1/21/06 – 1PM @ OSAA Offices (Wilsonville)
Members Attending:
Sax Stone (
Absent:
Guest: Steve Pean –
Call to Order: 12:55PM by Interim Chairman Steve Rei.
New Business:
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Rei asks for nominations for the time of “Chairman” of the committee. The OAOA had named an interim Chairman for initial planning. Nominations were open and Steve Rei was nominated and seconded. Nominations were closed.
Rei elected Chairman by a unanimous voice vote.
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Chairman Rei requests nominations for “Recording Secretary” for the initial meetings of the umpire committee. Tim Christensen is nominated and it is seconded. Nominations were closed.
Christensen elected Reporting Secretary by a unanimous voice vote.
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Jack Folliard then explained the committee functions of OAOA for all sports. Details were discussed about the methods and reasoning behind the committees and their membership make-up.
Folliard made the point strongly that the OAOA State Baseball Committee was responsible to promote all issues of High School umpiring on a consistent basis throughout the state.
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Rei then discussed the overall mission statement of the committee. With Folliard’s assistance the general items of the committee were discussed in depth. See http://www.oreofficials.org/sportcommittees.htm for a link to the duties of the committee.
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Rei then officially distributed the predetermined rotation schedule for association membership to the committee. The list confirmed that seven associations will be represented each year. The rotation will be consistent so that a core group of members will always remain on the committee for two consecutive years. See http://www.oreofficials.org/sportcommittees.htm for a link to committee member rotation information.
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Tim Christensen then gave a presentation on “Federation Modified Mechanics”.
Christensen noted that there are only seven differences in two man mechanics from the Federation Umpire Manual. The philosophical difference between the CCA mechanics, the root of “FED Modified Mechanics”, and basic high school mechanics were discussed in general.
A list of the seven differences was distributed to all board
members see http://www.oreofficials.org/baseball.htm for a link to the
The committee unanimously approved state wide adoption of
the Modified Federation mechanics package.
Terry Fischer gave several examples of what he witnessed last year of umpires failing to follow proper mechanics. Discussion continued of how the Baseball Committee can assist local association in implementing the modified mechanic package.
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Christensen gave a presentation about the proper mechanic for an uncaught 3rd strike when the plate umpire does not know if the ball was caught or uncaught.
Christensen review the ALCS play involving professional umpire Doug Eddings. The “professional school mechanic” was then discussed.
Professional schools currently teach that if the umpire feels the ball is “uncaught” he is to give a safe sign and one signal verbal comment of “No Catch!”
Terry Fischer then commented that this mechanic is fine if an umpire actually knows the ball was uncaught.
The issue was discussed at the National Rules Meetings this year and the National Federation of High Schools feels that an umpire can only call what he actually knows. If an umpire is only a “reporter” of what happens on the field and he does not know that a ball was caught of not he should simply signal “STRIKE” and then read players.
Fischer commented that many base umpires assist their partner by showing a “closed fist” near the thigh if the ball is caught. The same umpire would show an “open hand” if the ball was not caught.
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Christensen then gave a presentation on defining “Malicious Contact.”
Christensen gave the history of the NFHS views of Malicious Contact from 1976 to the current printed views.
The “Texas Guidelines” were discussed:
1) If a run has time to get down or avoid a collusion, the onus for contact is on him:
2) If the runner then crashes into a fielder with intent to hinder or dislodge the ball it is Malicious Contact:
3) If Malicious Contact is call, the runner shall always be called out.
Fischer then discussed, in depth, that the Nation Federation has a committee currently working on a written definition of Malicious Contact to soon be included in the rule book.
Fischer has been in direct contact with Eliot Hopkins at the NFHS concerning this specific issue.
Since both Fischer and Christensen have been working
independently on this issue the committee directed them to work together to
define an acceptable definition for the OAOA/OSAA to distribute to all associations
before February 15, 2006.
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Rei then opened discussion concerning the development and implementation of umpire training statewide.
The original discussions centered on local association
ensuring that umpires have access to training and the consistency needed across
the state. Both Mike Kyles and Dale Andrews commented on the geographic
challenges of Eastern and
There were discussions detailing the exact information that needs to be trained to umpires.
It was noted and unanimously approved that Fischer and
Christensen collaborate on an
The group eventually came to an agreed consensus that the Best Known Method would probably include four regional clinicians that are fully trained by the committee that take the information to the masses.
The group moved and unanimously approved that Sax Stone develop a system and budget for the implementation of a regional clinician program.
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Folliard then brought to the attention of the committee that
several officiating award programs are available and seldom used by all sport
officiating groups in
He mentioned the National Awards that
Fischer mentioned that there should be awards for years of service, awards for commitment to umpiring and we should even consider having an “Umpire Hall of Fame.”
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Rei suggested and group approved the next meeting date and time:
Next meeting: June 3,
2006 -- Following the Championship games in
These are a true an accurate representation of all discussions and votes considered by the initial meeting of the OAOA Baseball Umpire Committee.
Any corrections or additions should be sent to:
Tim Christensen
Respectfully submitted this January 22, 2006.
Tim Christensen
Reporting Secretary
OAOA Baseball Umpires Committee