UIC Letter

God bless the USA

Proud to be an American!

Indiana Amateur Softball Association, Inc.

Umpire Program

UIC Letter

Greetings Indiana ASA Umpires!

The New Year will bring new challenges and opportunities for Indiana ASA Umpires. We have several new staff members trained and in place for the New Year. We have a full schedule of exciting training opportunities for umpires from the new twelve year old youth umpire, to the seventy year old grizzled veteran umpire. We believe that our ASA training program offers something for everyone. Our theme for 2010 is: Raising the Bar of Excellence!

Annually we have those who say we should allow certain veteran groups of umpires to “test out” of schools and clinics. Our consistent reply is that all umpires can learn from additional training. You can never, ever learn too much. It is very easy to develop bad habits, but it takes continual review and training to develop proper positioning and mechanics.

Again, there have been several crucial changes to playing rules that will be explained from the authors’ perspective at our training sessions.

We have attempted to put all pertinent information on our website: www.inasablue.org. The website is open for umpires 24/7, 365. It never takes a day off. If you believe that the website is in err or needs clarification, please email the webmaster, bwaters48881@mchsi.com, so that the web site might be updated for the benefit of all. Umpires may always email or contact me by telephone.

Your 2010 Indiana ASA Umpire Registration Form is enclosed. Don’t lay it down or postpone registering until later. Please complete the form in black ink, pressing hard enough so that the second copy is clearly readable. Enclose your check in the appropriate amount payable to Indiana ASA and mail today to: Ron Summers, 3408 Benham Ave., Elkhart, IN 46517-1944. The fees are unchanged from 2009. Renewals are $55, if you register by May 15, $65 after May 15. Youth umpires, those eighteen (18) or younger, may register for $35. New, first time, registering umpires are $45.

Complete the “Background Check” form, again in black ink, printing legibly. Be certain to include a copy of your driver’s license, and mail to Ron Summers, 3408 Benham Ave., Elkhart, IN 46517-1944. It is essential to complete the registration process that this paperwork is filed.

Now let me introduce the Indiana ASA Softball Staff.

Mr. Wayne L. Myers (Mrs. Phyllis E.)

Indiana ASA State Commissioner

December 6, 1976 – January 10, 2010

Ms. Cindy L. Inman

Indiana ASA Junior Olympic Commissioner

10856 E. Gibbs Ave.

Rosedale, IN 47874-9370

Telephone: 812-877-3417 (home)

                     765-744-5460 (mobile)

Fax: 812-877-7926

Email: jocomm@aol.com

Indiana ASA State Umpires-in-Chief

Mr. Roger Griffith

518 S. Riverside Blvd.

Goshen, IN 46526-2269

Telephone: 574-533-3465 (home)

                     574-707-9872 (mobile)

Email: rogergriffityh@qtm.net

Mr. Carl A. Horstman, Jr.

2866 Old State Route 66

Newburgh, IN 47630-9727

Telephone: 812-853-2079

Email: calhorstman@aol.com

Ms. Julie A. Johnson

1333 W. Monroe St.

Alexandria, IN 46001-8150

Telephone: 765-724-2347 (home)

                     765-623-5462 (mobile)

Email: jjohnson1333@aol.com

Indiana ASA Region Umpires-in-Chief

Region

Counties

Umpires-in-Chief

Vice-President

Region One

1

Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Porter, Starke, Pulaski, and Jasper

Mr. Cary Schleman

7657 West 300 South

Rensselaer, IN 47978-8605

Telephone: 219-866-3246 (home)

                     219-866-7422 (work)

                     219-819-0238 (mobile)

(currently no email)

Mr. Richard W. Zurbriggen

925 S. Indiana St.

Crown Point, IN 46307-5002

Telephone: 219-663-3408 (home)

                     219-776-0654 (mobile)

Email: sbzuby@aol.com

Region Two

2

Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, St. Joseph, and Steuben

Mr. Drew L. Danik

17721 Woodthrush Lane

South Bend, IN 46635-1329

Telephone: 574-277-2294 (home)

                     574-532-9841 (mobile)

Email: ddanik@sbcsc.k12.in.us

Mr. Robert A. Waters, Jr.

754 Locke Court

Nappanee, IN 46550-1216

Telephone: 574-773-7098 (ASA)

Email: bwaters48881@mchsi.com

Region Three

3

Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Wabash, Wells, and Whitley

Mr. Steven J. Godfroy

43 Randolph St.

Huntington, IN 46750-2114

Telephone: 260-220-4779 (home)

                     260-519-5311 (mobile)

Email: sgodfroy@sbcglobal.net

Mr. James W. Markland

3908 South Dr.

Fort Wayne, IN 46815-4730

Telephone: 260-484-2580 (home)

                     260-486-7187 (work)

                     260-580-3280 (mobile)

Email: slwpich80@aol.com

Region Four

4

Benton, Fountain, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, Warren, and White

Mr. Robert L. Cash, Jr.

47 Hickory Lane N.

Crawfordsville, IN 47933-7601

Telephone: 765-364-0748 (home)

                     765-364-5081 (work)

                     765-376-8546 (mobile)

Email: asaumpire@sbcglobal.net

Mr. Jay W. Ritter

6943 Main St.

PO Box 139

Westpoint, IN 47992-0139

Telephone: 765-572-2771 (home)

                     765-449-6610 (work)

                     765-404-5695 (mobile)

Email: jritterasa@aol.com

Region Five

5

Boone, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fulton, Hamilton, Howard, Miami, and Tipton

Mr. Donald E. Hicks

607 E. Dutchess St.

PO Box 263

Walton, IN 46994-0263

Telephone: 574-626-3246 (home)

                     765-453-6704 (work)

                     574-727-1192 (mobile)

Email: d_hicks99@verizon.net

Mr. Donald R. Lombardi

1911 E. Broadway

Logansport, IN 46947-2046

Telephone: 574-753-8392 (home)

                     574-753-5506 (work)

                     574-721-3061 (mobile)

Email: drjlom@netzero.net

Region Six

6

Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Jay, Madison, and Randolph

Ms. Julie A. Johnson

1333 W. Monroe St.

Alexandria, IN 46001-8150

Telephone: 765-724-2347 (home)

                     765-623-5462 (mobile)

Email: jjohnson1333@aol.com

Mr. Leon D. Zachary

226 E. Benton St.

Alexandria, IN 46001-9229

Telephone: 765-643-2279 (home)

                     765-623-1403 (mobile)

Email: ldzasarep@yahoo.com

Region Seven

7

Clay, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Vigo

Mr. Larry P. Higgins, Jr.

18 Pear Tree Lane

Terre Haute, IN 47803-2470

Telephone: 812-872-2520 (home)

                     812-239-0579 (mobile)

Email: hurrynhoosier@yahoo.com

Mr. John A. Benton

8033 E. Acorn St.

Terre Haute, IN 47803-9756

Telephone: 812-877-2566 (home)

                     812-298-2439 (mobile)

Email: jbenton@ivytech.edu

Region Eight

8

Hendricks, Johnson, Marion, and Morgan

Mr. Gregory D. Carrie, Slow Pitch

717 Morgan Way

Greenwood, IN 46143-7414

Telephone: 317-889-9288 (home)

                     317-938-9030 (mobile)

Email: region8uic@indianasoftball.com

Mr. Stephen A. Boone

10338 Watkins Dr.

Indianapolis, IN 46234-8513

Telephone: 317-902-8243 (mobile)

Email: booney@avonsoftballpark.com

Ms. Traci M. Stoelting, Fast Pitch

6494 Woodhaven Ct.

Avon, IN 46123-7220

Telephone: 317-682-7180 (mobile)

Email: tspazump@yahoo.com

Region Nine

9

Decatur, Fayette, Franklin, Hancock, Henry, Rush, Shelby, Union, and Wayne

Mr. David C. Chandler

6919 N. Rick James Dr.

Middletown, IN 47356-9496

Telephone: 765-354-4654 (home)

                     317-521-3070 (work)

                     765-729-9780 (mobile)

Email: dave.chandler@roche.com

Mr. Donald R. Kanouse

206 N. Taylor St.

PO Box 237

Saint Paul, IN 47272-0237

Telephone: 765-525-9792 (home)

                     317-642-6046 (mobile)

Email: thumper1@tds.net

Region Ten

10

Brown, Clark, Crawford, Daviess, Floyd, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen, Scott, and Washington

Mr. Brett E. Williamson

3370 S. Burks Court

PO Box 361

Clear Creek, IN 47426-0361

Telephone: 812-333-5766 (work)

                     812-219-2443 (mobile)

Email: brett.williamson@comcast.net

Mr. David L. Nolan

112 N 7^th St.

PO Box 223

Mitchell, IN 47446-0223

Telephone: 812-849-6669 (home)

                     812-849-4442 (work)

                     812-276-9265 (mobile)

Email: dave@cpainbluejeans.com

Region Eleven

11

Bartholomew, Dearborn, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland

Ms. LeAnne Eberts

4835 W. County Road 600 N.

Scipio, IN 47273-9573

Telephone: 812-392-2226 (home)

                     812-265-6672 (work)

                     812-498-7825 (mobile)

Email: leanneeberts@yahoo.com

Ms. LeAnne Eberts

4835 W. County Road 600 N.

Scipio, IN 47273-9573

Telephone: 812-392-2226 (home)

                     812-265-6672 (work)

                     812-498-7825 (mobile)

Email: leanneeberts@yahoo.com

Region Twelve

12

Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick

Mr. Michael A. Golini, Fast Pitch

5834 Polo Run

Evansville, IN 47715-7080

Telephone: 812-429-9420 (work)

                     812-480-2768 (mobile)

Email: ma.golini@insightbb.com

Mr. Stacy B. Kueber

10856 E. Gibbs Ave.

Rosedale, IN 47874-9370

Telephone: 812-877-3417 (home)

                     765-730-6145 (mobile)

Fax: 812-877-7926

Email: simmspainting@aol.com

Mr. James R. Miller, Slow Pitch

420 Cypress St.

Newburgh, IN 47630-1312

Telephone: 812-853-2704 (home)

                     812-204-6568 (mobile)

Email: asaump@wowway.com

Some other key personnel you might run into helping the Indiana ASA Umpire program are:

Mr. Edward J. Bellows

56781 Wedgewood Court S.

Elkhart, IN 46516-5806

Telephone: 574-295-3787 (home)

                     574-596-3036 (mobile)

Email: asa3outs@comcast.net

Ms. Anne M. Griffith

518 S. Riverside Blvd.

Goshen, IN 46526-2269

Telephone: 574-533-3465 (home)

                     574-822-5088 (work)

                     574-329-9495 (mobile)

Email: bbeump@yahoo.com

Mr. Kenneth Hattery

3246 N. Eel River Cemetery Rd.

Peru, IN 46970-7500

Telephone: 765-473-9422 (home)

Email: kendeesport@kconline.com

Mr. Rodney E. Miller

715 E. Hively Ave.

Elkhart, IN 46517-2567

Telephone: 574-215-6146 (mobile)

Email: rodney.miller3@verizon.net

Mr. Thomas L. Thomason

4739 West 675 North

Jasper, IN 47546-8283

Telephone: 812-634-1830 (home)

                     812-481-7040 (work)

Email: tojagaco@fullnet.com

Mr. Fred I. Unsicker

1916 Clover Lane

Lebanon, IN 46052-4092

Telephone: 765-482-4327 (home)

                     765-482-0400 (work)

                     317-446-9600 (mobile)

Email: funsicker@yahoo.com

At the 78^th ASA National Council Meeting in Reno, Nevada we elected a new Midwest Region 10 Umpire-in-Chief. Mr. Jerry Fick and Cincinnati, OH have been realigned into East Central Region 9. Our new Region Umpire-in-Chief is the former Illinois Umpire-in-Chief:

Mr. Paul M. Tomazzoli

5 Tremont Terrace

Hillsboro, IL 62049-1941

Telephone: 217-532-9353 (home)

Fax: 217-532-3334

Email: softball@consolidated.net

2010 events I would like to point out to you are:

Indiana ASA will host a National Umpire School February 19-21 at Adams High School, 808 South Twyckenham Drive, South Bend.

School Cost: $100 pre-register (by February 5), $120 after February 5, payable to Indiana ASA, which includes lunch on Saturday and Sunday, but does not include travel or lodging expenses.

Host Hotel: South Bend Marriott, 123 North Saint Joseph Street. Reservations must be made by 5 p.m. Eastern, by telephone: 574-234-2000 or 800-228-9290 and requesting the ASA-NUS room rate of $79 (plus taxes). Due to a limited number of rooms available, it is recommended that you pair up with someone and share a room. You may review the South Bend Marriott at their web site: www.marriott.co/sbnin.

What’s Required: All students should be in ordinary physical condition. Students should come in full dress uniform prepared to umpire (including fast pitch plate mask). Only students who attend, and participate in, all sessions will be certified as attending this National Umpire School.

Who May Register: ASA umpire, in good standing with their local association, who have registered for 2010.

Who Should Attend: Umpires who wish to broaden their understanding of the philosophies of sports officiating, increase their knowledge of the game, and further develop their aptitude for positioning and mechanics of ASA umpiring, so that they may continuously improve their skills and abilities and ultimately reach their career goals in ASA umpiring. Umpires who wish to be eligible to work ASA National Tournaments.

How to Register: Complete (type or legibly print) the attached form and mail it with your $100 pre-register (by February 5), $120 after February 5, and check payable to: Indiana ASA, to Indiana ASA Umpire-in-Chief, Ron Summers at 3108 Benham Avenue, Elkhart, IN 46517-1944.

When to Register: As soon as you register for 2010, but not before January 1, 2010. Openings are limited, so do not delay, register today!

Instructors: Instructors will include: Mr. Mike De Leo, Ms. Julie Johnson, and Mr. Paul Tomazzoli. All instructors will be approved by the National Staff, and we will have an instructor for every twenty-five (25) students.

Umpire Equipment: Indiana ASA will have an umpire equipment sales table on-site so umpires may view, touch, try-on for size, and purchase umpire equipment. Unfortunately, we cannot accept credit or debit cards, so bring cash or your checkbook.

For More Information: Contact Indiana ASA Umpire-in-Chief, Ron Summers by telephone: 574-226-3071 or via email: asauic55@comcast.net. The latest information will be posted on our web site” www.inasablue.org.

If for some reason this weekend will not work for you we are very fortunate to have three (3) other National Umpire Schools within driving distance: January 30-31 at Columbus, OH; February 13-14 at Nashville, TN; and April 10-11 at Oxford, MI. Please let me know if you need additional information.

New for 2010 ASA is offering a Fast Pitch Camp June 15-21 at Cincinnati, OH.

The ASA National Fast Pitch Umpire Camp is the only advanced school in the country offered to fast pitch umpires. The Fast Pitch Camp is an opportunity for you to:

Improve your umpiring skills

Prepare you for higher level competition

Work on you “Elite Umpire” qualifications

Information, Registration and Housing Coordinator: Ms. Dee Fick telephone: 513-563-2755 or email: asauic@fuse.net

ENROLLMENT IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST SIXTY (60) ACCEPTED PARTICIPANTS!!!

Instructors: Mr. Craig Cress, Mr. Kevin Ryan, Mr. Malcolm Boyles, Mr. Jim Craig, Ms. Julie Johnson, Ms. Dave Epperson, and Mr. Jerry Fick. One instructor for every ten (10) students. Folks, it doesn’t get any better than this!

Indiana ASA will again offer two (2) State Umpire Clinics:

Saturday, February 27  CK Newsome Community Center  Mr. Mike Golini and Mr. Jim Miller, Hosts

                                           100 East Walnut Street, Suite 1

                                           Evansville, IN 47713-1960

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. local time. Instruction takes place from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

$30 + $5 lunch if pre-registered by February 22 or $40 + $5 lunch payable at the door. Please make checks payable to: Indiana ASA. Everyone entering must prove 2010 Indiana ASA Umpire Registration or register at the door!

Umpire merchandise will be on display for sale (cash and checks only) from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Sunday, February 28                       American Legion Post #60                           Mr. Don Lombardi, Host

                                                              828 Burlington Avenue

                                                              Logansport, IN 46947-4701

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. local time. Instruction takes place from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

$30 + $5 lunch if pre-registered by February 22 or $40 + $5 lunch payable at the door. Please make checks payable to: Indiana ASA. Everyone entering must prove 2010 Indiana ASA Umpire Registration or register at the door!

Umpire merchandise will be on display for sale (cash and checks only) from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Indiana ASA will again offer two (2) adult and one (1) youth State Umpire Schools:

Sunday, March 7                            Avon High School                                                Mr. Steve Boone, Host

                                                            7575 E. County Road 150 S.

                                                            Avon, IN 46123-8193

Adult Comprehensive State Umpire School.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. local time. Instruction takes place from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

$40 + $5 lunch if pre-registered by March 1 or $50 + $5 lunch payable at the door. Please make checks payable to: Indiana ASA. Everyone entering must prove 2010 Indiana ASA Umpire Registration or register at the door!

Umpire merchandise will be on display for sale (cash and checks only) from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Sunday, April 25       Lebanon Middle School (use southwest gym entrance) Mr. Fred Unsicker, Host

                                     1800 North Grant Street

                                     Lebanon, IN 46052-1242

Adult Comprehensive State Umpire School.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. local time. Instruction takes place from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

$40 + $5 lunch if pre-registered by April 19 or $50 + $5 lunch payable at the door. Please make checks payable to: Indiana ASA. Everyone entering must prove 2010 Indiana ASA Umpire Registration or register at the door!

Umpire merchandise will be on display for sale (cash and checks only) from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Sunday, May 2                      Shadeland Recreation Center                                          Mr. Jay Ritter, Host

                                                  2450 West 450 South

                                                  Lafayette, IN 47909-9257

Youth Only Comprehensive State Umpire School.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. local time. Instruction takes place from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

$25 including lunch. Please make checks payable to: Indiana ASA. Everyone entering must prove 2010 Indiana ASA Umpire Registration or register at the door!

Umpire merchandise will be on display for sale (cash and checks only) from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

In JO Softball many umpiring opportunities will be available in 2010. Several April–May Junior Olympic Indiana ASA/Dudley/Easton/Worth Challenge Tournaments are planned for Avon, Martinsville, Midwest, and Mooresville. Cindy Inman is again offering the Diamonds of the Central (June 4-6), Diamonds of the North (June 11-13), Diamonds of the South (June 18-20) and State Games (June 25-27), as well as the State Championship Tournaments (July 9-11).   On the weekend of July 2-4 the “Circle City Firecracker” tournament will be played at Avon, Martinsville and Mooresville, while the “PNC Firecracker Shoot Out” will play in Portage.

In the Adult program Men’s Fast Pitch will offer three (3) tournaments: July 23-25 “Open” Invitational, August 6-8 Class C State, and August 13-15 Class D State. Men’s Slow Pitch will have the Indiana ASA/Dudley/Easton/Worth Championship Series which has expanded to at-least nine (9) tournaments throughout the State on different weekends beginning in mid April. The Adult Slow Pitch State Championship Tournaments will include seven (7) Men’s, two (2) Coed, and three (3) Women’s divisions of play.

Indiana ASA will be hosting three (3) National Championship Tournaments in 2010. July 26-August 1, Terre Haute will host the Junior Olympic Girls’ 14-Under Class A Northern Fast Pitch National. August 3-8, Bloomington will host the Junior Olympic USA/ASA Girls’ 12-Under Class A Fast Pitch National. August 5-8, South Bend will host the Men’s Major Fast Pitch National.

Four (4) other National Tournaments are within driving distance in 2010. July 28-August 1, Bowling Green, KY will host the Junior Olympic Girls’ 16-Under Class A Northern Fast Pitch National. August 1-8, Moline, IL will host the Junior Olympic USA/ASA Girls’ 14-Under Class A Fast Pitch National. September 2-6, Columbus, OH will host the Men’s East Class D Slow Pitch National. September 3-6, Owensboro, KY will host the Men’s East Class C Fast Pitch National.

There are always opportunities for umpire exchanges throughout the country so start preparing now, send in your 2010 registration and background check, register now for the National School, review the rule book cover-to-cover, and register for a State Clinic. Your goal should be to be as good as you can be, so that you can reach the highest levels of ASA umpiring.

As a State Staff, we want to continuously improve ways to make our umpires the best in the United States. We work diligently with National Staff to learn the latest training tools, tips, and “tricks” to help you improve. Staying at the same level is not an option for us. We must continue Raising the Bar of Excellence!

The National Office released a DVD in 2009. They are already working on a revision.

The State Staff will use the National Umpire Evaluation Form in 2010. Evaluations will serve as a teaching tool. The evaluation process is critical to help umpires improve. This process is crucial for continual improvement and our goal of excellence. We must not be afraid to offer constructive criticism, if presented properly one-on-one it should not offend. We want to be friends, but we must be teachers/instructors first – it is our job. As a State Staff, we constantly train and evaluate each other to improve our games and training methods. Our goal is to evaluate game crews together – as a crew. We mean to be diplomatic, courteous, and professional. The evaluation form should be a written review of what we discussed. Furthermore it should be understood that not every “excellent” umpire can work on Sunday. Not everyone can have be part of the final crew. Please do not expect your evaluation to be all “excellents”. Frankly we don’t have any perfect umpires. Everyone has something they can improve upon.

Contracts for the various Indiana Tournaments have been included in this mailing. These contracts are also available on our website. Please review them today. Print off, fill out, and mail today what you are available for and interested in for 2010. Please remember that the number of teams that register for each event and your skill level will determine which event you will be assigned to. It is my duty as Indiana ASA Umpire-in-Chief to assign umpires to events that they are prepared for and ready to work. To put you into a situation where you would fail would not be productive for anyone.

As contracts come in we will post on the website the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of those who have signed up. We will denote which umpires are available for the entire event, and which umpires have special scheduling requirements. We will list each event, the tournament Umpire-in-Chief with contact information, and show the events history of where the event was held, and how many teams played. The lists will be updated weekly.

If after submitting a signed contract your situation changes, please notify your event Umpire-in-Chief as soon as possible.

Most tournaments will be drawn on the Monday before the event is scheduled to play. As soon as we get brackets, with number of games, and number of fields, we will notify umpires of their schedule. Anyone who is cut do to insufficient number of participating teams shall be notified by telephone by the event Umpire-in-Chief. Please understand that, when and event is scheduled, where an event is scheduled, and how tough the economic conditions will actually be this summer will all effect the number of team that signup to play softball.

If I can answer any question, or be of any service to you, please contact me. I can be reached by telephone: 574-226-3071 daily from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. or I review my email multiple times daily (asauic55@comcast.net). Please help us Raising the Bar of Excellence in 2010.

Sincerely,

Ronald L. Summers

Indiana ASA Umpire-in-Chief

Ronald L. Summers

Indiana ASA State Umpire-in-Chief

3108 Benham Avenue

Elkhart, IN 46517-1944

Home: 574-294-8521

Mobile: 574-226-3071

Email: asauic55@comcast.net

Contact webmaster: Bob Waters

Page last updated: Thursday April 01, 2010