Touching all the Bases Feb 5, 2013

NCOA Softball 2013 NewsletterNext meeting for both Vacaville andSacramento is Tuesday, Feb. 12. Since thereis only one meeting next week, there is nomake-up if your miss it. We have the videofixed in the one class we had problems withlast week. Thanks for your support.

ONONONON FIELDFIELDFIELDFIELD CLINICCLINICCLINICCLINIC

There is a slight time change for the Rosevilleon-field clinics. Arrive early and be ready to beon the field by 9:00, will go until to 2:00. Signup in Arbiter for at least one. Full uniform.Bring your gear. We will have a secure areaset aside to monitor your bags. Yourinstructors will be there, with a few video tapinglocations. You will be rotating through variousstations, including some off the field. Specialparking for umpires and coaches. Look for thesigns. Oh, and lunch is on RHS and NCOA.

TWO-HOURTWO-HOURTWO-HOURTWO-HOUR SCRIMMAGESSCRIMMAGESSCRIMMAGESSCRIMMAGES

Again, you must schedule yourself in Arbiter toattend at least one scrimmage. Talk to yourpartners ahead of time about who has firstplate, who starts on the bases, and how youare rotating. Please arrive ready to go.Newbies…see Lisa about the one-man clinicon the 16th at Antelope. Vacaville has twofields going at Vanden on the same day.

ARBITERARBITERARBITERARBITER

Arbiter is very trusting; it assumes you areavailable, unless you tell it otherwise! So, isyour calendar up to date in Arbiter? Have youblocked out the days you are not be available?The first round of assignments will be going outsooner than you think. Let’s make this firstround of scheduling go smoothly for Bill Gubel,and get Softball off to a good start.

WHATWHATWHATWHAT’’’’SSSS THETHETHETHE HUB-BUB?HUB-BUB?HUB-BUB?HUB-BUB?

There is much more to Arbiter than just yourschedule this year. There have been somechanges you should be familiarizing yourselfwith by now. Log onto the JSSBaseball/Softball site (where you get yourassignments), and use the “Switch Views” tabto toggle between these web sites.

NCOA Central Hub. This is our NCOA site forall sports. Click the Softball page. You’ll see acalendar of events, important dates, yourweekly quizzes, info about NCOA, and “more.”(Don’t forget to click the “more” button!) Note:Arbiter currently has a glitch in offering thequizzes, but the first one should be online soon.An announcement will come out when it’sready.

The 100-point NFHS Certification test is on theNFHS Tier2 Central Hub. You become eligiblefor assignments when you log on and take thistest. You have until Feb. 26 at 11:59 pm. Youmust receive at least an 80% to pass, and 90%to be considered eligible for playoffs. You cantake it up to three times, or when you havescored at least 90 percent, whichever comesfirst.

Finally, there’s the NFHS Main Central Hub--Softballlll.... Great resources for you here. Yourbooks are on this site, as well as a list of thenew rules for 2013. The latest interpretationsand corrections to the rule book and case bookare a must read for you. The ASA bat list canalso be downloaded here.

Log onto Arbiter and find these web sites. Usethem to your advantage. They will contributeto your successful season. Part of your tool kit.

STUMPSTUMPSTUMPSTUMP THETHETHETHE UMPUMPUMPUMP

OK, so there was one new rule that caused abuzz in the classes last week. No, not theglove rule!

We’re talking about the new rule that says, inessence, that the batter does not have to try toavoid being hit by a pitch if the pitch is entirelyinside the batter’s box. The batter will beawarded first base. Some of you wererightfully stumped because you knew that thereis a companion rule still in the book that saysthe batter must not permit a pitched ball totouch her.

Well, the NFHS Interpretation is on the NFHSHub, as well as our NCOA Softball site. Thenew rule IS the correct rule when the ball is inthe batter’s box. Read what the NFHS has tosay about this rule and others.

PITCHINGPITCHINGPITCHINGPITCHING

It’s a big part of the game, so it stands toreason that we spend some time on pitching.There will be a video presentation with somenew footage, and some you may have seenbefore. Be prepared to watch, listen to whatothers have to say, and see if you are correctlyrecognizing all the elements involved.

As always,• Know the rule.• Use good judgment.• Be professional in your interactions with

coaches.

EQUIPMENTEQUIPMENTEQUIPMENTEQUIPMENT CHECKSCHECKSCHECKSCHECKS

Please make sure you are checking bats andhats before every game. Pick ‘em up, inspectthem, be sure the athletes are safe. No “Driveby’s.”

UNIFORMUNIFORMUNIFORMUNIFORM

D-1 Apparel will be on hand at our nextmeeting in Sacramento. The official uniformfor NCOA Softball umpires is required asfollows:

• Powder Blue or Navy Shirt (Short orLong Sleeve)

• Heather Gray Slacks• Plain Navy Jacket (No stripes or piping

around shoulders)• NCOA Hat or Plain Navy Hat (umpires

must match)• Gray or Navy Ball Bag

UpcomingUpcomingUpcomingUpcoming Schedule:Schedule:Schedule:Schedule:Both Sacramento and VacavilleTuesday, Feb 12 6:00-9:00 pm

On field Clinic Feb. 18 & 23, 9:00 to 2:00,Roseville High

ThirdThirdThirdThird ClassClassClassClassSacramento, Tuesday, Feb 26Vacaville, Thursday, Feb 28