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You make the call!

Phillip Allen — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:59:18 GMT

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Pitcher in Set Position

Phillip Allen — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 01:20:46 GMT

Please note the following comments regarding a pitcher in the set position:

… and his glove at or below his chin; NFHS rule 6-1-3

Any part of the glove can be at or below the chin; the entire glove does not have to be below the chin.

… entire pivot foot in contact with or directly in front of the pitcher’s plate; rule 6-1-3

Approximately 75% of the pivot foot should be directly in front of the pitcher’s plate. If a pitcher is drifting too far, the plate umpire may send the catcher out to let him know; DO NOT make a big deal of it. But if he continues to push the limit you MAY HAVE to call it by rule. If the opposing team complains, you MUST call it!

The above and other revisions can be found in the updated Umpires Manual; a link to a printable copy is on the baseball/softball page of wncso.com.

Illegal Bat

Phillip Allen — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:11:33 GMT

All NCHSAA baseball officials:

The following bat has been decertified by the NFHS and is not legal, even though it has the BBCOR stamp on it.

Maruuci CAT 5 33-inch non-wood baseball bat

The decertification affects only the 33-inch model; all other Marucci bats, including the Marucci Black and other Cat 5 sizes are still legal.

Please make note and be on the lookout for the bat in your pregame inspection.

Jim Matthews Memorial Service

Phillip Allen — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:13:33 GMT

A memorial service for Jim Matthews will be Monday, 6:00 PM, at Skyland United Methodist Church, 1984 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 28803.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim’s memory to the Valley Springs Lions Club; send to Andy Aarons, 315 Watson Road, Arden NC 28704.

NO SOCCER MEETING TONIGHT! physical fitness Thursday 5:00 PM at UNCA

Phillip Allen — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:12:02 GMT

Soccer Training Schedule Revised

Phillip Allen — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:59:59 GMT

Go to the Soccer page of wncso.com to see an updated training schedule.

The Monday February 13 meeting has been moved to Thursday February 16 at AB Tech Enka. You will also see a meeting agenda on the schedule.

Baseball/Softball Association Meeting

Phillip Allen — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:54:09 GMT

The January 16 association meeting for baseball and softball has been moved to AB Tech Simpson Lecture Room. The start time remains at 630 PM.

Directions to the Simpson Administration Building can be found on the "Baseball & Softball" page at wncso.com.

Charlie Strigo Memorial Service

Phillip Allen — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:02:07 GMT

A memorial service for Charlie Strigo will be held Wednesday, 11:00 AM, at the Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church on East Main Street in Brevard.

Charlie was the longtime WNCOA wrestling booking agent; he passed away Thursday after a battle with cancer.

2012 baseball/softball training schedules

Phillip Allen — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:00:49 GMT

The 2012 training schedules have been published on the "baseball & softball page at wncso.com.

North Georgia Umpire Camp Location Change

Phillip Allen — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:25:54 GMT

last minute location change for Friday night
Dining Hall of the 1st Baptist Church of McCaysville GA

To reach us from Cleveland, TN or Murphy, NC, follow US64/US74 toward Ducktown, TN; Turn on TN68 toward Copperhill, TN; The church is on your right, about 300 yards past the three-way stop near the Tennessee/Georgia state line.

Saturday's location will be handed out Friday Night.

Timothy Towe

Instructor

706-851-7083

North Georgia Umpire Camp

Phillip Allen — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:31:54 GMT

The following link gives you information about an early December camp within a reasonable driving distance:

North Georgia Umpire Camp

Asheville High honors Joe Eblen

Phillip Allen — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:51:18 GMT

Following are links to YouTube videos recorded at Asheville High on August 19, 2011:

Plaque Presentation

Coin Toss

Football Neighborhood Meeting Sites

Phillip Allen — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:17:31 GMT

Following are the sites and times for the July 18, August 1 and August 15 neighborhood meetings:

WEST       7:00 PM
Medwest Health & Physical Fitness Center
262 Leroy George Drive
Clyde NC 28721
(on campus of Haywood Regional Medical Center)

NORTH     6:30 PM
Buncombe County Schools Central Office
175 Bingham Road
Asheville NC 28806

SOUTH      6:30 PM
Coca Cola Bottling Company
36 Clayton Rd
Arden NC 28704
(across from Biltmore Baptist Church)

You may attend either one of the meetings, as each one will be following the same agenda.

Guest Article on Sports Officials' Physical Fitness

Phillip Allen — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:14:26 GMT

Indoor Cycling Classes and Outdoor Bicycling as a Component of Soccer Referee Training

As both a long-time soccer referee and cyclist, I thought I would pass along a few things I've learned over the years about how bicycling can compliment soccer referee fitness training by increasing over-all strength, endurance and speed, while at the same time, reducing incidents of injuries.

When I was a competitive athlete 30-plus years ago, very little was known about cross-training as a way to improve athletic conditioning and performance. I remember in high school, a coach telling me that weight-lifting and basketball were not compatible. While certain forms of weight-lifting can be counter-productive to enhancing certain types of athletic performance, we now know that weight-lifting, done the right way and with the right muscle groups, can greatly increase just about any, if not all, types of athletic perfomance. The same thing can be said about cycling as it relates to the soccer referee: by incorportating an intelligent cycling component into your training program, particularly for those of us that can no longer ref 6 games in a row on a Saturday and come back and do the same thing on a Sunday (but do it anyway), fitness levels can be maintained or improved while minimizing pulled muscles, sore backs, sore knees and all the other injuries that we older referees tend to get, from time to time, every season.

One of the reasons I believe cycling can be so beneficial to the soccer referee is that it strengthens the core. While your legs might be incredibly strong from running up and down the pitch, that leg strength is greatly compromised if your core muscle groups, e.g. the abdominals, lower and upper back, and chest muscles, are weak. Cycling can greatly strengthen these core muscles groups, which in turn allow the legs and arms to pivot more quickly and for longer periods of time before becoming fatiqued.

If any of you are like me, the lower back is always a potential target for injury. After years of basketball, road running, putting up firewood and lifting things that I had no business lifting, I now have a bulged L-3/L-4 disc. It used to be that if I went out for a run, for the following two days I had pain throughout my butt and lower back and shooting down my left leg via the sciatic nerve. Now, while I don't run regularly (or even very often), when I do run during a game, for a fitness test, or for a triathlon (short tri's only for me!), I am pain-free during and after. I credit cycling (at least 3-4 times a week for one hour) for eliminating my chronic back pain.

Indoor cycling or spin classes are particularly helpful since the risk of injury (compared to outdoor cycling) is reduced even more. The ups and downs of outdoor cycling, particularly on the mountinous roads of western North Carolina, can take its toll on the body; not to mention the dangers associated with less than courteous drivers who believe roads are for cars only. And while I love mountain biking, it is just a matter of time before one crashes on a mountain bike.

With indoor cycling, you control the size and distance of every hill with a tension knob. The new indoor cycles feel the same as if you are riding a quality road bike. And if you have a cool indoor instructor that plays great music during the class, it is a thoroughly enjoyable, fantastic workout. All instructors I know that teach spin classes follow two common rules: make the ride your own and don't get hurt. Work-outs are typically one hour and follow one of three formats: endurance, intervals, or strength. Beginners must be careful when attending strength work-outs since one needs a strong base to do some of the extended climbs (sitting and standing) that are typically part of strength work-outs. But keep in mind that work-out difficulty can always be controlled simply by a half or quarter turn of the tension knob. And an hour of easy spinning, the day after an especially hard game, to help rinse the legs of lactic acid, might be just what the doctor orders. Almost all fitness clubs now have spin classes on a daily basis.

So when you are out on the pitch as a center and have a hard time staying within ten yards of play between two incredibly fast teams, or you are an AR that is unable to stay even with the STLD (second to last defender) of two teams that play off-side traps the entire game, think about adding cycling to your training regimen. As you know, there are plenty of great road bike rides in western NC and the region is argubly the best in the entire world for mountain biking. As you increase your fitness level, particularly the strength of you core muscle groups, your body will appreciate the fact that you did it without the pounding associated with running.

See you on the pitch (or on the road or in spin class)!

Jim Willmot

jimwillmot@gmail.com

Would you let this happen!

Phillip Allen — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 13:38:00 GMT

Don't count on umpires to make right call

Three-ball walk gives Padres a 1-0 win over Mariners

You Make The Call!

Phillip Allen — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:12:09 GMT

You are the baseball plate umpire - what are you going to do!

Switch Hitter VS Switch Pitcher

State Championship Officials

Phillip Allen — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:09:51 GMT

At the completion of the 2011 spring season, seven officials worked NCHSAA state championship contests in the Raleigh area. Congratulations to the following for being our representatives at the state level:

SOCCER 3A Championship Game

Jonathan Glover
Anthony Bianucci
Shane Coxie

BASEBALL 1A Championship Games (three games)

Russell Hall
Kenneth Cooper
Napoleon Spencer
Dale Stephens

baseball and softball field and equipment issues

Phillip Allen — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:30:00 GMT

If a hockey style catchers mask has the permanent NOCSAE seal, and the head coach acknowledges that all players are legally equipped and all equipment is legal, we are good to go.

If a coach or player is totally inside the dugout, although they are exposed to the opening, they are okay.

The coaches box has to be drawn with at least two lines - the one closest to the foul line, and the one closest to home plate. The coach does not have to stay in the box, but he or she must start there for each pitch.

pre-game baseball bat protocol:
Pre-game, go to dugout and inspect all bats as we normally do for dents, flat spots, cracks, loose end caps, etc. After that inspection, go to the head coach and ask the following – “Coach, do all of your bats meet NFHS rule code?” Explain to him that he is responsible for the legality of all equipment. After he confirms compliance, play the game. Do not check all bats against the approved/unapproved list(s) of the NFHS during pre-game responsibilities..

If during the game a question arises regarding the legality of a bat, check the bat against the approved list at that time

Baseball - you make the call!

Phillip Allen — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:55:00 GMT

Answer for last week's "you make the call" (February 5 entry):

B. B5 is not guilty of interference.
D. R2 remains at 3rd.

NFHS rule 8-4-1G

Softball - You make the call!

Phillip Allen — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:14:00 GMT

R1 is on first and B2 hits a foul fly ball to F5. F5 makes the catch and throws to F3 in an attempt to double off R1 at first base. The throw is high and F3 leaps to make the catch and lands on the colored base in foul territory before R1 touches the white portion.

What is your call?