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Online now: 1 member: scottflodin; 5 anonymousDetails for DaveDowell
Real name:
Dave Dowell
Location:
Sacramento, CA
Division:
Men's 70
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| Jan. 2, 2024 DaveDowell | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: What's the rile It's getting even easier than I thought! ... We don't have a 3-2 count system at any rating level or age of play, so you can toss out that "Exception" ... Seriously, most T-ball kids I know are probably capable of figuring this out ... I appreciate someone having a little fun "mountainizing a molehill", but I would be embarrassed publicly admitting to not being able to figure it out ... If you have a language objection, write it up "your way" and send it in ... We've got 11 months or so until the next Rules Committee sessions ... P.S. - I use the "inning" wheel on the indicator to track the number of runs across (5 or 7) in an inning ... That would work for up to 10 strikes, but not a single umpire to date has failed conceptually on this! ... Happy New Year! |
| Jan. 2, 2024 DaveDowell | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: What's the rile T2, titan and mck ... This really isn't all that difficult for anyone who can [1] count to 4 (and we spot you the first number "1" of the 1-1 count), and [2] can remember if they have used their "waste foul" yet once they have successfully counted to 3 ... Really, that's all there is to it! ... Happy New Year everyone! ... |
| Dec. 23, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: Bats Discussion: New rule on shaved bats softball4b ... The National Rules Committee has already developed a "..best case response.." ... They may revisit the issue at the 2024 N.R.C. sessions next November or December, about 11 months from now, if anyone proposes it for potential Agenda inclusion ... In the interim, we would welcome the opportunity to review your specific action items to make sure "..the current rule is as effective as it could be.." ... |
| Dec. 23, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: Bats Discussion: New rule on shaved bats tg69 ... Please re-read the new rule as many times as it takes for you to recognize that NOBODY other than the bat-cheater is suspended (or banned, depending on the cheater's level of cooperation) for ANY period of time ... The cheater's team will simply not be competing in only two upcoming events: the next World Championships and T.O.C., but they may play in as many other SSUSA sanctioned events as they wish ... Those two are qualifying roster events, and the bat-cheater's team can be presumed to have cheated in those qualifiers, too ... Making them ineligible for those events protects the integrity of the World Championships and T.O.C. by ensuring that team does not have an unfair advantage against all other participants ... That's a pretty light sanction for such a serious offense by a team member ... |
| Dec. 22, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: Bats Discussion: New rule on shaved bats JohnO28 • Your posts in this thread are, in my view, totally on point and accurate in all respects ... Thank you ... titanhd • Your post is my personal nominee for the 2023 Truthful Post of the Year award, but you won't win "Mr. Congeniality" softball4b • What you have just advocated is, in essence, the elimination of ALL sanctions except for the individual bat-cheater who randomly gets caught ... No Manager responsibility any more ... No structure where team peer-pressure to deter bat-cheaters would be allowed ... No "nothing" except dumb luck on our part (like a few years back at BLD-LV when a cap popped off a bat and three tennis balls rolled out of the barrel!) ... This is the reason I was somewhat opposed to completely removing the "Manager Sanction" component of the altered bat rules at the Committee meetings ... I firmly believe more people than are willing to admit it "know" who swings the cheater-bats ... And the moment a manager says, true or not so much so, "Gee, I didn't know he swung a dirty bat", he has just dropped the perfect "get-out-of-jail-free" card that can't be challenged while he walks away untouched ... I'm not immediately aware of any other team sport where the manager or coach is completely immune from either responsibility or repercussions for such a serious and dangerous rules violation by one of his players ... Your suggestion is the exact opposite of being proactive to reduce the incidence rate of bat-cheaters ... You are unreasonable in suggesting that the only other option is to "police the problem on the front end" ... Other than expecting all associations to purchase and deploy properly calibrated and indexed (and expensive) bat testers at all complexes at every event, how else would you envision this "front end" process to work effectively? ... |
| Dec. 17, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Qualify Dancer ... You are currently "65-eligible" because you will attain that age before 12/31/24 ... Happy Birthday and Good Luck! |
| Dec. 16, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: Associations Discussion: Older age groups playing younger age groups? There will be occasions this Season where tournament divisions will be comprised of differing age group (and/or rated) teams ... In most instances, matching teams with equivalent rating index numbers is how this works, sometimes with equalizers if an exact match isn't there ... The topic isn't mentioned in the National Rules Committee minutes because nobody proposed that the current procedure be considered for modification ... |
| Dec. 13, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: 69 year olds playing up in 70 ace42850 ... The answer is probably as soon as the web master has a chance to modify the roster building subroutine programming ... The ink is barely dry on the rule amendments ... If this is one of those "...I gotta have him RIGHT NOW, not tomorrow before someone else grabs him!!..." scenarios, please call the Sacramento Home Office @ (916) 326-5303 during normal business hours in the Pacific Time Zone and I'm sure someone there can add him manually to your roster ... |
| Dec. 10, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Rule question Here's what you may have been told, which is also what you should have been told: As soon as you have ONE foot down, ON or BEYOND the line, you may not return to 3rd base. You may also be tagged out until you have BOTH feet down ON or BEYOND the line. After that moment, you may not be tagged and the putout can only be accomplished at the strike mat. Those are slightly different concepts that describe slightly differing circumstances. |
| Dec. 8, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: T.O.C. in january It will be posted here (Message Board) and on the event Tournament Page of this website. Good luck and Congrats on earning your bid! |
| Dec. 8, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: T.O.C. in january Nope ... That's a decision that will likely be made at or shortly after the entry deadline of January 2, 2024 ... |
| Dec. 7, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Rules question The instance of a batter runner being hit by a thrown ball is not interference (it's nothing – live ball, play on) unless the runner intentionally makes contact with the thrown ball or otherwise hinders or impedes a fielder's opportunity to field or throw the ball ... |
| Dec. 7, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Shaved Bat roster ... A "rolled bat" is an ALTERED BAT ... A "shaved bat" is an ALTERED BAT ... The ONLY difference in those two concepts is the process by which the bat owner converts his bat from a legal bat to an ALTERED bat ... Any other attempt to rationalize this type of activity is still cheating ... |
| Dec. 3, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: Bats Discussion: New bat rule clarification. ju25 ... I missed the "Happy New Year" for this season and gave you erroneous advice. I have been (correctly) advised that our new bat rule, which took effect November 1st, requires ALL bats to have a SSUSA stamp or say "SSUSA approved" on them. So, the old USSSA bats are NOT legal if they do not have a SSUSA stamp. My apologies for the confusion. |
| Nov. 30, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Spring Worlds YES |
| Nov. 29, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: TOC dMON ... All divisions play on Friday through Sunday ... Wednesday and Thursday are other events that make the TOC a full five days if you want it to be ... Congrats on qualifying and Good Luck! |
| Nov. 29, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: TOC The list is available from the link near the top of the Tournament page of this website ... The link is: https://seniorsoftball.com/multimedia/2024_toc_qualified_teams_(2023_season)_r9.pdf |
| Nov. 29, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Spring Worlds No ... The Men's and Women's 40-Masters and the Women' 50+ and 55+ Senior divisions will be held in Bullhead City ... |
| Nov. 28, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Appeals Board Hi Steve. YES, a player may appeal a suspension. Here's what is relevant for such an appeal, in the same order as your questions: [1] There is no formal written appeal procedure. This is by design to allow the appellant wide latitude in formulating a response that's unrestricted by any specific format. The SSUSA office determines who will hear the appeal and provides them with the "case file", which remains confidential during and after the appeal. [2] Of the appeals I have seen, all of them have been in a narrative written format addressing any or all of the following: (a) contesting or clarifying the factual accuracy for the alleged conduct resulting in the suspension, (b) disputing the severity of the factual issues alleged, and/or (c) asserting that the "penalty" is not appropriate for the nature or severity of the alleged "offense". We have seen other additional appeal theories, but those three comprise the most frequent avenues of approach. [3] The suspended individual receives a letter and/or an email informing him of the basis for and the period of proposed suspension. That letter also states and establishes the start of the thirty (30) day period within which an appeal may be made and must be received by SSUSA. [4] All appeals are heard and decided by a three-person Appeal Board comprised of independent SSUSA National Directors who were not present at the tournament where the basis for the suspension arose. Presuming that your inquiry is from an incident in Phoenix recently, the Appeals Board will not include anyone who worked at the 2023 Winter World Championships. [5] The Appeal Board does not meet physically, so an appearance by an appellant would be complicated, but it's neither officially "permitted" nor "prohibited". I have been on a few Appeal Boards, and we have always exchanged email correspondence and had phone conversations, as appropriate, in reaching a decision. The Appeals Board provides SSUSA with their written decision at the conclusion of their review, which is then conveyed in writing to the appellant. [6] There is no specific completion time requirement on the part of the Appeal Board, but resolution as soon as practical, while giving it the highest level of due diligence is important. I have never seen an appeal extend beyond 30 days after the process starts; and [7] Our only other advice is to stress the importance of meeting the initial 30-day time frame to inform SSUSA and submit the actual appeal to them. Secondary advice would include a suggestion that if your appellant thinks something might be relevant, by all means include it. Third-party statements of relevant and supportable facts are welcome. Since we do not consider these appeals publicly, I am going to close this thread. You know how to reach us for any follow-up questions. Thank you and good luck. |
| Nov. 28, 2023 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Appeals Board Steve ... Are you asking about the process for a team rating appeal or a disciplinary action ruling appeal? ... I'll take a swing at it if you can clarify ... Thanks ... |
