Horizon Little League: Welcome

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE SPRING 2012 SEASON

REGISTRATION NOTES

• Confirmation of residency and age documents at tryouts this weekend is required for all players. Details of documents required can be found in the registration checklist.  Copies of the residency documents should be submitted at the in-person event.
• If you have not shown proof of age and residency documents and do not have a tryout ID (players age 7 through 12) please arrive at tryouts halfway through your child's age group to complete the registration process and be assigned a tryout ID.
• Please enter all family e-mail addresses as requested on the registration form to receive e-mail communication from the league during the season.

SEASON DATES TO REMEMBER

• Teams Announced:                             February 18, 2012
• Practice Begins:                                  February 20, 2012
• Games Begin:                                     March 31, 2012
• Regular Season Ends:                         May 25, 2012
• Playoffs                                               May 29 – June 9, 2012
• All Star Tournaments                          June 22 – July 6, 2012

Cactus Foothills Softball is the Little League Softball league for Horizon LL’s boundaries. They are in the process of holding softball skill evaluations this Saturday, Feb 11th, from 9am-12pm and they want to include any girls from Horizon LL boundaries that want to play this season.  See information below and if you have any questions please send a message to titus2020@msn.com.  

CACTUS FOOTHILL SOFTBALL SKILL EVALUATIONS

I just want to take a moment to share some crucial softball information. We also wanted to be sure to remind everyone that skill evaluations for your daughters will be this weekend, Sat, Feb 11th, from 9am-12pm at DAMS field, located on 56th St, between Carefree Hwy and Dove Valley Rd. We have slotted times for age groups, to try to keep girls within age appropriate ranges. If for some reason your daughter cannot make the designated time slot, please try for the next closest to their age, if possible. We look forward to seeing everyone this weekend. 

Kick off the 2012 spring season and “Meet your Team & Coach” at AZ Airtime on February 21st. All kids and parents are encouraged to attend! Come find out more about Horizon Little League and our exciting spring season.  HLL Board Members, Managers, Coaches and Divisional VPs on hand to answer all of your questions!

Jump Times/Divisional Meetings

Prices for two hours of jump time:
8 and Older - $12* (includes foam pit)
7 and Younger - $9* (includes foam pit)

* 20% of the proceeds go back to our league!

AZ Airtime is located at 13802 N Scottsdale Rd #145 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 (480) 427-2000

Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) is a national nonprofit organization committed to providing all youth and high school athletes a positive, character-building youth sports experience. Horizon Little League is proud to partner with PCA to deliver enhanced training and development to coaches and managers in all divisions. Our partnership will provide on-line training for managers and coaches in addition to the baseball specific training they receive from Coach Eric Kibler in his coaching clinics. We believe that this additional investment in the development of our coaching staff will add to the experience that parents and players receive while participating in HLL. The PCA training includes:

• Professionally produced online courses of approximately 60-90 minutes featuring videos from top athletes and coaches including Phil Jackson, Doc Rivers, Julie Foudy and Dusty Baker
• Solutions that feature proven, research-based tools that can be easily and immediately implemented.
• Access to a specially designed website that provides tools and resources
• Informative and topical e-mails that provide ongoing reinforcement opportunities and continuing education
• Support for specific issues that may arise
• Tips on best practices from other partners

PCA courses are mandated by numerous national groups and endorsed by Little League International, US Lacrosse, USA Rugby and American Youth Soccer Organization. These courses receive rave reviews for their effectiveness and ease of use.

More information will be communicated to managers, coaches and parents as the season begins. Watch the website for updates and materials. For additional information about PCA and their success stories, please visit http://www.positivecoach.org/.

Horizon Little League is proud to announce a formal partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks and their Lil’ DBacks program with the 2012 Spring Season. Our league membership provides great benefits for the league and all members including:

• One ticket for every player to the Little League Day game on 4/22 at Chase Field between the Diamondbacks and the Atlanta Braves (included in registration fee)
• Free seat upgrade option for players with family purchased tickets to this game.
• Parade on field prior to the game.
• Discounts to DBacks Academy camps and clinics.
• Membership for players to No Chew Crew and APS Renewables Kids Club (free Sunday tickets available for players through these clubs, see booth at Chase Field for details).
• Autographed Diamondbacks memorabilia, Diamondbacks suites, View Batting Practice Experience and premium seats available for purchase at the Opening Day auction.

The sale of tickets to the Little League Day game also generates funds for the league through our arrangement with the Diamondbacks. More information about tickets sales will be available after the start of the season.

Major League Baseball and the Arizona Diamondbacks have been long standing sponsors of Little League Baseball and we are pleased to deepen the relationship and the value it provides to our membership.

In an effort to provide timely information on bat rules, Little League International today announced the bat specifications and standards for the 2012 season. Here are the highlights (the actual text of the 2012 baseball bat rules can be found here):

• For the Little League Major Baseball Division and below: The moratorium on composite-barreled baseball bats remains in effect. However, some composite-barreled baseball bats that have been proven in laboratory testing to meet the BPF (Bat Performance Factor) standard throughout the life of the bat, through the Accelerated Break-In (ABI) process, have received waivers. That list is here: Licensed/Approved Composite 2 1/4 Bats.

Note that in the Little League Majors Baseball Division and below, there is no limit on the “drop” weight of any bat.

• For Junior League Baseball: The rule was updated to reflect the changes that were anticipated and published two years ago regarding bats with 2 5/8 inch barrels. As a result, composite-barreled baseball bats in this division, regardless of barrel size, must meet BBCOR (Batted Ball Co-Efficient of Restitution) standards, and must be so labeled. Note that all composite-barreled baseball bats that meet the BBCOR standard have a “drop” of no more than “minus-3.” However, in the Junior League Baseball division, bats that do not have composite materials in the barrel (i.e., all metal, all alloy, all wood), and meet all other applicable standards, can have ANY drop weight. Bats with a barrel of less than 2 5/8 inches also can be used in the Junior League Baseball Division, but must still comply with all other specifications noted.

• For Senior League Baseball and Big League Baseball: The rule was updated to reflect the changes that were anticipated and published two years ago regarding bats with 2 5/8 inch barrels. As a result, all bats with non-wood barrels must meet BBCOR (Batted Ball Co-Efficient of Restitution) standards, and must be so labeled. Because all BBCOR bats have a “drop” of no more than “minus-3,” this means all non-wood bats in these divisions must have a drop of no more than minus-3.

• Tamper-Evident Bats: Because the technology to create bats that show evidence of tampering is not yet available, this aspect of the rules that was anticipated and published two years ago, and again last year, will not apply in 2012.

• Penalty for Use of an Illegal Bat: Previously, the penalty for the use of an illegal bat was simply to remove the bat from the game. In 2012, the penalty has been increased as noted in the rules below.

• Definition of an Illegal Bat: To narrow the definition of an illegal bat, a new entry was added to Rule 2.00, specifically describing an illegal bat for the purposes of imposing the penalty. As a result, the definition includes altered bats, but excludes a bat that: is no longer smooth because of normal use; is cracked or dented because of normal use; has a handle that has a smaller diameter than the measurement noted in the specifications; or, has material on the grip (or no material) that does not meet the specifications.

• Softball: All rules regarding bats in all softball divisions remain the same as in 2011. The moratorium on composite-barreled bats does not apply to softball.

• Licensed Bats: As it has for decades, Little League is publishing a list of licensed bats, all of which have a barrel diameter of 2 1/4 inches. This is not a list of all bats that can be used. As long as the bat meets all the specifications and standards for the specific division of play in question, it need not carry the Little League trademark. (Note that Little League does not license any bats with a diameter of 2 5/8 inches.) The list of licensed 2 1/4 bats can be downloaded as a PDF here: All Licensed 2 1/4 Bats.