Monday, February 8, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
What Has the Fuzzy Beagle’s Interest?
2010-02-04: WHAT LEAGUE AM I IN?: We get this question from new Little League families
quite a bit. To help answer this question, I have put together a map of the Little
League boundaries for District 2 (Ottawa West out to Arnprior) and District 6
(Ottawa East out to Hawkesbury). It's a Google Map, so you can zoom in to your
residence and discover which boundary it lies inside. You can click this link
http://www.tinyurl.com/pcpw5w
or click the "see more here..." link, and find out what your League is, and get its web site address as well.
see more here...
2009-11-30: LITTLE LEAGUE FORMS: Forms available on LittleLeague.org and LittleLeague.ca
are usually in 'pdf' format. They are almost always interactive. Using the free software
called Adobe Acrobat Reader you can fill out the forms. Sometimes you can "Save As..."
the form to a new pdf file, keeping the filled out values, but sometimes you can't. Two
examples are as follows:
1. Tournament Team Eligibility Affidavit - Baseball, at http://www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/tournaments/Affidavit_Baseball.pdf
With regular Adobe Acrobat Reader, it says at the top, "Please fill out
the following form. You can save data typed into this form." Super.
2. Combined Teams App - Regular Season Play, at http://www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/App_Combined_Teams.pdf
With regular Adobe Acrobat Reader, it says at the top, "Please fill out the following
form. You cannot save data typed into this form. Please print your completed form if
you would like a copy for your records." Oh, darn.
So the first one is fine, but the second one is not. Very frustrating. The way
around this is to not use Adobe Acrobat Reader. Instead, download a free pdf reader
called "FoxIt Reader 3.1", which is smaller and faster than Acrobat, and as a bonus
lets you save even the second type of pdf file with the forms filled out. I just
tried it and am very happy.
Use the "Free Download" button at: http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/reader3.php
(There are non-free versions with more features, and there are programs to let
you change files too, but I don't have any need for those kinds of things).
It will download an exe file you can run to do the start-up. Personally, I would
recommend doing a Custom install, and UN-check, or NOT check, the boxes for the
FoxIt Toolbar and anything else you don't want, such as changing your default search
engine to ask.com, or your default homepage to FoxIt.
Please let me know if you try this and it does not work for you.
2009-11-17: MORE RULE CHANGES FOR 2010 -- THIS TIME IT IS PITCH COUNT: Another e-mail from Little League International tells us
they've changed the pitch count rules again. This time they have changed the limits a bit, taken away the option
to use a Game of Rest, and made the Tournament limits match the Regular Season limits. Here is what we are looking
at for 2010:
| League Age 14 & Under Pitches Thrown | Calendar Days of Rest Required | League Age 15-18 Pitches Thrown | Calendar Days of Rest Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 66 or more | four (4) | 76 or more | four (4) |
| 51 - 65 | three (3) | 61 - 75 | three (3) |
| 36 - 50 | two (2) | 46 - 60 | two (2) |
| 21 - 35 | one (1) | 31 - 45 | one (1) |
| 1 - 20 | none (0) | 1 - 30 | none (0) |
| League Age / Level | Maximum Pitches Per Day |
|---|---|
| 9 - 10 Minor | 75 |
| 11 - 12 Major | 85 |
| 13 - 14 Junior | 95 |
| 14 - 16 Senior | 95 |
| 16 - 18 Big League | 105 |
2009-11-04: RULES CHANGES FOR 2010: Here is an e-mail I got from Little League Int'l
about rule changes for 2010. Nothing very major, except to clarify that a balk
or an illegal pitch counts as a pitch for Pitch Count, and a forfeited game does
not count as a game played for pitching eligbility.
Dear District Administrator,
Below is a synopsis of the significant changes to the Rules and Regulations for 2010 in the divisions noted, as of this date.
The exact wording of the Rules and Regulations noted will be provided in the coming weeks. It is expected that rule books will be available soon as well.
(Note: Unless noted otherwise, these changes apply to all divisions)
REGULATIONS
Regulation I (c) 8 - Note 1: Added a sentence stating that if a league elects to operate a Tee Ball baseball program only, it must use the league age determination date that is noted in the regulation. (Baseball only.)
Regulation IV (a) - Junior League: Added language making it clear that when a 12-year-old player is found to be ineligible under this regulation, that player and/or his/her team are subject to removal from the International Tournament by action of the Tournament Committee.
Regulation VI - Note 4: Added language making it clear that a resumed game or contest decided by forfeit does not constitute a "game" for the purpose of this regulation, unless one completed inning was played before the game ended or the game was forfeited.
Regulation XIV (e): Added language making it clear that alcohol is prohibited at the game site.
PLAYING RULES
Rule 1.10: Added language making it clear that any bat that has been altered must be removed from play.
Rule 1.11 (h): Added language making it acceptable for Junior, Senior and Big League players to wear metal spikes or cleats. (Added for softball only. This rule already applies to these divisions in baseball.)
Rule 1.11 (k): Added language making it clear that casts may not be worn by players and umpires during the game, and that persons wearing casts, including managers and coaches, must remain in the dugout during the game.
Rule 1.14: Standardized the limits on the size of fielders' gloves.
Rule 2.00 Definition of Pitch: Added language making it clear that a balk or illegal pitch, whether or not a pitch is actually delivered to a batter, counts as a pitch in determining the pitch count for that pitcher. (Baseball only.)
Rule 3.03 - No. 6: Added language making it clear defensive substitutions must be made while the team is on defense, and offensive substitutions must be made at the time the offensive player has her/his turn at bat or is on base. (Also added to Rule 3.03 for Big League.)
Rule 5.07, Minor League: Added language providing that the five-run rule may be suspended in the last half inning for either team, by option of the local league.
TOURNAMENT RULES AND GUIDELINES
Responsibility and Chain of Command: Added language making it clear that the Tournament Committee may impose penalties it deems appropriate, or may take action to correct a situation, regardless of the source of information.
Conditions of Tournament Play - Protests - C. Use of an ineligible player: Added language making it clear that any violation of Regulations may result in a team having an ineligible player.
SAFETY
Appendix A: Added Lightning Safety Guidelines.
Appendix D: Added Bat Modifications and Alterations Policy.
NOTES
Various Regulations, Regular Season Rules, and Tournament Rules: The deadline for submitting forms that deal with Tournament Eligibility - i.e., regular season player roster forms, Regulation II (d) and Regulation IV (h) forms, waiver requests, chartering, fee payments, combined teams and interleague play forms, etc. - is June 8, 2010.
Adults and Minors in Positions of Authority: Changes were made to Rule 2.00, Rule 4.1, Rule 9.01, Rule 9.03, Rule 9.04, and the Tournament Rules and Guidelines, making it clear that Minors may serve as coach or umpire under specific and limited circumstances as noted in each rule. (Summary: A coach who is 16 or 17 may only serve as a coach if the adult manager and another adult coach are appointed. A person who is not an adult may serve in a game as an umpire, including as plate umpire, provided one or more other adults are also umpires for that game. However, that non-adult umpire cannot be designated as umpire-in-chief for that game. The umpire-in-chief is not required to be the plate umpire.)
2009-07-02: NEWSLETTER: Little League Canada has a FREE newsletter, called "The 7th Inning Stretch", excellently editted by Bob Taunton, D.A. for Ontario District 7. The newsletter contains Coaching tips, Umpire tips, quizzes, stories from across the country, and more! Sign up by sending this mail. You can also find the newsletter at the Little League Canada website. see more here...