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Articles by Brad Tittrington
Help Rains Supreme
By Brad Tittrington It has been said that difficult times often bring out the best in people. What transpired in late July and early August in one southeastern Kentucky community perfectly epitomizes one of those times. It began July 28, 2022, near Hazard, Ky. A historic rain event brought torrential precipitation to the area, causing major destruction and leaving at least 39 people dead in its wake.
First Base Barricade
Obstruction is a common occurrence in softball. It happens most often at home plate as catchers try to prevent a runner from scoring. However, it does happen quite a bit on the basepaths as well. And one of the places it happens that can cause confusion is on an initial play at first. If you think about the number of plays at first base in a game, the chances are actually pretty high that a bad throw or poor footwork will lead to potential obstruction in every game.
Slot Machine - Referee.com
The most important job in a game, and often the most difficult, is calling an accurate strike zone. In order to be accurate, you need to be able to see the entire zone on every pitch for seven innings. It can be both physically and emotionally taxing. In order to ensure you give yourself the best opportunity to be accurate, make sure you work hard to get in the slot and stay there.
Leap Into the New Year
At its recent annual council meeting in Oklahoma City, USA Softball voted to adopt several new rule changes for the 2022 season. The most significant rule change allows Junior Olympic (JO) and women’s fastpitch pitchers the ability to leap without an illegal pitch being called. Below are the rule changes for the 2022 season listed in perceived order of importance. Referee would like to thank Kevin Ryan, USA Softball director of umpires, for reviewing this article.
Watch The Hands, Please
“Ariddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.” While Winston Churchill certainly wasn’t describing the actions in a softball game when he made this famous quote, he very well could have been if he was trying to decipher what some batters were doing in the batter’s box. While it can be difficult to determine whether or not a batter checked her swing, softball is unique in that umpires must also determine if the batter is bunting at the ball or slapping at it.
They’re Counting on It
One of the most important jobs for softball umpires is game management. And one of the most overlooked aspects of game management is giving the count. Regardless of the level you work, giving the count is part of your repertoire. While some levels require giving the count more than others, when and how you give the count can save your bacon on many occasions at all levels. Many believe working higher-level ball is easier in this regard because of the fancy scoreboards on most college campuses.
Equipment Commitment
The NFHS Softball Rules Committee made two significant changes to player equipment, involving the wearing of head coverings and beads, and approved six other rule changes for the upcoming 2022 season. The Softball Rules Committee becomes the seventh NFHS sports rules committee to modify rules this year related to religious and cultural backgrounds. The committee made those changes at its June 14-16 meeting held virtually and those changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Infield Flies not on the fly
Photo Credit: Dale Garvey One of the more difficult situations in softball are those involving the infield fly rule. While all the codes agree on when the rule is in effect, they don’t all agree on which umpire is responsible for it or even how it is signaled. Throw in the level of play on any given day, turf versus natural grass and a little wind, and it can become convoluted. Here are some tips and techniques to help nail this call every time. Pregame with your partner(s).
A League of Their Own
Janet Thomas (center) poses with Shirley Burkovich (left) and Maybelle Blair (right), two former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League players, during the 2021 Baseball For All Nationals in Aberdeen, Md. (Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy of Paul McKeen) When Justine Siegal was 13, her coach told her girls were only supposed to play softball, not baseball.
Striking Out Cancer
Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy of Darrin Eesescheck W orking the Little League World Series (LLWS) is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for umpires. But in 2021, with the COVID-19 pandemic still affecting the country, things were a little different this year in Williamsport, Pa. Twelve umpires from throughout the United States had an opportunity to return for a second time at Lamade and Volunteer stadiums. One of those umpires was Darrin Besescheck.
Thinking Outside the Box
The NCAA Softball Rules Committee and the Playing Rules Oversight Panel recently approved a significant amount of rule changes for the upcoming 2022 and 2023 seasons. Several changes were enacted to help with pace of play as well as the adoption of video review. Changes appear in perceived order of importance. Referee would like to thank Vickie Van Kleeck, NCAA softball secretary rules editor, for reviewing this article.
Step On the Field and Handle Your Business Like a Boss
A fellow brother in blue, who passed away much too soon, had a mantra he used both in life and on the field. That mantra was simple: “Handle business.” As umpires, when we step on the field, it is a job. Yes, it is an avocation and something we love to do as well, but at the end of the day we are being paid to perform a service. And it is our job to protect the game and treat the game with the respect it deserves.
AVP Officials Meet the Challenge of Champions Cup During Pandemic
Justin Baker, San Gabriel, Calif., watches play during the AVP Tour’s Champions Cup. Face coverings were one of the precautions officials had to take to help minimize the spread of COVID- 19. Photo Courtesy of AVP Turn on NBC in the summer during a normal year and you are likely to see some of the top volleyball players in the country competing on the sand.
Softball Leaders Give Advice on Making the Most of Your Camp Experience
Camps provide instructors the opportunity to address everyone and give a consistent message on a particular topic. In this instance, NCAA Division I umpire Bobby DeMayo, Boston, has the undivided attention of all campers. Photo Courtesy of Diamond Umpire Academy In 2020, many umpires didn’t have the chance to hone their skills and work on new ones developed in the offseason. As a new season approaches, umpires are looking for ways to knock off the rust, get back into action and learn new skills.
Strategies to Stay Above the Fray
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the officiating industry has taken a heavy blow. All officials in some shape or form were impacted and continue to face challenges going forward. Games across the globe have been postponed or canceled, in-person training camps have been dropped and the normal camaraderie associated with officiating has drastically changed. Many officials were forced to stay home, and everything thrown at them from the news, social media, television and radio was increasingly negative.
Bunt, Slap and Checked-Swing Quandaries - Referee.com
Base umpires must know the difference between bunts, slaps and checked swings in order to rule on potential difficult batting situations like the one above. (Photo Credit: Dale Garvey) The photo above provides an interesting conundrum for umpires. While it is just a snapshot, it leads to some intriguing questions and forces us to get into the rules. At the end of the day, the issue remains the same — what do we have on this play?
A Pre-Pitch Checklist For Maximum Performance
Pre-pitch preparation is a key to success for every umpire at every level. Eric Hutchinson, Lancaster, Calif., must run through his checklist before each pitch to stay mentally focused throughout the game. (Photo Credit: Bob Messina) An old British Army adage known as the “7 P Rule” originated during World War II. The gist of the rule is that proper prior planning prevents poor performance. The seventh P is not suitable for print.
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