New LL rules are coming

[mstaylor]

http://www.littleleague.org/media/newsarchive/2010/Sep-Dec/2011LLBBSBPolicyRuleRegulationChanges.htm

This is an overview of what they are planning for next year. Some are softball only, others are baseball only, the rest are both.

[Mason-Dixon Blue]

Most of them are rule changes that were adopted last year at the Congress and enacted last year. It was too late to get them in the rule books last year, so they're showing up as rule changes for this year.

[mstaylor]

Here is a PPT showing the changes.

http://www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/2011-BBSB-RuleChanges-ppt.ppt

[mstaylor]

This a couple of days old but it got misplaced in my emails.

"November 29, 2010

"Dear Little League Parents and Volunteers,

"With the holiday shopping season upon us, we want to remind all that we are in the midst of a research effort with the University of Massachusetts (Lowell) to determine whether or not a moratorium will be placed on the use of composite 2¼-inch barreled baseball bats in the Little League Majors Division and below. We have already placed a moratorium on composite bats in the Junior League Baseball, Senior League Baseball, and Big League Baseball Divisions.

"We anticipate making a decision on the use of composite 2¼-inch barreled baseball bats by Jan. 1, 2011, as promised in earlier communications on this subject.

"Information on the moratorium on composite bats in the Junior League Baseball, Senior League Baseball, and Big League Baseball Divisions, as well as information on specific models of composite bats that have received a waiver of that moratorium, can be found here: http://www.littleleague.org/media/newsarchive/2010/Sep-Dec/StatementFromLLCompositeBats.htm

"We encourage local league officials to provide this message to parents and volunteers in the local league.

"Sincerely,

"Little League International"

[jjb]

Nice: a parent spends 300 bucks for a composite bat for his kid for Christmas, only to be told he can't use it. Timing is everything....

[mstaylor]

True but they did issue a warning that they were looking at the issue and should have been a hold off statement.

[Rich Ives]

Nice: a parent spends 300 bucks for a composite bat for his kid for Christmas, only to be told he can't use it. Timing is everything....

There is no timing issue from LL's end.

This is the THIRD warning, not the first. That's why it says: "we want to remind all "

It was first published Sept 1. Sent to the entire mailing list. Put on their web site too.

Re-published end of October. Sent to all.

"Nobody told me" isn't a viable excuse. Sent to all again.

[mstaylor]

Where on the website is it? I looked for it a little on Sunday but didn't see it.

[kylejt]

My son works at a small, high end baseball store. They really took it in the shorts with the big barrel bat changes, and stand to loss out big again if LL bats the 2 1/4" composites. Right now they're trying to dump stock in Mexico.

My son also coaches two travel teams, ages 11 and 12. They ALL use composite bats, both in travel and LL. He estimates at least half the kids in LL Majors have them right now.

This is big deal, and the folks in WP have no clue to the ramifications.

[Rich Ives]

Where on the website is it? I looked for it a little on Sunday but didn't see it.

Curently it's both in "Newsletters" and "Additional Headlines"

The "Join our Mailing List" button is on the home page also.

[Rich Ives]

My son works at a small, high end baseball store. They really took it in the shorts with the big barrel bat changes, and stand to loss out big again if LL bats the 2 1/4" composites. Right now they're trying to dump stock in Mexico.

My son also coaches two travel teams, ages 11 and 12. They ALL use composite bats, both in travel and LL. He estimates at least half the kids in LL Majors have them right now.

This is big deal, and the folks in WP have no clue to the ramifications.

Travel hasn't banned them. They can still use them there. You can use a 2 1/4 in travel - or so far in Ripken, PONY, and Dixie. If you're a good enough hitter a big barrel won't make much difference.

Pro's are down to 2.61" wood bats now. That's less than the 2 5/8 HS/College limit.

Anyone who didn't see this coming is a bit naive - your kid's store owner included

[mstaylor]

Curently it's both in "Newsletters" and "Additional Headlines"

The "Join our Mailing List" button is on the home page also.

Thanks, I knew it had to be there.