Western Connecticut Umpires Association Henry Abbott Tech - March 4 @ 7pm

1. Western Connecticut Umpires AssociationHenry Abbott Tech -March 4@7pm This is a game played by two teams, one out, the other in. The one that's in sends players out one at a time, to see if they can get in before they get out. If they get out before they get in, they come in, but it doesn't count. If they get in before they get out it does count.When the ones out get three outs from the ones in before they get in without being out, the team that's out comes in and the team in goes out to get those going in out before they get in without being out. When both teams have been in and out nine times the game is over. The team with the most in without being out before coming in wins unless the ones in are equal. In which case, the last ones in go out to get the ones in out before they get in without being out. The game will end when each team has the same number of ins out but one team has more in without being out before coming in. The Perfect Game

2. Secretary-Treasurer’s Report – Peter Pappas • Membership increase from 77 to 98 • Exam for 21 candidates tomorrow evening • Checkbook Balance • Current $7468 • Projected $2403, $547 over prior year • Email problems • For sale flags and patches • A few free 2 year old casebooks

3. Packet Contents • 2009 exam and response sheet • Due no later than March 19th meeting • 2009 CCA Manual • Member Roster • New Member Candidate Roster • Umpire’s In Game Record Sheet-5 copies • WCUA Constitution • Meeting Dates • List of Alternate Sites/Dates for Mandatory Rules Clinic • Email request to confirm attendance at alternate site • Results of Member fall survey

4. President’s Report – Bob Parker The ultimate purpose of the game of baseball is to bring pleasure to the American people. A.Bartlett Giamatti

5. Goals for 2009 • Improve Quality of meetings Expedite the Business Portion Allow for more Rules / Plays discussion Allow for Mechanics discussion • Increase Attendance at Banquet Guest Speaker Move banquet to after the baseball season is over? • Increase membership enrollment for both scholastic and non- scholastic Earlier Recruitment via advertising in local newspapers Better communication with area baseball people (Coaches, AD’s, League Representatives, etc) • Strengthen relationship with our customers Communication Better understanding of assigning software Better understanding of all summer league rules

6. Winter MeetingsExecutive Committee Meetings • Executive Committee has met 6 times with near perfect attendance. • The board voted to make the CAA Baseball Mechanics Manual the “Official mechanics of the WCUA”. The board purchased manuals for all members. • Established a scrimmage fee for all schools that we servicing in 2009 Fee is $50 per man for a 7 inning game and $10 per man per inning after 7 innings. WCUA, Fairfield County Board and the Central Board are in negotiations for a full fee from all SWC schools in 2010. Reminder….Umpires may NOT take scrimmage games directly from a school. • Switched from Assign by Web to The Arbiter software for assigning Allows for one sign-in system vs. two. More powerful and better fits the needs of the organization.

7. Winter MeetingsSurvey Results Overview • The annual banquet has been attended by 70% percent of those who participated in the survey. • Work was the primary reason not to attend. • 75% listed scheduling a featured speaker as important or worthwhile, in order to improve the likelihood of them attending. • 94% stated that more emphasis on mechanics and rules interpretation is needed to improve the quality of our meetings in 2009.

8. Committee Chairmen • Scholastic Assigner – Matt Kane • Non-Scholastic Assigner – Bill Merritt • Better Officiating – Joe Pratta • Grievance – Scott Auster • Membership – Ken Theodos • Scholarship – Jeff Earle • Good and Welfare - TDB

9. Scholastic Baseball – Matt Kane • Introduction of The Arbiter • Welcome Email • Importance of Availability • Scrimmages • Opportunities for Advancement • Fee Structure

10. Non-Scholastic Baseball – Bill Merritt • Watch for announcements on The Arbiter concerning the summer season.

11. Better Officiating – Joe Prata • Incorporating the use of the CCA manual into the training of new members as well as review for all members. • Finalizing evaluation forms to be used this season. • Working with Matt to have a senior member evaluate one scrimmage game this season. This will provide written evaluations for approximately 20 members. • Umpire pants have changed, dark gray will be allowed as an alternate color.

12. Grievance – Scott Auster • No grievances at this time.

13. New Membership – Ken Theodos

14. March 4th Update • Class started February 24th will end March 5th with final exam. • 10 hours of class time with practical emphasis. • Instructors: • Prata • Sabo • Theodos • 21 Candidates, One will complete course in May. • Good mix of experienced and new. • Second course offered in May for college age candidates away at school.

15. Rule 1 Players, Field & Equipment Rule 2 Playing Terms & Definitions Rule 3 Coaching, Bench & Field Conduct Rule 4 Start and End Game Procedures Rule 5 Dead Ball Suspension of Play Rule 6 Pitching Rule 7 Batting Rule 8 Base Running Rule 9 Scoring Rule 10 Umpire Conduct Mechanics for a 2 man crew Basic principles Balk Concentration Outfield Coverage No runners on positioning Runners on 1st Runners on 1st and 2nd Bases loaded Runners on 1st and 3rd Runner on 2nd Runners on 2nd and 3rd Runner on 3rd Proper attire, game prep protocol and scheduling Course Contents

16. Notice Head Height and Locked in Position

17. Another Good Example of Head Height and Spacing from Catcher

18. Another Good Example of Head Height

19. Great Head Height and Spacing from the Catcher

20. Good Crisp Strike Call – Making Yourself Big

21. Last Example of Positioning on the Plate

22. Explosion !!!!!

23. Great Positioning at the Plate - Notice Distance from the Plate

24. Preseason Quiz 1 • What is the determining factor when it comes to check swings? A. The batter breaks his wrist B. The barrel head of the bat crosses any part of the plate. C. The barrel head of the bat crosses the front edge of home plate or the batter’s front hip. D. Whatever the umpire decides.

25. Preseason Quiz 1 • What is the determining factor when it comes to check swings? C. The barrel head of the bat crosses the front edge of home plate or the batter’s front hip.

26. Preseason Quiz 2 • About the force play slide rule: A. The fielder is protected while standing on the base. B. The runner may execute a pop-up slide at the base. C. If called when there were no outs at the start of the play, all other runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. D. A malicious slide is not penalized with anything more than two outs mandated by rule.

27. Preseason Quiz 2 • About the force play slide rule: C. If called when there were no outs at the start of the play, all other runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch.

28. Preseason Quiz 3 • R1 and R2, less than two outs. The batter bunts the ball approximately 15 feet up the third base line. The catcher, in his haste to make a play on the bunt, uses his mask to scoop up the ball. A. The ball is dead immediately when the catcher intentionally uses his mask to stop the ball. B. R2 is awarded home, R1 is awarded third and BR is awarded second. C. This is a delayed dead ball. When all playing action has ceased, R1 and R2 are awarded home and the BR is awarded third unless the BR attempts to advance past third base.

29. Preseason Quiz 3 • R1 and R2, less than two outs. The batter bunts the ball approximately 15 feet up the third base line. The catcher, in his haste to make a play on the bunt, uses his mask to scoop up the ball. C. This is a delayed dead ball. When all playing action has ceased, R1 and R2 are awarded home and the BR is awarded third unless the BR attempts to advance past third base.

30. Preseason Quiz 4 • No outs, B2 misses the first two bunt attempts. As R1 breaks for second, B2 attempts to bunt the next pitch but pops it up in foul territory. The catcher takes the ball on the fly and fires to first base, well ahead of the returning B1. A. The ball is dead immediately when a bunt attempt on the third strike is batted foul. B. R1 is returned to first base. C. Double play.

31. Preseason Quiz 4 • No outs, B2 misses the first two bunt attempts. As R1 breaks for second, B2 attempts to bunt the next pitch but pops it up in foul territory. The catcher takes the ball on the fly and fires to first base, well ahead of the returning B1. C. Double play.

32. Preseason Quiz 5 • One out, B4 has a count of two balls and one strike, but the scoreboard shows 1 ball and 2 strikes. The batters swings and misses the next pitch. When the catcher drops the ball, the batter thinking it is a dropped third strike, reacts and heads for first base. The catcher, who is confused by the count on the scoreboard, throws towards first but his throw sails into right field. A. R2 and R3 score and B4 remains at first. B. R2 and R3 are returned to their original bases and B4 is returned to the plate. C. R2 and R3’s runs count, B4 is returned to the plate.

33. Preseason Quiz 5 • One out, B4 has a count of 2 balls and one strike, but the scoreboard shows 1 ball and 2 strikes. The batters swings and misses the next pitch. When the catcher drops the ball, the batter thinking it is a dropped third strike, reacts and heads for first base. The catcher, who is confused by the count on the scoreboard, throws towards first but his throw sails into right field. C. R2 and R3’s runs count, B4 is returned to the plate.