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Little League International Introduces New 50-70 Pilot Program

Little League International recently released details about a new division in baseball that is being tested this 2010 season.  The division known as the "50/70 Pilot Program" is a program intended for baseball player's league age 12-13 years old. 

The traditional Little League field dimensions are 46 feet from the pitchers plate to home plate and 60 feet from base to base.  The 50/70 division will introduce players to a slightly larger field with 50 feet from the pitchers plate to home plate and 70 foot base paths.  With the exception of a few safety rules, players will be using the more traditional rules used in High School, College, and MLB.  For example, runners can lead-off on the bases, batters may advance on a dropped 3^rd strike, players are allowed to slide head first into bases, etc.

The intent of this division is to ease the transition of players graduating from the 46/60 diamond to the larger 60/90 diamond used at all levels from High School and above.  Currently players who turn league age 13 in the Little League program must move up to the Junior Baseball division which uses the 60/90 diamond.  Players who had no problem throwing the ball from 3^rd base to 1^st base on the 46/60 field find it extremely difficult to make that same throw on the 60/90 field due to the larger distances.  Players also have to learn new skills as they are being introduced to the more traditional rules of the game.  This causes some players to become overwhelmed and frustrated.  They will abandon the sport and the structure it provides at a time when they need it most.

Northwest Leon Little League (NWLLL) plans to participate in this program.  Games will be held on Saturday afternoons after all the other games of the day have finished.  Other leagues in our district, such as Woodville, Chaires, etc will participate with us.  The 12 year old players may play on both their regular season team on the traditional 46/60 field AND participate in the 50/70 division if they so choose.  Players league age 13 will be allowed to play in the Junior division on the larger 60/90 field as well as participate in the 50/70 division if they so choose.  For the 2010 season, Little League does NOT intend to offer a separate All-Star Tournament for this division, at this time.  However, if the program is determined to be successful after a review of a post-season survey of the participating leagues, they plan to offer a full range of tournament play.