| O.C.C. LETTER FROM BOB SIGNORACCI |
March 14, 2005 NCSBOA To: Alice Sutton and the O.C.C. Negotiating Team, As the OCC representatives for Girls' Softball, I would like to convey to you the overwhelming interest of our membership to be sure to maintain softball in its rightful place among the "A" level sport officiating groups such as football, basketball and baseball. We do not anticipate that our hard earned parity with baseball enforced under the last two contracts should ever be unilaterally threatened again by any bias or false documentation. As we have previously shown, the growth in girls' softball talent, lengthy games-time consumption, liability concerns, fan popularity, complex rules, safety inspection of strictly regulated equipment and overall competitiveness has impiring an even more challenging and expensive endeavor with much chances for personal injuries. Mandatory safety equipmentlike the double first base, chin straps, face mask/guards, double ear flapped helmets, core compression limitations on softballs, definitive bat certification requirements make liability concerns paramount. Required sets of umpiring uniforms along with more sturdy protective equipment to fend off 90 mph fastballs are an expensive annual outlay for umpires in assuring better safety for themselves. NYS insurance costs go up annually and many officials carry private liability protection. The innitial outlay for new umpires clinic, fingerprinting, uniform (2 hats, 2 pants, 2 shirts, sweater, jacket, belt, turf shoes, protective plate shoes) and equipment (light-weight alloy mask, inside chest protector, shin guards, ball bag, indicators, brushes lineup card holder) could be nearly $1,000.00 Recruitment is difficult. We seek to be raised in percentage with those sports in our category. As we do, if they require expensive uniforms and protective equipment, we might also suggest some form of reimbursement at least at the beginning officials' level. Relating to the OCC contract in general, the NCSBOA suggests that the section in the current contract relating to a 90 minute wait for weather delaysb etc. should be lessened except at playoff time. When it comes to lightning and thunder, we support a policy like that in Suffolk County Contract- the game is over when seen or heard. We would like to support the theory that more rating cards should be accepted to allow officials larger numbers of ratings in figuring their overall ranking. We would also call for an earlier review of troublesome cards either for improvement in officials actions or correction of coaches misinterpretations. Sincerely, Bob Signoracci OCC Rep. |