Gwinnett Umpires Association, Georgia ASA Umpire of the Year

Every year Gwinnett Umpires Association recognizes one umpire that has gone the extra mile, both on and off the field.  The Georgia ASA umpire of the year has shown excellence and dedication not only to our association, but has represented GUA in Georgia ASA and National Tournaments.  This award recipient is chosen by the GUA board, and is presented a plaque at the North Georgia UIC Clinic, held annually at Emory University.

The most recent GUA North Georgia Umpires of the Year are:

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The medals program consists of four levels of achievement - the BLUE level for those who have been registered ASA for 3 years, BRONZE for 7 years of service (or 5 years and have worked a state/metro tournament), SILVER for those registered for 15 years (or seven years and three national tournaments), and the GOLD level, for those who have umpired for 20 years (or seven years and three nationals, two of which must be from the list of Elite qualifying tournaments.)

Gwinnett Umpires Association currently has 17 umpires who are active members of the Medals Program. 

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The ASA National Indicator Fraternity is a select group of just over 2200 of the 50,000 ASA Umpires nationwide, with approximately 100-125 umpires added annually.  The names of NIF members are permanently displayed in the National Hall of Fame, printed annually in the ASA Case Book, and are listed on the official ASA website.

To be inducted into the National Indicator Fraternity, an umpire must have been an ASA registered umpire for at least seven years, but is not required to be currently active.  The umpire must have worked in at least three national tournaments as an umpire, UIC, or Assistant UIC.  An ASA National School also counts as one of the required tournaments. 

Gwinnett Umpires Association is proud to have 9 members who are honored in the National Indicator Fraternity.

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International Softball Federation

Receiving International Softball Federation Certification is a program for the top ASA umpire, and is not available to any other softball organization.  Once ISF certified, an umpire is available to umpire at Word or Regional Softball Championships (Adult or Junior Men's and Women's), including the Pan American Games and the Olympics.  Certification can be achieved in Fast, Slow, and Modified Pitch levels.

A total of 213 U.S. umpires have been certified in this program since it's inception in 1978.  Considering there have been nearly 100,000 ASA registered umpires in that same span of time, it is indeed an honor to hold  this certification.  Of that total, only 129 are active - 57 Fast Pitch, 28 Slow Pitch, and 44 Modified Pitch.

To qualify for ISF certification, an umpire must have umpired in at least three national championships, two of which must be in the Major division of the discipline being applied for.  Further, the umpire must have the HIGHEST POSSIBLE RATING in each tournament.  Once this has been accomplished, the umpire can apply through the ISF to attend a five day "Certification" seminar, which includes evaluation in live competition, plate & base mechanics evaluations, evaluations on responding to mechanic and case plays, and instruction in ASA and ISF rule differences.  The umpire must then pass a written rules exam.

The Gwinnett Umpires Association is proud to have two members who have achieved this honor.

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2002

1999

To become eligible for this program, and umpire must have been ASA registered for at least seven years and a current member of ASA in good standing.  The umpire must have participated in at least four national tournaments, two of which must have been in the same discipline and from the championships listed below:

FAST PITCH: Men's Major, Women's Major, Men's Master 40-Over, Girls 18U Gold, Men's A, or Women's A

SLOW PITCH: Men's Super, Men's Major, Men's A, Women's Open, Men's Industrial, Men's 16" Major, Men's Masters 35-Over, Co-Ed Major

MODIFIED PITCH: Men's 9-Player Major, Women's 9-Player, Men's A, or Men's 10-Player

Gwinnett Umpires Association is proud to have 3 members who are honored as ASA Elite Umpires.

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Metro Atlanta Hall of Honor (Legacy)

In 2005, Metro Atlanta ASA joined forces with Georgia ASA to form one state association.  Prior to the merger, Metro Atlanta ASA recognized those umpires who have had a significant impact on the sport of softball, and on softball officiating in the State of Georgia.  These umpires have been ambassadors of ASA in Georgia, and in turn have been bestowed the highest honor a Georgia umpire can receive.

After the merger, any future inductees will be placed in the Georgia ASA Hall of Fame.  These umpires and 25 other inductees over the past 20 years will also soon be added to the umpire category of the Georgia ASA Hall of Fame.  

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