May 8, 2012

Dear Little League Parents,

We wanted to let you know some exciting news: For the first time since 1999, a new division of play has been created in Little League.

Featuring a pitching distance of 50 feet and base paths of 70 feet, the new baseball division for players who are league-age 11-13 will be offered for the 2013 regular season. It will include postseason tournament opportunities, including a World Series.

The new baseball division will serve as a bridge between the current "Little League" size baseball field (46-foot pitching distance, 60-foot base paths) and a standard baseball diamond with 60.5-foot pitching and 90-foot base paths.

Full details on the new division, and all of the decisions from the recent meeting of the Little League International Board of Directors, can be found here.

Much more information on the new division will be forthcoming in the months ahead, so please stay tuned to the Little League Web Site (www.LittleLeague.org) and to our main Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/LittleLeagueBaseballAndSoftball) for the most recent updates.

Sincerely,

Little League International

P.O. Box 3485

Dear Little League Volunteers,

Oral Health America's National Spit Tobacco Education Program (NSTEP) and Little League International are pleased to announce the 2012 NSTEP Slogan Contest on the health consequences of using spit tobacco.

In 10 words or less, Little Leaguers are asked to create an original slogan that effectively describes the hazards of spit tobacco use. All current Little League Baseball and Softball players age 14 and under are eligible. All entries must be received by July 1, 2012.

The National Spit Tobacco Education Program will award the winner with a paid trip for two for one night, including airfare, hotel accommodations and ground transportation to the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pa. (Please note: The World Series begins August 16, 2012 and concludes August 26, 2012. The winner must be able to travel during this period.)

The winner will receive a prize valued up to $500 and the winner's Little League will receive $500 from Oral Health America's National Spit Tobacco Education Program.

For the official 2012 Slogan Contest rules and entry form, click on the following link:

http://www.littleleague.org/learn/programs/nstep.htm

Oral Health America's National Spit Tobacco Education Program (NSTEP) was founded in 1994 as an effort to educate the baseball family and the American public about the dangers of smokeless or spit tobacco, and break the long-standing link between this potentially deadly drug and Americas pastime. Each year, 10 to 16 million Americans put their health at risk by using smokeless tobacco products.

The National Spit Tobacco Education Programs mission is to prevent people, especially children and young adults, from starting to use spit tobacco, and to help all users quit.

Sincerely,

Little League International
P.O. Box 3485
539 US Route 15 Hwy
Williamsport, PA 17701-0485

Phone: 570-326-1921

Fax: 570-326-1074

In order to play Little League a player must submit documents that prove where they live; and that it is within the League's boundaries.

New for 2012 are changes to the Residence Eligibility Requirements for all divisions of play. They have been amended to read, in part:

Summary and Implementation:

For the 2012 season, this requires players’ parents or guardians to provide residency documentation dated or in force between February 1, 2011 (previous year) and February 1, 2012 (current year). This means, for instance, that a Driver’s License that was issued a number of years earlier, but was in force between the dates noted, is acceptable. However, a utility bill that is dated outside of the dates noted, is not acceptable.

By Communications Division
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.
January 27, 2012

Little League Baseball and Softball has always been at the forefront regarding the safety and well-being of children.

In an effort to provide all Little League personnel with the most current information on concussions, the youth baseball organization has created an informational page on its website that also includes links to training information and ways to recognize signs and symptoms of a concussion.

As the assessment and treatment of concussions and concussion-like symptoms has evolved, many states have enacted laws designed to educate people about concussions, and protect the health and safety of young athletes.

Little League International has compiled a summary of all currently-existing and proposed state laws regarding concussions. The summary of concussion-related state laws can be found at: http://www.littleleague.org/learn/programs/childprotection/concussions.htm.

Some state laws are only applicable to school-sponsored athletics, or to activities taking place on school-owned property. Other laws are applicable to all youth sports organizations, whether, or not, they are affiliated with a school district.

It is strongly-recommended that local leagues consult with legal counsel in their jurisdiction to determine the applicability of state laws regarding concussions occurring while children are participating in the Little League program.

Not every state has adopted concussion laws and not every state's concussion law is applicable to a local Little League program. Nevertheless, in keeping with its focus on protecting the health, safety and welfare of children, Little League Baseball and Softball strongly encourages all leagues and teams to not only comply with any applicable state laws, but also to review the information and training materials on concussions which is available (free of charge) on the Centers For Disease Control website. The latest concussion information from the Centers for Disease control can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/online_training.html.

It is essential that each league review this material in order to understand its responsibilities regarding when and how to address concussions.

Congratulations are in order for District 31 Staff Umpire, Jeff Wimbrough, on his selection as an umpire at the Big League Softball World Series in Kalamazoo, Michigan (MI District 2) for 2012.

The dates of the Big League Softball World Series are August 2 - 8. 

Jeff hails from Carmel Mountain Ranch Little League, where he was a former Umpire-in-Chief, and continues to call games at Carmel Mountain Ranch as well as other leagues within District 31.

As the information becomes available, click on the header above to be linked to the Big League Softball World Series game schedule, results, information and map.

Little League announcement:

http://www.littleleague.org/media/newsarchive/2012/Jan-Apr/UmpiresSelectedForEightLittleLeagueWorldSeries.htm 

Congratulations are in order for District 31 Staff Umpire, Dave Miller, on his selection as an umpire at the Western Region Big League Baseball Tournament in Bremerton, Washington (WA District 2) for 2012. The tournament is a step before the Big League Baseball World Series and is the championship of the 11 western United States.

The dates of the Big League Baseball Western Regional are July 14 - 22.

Dave hails from Poway American Little League, where he is the Junior/Senior Division Coordinator and a former Umpire-in-Chief, and continues to call games at Poway American as well as other leagues within District 31.

As the information becomes available, click on the header above to be linked to the Big League Western Regional tournament game schedule, results, information and map.

Three new District 31 Staff Umpires were announced on September 24th, 2011.

Congratulations are in order for:

Robert Hunt of Rancho Bernardo LL

Ken Judd of 4S Ranch LL

Heath Messenger, UIC of Poway American LL