Youth Forum Minutes

1. Umpires – Neil Warne

That where a home team is unable to provide a qualified umpire for a fixture that the away team be invited to provide one instead. The home team would have to alert the away team in good time before the fixture, i.e. the Wednesday beforehand. The home team would pay the cost of hiring the umpire.

Both meetings agreed that communication between clubs prior to the fixture should happen as a matter of course, that it should be acceptable that the away team provide an umpire if necessary but that any payment needs to be negotiated.

Darrin Muller, ABUA-GB president is setting up a pilot scheme for training Pony players who may not move up to adult to umpire Bronco games, which could be expanded across the country. Both meetings saw this, with the proper supervision at game time, as a good idea. North believe that ages for umpires should be 16 minimum for Bronco and 18 minimum for Pony. There was a request for more regional umpiring clinics in general, up to 2 per year.

2. Pitch Counts v Innings Pitched – Neil Warne

Little League have brought in pitch counts for 2007 season. Neil Warne proposes a similar restriction for pitchers here in Britain, instead of a limit on innings pitched.

Southern meeting in favour of instituting this change, seeing the getting of volunteers to count pitches as not a problem, an increase in pitchers on teams being a good thing.

Northern meeting were worried that there are not enough scorers or volunteers available, that the innings count, whilst being not perfect was a simpler counting method.

Considering the objections in the North, there was a suggestion that a pilot scheme be run for this season in the South across the clubs in the league and a report be produced on the relative merits of pitch counts against innings counts at the end of the year. A decision on whether to change over will be made then.

3. Requirements for Post-season Eligibility

Current requirements are for players to be registered by 1st July and to have played 20% minimum of games in the regular season. Neil proposes an amendment to just registration/rostering by 1st July. Players join clubs late, having either trained with the team or having come from another league but with the current system are unable to take part in post-season play.

It was felt by both meetings that the current system is fine and that any child who does not complete the required 20% of games can appeal for dispensation with the Commissioner.

4. Infield Sizes and Pitching Distances for 2007

As most of you may know, the infield sizes and pitching distances have changed for 2007. This was voted on in the last BBF board meeting in December 2006.
The changes are thus:

Rookie – stays the same at 60’
Bronco – increases to 75 ‘ but pitching distance stays the same at 46’
Pony – increases to 90’ with pitching at 60’6”

Whilst South felt particularly uninformed about this issue and generally in opposition to the changes, North felt fully aware and in agreement with the changes. South prompted the BBF board to return to this subject in their meeting of 27th January and decided to keep the distance and pitching changes this year, to review the change and the question of the age groups at a later date.

5. Third Strike Rule in Bronco – Talib Yaseen

Proposal to revert the dropped third strike to normal baseball rules, from the current strike out even if dropped by the catcher.

Both meetings felt it not necessary to change this rule but to review it next season.

6. GB Training Regimes – Talib Yaseen

That GB training regimes are shared with clubs to prepare players.

Talib has already been in contact with Adam Roberts who will provide the GB regimes. They are available to all. It was suggested that perhaps a regular update from GB coaches on the methods they are using, tips they can offer etc. be made available, either via the coaching sections of the forums, or through a newsletter.

7. Remove Must Slide Rule – Roleen McNeilage

Whilst the South is in agreement to leave this rule as is, North felt there are arguments for removing it. The confusion over this rule by coaches, players and umpires has made it one that it is ignored by many. It was felt the wording of the rule is ambiguous, firstly stating the rule and then advising common sense. The overwhelming feeling was to make this rule a strong advisory rather than a rule, subject to endorsement by the BBF. This may also require a re-drafting of the wording, assuming ratification by the board.

8. Pony Double Header Pitching Rules

That the rule is reduced to a pitcher only pitching a maximum of 5 innings in game 1 of a double header or game 2, also that a pitcher can only pitch up to 4 innings over two games, i.e. 3/1, 2/2, 1/3.

With the South possibly running a pilot on pitch counts this is irrelevant. North also rejected this suggestion.

9. Final 4

That the youth final four be held before the kids return to playing football in the fall, a lot of kids start training for football the first of Sep so three weeks into Sep is a long time to try and jungle two sports. Plus the teams in the North season has been over for almost two months.

Ian Marchment commented at the Northern meeting that the BBF are looking at moving the adult Final 4 forward to the August Bank Holiday weekend, which could bring the Youth F4 forward to the first weekend in September, rather than 15th and 16th. This may depend on other factors, i.e. adult international tournaments in August. Aside from that, it was suggested at the meeting that informal games or tournaments be organised in August to help cover the hiatus between season end and post season play.

10. No Double Headers – Roleen McNeilage

Northern question only.
The meeting was in general agreement to restrict double headers to Pony but only go to up to half and half single and DH games. The preference was for no Bronco DHs at all. Talib also asked that there be single games at the beginning and end of the season to allow for greater flexibility in re-scheduling games when necessary

11. Child Protection – DMV

Information for all clubs on the need for a club welfare officer.

12. AOB

London Youth Baseball League
DMV mentioned a conversation with the London Youth Baseball League and their interest in playing friendlies or tournaments. DMV will get in contact and suggest some dates to the league for this to happen.

BBF Board Elections - Southern Youth Rep
Rob Hodgson is planning to stand for Southern Youth Rep at the BBF AGM. Rob wanted it noted that he felt the current rep had not done a good job and that was his reason for standing.

BBF Board Elections - Northern Youth Rep
John Eaton received a vote of confidence in him as Northern Youth Rep.

Designated Headers
Talib asked if one could have a designated hitter at Pony. In fact you can have a designated hitter at any age group. The DH applies until the person for whom they are hitting enters the game as a fielder. Before that time, it's a straight substitution that's covered in the normal rules of the game. As long as the integrity of the line-up order applies, then it's fine. But as soon as it involves moving a player from one slot to another in the order, it would lose the DH (rather than force either the re-entering fielder or the DH to move slot). The above would have to be sanctioned by the BBF and would then be included in the Youth Handbook. Note that CEB, as Roleen helpfully pointed out, do not allow DHs at Pony and that may be something that the BBF might want to consider.