A number of new and modified rules have recently been announced by Little League International, to take effect during the 2012 regular and/or tournament seasons.

A summary of these rule changes follows, and you can click on the Handout at the end of this article for a PDF of the changes. You can also click on the headline to this article to link to Little League's story about this on their website.
 
POLICIES:
Residence Eligibility Requirements have been amended to include support by documents dated or in force between February 1, 2011 (previous year) and February 1, 2012 (current year), from THREE OR MORE of the established categories. 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.
 
REGULATIONS:
Background Check Requirements have been changed due to the refusal of the states of Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan & Virginia to provide sex offender registry data to Lexis Nexis. Those free criminal background checks no longer meet the minimum Little League requirement of a nationwide search of the sex offender registry. Sex offender registry data for all states is currently only available through the Department of Justice National Sex Offender Registry (www.nsopr.gov) and/or through the individual state’s sex offender registry website.

Eligible Ages have changed for Senior League (leagues now have the option to allow players with league ages 13, 14, 15 and 160, and Big League (leagues now have the option to allow players with league ages 15, 16, 17 and 18).

Challenger Division Participation is now allowed for players outside a league’s boundaries if  (1) the league he/ she wishes to participate in accepts the player; (2) the league, if any, where the player resides provides a written release of the player and (3) the district administrator provides written approval for the player to participate.

Senior League Minimum Play is now required. All rostered players present at the start of a Seniors Division game will participate in each game for a minimum of six defensive outs and bat at least one time.  

 
PLAYING RULES:
Bat Requirements have been changed. See www.littleleague.org for a complete description of bat restrictions and acceptable models.

Restrictions on Jewelry have been expanded to include all types, regardless of the composition of such jewelry, hard cosmetic item or hard decorative item. (EXCEPTION: Jewelry that alerts medical personnel to a specific condition is permissible.)

Illegal Bat Rules have been modified to establish penalties for entering the batters box with a bat which fails to meet regulations. A batter discovered to be using an illegal bat is declared out. On the first offense, the batting team loses one adult base coach for the remainder of the game. On the second offense, the batting team's manage is ejected.

Dropped Third Strike Rule has been added for Tournament Play in the 11-12 All-Stars and 10-11 All-Stars tournaments. It is also offered as an option for use in regular season play in the Majors Division. 

This is a summary of the major rules changes. Be sure to click on the headline above or the handout below for a complete description.

Come See A Challenger Game Soon!

The Challenger Division of Little League Baseball is a program for mentally and physically disabled youth to enjoy the full benefits of Little League participation in an athletic environment structured to their abilities. The program is available to any special needs child between the ages of 5-18, or who is in an ongoing high school program.

More than the skills of baseball are learned through the experience. The value of the Little League Challenger Division is found in the proven therapeutic and socialization benefits of participating in sports, the strengthening of participants’ self-esteem, the opportunities to mainstream into other divisions of play, and the disciplines of teamwork, sportsmanship and fair play which are hallmarks of the Little League program.

The philosophy of the Little League Challenger Division is to provide the framework so that every Little League program may offer a structured, athletic activity for all youth in the community. Challenger Division participants learn not only the fundamentals of baseball, but also how it feels to be just like other children pulling together as a team, being cheered, and earning awards for their achievements.

Currently, District 32 has Challenger Division teams in five of its leagues (Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Rancho Penasquitos, Peninsula and University City), with hopes to expand the program to all of the other leagues in our District as well.

For a complete list of 2012 Challenger contacts by league in District 32, just click on the handout at the end of this article. If you know anyone who would benefit from this program for children with special needs, please download the handout and contact a Challenger coordinator  in your area.

Here is your 2011 District 32 staff (L to R): Henry Garnett (Umpire-in-Chief), Glenn Castan (Challenger ADA), Roger Otterson (Asst. Umpire-in-Chief), Kirk Gillard (9/10-Year Old Division ADA), Lisa LaPage (District Administrator), Dawn Yandel (11/12-Year-Old Division ADA), Suzanne Mascarena (Junior/Senior/Big League ADA), Ken Cicalo (Information Officer), Laurie Cohen (Safety Officer and Winterball ADA).

Here are our great league presidents for the 2011 season (from L to R): Steve Porter (Mira Mesa), Bruce Ambagtsheer (Point Loma), Rob Miller (Coronado), Kevin Otsuka (Peninsula), Bill Salonius (Clairemont Hilltoppers), Mary Melton (Mission Bay), Jemma Samala (University City), District 32 Administrator Lisa LaPage, Rob Gonzalez (Rancho Penasquitos), Ed Kane (Scripps Ranch), Bruce Bourdon (Presidio).

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CA District 32 Little League

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At the June 6, 2011 District 32 Presidents meeting, Lisa LaPage was re-elected to serve a three-year term as District 32 Administrator. Her term, which will run from the 2012-2014 Little League seasons, marks her third term as D.A. in District 32.

The role of the District Administrator is to educate and assist all of the leagues of the district, and to be the representative of the leagues to Western Region and Little League Headquarters. The District Administrator forms and manages a district organization and staff, calls meetings, conducts district tournaments at sites selected by the District Administrator, and provides counsel and information to Little League Headquarters. The D.A. is also the conduit to local leagues for rule changes, organizational information and assistance in implementing all of Little League's goals and values.

It is a massively time-consuming role, and like all Little League jobs at the local level, is strictly volunteer. Thanks and congratulations to Lisa for accepting this position once again.

Yes, the Little League pledge - In touring our local leagues there are still several that do not recite the pledge...  Question is why not?  I have yet to see the Junior Division say the pledge before the game.  Please - Remind our children why they are playing baseball and the expectations we have for them.  Sure we want them to have fun, but win or lose ....  They should know the pledge!  When the tournaments start and we do say the pledge before each of those games, it is embarrassing for some that they do not know the words to the Little League Pledge .....  Please have all your teams reciting the pledge before their games....Thank you

Ever wonder how things get done? If you do, then you might just be the person we are looking for. We are always looking for volunteers who love and believe in Little League Baseball . As you should know, things don't just happen, it takes hours and hours of hard work volunteering. Our staff oversees 13 local leagues which add up to be about 5000 Little League players. The players need your help; they can't do it without all of the adult volunteers. We are serious about our role in the Little League organization and have a good time while supporting what we believe in. If you are interested in joining, please let us know. Send an email to llapage@san.rr.com and let us know what you are interested in. Play Ball!