julie Johnson, Jim Craig and Dick Gayler of the ASA Umpire National Staff. Umpires in the school will also get a chance to put their skills to the test while being observed at the end of the week in live J.O. Tournament. The cost for the school is $400 and includes all meals, shirts and awards. Umpires are also responsible four their housing during the camp. Umpires will be paid a game fee for games they work in the tournament at the end of the week. Click here to download the camp registration form and return to Jimmy Derrick.

Georgia ASA Umpire Code of Ethics
ASA umpires are professional umpires. We get paid to umpire amateur athletes. As individual professionals, we have a responsibility to the players, fans, other umpires, our associations, ASA and ourselves to meet a high standard of professionalism both on and off the field. All Georgia ASA Umpires are expected to know and follow the Georgia ASA Umpire Code of Ethics. Georgia ASA takes this very seriously. Umpires not following this document may be brought in front of the Georgia ASA disciplinary committee and are subject to disciplinary action. Any questions regarding this code, please contact Jimmy Derrick.

Former ASA National Director of Umpires, Merle Butler, Passes Away
Merle Butler, former national Director of Umpires for ASA passed away on January 6th in Edmond, OK of an apparent heart attack. A memorial service will be held On Saturday, January 12 in Edmond. Merle is survived by his wife Deby, three children and five grandchildren. If you are interested in sending a token of condolence to the family, please contact Al Dattalo.

Additional Info: ASA Statement

2008 ASA Rule and Code Changes
ASA has announced its rule and code changes for the 2008 season. The rule changes for 2008 and comments on the changes may be found by clicking on the link below. Rule changes for 2008 include (but are limited to) a pitching distance change for Girls' 18-A, run rule changes for all types of ASA ball, pitching changes in senior slow pitch and 16-inch and removal of the 10-B special classification for championship play.

• 2008 Rule Changes with Comments (requires Adobe Acrobat reader)

Changes to the ASA Code with comments and clarifications may be found at the following links (requires Adobe Acrobat reader):

• 2008 ASA Code Changes with Comments
• Roster Change Deadline Clarification
• Team Registration Clarification
• Complete ASA Code

Georgia to Host Five ASA National Tournaments in 2009
Over 70 cities in 30 states were awarded ASA Nationals for 2008 at ASA's National Convention in November of 2007. Georgia ASA was awarded Five. The ASA Nationals being held in Georgia in 2008 are as follows:

Georgia ASA will be hosting six ASA Nationals in 2008. The 2008 Tournaments are as follows:

• Men’s "D" SP, Southern - Marietta, GA
• Coed "B" SP - LaGrange, GA
• Women’s "C" SP, East - Augusta, GA
• Girls’ 14B FP, Southern - Columbus, GA
• Men's 9-Man Modified - Cumming, GA
• Men's 10-Man Modified - Cumming, GA
• All 2008 ASA National Championships

I Want to Umpire in an ASA National. What Do I Need to do?
The first thing to do is get paper qualified for the current season. This means that you meet all of the requirements to be put on the list of potential umpires to be selected from Georgia ASA to work an ASA National. The paper qualification requirements for 2008 are as follows:

• Attend either the North Georgia State Clinic (January 26, 2008) or the South Georgia State Clinic (February 9, 2008)
• Attend an umpire development school once every three years (approved by the Georgia ASA Umpire In Chief)
• Work at least 10 local association ASA assignments
• Be in good standing with Georgia ASA and the ASA National Office

After you meet the above requirements, make sure to inform the UICs of your local association, Georgia ASA District and Georgia ASA Zone.

Grandfathered Bats No Longer Authorized Beginning in 2008
Under a resolution adopted by the ASA Board of Directors, bats submitted by manufacturers that were previously allowed a 2 mph variance in the ASA’s test standards are no longer authorized for use in ASA Championship Play effective January 1, 2008.

Commonly referred to by players and coaches as “grandfathered” bats, these bats were allowed a 2 mph testing variance under the terms of an agreement the bat manufacturers and ASA negotiated in the fall of 2003. These terms will no longer be in effect on January 1, 2008 thus making these bats illegal for use in ASA Championship Play.

According to the list provided to ASA under the terms of the agreement with each manufacturer, the following bats will be placed on the non approved list on January 1, 2008.

Easton
Synergy2

Miken
Freak

Louisville Slugger
SB304
SB404

Worth
XGOLD-Fastpitch
XRED-Fastpitch
XPST4
WWSCA
SBWKA

Al Dattolo to Serve as Georgia ASA Commissioner
The ASA National Office has announced that Dattolo will serve as Georgia ASA's Commissioner. Dattolo served as Acting Commissioner most of 2007 while Brockey Brock had taken a leave of absence to deal with personal issues. Brock resigned earlier this fall.

ASA Document of Rule Differences Between Fast Pitch and Slow Pitch
EP, DP or Flex? What's the run limit? When do you call time? If you're jumping back and forth between fast pitch and slow pitch, then the ASA's document of rule difference between ASA fast pitch and slow pitch is for you. This document should be be in the equipment bag of every Georgia ASA umpire who spends time behind plate both wearing and not wearing a mask.

ASA Document of Rule Differences Between ASA/NFHS/NCAA
Are you a Georgia ASA Umpire who also umpires Georgia High School Softball in the fall? Or do you umpire some NCAA games in the spring? Umpire all three? With three rulebooks to memorize, it would help to have a chart explaining the differences between the three types of ball. ASA has answered that need and has published a document of rules differences between ASA, Federation and NCAA. This document is a must for Georgia ASA umpires who also work high school and/or college ball.

ASA Umpire PowerPoint Presentations
Nothing can compare to attending an ASA National Umpire School. Umpires get one-on-one and group training from members of the ASA National Umpire Staff. The PowerPoint Presentations used at these schools are available on GeorgiaASA.com. Umpires are encouraged to use these learning tools (which include presentations on Fast Pitch and Slow Pitch Plate Mechanics, Base Mechanics, Three-Umpire System and Working with Players and Coaches) as part of their on-going training program.  (Note - Opening the PowerPoint link above may take a few moments as it is a large file)