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Updated: January 24, 2011 - 4:15 p.m. EST
2012
ASA Rule and Code Changes
The ASA National Office has published the
2012 ASA Rule Changes went
into effect January 1, 2012. The rule changes include (but are not
limited to) extending the base distance in men's slow pitch to 70
feet, the legal use of senior bats in the senior slow game,
pitch, clarification on grip tape used on bats and the outlawing of
heating/warming devices for bats. As always, ASA rules are written for ASA Championship Play. Teams
should always check with their league directors and tournament
directors to understand what rules will be in play in a specific
game. ASA also has updated the
2012 changes to the ASA Code.
2012 Junior
Olympic National Berth Tournaments Finalized
The
2012 JO National Berth Tournament Schedule
has been finalized. The list is broken down by age group and
includes Association, Region and National Berths (played in the
region). In addition, the list includes qualifiers to the Hall of
Fame Classic. For 2012, Georgia ASA will award five berths per age
division to ASA/USA National Championships as an association. The
South Atlantic Region will award two additional berths per age
division. Each age division will also host a National Qualifier
somewhere in the region with one additional berth to be awarded. The
region will host two berths per age division to the Hall of Fame
Classic in Oklahoma City, OK. The Hall of Fame will award eight
berths per age division to the ASA/USA National Championships. Also
check out the list of
All Tournaments by Date which
includes qualifiers and non-qualifiers.
Time
to Register for 2012 Season ... New Registration Deadlines
Softball season is here. Time to get your players and teams
registered for the 2012 season. Do so by going to
RegisterASA.COM Web site. This
Web is not run by Georgia ASA, but all Georgia teams are expected to
register their teams through RegisterASA.com. If you'd step-by-step
instructions on
how to register a TEAM, GO HERE. If
you need further instructions on
how to register a LEAGUE, GO HERE.
NEW FOR 2012!!!...Teams MUST be registered TWO
WEEKS prior to the first qualifier the team is registered to
participate ... this INCLUDES having
ACE/Background Checks completed.
Additional players added to the ASA redlined rosters MUST be
registered and added FIVE (5) DAYS prior to a team's first game in a
qualifier. The last day to add a player to the ASA Roster is Friday,
June 29, 2012. The 2012 deadline dates for each qualifier is as
follows:
|
ASA Qualifier Date |
Team Registered By... |
ACE/Background Check By... |
Additional Player Registration By... |
| April 27-29 |
April 13 |
April 13 |
April 22 |
| May 4-6 |
April 20 |
April 20 |
April 29 |
| May 11-13 |
April 27 |
April 27 |
May 6 |
| May 18-20 |
May 4 |
May 4 |
May 13 |
| May 25-27 |
May 11 |
May 11 |
May 20 |
| June 1-3 |
May 18 |
May 18 |
May 27 |
| June 8-10 |
May 25 |
May 25 |
June 3 |
| June 15-17 |
June 1 |
June 1 |
June 10 |
| June 22-24 |
June 8 |
June 8 |
June 17 |
PLAY BALL!!!
... 2012 Season is
Underway for
Umpires
Even though the weather is wet and cold
outside, football is still on TV and some of us still have yet to
put away those holiday decorations, for umpires, the 2012 season
begins now. Umpires: Start off with reading the
2012
season welcome letter from State Umpire-In-Chief, Jimmy Derrick.
Check your with your local association for when its meetings are
scheduled to start (most are soon). Make plans to attend your
Zone UIC clinic (see schedule on the
umpire training
page) and possibly participate in
an
ASA National Umpire School. On
February 25, Georgia ASA will be hosting an
ASA Development School of its own in Cumming, GA ... a great
place to get out on the field and sharpen those the skills whether
you're new to the game or a seasoned veteran. We hope to see all
Georgia umpires at Emory University on January 28th for the
Georgia ASA State Umpire Clinic. ASA's National director of Umpires,
Kevin Ryan, will be
the keynote speaker. The
2012 ASA Rule Changes will be
explained, awards will be presented for 2011 and career achievements
and a few surprises are in store for this special event. As you can
see, there are LOTS of opportunities for Georgia ASA umpires to be
informed, practiced and trained so they can hit the ground running
from the first pitch of the season. We hope to see early and often
at training events over the next couple of months.
Georgia ASA
Umpires Shine at 2011 ASA Nationals
Georgia ASA is proud to have 58 umpires who were selected to umpire in
numerous ASA National Tournaments around the country in 2011. Selection to a
national is very competitive. It is a combination of training, performance and
recommendations from local associations, Umpire-In-Chiefs, Commissioners and
Members of the ASA National office.
See a list of all 2011 Georgia ASA National
Tournament Umpires HERE. Congratulations!
2012 Hall of
Fame Classic Dates Set; 10U Age Division Added
ASA announced the dates of its 2012 Hall of Fame Classic
Tournaments being held at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex and Stadium
in Oklahoma City, adjacent to the ASA National Office. Starting in
2012, the 10-Under age division will be added to the existing 12U,
14U, 16U and 18U age divisions. Each age division will feature 26
teams from around the nation (one from each region and one
additional team from regions 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 15 plus
the winner of 2011's East and West qualifiers) competing for the
Hall of Fame Classic title and eight berths to the that age
division's USA/ASA National Championship. Georgia teams, as part of
Region 4, will have a chance to earn one of the region's two berths
in each age division at Hall of Fame qualifiers on dates to be
determined in the next few weeks. The dates of The Hall of Fame
Classic for each age division are as follows:
- 10 and Under – May 18-20, 2012 (Friday – Sunday)
- 12 and Under – June 8-10, 2012 (Friday – Sunday)
- 14 and Under – June 15-17, 2012 (Friday – Sunday)
- 16 and Under – June 21-23, 2012 (Thursday – Saturday)
- 18 and Under – June 23-25, 2012 (Saturday – Monday)
ASA Director of Umpires,
Kevin Ryan, to be Keynote at Jan. 28, 2012 Georgia ASA Umpire Clinic
Georgia ASA Umpires ... mark your calendars for the 2012
state umpire clinic on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 9 a.m. at
Emory University's Math & Science Building in
Atlanta. ASA's National director of Umpires, Kevin Ryan, will be the keynote
speaker. $10 clinic fee will be collected at the door. Dress is casual. The
2012 ASA Rule Changes will be
explained, awards will be presented for 2011 and career achievements and a few
surprises are in store for this special event. Please do what you can to be at
Emory on the 28th. See you there!
2012 Zone Umpire Clinic
Dates Set
The 2012 season is almost here. Umpires, make plans to attend
one of the Zone Umpire Clinics closest to you. State umpire staff will be going
over rule changes, clerical changes and be on hand to answer any questions.
Attendance is a must and a great way to get ready for the upcoming season. For a
list of all zone clinics, see the list on the
Georgia ASA Umpire Training Page.
The Next Level/Emory
University Offering Hitting Clinics
Hitting clinics are being offered by The Next Level/Emory
University on December 10, January 21 and January 28. All clinics are form 11
a.m. - 2 p.m. at The Next Level Academy in Suwanee, GA. The clinic is open to
beginner, intermediate and advanced skill levels. Each clinic costs $45 and is
limited to 50 players per clinic. For more details and contact information,
download a information/registration form.
Georgia
ASA Featured in December 2011 Ball and Strikes Magazine
Check out the
December 2011 edition of Ball and Strikes Magazine.
Georgia ASA is the featured association on page 40 of the magazine (pg 42 of the
linked pdf file). In addition, the magazine reviews the 2011 ASA season and
recaps the ASA National Convention with highlights of 2012 Playing Rule Changes
and gives an insiders look at USA Softball.
Georgia ASA Awarded Two
National Tournaments for 2013
Georgia ASA has been awarded two 2013 National Championships at the 80th Annual ASA National Council Meeting in
Myrtle Beach, SC in mid-November, 2011. Georgia ASA will be hosting the following 2013 National
Championships:
- ASA Men’s Slow Pitch Southern Class "D" -
Cumming, GA
- Girls’ 12-Under Class "A" Southern -
Columbus, GA
Many J.O. Fast Pitch Class "A" teams
from around Georgia will be working toward a National Title in 2013. The USA/ASA
Class "A" National Locations for 2013 are as follows:
- USA/ASA Girls’
10-Under “A” Fast Pitch – Bowing Green, KY
- USA/ASA Girls’ 12-Under “A”
Fast Pitch – Chattanooga, TN
- USA/ASA Girls’
14-Under “A” Fast Pitch – Normal, IL
- USA/ASA Girls’ 16-Under “A”
Fast Pitch – Sunnyvale, CA
- USA/ASA Girls’ 18-Under “A”
Fast Pitch – Sterling, VA
- USA/ASA Girls’ 18-Under GOLD Fast Pitch –
Clearwater, FL
Click HERE for a full list of 2013 National Championships.
Georgia ASA is preparing
for two National Championships in 2012. This coming season's National
Tournaments in Georgia are as follows:
- Girls' 14-Under Class
"A" Fast Pitch Southern - Columbus, GA
- Girls' 16-Under Class
"B" Fast Pitch Southern - Lagrange, GA
The J.O. Fast Pitch USA/ASA
Class "A" National Championship Locations for 2012 are as follows:
- USA/ASA Girls’ 10-Under “A”
Fast Pitch – Bloomington, IN
- USA/ASA Girls’
12-Under “A” Fast Pitch – Moline, IL
- USA/ASA Girls’ 14-Under “A”
Fast Pitch – Sioux Falls, SD
- USA/ASA Girls’ 16-Under “A”
Fast Pitch – Montgomery, AL
- USA/ASA Girls’ 18-Under “A”
Fast Pitch – Johnson City, TN
- USA/ASA Girls’ 18-Under GOLD Fast Pitch –
Oklahoma City, OK
Click HERE for a full list of 2012 Championships.
ASA Director of Umpires,
Kevin Ryan, to be Keynote at Jan. 28, 2012 Georgia ASA Umpire Clinic
Georgia ASA Umpires ... mark your calendars for the 2012
state umpire clinic on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 9 a.m. at
Emory University's Math & Science Building in
Atlanta. ASA's National director of Umpires, Kevin Ryan, will be the keynote
speaker. $10 clinic fee will be collected at the door. Dress is casual. The
2012 ASA Rule Changes will be
explained, awards will be presented for 2011 and career achievements and a few
surprises are in store for this special event. Please do what you can to be at
Emory on the 28th. See you there!
National
Umpires Schools Set for 2011-12
The key to being a great umpire is knowledge and training.
One of the best resources and a opportunity to really excel at the
higher levels is to attend an ASA National Umpire School. Region 4's
National School is January 27-29 in Burlington, NC.
You may also want to download the Information
Sheet/Registration Form for the Burlington school. There are also
other National Schools in neighboring states on different dates.
See a full list of ASA National Umpire Schools
and for details on how to register HERE.
Georgia ASA Shines at
2011 Nationals Championships
Georgia
ASA had an outstanding year at ASA/USA Nationals in 2011.
Seven Georgia teams (of the 56 which went to "A" level USA/ASA
National Championships) finished in the Top 10 of its respective age
division Georgia was particularly strong at the 16A in Chattanooga,
TN where where Georgia took 2nd (Georgia Impact-Strother), 3rd
(Southern Force-Archibald) and 4th place (Atlanta Vipers-Giles) in a
field of 172 teams from around the country. In another large
tournament (103 teams) for the 14A in Midland, TX, Georgia had 10
teams participate which was lead by the Georgia Impact '97-Bass who
finished 3rd overall and Georgia Impact-Silver who placed 7th. The
18A was lead by GAC who placed 5th our of 104 teams. The 12A
featured the Worth Cobras who finished.
Click on Georgia ASA's
2011 National Tournament Section for a full list of results of
Georgia teams at Nationals.
Georgia ASA
Crowns 2011 State Champions
Teams from all around Georgia competed for the Class "A" and
Class "C" Titles over the past two weeks.
The 16s and 18s played in Cobb County while the 10s, 12s
and 14s will battlied in Forsyth. The Class "C" teams competed over
the Independence Day weekend to produce four State Champions (click
here for the Class "C" Official Order of Finish).
Great job by all participating teams. The 2011 Georgia ASA State
Champions are as follows:
Is
Dirt a Foreign Substance In Regards to Fast Pitch Pitching Rule?
There has been a lot of discussion locally and nationally about
this rule recently ... particularly if the pitcher in the ASA fast pitch game
chooses to place dirt on his/her hand, must they first wipe (or appear to wipe)
the dirt off before touching the ball to avoid an illegal pitch. The short
answer is NO. Dirt is NOT be considered a foreign substance. The pitcher
touching dirt and going directly to the ball would NOT constitute and illegal
pitch due to placing a foreign substance on the ball (in other words ... this IS
legal). For more detailed information about this rule,
please open this link to
ASA's National Director of Umpires, Kevin Ryan, who addressed this issue in 2010.
Any further questions, please contact
Georgia ASA Umpire-In-Chief, Jimmy Derrick.
Umpires
Honored For 2010 Achievements; Three Inducted To Hall of Fame
The Georgia ASA Umpire Program honored its best of 2010 at the
2011 Umpire Clinic at Emory University on January 29.
Numerous association zone and
district Umpires-of-the-Year were announced and awarded plaques for
their 2010 achievements. Highlighting the clinic were three umpires being
inducted into the Georgia ASA Hall of
Fame,
Edward "Chico" Lilly, Jr. became the 63rd
umpire to enter The Hall in the umpire category. Umpires
Glenn Stewart and
Richard Meeks became the 17th and 18th members
inducted for meritorious service ... the first in this category in 10 years.
Tim Smith and
Caudell Clark were honored as the sixth and
seventh umpires to receive the Graybill Daniell Memorial Award for their
outstanding service to Georgia ASA.
Clyde Hobgood was selected at Georgia ASA's
2010 Umpire-of-the-Year. Two Umpires,
Jason Self and
Lee Gray, received their
Elite Status in Slow
Pitch and
Steve Marcus was honored for becoming the 23rd
Georgia umpire selected as an umpire in the
International Softball Federation (ISF).
ASA Region 4 Umpire-In-Chief,
Dick Gayler also went over the
2011 ASA Rule Changes.
 Georgia
ASA Creates Facebook and Twitter Pages for Georgia ASA UMPIRES
Umpires: Now you have a
Facebook page dedicated to Georgia ASA umpires
... as well as a
Georgia ASA Umpires Twitter Page. After a
successful first year with the
Georgia ASA Association Facebook and
Association
Twitter pages in 2010, which generated over 850 followers, Georgia
ASA decided to extended the new form of communication to umpires. The original
Association Facebook and Twitter pages will still be heavily active with status
updates/tweets on tournaments, rules, national berths, web site updates,
meetings, photos, video and more. Umpire information will still be posted on the
existing association sites, but the new umpire sites will allow for more
in-depth umpire-centric content. The new umpire sites will, of course, be
tailored for Georgia ASA Umpires, but anyone is welcome (and encouraged) to
"Like It" on Facebook or become a "Follower" on Twitter. We look forward to
seeing you as on our new Social Media sites!
Georgia ASA Launches J.O.
Coaches' Accountability Program
Georgia ASA has instituted the Georgia ASA Coaches’ Accountability Program for
unsporting behavior which results in the coach being ejected. This is effective
beginning April 1, 2010 for all Georgia ASA Events, including Association Berth
Tournaments, National Qualifiers, Region Tournaments, Territory Tournaments,
Friendly, and any other event that utilizes ASA certified and sanctioned
umpires.
Download the details of the Georgia ASA Coaches’
Accountability Program here. Any questions, please contact
Georgia ASA Commissioner, Al
Dattolo.
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