North Georgia Amateur Umpire Association

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Metro Atlanta's BEST Softball Umpire Association!

NEWS...

East Cobb Bullets Win 2010 18-Gold National Championship
Congratulations to the East Cobb Bullets for winning the 2010 18-Gold USA/ASA National Championship, at Lost Mountain Softball Park on August 7th!  With over three hundred spectators on hand, the Bullets took nine innings to defeat a strong North Florida, to bring the 2010 title home to Georgia.  Along with the Bullets’ championship finish, other Georgia ASA teams finished strong.  The Atlanta Vipers-Berry (16A) and Georgia Impact-Bass (12A), each finished as National Runner-Up at their respective USA/ASA National tournaments.

Sheppard Center’s Wheelchair Softball Tournament
Jerry Watkins, Deans Mills, and Jim Rollins had the pleasure of umpiring the Sheppard Center’s Wheelchair Softball Tournament.   Based on the pictures, it looks like they had a great time.    Click here to review Jerry’s pictures.

New 2010 NGAUA GHSA School Directions is Under Construction
We are revamping our high school directions for 2010. We are including Coaches names, special notes, and parking information. This page is currently under construction (75% done), if you would like to preview the new page click here. If you would like to add any special parking information, or correct any mistakes, please send email to Powell Hazzard.

Sportsmanship For the Love of the Game
It happened at a junior varsity girls' softball game in Indianapolis this spring. After an inning and a half... Click here to check out the rest of the story on ESPN.com

GHSA Advance Camp deadline is Approaching - Please Register Soon!
While the GHSA rules clinic is mandatory every year, NGAUA umpires should attend a GHSA softball umpire camp every two years. If you are planning to attend an advance camp in June, you should get registered ASAP. Early registation might be the only way to guarantee the best date. See NGAUA's GHSA web page for more information.

Do you know your ASA Courtesy Runner and DP Flex Rules?
With ASA Qualifiers just around the corner, do you know your Courtesy Runner and DP/Flex rules cold?  How about lineup management in general?  If it rains could someone pickup your game using only your lineup card notes?  For a quick refresher course you might want to review the “Lineup management NFHS ASA" PowerPoint presentation from cactus umpire’s web site.  Slide 28 starts the Courtesy Runners, and slide 49 starts the Flex/DP portion. (Click here for a frame's version)

NGAUA Park status board is available
For up to date park status check out NGAUA Status board (Or call the Rain out number)

2010 NGAUA Tournament list has been posted
2010 Tournament list has been posted on our tournaments page.

2010 Twincreek Fastpitch Rules have been posted
Softball season finally here! Cherokee Youth Softball (Twin Creeks Softball Complex) Rules for 2010 are available. Before going to the field please read, and understand these rules. We want to provide consistency all season long, and knowing the local park rules is the first step. These rules are also posted on the bracket board, and in the umpires' room.

Bobbie Ragland is inducted into Georgia ASA's Hall of Fame during Georgia ASA's 2010 State Clinic
These are exciting times, this year we saw one of our own inducted into Georgia ASA's Hall of Fame.  Bobbie Ragland joined the likes of Earl Morris, Dick Gayler, Graybill Daniel, and Jim Herring with his 2009 Hall of Fame induction.  It was a great honor to see one of our own inducted into a truly prestige group of umpires.     

NGAUA was well represented during Georgia ASA's 2010 State Clinic - 2009 Award Ceremony
For our work with the Special Olympics, NGAUA received this year’s Georgia ASA Humanitarian award.  Individual NGUAU umpires were also recognized at every level of Georgia ASA.  Shane Head received the honor of being named the Georgia ASA district 21’s Umpire of the year.   Jim Rollins continued the streak by receiving the honor of being named Georgia ASA Zone 1’s Umpire of the year.  The streak didn’t end there. Once again a NGAUA umpire takes the top honor of Georgia ASA’s Umpire of the year, Powell Hazzard received this honor for 2009.  Powell was also named NGAUA Association’s Umpire of the year.   

2010 ASA Rules Changes
ASA has announced its Rule Changes for the 2010 season (effective January 1, 2010). These include but are not limited to the following:

• Pitching distance for 16-U A/B Fast Pitch classifications to 43 feet
• Pitching distance for 18-U A/B Fast Pitch classifications to 43 feet
• Metal cleats will now be allowed in 16-U and 18-U ALL divisions of play in J.O. Fast Pitch
• The pitching arch height for all divisions of slow pitch is now 6-10 feet
• The Double Base… Half of the base is white (fair) and half of the base (foul) is a contrasting color
• No electronic equipment to include cell phones, pagers, etc. is allowed to be worn or carried on the playing field
• Click here for the complete 2010 rule changes with comments

Georgia ASA's prepares to Host 13 National Tournaments in 2010
At the 77th Annual ASA National Council Meeting in Oklahoma City, Georgia ASA was awarded 13 ASA National Tournaments for 2010. Check out the list on our ASA page.

The 2010 Training Schedule is available
Welcome to the 2010 season, the new training schedule has been posted!

2010 NGAUA Board Election Results
Congratulations to the 2010 NGAUA Board Members who were voted into office by NGAUA members at its annual election on October 18. The 2010 NGAUA Board is as follows:

President	Bobby Streetmon
Vice-President	Alan Brown
Treasurer	Don Mitchell
Coordinator	Glenn Stewart
Recording Secretary	Lamar Meers
Member at Large	Edwin Pickering
Member at Large	Ray Levy
Member at Large	Jeff Neiswender
Member at Large	Jim Rollins
Member at Large	Dean Mills

Special thanks for Jerry Clover for all his work on the NGAUA Board and dedication to NGAUA. The new board will be sworn in at the 2009 Season Banquet on November 14th at 7:00 p.m. at the Smyrna Community Center.

Bob Earwood 2009 GACA Official of the Year
Congratulations to NGAUA umpire Bob Earwood for being honored as 2009 Georgia Athletic Coaches Association's Official of the Year! Bob has been a sports official for over 45 years. In addition to serving as NGAUA's GHSA assigner, Bob rates high school officials in softball, baseball, football and basketball. Bob is the first NGAUA umpire and one of only a handful of Georgia softball umpires to receive this award.

Great Job Bob!

NGAUA Umpire inducted to Cherokee Co Parks Youth Classic HOF
Congratulations to NGAUA umpire and Board Member Lamar Meers for being inducted into the Cherokee Co Parks Youth Classic Hall of Fame. Lamar is one of four inductees to go into the Hall in 2009 and he is only the third umpire in 20 year to be bestowed with this honor. Lamar has serviced CRPA for 20 years.

NGAUA umpire and board member Bobby Streetmon was also nominated for the award. Bobby has serviced CRPA for 15 years. CRPA only takes nominations for this award every five years.

Congratulations to Lamar and Bobby! All of NGAUA is proud of you!

Bookings Moved to Wednesdays -- Permanently
Due to the continuing scheduling issues, NGAUA's weekly phone booking is moving to WEDNESDAYS each week at 02:30 PM. No booking on Tuesdays from now on unless a temporary change is needed.

NGAUA Rainout Number
Not sure if your games are on because of the weather? Then call the NGAUA Rainout Number. Don't call Glenn! Glenn will be busy talking to the parks. He'll leave all the cancellation information on a recording that you may access by calling 770-443-2742.

This number also serves as the NGAUA fax line. So if the modem answers, that means there are no cancellations at this time. Also, never assume your game is canceled. Atlanta weather can be funny. It may be raining where you are and perfectly dry down the road at the park. Also, many of the parks we serve have excellent drainage and outstanding ground crews. So, make the call to the rainout number.

Updated 2009 Park Rules on 'Park Rules' Page
Knowing and enforcing the rules is a huge part of our job as umpires. Click on the Park Rules page and download the updated park/league rules before you head out to the ball field. Remember, park/league rules supersede  the national association rule book. If a rule is not published by the park/league, then the national rule book should be enforced.

What Rule Do They Play at That Park, Again?
Have you ever been on your way to a NGAUA park to umpire a league slow pitch game and can't remember some of the special league rules? ... Do they play with a 3-2 or 4-3 count? What's the time limit? Who keeps it? What is the run rule? Do they allow stealing at this park? Get the answers to all of these questions and more by downloading the 2009 NGAUA Slow Pitch League Rule Differences Matrix. You'll always be in the know.

Background Checks Mandatory and Eligibility Cards Must Be Signed
All NGAUA umpires must fill out a Background Check Form  and pass a background check to be eligible to join NGAUA each year. Please get your background check filled out and into the NGAUA board ASAP so you will be eligible to umpire on the field. After your check has been completed and passed, you must attend a meeting to SIGN for your eligibility card. They WON'T be mailed to you.

Park Addresses Now Posted For GPS/Web Directions
NGAUA now lists the Addresses For All Its Parks on NGAUA.com. This is a great reference sheet if you use a GPS device or a Web site for driving directions. This list will be available on the Park Directions page and the Forms page.

Twin Creeks Softball Complex Selected ASA Softball Complex of the Year
Congratulations to Cherokee Recreation and Parks Association for having Twin Creeks Softball Complex selected ASA Softball Complex of the Year. This prestigious award was presented at the 77th Annual ASA National Council Meeting in Oklahoma City, November 7-14. Congratulations again CRPA!

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.

New ASA Banned Bat List
Quick ... check the ASA banned bat list you bring to every game (you do bring a bat list to every game, right?!?) ... what's the date on it?  ASA updated the bat list at the end of February. Click on the Forms link on the left side of the page to get the up-to-the-minute ASA Banned Bat List. There is also a link to the up-to-the-minutes ASA Banned Bat List w/ Pictures so you'll know what the banned bats look like.

I Want to Be in Cyberspace
Have you achieved a new level in ASA Medals Program, or been honored into the NIF, ISF or ASA Elite programs? Did you work postseason in ISA, USSSA, ASA in GHSA in 2006 and don't see your name on NGAUA.com? Then let us know. Send an e-mail to our Webmaster and we'll get your name in Cyberspace.