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Welcome back, everyone! In order to save some time, I am posting the meeting agenda, with modifications, as the minutes. Additional items are mentioned after that.
| Certified (1's) | 2's | 3's & 4's | 5's |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 meetings | 6 meetings | 8 meetings | |
| 1 scrimmage | 1 scrimmage | 1 scrimmage | 1 scrimmage |
| 1 clinic | 1 clinic | 1 clinic | 1 clinic |
| test | test | test | test |
Several people had questions regarding their move-up status from last year. Apparently the changes never made it to Phoenix. The problem is being investigated, and will be resolved by next meeting.
Next meeting we will be visited by Gary Whelchel, Arizona AIA Commissioner of Officials. Please come with non-stupid questions/concerns/ideas.
The Committee (well, most of it) met after the meeting. Committee members are reminded to stay after ALL meetings; more often than not, we have a few minutes of business to deal with each week.
Birdie Rastetter is resigning from the Committee, and her replacement, as well as a 2/3/4 Representative to the Committee, will be elected on 27 January.
Coaches will be invited to attend the 03 February meeting.
Elections were held to replace positions on the Committee vacated. Denny Morton was elected to replace Birdie Rastetter, Tim Jackson was elected as 2/3/4 Rep.
Names, address, telephone numbers, email addresses, and dues are still being collected. The current data are reachable from our the web site. Please email corrections and additions to Bob Marcialis, so that printouts can be made for next week's meeting.
A schedule of meetings will be prepared for next week's meeting. Computer problems precluded me from distributing it at tonight's meeting.
The rulebooks made it from Phoenix to Tucson, but not from Bart's house to the meeting. We will definitely have them next week. Since we did not have the books, we did not review Rule 2 Defintions.
The new NOCSAE standard for catcher's helmets was discussed. Beginning this year, the helmet/mask combination must:
Mary Strukhoff has made a ruling regarding our questions about whether or not the new mask/helmet combination must be worn in the bullpen and/or by a non-adult warming up the pitcher. The answer is NO. Although a mask and throat protector must be worn in these cases, the new NOCSAE-standard mask/helmet combination is not required except when a batter is up.
The Committee met after the General Meeting. We discussed progress on Bylaws for the Association. It is hoped that we will bring this document to a vote by the General Membership within a few weeks' time.
Next week is Coaches Night. The new DP Rule will be discussed, as will ball, catcher's mask/helmet, and bat standards.
With the Coaches present, we went over the new DP/Flex and Catcher's equipment rules. See "For Coaches: How to use the DP" in the Forms On-Line part of the main web page for an analysis of how various applications of the rule can be used legally. Note: this document was written for the NCAA. The High School DP rule is identical in every respect but 2. First, the FLEX player is called the TENTH PLAYER (TP) in the college book. Second, in High School, all subs can re-enter a second time. THe college book permits only 1 re-entry for subs.
Version 1 of the Member's Directory was handed out, as were Rulebooks, Casebooks, and Umpire Manuals. We are short on AIA Handbooks, but Bart will get some more for us.
Mike Bouchard covered procedures to follow up through the pre-game: contacting your partner, arrival at the site, umpire pre-game, equipment inspection, and pre-game conference at the plate.
We have secured Hillenbrand Stadium at the UofA for our on-field clinic next Monday. Clinic begins at 6:00 p.m.; rookies are asked to try to arrive by 5:30 so they can get a little more personalized instruction prior to the main clinic. A short meeting in the Kuiper Space Sciences Building will follow the clinic.
Rule 7: Batting was reviewed.
So far, we have dates for 9 scrimmages. Note that all are required to attend at least one scrimmage. New guys, it would be in your best interest to attend 2 or 3. I will post the scrimmage schedule later this week, but the first one is not until 18 February.
Be sure your updated availability is sent to Bart Henkle ASAP.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Game situations were discussed, and games turned back were reassigned.
Tonight was test night. The exam was taken in groups of 4, open book format. Each group was requested not only to answer the questions, but to provide the rule reference for each question. The idea here was to get everyone into the rulebook and a bit more familiar with how it is organized. The intent on working in groups of 4 was to save time, as each group member only had to research about 25 questions.
Test grades have been incorporated into the on-line Membership Directory.
Tonight's meeting had a very small turnout. So small, in fact, that we had totable discussion/voting on the proposed Bylaws for the Association.
Those people in attendance who did not test last week were given tests to take at home. Remmeber, a minimum test score of 90 is required if a Certified is to be eleigible for Playoffs. No test, no playoffs.
Tonight's meeting resulted in several important decisions.
First, the proposed Bylaws were adopted unanimously by those in attendance. They take effect beginning with the 2004 season.
Second, our annual elections were held.
Third, we held elections on the Playoff ballot. To be eligible, an umpire must be 1) Certified; 2 achieve at least 90 on the test; 3 have attended the on-field clinic or a National School; 4 must work a minimum of 14 games in the 2003 season. The requirement of a scrimmage was not enforced this year. The results of these elections are posted in the Excel spreadsheet PlayoffBallot03.xls.
This Web page is maintained by
Bob Marcialis
Copyright © 2003 Robert L. Marcialis
Last Modified: 2003 April 15