We still don't have all the background information we need yet. Keep checking the BNSW website:- I'm sure it will be posted there when it's available. The thing we're waiting for now is a Q&A session that came out of last week's launch of the programme here in Sydney.

However, we do have enough to form an opinion, and to be the first Regional Association in Sydney to announce that ...

We will run a Little League competition next summer.

Here's how it will work ...

• We will run our weekend competitions the same as we have done in the past. Same game formats, venues, age-groups and rules.
• In addition to this, we’ll offer a midweek or off-season Little League competition in early 2008, with details yet to be decided, but in broad compliance with the requirements of Little League Inc.
• It will run under Little League rules as far as possible, and use the Little League age/date cutoff of April 30th instead of the current December 31st protocol for our existing weekend competitions.
• Players registered in our U/12 weekend competitions, together with those who do not turn 13 prior to 30/4/08, will be invited to play in Hills Little League.
• Most importantly, this competition will be run as a "Pony League", not club-based as is the case on weekends. Players join a single pool, from which they are drafted by team managers on the basis of their skill at trials, and performance in weekend club games. The draft is not public, and the children never know whether they were early or late picks.
• The number of teams involved will depend on the number of children who register for Little League.

So, although our formal opinion about Little League comes with some reservations for our own district, we're prepared to do our part to give it a chance elsewhere. We hope it will be of benefit to baseball overall in Australia, and that our participation will contribute to this goal.

Peter Schmidt
Hills Juniors President

 - RESOURCES -

• Those who are interested can read more about Little League on the ABF or Little League websites.
• BNSW officially launched Australian Little League on June 7th. You can view the presentation here (Powerpoint document, ~3Mb).
• So far among the other states, only Baseball WA and Baseball SA have published material on their own plans for Little League next summer.
• There are some unresolved safety concerns regarding the use of a regulation baseball, a 46' pitching distance, a pitching mound, and 60' base-paths. Those who wish to discuss this are encouraged to contact Jeff Catt, our Vice President, who has particular expertise in this area.
• General questions about Little League can be sent to our NSW District Administrator, or to myself.