Return: Softball HomePage

 

METRO RICHMOND OFFICIATING SERVICE

SOFTBALL DIVISION OF OLD DOMINION OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION

 

Association Policies and Regulations for 2008

 

Meetings and Clinics

 

Per MROS bylaws, all members are required to attend every regularly scheduled meeting and/or clinic. In order to advance in status, all Trainee, Provisional, and Transfer members must attend the Annual Business Meeting (last meeting of the year) or provide an advanced, valid (excusable) reason for absence. As set forth in the bylaws, each member may miss one meeting without penalty. Missing a second meeting will cause the official to be fined $20.00. The fine for missing a third meeting is $30.00 and that umpire will not be eligible for playoffs. Missing a fourth meeting carries a $50.00 fine and automatic probation. MROS requires that all members attend a current-year VHSL state softball rules clinic to be eligible to umpire for the association. Any member who is more than 30 minutes late to a meeting or who leaves early by more than 30 minutes will NOT be credited with attending the meeting.

 

NOTE: The MROS bylaws dictate that excuses will not be considered for missed meetings or clinics. Should a member wish to appeal a fine for meetings missed, then he/she can present the excuse(s) to the Chairman of the Judicial Committee according to the guidelines set forth in the bylaws. If a member is working an MROS game/scrimmage assignment during a regularly scheduled meeting or clinic (highly unlikely), then he/she is automatically given credit for attending. The Judicial Committee MAY consider working any other scholastic or college assignment excusable. Working a recreation league sport (Basketball, Babe Ruth, Softball Nation, ASA, NSA, Pony, AAU, USSSA, RVC, etc.) game is NEVER an acceptable excuse.

 

Scrimmages

 

All Trainee Members are required to participate in at least three (3) pre-season scrimmages that are assigned by the Training Committee Chairman or his/her designee. All Full and Provisional Members are required to participate in at least two (2) scheduled scrimmages. Participation means working no less than two full innings or acting as an evaluator for no less than six full innings. Officials must wear the official MROS uniform when working scrimmages, except for those new members who have their uniforms/equipment on order. Failure to fulfill the scrimmage requirement may result in the Member being excluded from all Playoff assignments for the current season. If a scrimmage is cancelled, then the umpire has the obligation to attend another scrimmage. Do not wait and expect to only work the last scrimmage assignment, as it may get rained out or cancelled. Failure to show up at an assigned scrimmage will result in a fine equal to the equivalent game fee ($55.00 - $65.00). Likewise, arriving late to a scrimmage results in a fine equal to one-half of the equivalent game fee ($27.50 - $32.50). Participation by veteran umpires as instructors in the New Umpires Clinic will fulfill one scrimmage obligation. All scrimmages will be worked without pay.  Travel pay may be applicable to scrimmages.

 

Uniforms

 

See separate document or website for official uniform description.  All members of the crew shall be dressed alike [Exception: one crew member may wear a jacket while the other does not]. Failure to wear the proper uniform in the correct manner will result in a fine equal to one-half (1/2) of the game fee ($27.50 - $32.50). All scrimmages should be worked in the proper uniform, with the possible exception of a New Member who has not yet been issued a shirt, jacket, cap, etc.

 

NOTE: No one is permitted to umpire a non-MROS softball or baseball contest in the MROS uniform (OD Cap and/or Cliff Keen powder blue shirt with VHSL Patch). If the shirt is worn for another group, then the VHSL patch must be covered with the appropriate emblem from that organization. Reported and verified offenders will be fined $100.00.

 

Phone Call Policy

 

1.      The Plate Umpire must call the Base Umpire at least 24 hours (recommended 48 hours) prior to the game to     confirm date, time, and location of the game, and where to meet at the school or field (which parking lot, etc.). If email is your preferred method of communication, then the email must be sent at least 72 hours prior to the game. If the email has not been replied to by the 24-hour mark, then the Plate Umpire will make the phone call.

2.      If the Plate Umpire leaves a voice message, then the Base Umpire will return the call IMMEDIATELY once he/she receives the message, even if that person is no longer assigned to the game.

3.      If you, as the Base Umpire have not heard from your partner at the 24-hour mark, then the Base Umpire must call the Plate Umpire.

4.      If you are taken out of a game or turn one in, call your ‘old’ partner immediately and let him/her know that you are no longer in the game.

5.      If you are called and given a ‘fill-in’ game that was not on your original schedule, the Commissioner will give you your new partner’s name. Call your partner immediately to inform him that you are now in the game.

6.      If you call your partner and find out that that person is no longer in the game, use The Arbiter to find out who your new partner will be. You should receive an email anytime your partner is removed from a game.

7.      If you discover that your partner originally listed on The Arbiter is no longer assigned to the game, check The Arbiter before calling the Commissioner. Don’t wait until the day of the game to call the Commissioner.

8.      If there is no communication between the two umpires, and/or the Commissioner, and a game assignment is missed, BOTH officials will be fined.

 

NOTE: If the Commissioner gets a call from an umpire who cannot get in touch with his/her partner, the umpire who failed to make the required call will be fined one-half of the assigned game fee. For afternoon or evening games, this call to the Commissioner should occur on the morning of the game, not before. For any morning games, call the Commissioner the night before.

 

Ejections and Incidents

 

The Ejection/Incident Report Form may be downloaded from the MROS website (www.odoa.net). This form is to be filled out by the Plate Umpire immediately after any game in which a player, coach, or team assistant is ejected or restricted to the dugout during that game. The form should also be completed after any game where an unusual incident, such as a fight in the stands, occurs. A copy of this report should be faxed or emailed to the Commissioner as soon as possible and also filed in your personal records for later reference. Since the Commissioner is required to report all ejections to the VHSL office within 24 hours of the ejection, you MUST notify the Commissioner of any ejections by 10:30 pm on the day/night of the game.

 

 

Injuries or Accidents

 

The Injury/Accident Report Form may be downloaded from the MROS website. This form is to be filled out by the Plate Umpire immediately after any game in which a player, coach, team assistant, spectator, or umpire is injured during the course of a game and appears to need further medical treatment. A copy of this report must be mailed/emailed/faxed to the Secretary and should be filed with your personal records for later reference in case you are ever named in a lawsuit involving this incident.

 

 

Using The Arbiter Scheduling System

 

ALL MROS members are required to have a valid email address. Those without home/work access to the Internet will be required to either go to a public library or secure an ‘email buddy’ (does not need to be a member of MROS but it is highly recommended that they are) who will act on the official’s behalf in reading and returning emails, and in accepting and declining assignments. Companies such as Microsoft (Hotmail) and Yahoo provide free email services. MROS will NOT produce hard-copy forms of schedules, paysheets, or other documents that can be printed from The Arbiter.

 

All members must adhere to the following rules & conditions:

  1. Immediately update the personal information section (phone numbers, address, SSN, etc.) and keep this information current at all times.
  2. Initially update and later maintain all blocks (calendar, dates, times, partners, teams, sites) on the system.
  3. Check the ‘Ready to be Assigned’ box under the ‘Settings’ heading on the Start Page only after completing items #1 and #2 above.
  4. Check emails on a daily basis.  For those using an email buddy, make sure your buddy checks your emails as well. NOTE: All assignments will be listed on the Arbiter website and all changes will be made using email generated from The Arbiter. Note: same day or day prior changes will be communicated by phone from the Commissioner.
  5. Any accepted assignment turned back in may carry a re-assigning fine of $5.00.  This fine will be at the discretion of the Commissioner.

 

NOTE: Games listed on The Arbiter are considered as gospel. Games listed on the ODOA website are for informational purposes only and may or may not be up-to-date.

 

 

Offenses susceptible to fines

 

1.      Declining a game when there is no conflict indicated on your calendar              $5.00**

2.      Turning in an accepted Assignment two or more days before the game            $5.00**

3.      Plate Umpire Failing to Call partner at least the day before a game                  $10.00

4.      Missing second, third, or fourth Meeting                                                           $20.00/30.00/50.00

5.      Failure to Work Assigned Plate/Base Position                                                   $25.00

6.      Failure to Call Commissioner within 2 hours after game w/ an ejection             $25.00

7.      Wearing the MROS uniform in a non-MROS contest                                         $100.00

8.      Late to a Game or Scrimmage (on field after 10 minutes before start)               ½ Game Fee

9.      Not Wearing Clean & Proper Uniform                                                                ½ Game Fee

10.  Turning in an accepted Assignment the day before a game                                ½ Game Fee**

11.  Failure to contact your partner & he/she misses the assignment                      ½ Game Fee+

12.  Turning in an accepted Assignment the day of a game                                       Game Fee**

13.  No-Show to a Game or Scrimmage Assignment                                                  Game Fee

 

** - Unless unforeseen circumstance occurs (illness/death in family, job commitment, etc.).

+ - Should an official be fined a full game fee for missing an assignment and his/her partner is required to work the game alone, then that working umpire will receive 1-1/2 times the normal game fee IF he/she had made contact with the fined official according to the Phone Call Policy noted earlier in this document. Otherwise, the lone official will be working for half pay.

 

Note: Any of the offences listed above may be reported by any member of the Association, or reported to any Board of Director Member or the Commissioner by a Coach, Principal, or Athletic Director. All fines are subject to verification and may be appealed to the Judicial Committee. Fines are meant to be deterrents. Umpires who are ‘Professional’ and do what they are suppose to do should never be fined.

Board of Directors

President                    - Tom Dent                             Vice President            - Bill Harrison              

Secretary                     - Joe Yates                              Treasurer                    - Bert Wilson

Member-At-Large      - Allen Gravatt                        Member-At-Large      -John Shepherd

 

Judicial Committee

Donna Richardson – Chair                             Bob Provost                            John Shepherd (Ex Bd)

 

Training Committee

Dick Foster – Chair                                        Jerry Stone                             Bill Harrison (Ex Bd)

Dave Hunt                                                      Bruce Frye                              Allen Gravatt (Ex Bd)

 

Playoff Committee

Allen Gravatt - Chair              Dave Hunt                 Rhea Saltz                   Bill Harrison (Ex Bd)

 

Mentor Committee

Bill Harrison

 

Negotiations & Fees Committee

Bert Wilson – Chair                                       Bruce Frye                                Tom Dent (Ex Bd)

 

Audit Committee

Eddie McFarland - Chair                                Ken Clark                                  Joe Yates (Ex Bd)

 

Nomination & Elections Committee

Ken McIntyre - Chair                                    Jeff Buck                                Allen Gravatt (Ex Bd)

 

Constitution & Bylaws Committee

Wayne Whitlock – Chair                                Kenneth Epps                         Bruce Frye

 

Banquet Committee

Pat Maloney – Chair                                       Charles Colgin                        Bert Wilson (Ex Bd)

 

Special Appointments for 2008

 

Parliamentarian – Bert Wilson           Sergeant-At-Arms – Rotating (designated at the beginning of each meeting)

 

Observers  –   Tom Dent        Mike Farrar    Dick Foster     Bruce Frye    Allen Gravatt

                        Bill Harrison   Dave Hunt      Bob Provost    Rhea Saltz       Jerry Stone    Bert Wilson

 

Important Addresses

 

President                                   Vice President                           Secretary                                       Treasurer                              Commissioner         

Tom Dent                                  Bill Harrison                             Joe Yates                                       Bert Wilson                           Bruce Frye                

4464 Studley Road                   2303 Briargrove Court              7200 Pinehurst Drive                   10288 Perrins Mill Lane      4264 Market Road

Mechanicsville 23116              Richmond 23238                        Quinton 23141                              Mechanicsville 23116           Mechanicsville 23111

779-3799 (Home)                      741-7365  (Home)                       932-3519 (Home)                           550-3246 (Home)                   737-3793 (Home/Fax)

545-5645 (Work)                      697-4047 (Work)                       559-8298 (Work)                            285-3418 (Work)                   262-6900x115 (Work)

389-9557 (Cell)                        382-6226 (Cell)                         337-8754 (Cell)                              869-3246 (Cell)                     439-3793 (Cell)         

tdent@yesvirginia.org            WWH3@hotmail.com              jyates@timesdispatch.com           bertwils@aol.com             fourfryes@mindspring.com

 

                   

Return: Softball HomePage