This week, the weekly parent tip focuses on respecting officials, a component of the Honoring the Game code: ROOTS

Responsible Sports Parent Tip of the Week:

“Some officials are learning the game, just like your child. Avoid criticizing them when you think they’ve made a mistake. Officials have a tough job, and we couldn’t have games without them.”

During competition it’s easy to forget that the officials may very well be just beginning to referee softball games, and learning as they go.  Respecting officials is one component of ROOTS, the acronym that stands for Rules, Opponents, Officials, Teammates and Self, which helps us remember the code of Honoring the Game.

In this article, you’ll read how to honor officials, and how our actions as Responsible Sport Parents carry over to the actions of our players and what you can do prepare your young athletes to not overreact, which can be the basis of bad sportsmanship.

To start, think about how your athlete would react to a questionable call on the field. Would you approve of their reactions? Would the coach know how to control his or her emotions and Honor the Game? Read how to respond to this scenario and access the downloadable PDF’s to bring to games!

Read more about Honoring Officials>>

The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America concluded the 78th Annual Council Meeting in Reno, Nev. On Thursday afternoon with decisions being voted on that affect the ASA Official Rules of Softball and the ASA Code.

Added Nov. 18: A list of 2010 ASA code and rule changes is now avaliable on the ASA Web site. For code changes with comments, please click here or to view the playing rule changes with comments click here.

The following are highlights in each division of play:

JUNIOR OLYMPIC FAST PITCH

Article 501 C 02 d. New and Re-number

Rostered Player.d. Once a player participates in a club or varsity softball program for any university, community college, or junior college, he or she is ineligible to play in the Junior Olympic Class B program.

Comments: Eliminates college players from the JO Class B program.

Article 501 C 05 a 07 New and Re-number

07. Once a player participates in an intercollegiate softball program for a   university, college, or junior/community college, she is ineligible to play in the Junior Olympic Gold Program

Comments:  Eliminates college players from the JO Gold Program.

Article 509 B 04 f Girls’ ASA Gold 18-Under Fast Pitch.  This National Championship Final shall be scheduled to conclude on the first Saturday in August and not be scheduled more than seven (7) days.  This event will not have and opening ceremonies event and the managers meeting cannot be scheduled prior to 6:00 PM on the prior Sunday.

Article 602 H 09 The Junior Olympic Girls 18 and Under Gold Fast Pitch will be rotated to Oklahoma City every third year and in the off years will be placed in other parts of the country by the Executive Director.

RULES:

Pitching Distance Change for 16-U A&B FP to 43 feet.

Pitching Distance Change for 18-U B FP only to 43 feet.

Metal cleats will now be allowed in 16-U and 18-U All Divisions of play in Junior Olympic Fast Pitch.

ADULT FAST PITCH

Article 509 B 02 b Delete Current and Replace with

1. Men’s Open Fast Pitch shall be scheduled on Labor Day weekend commencing no earlier than 6:00 p.m. Thursday and concluding no later than Labor Day. Effective 2011.

strong>ADULT SLOW PITCH

Article 507 G 01 Men’s Class A

Five ( 5 ) players from the ASA Restricted Player’s List.

Comments: Increases the number of Restricted Players that Men’s A can have on their roster.

Article 516 C New and Re-number

C. Men’s Class B Slow Pitch will conduct one (1) National Championship Final.  The tournament will be held in Oklahoma City on Labor Day weekend.

Article 516 F 04

ASA Eastern / Southern / Northern / Western National Championship Finals. The ASA will conduct four ( 4 ) National Championships in following divisions and classifications:

1. Men’s Class C Slow Pitch.
2. Men’s Class D Slow Pitch.
3. Men’s Class E/Rec Slow Pitch
4. Women’s C Slow Pitch
5. Women’s D Slow Pitch
6. Co-ed C Slow Pitch
7. Co-ed D Slow Pitch

RULES:

The pitching arch height for All Divisions of Slow Pitch is now 6-10 feet.

Attached you will find the 2009 ASA Colorado JO FP Tournaments.

ASA 2009 Tournament Schedule

Here are the results for the Colorado Classic Tournament.

Here are the results for the Triple Crown State Championships.

Here are the results for the Mountain Magic.

Here are the results for the Triple Crown Sports June Bug.

Results for the Triple Crown Buckaroos Spring Fling.

Results for Flowers for Mother’s Day.

Results for Spring Stampede.