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Little League at Malmstrom entering 50th season

By Valerie Mullett, 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office / Published March 05, 2008

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MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Youth Sports here will celebrate a milestone when the first pitch is tossed out April 12. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Little League affiliation at Malmstrom and season registration is underway through March 15. 

Many changes have taken place over the course of those 50 years, but the main emphasis remains the same - to provide an outlet of healthful activity and training under good leadership in the atmosphere of wholesome community participation. 

In fact, according to www.littleleague.org, "Better than any other youth sport activity, baseball and softball have become the thread that has sewn together a patchwork of nations and cultures around the world. ... Baseball and softball embody the discipline of teamwork." 

General information
Little League is open to all family members of active-duty and retired military, DoD and non-appropriated fund personnel, with a league age of 5 to 14 years old. League age is as of April 30 in the current season for baseball, and as of Dec. 31 the previous year for softball. Proof of age must accompany registration. 

Great Falls is divided into four geographic areas for Little League. Youth residing on base must register to participate in Malmstrom's program. Those living off-base may register in their downtown geographic region, which is made up of the Americans, Riverside and Westside. 

Youth do not have to be members of the Youth Center to participate, however, members receive a $10 discount plus you'll save an additional 10 percent if parents are Services Club members. 

How to register
The deadline to register for the 2008 season is March 15. Registration packets are available at the Youth Center and contain a registration form; an Air Force Form 88, Air Force Youth Programs Registration; and a Parent's Code of Ethics. Also included are a medical release form, fitfactor parental consent form, information about Little League insurance and a form for a sports physical. Every participant requires a current sports physical to be eligible. 

There is an area on the main registration form for parents to fill in if they would like to volunteer as a coach, umpire, scorekeeper, pitch count recorder, team parent and more. All coaches will be certified through the National Youth Sports Coaches Association and training is March 8 starting at 1 p.m. at the Youth Center. 

"I encourage all parents of youth registering for Little League to volunteer," said James Muscle, Youth Sports Coordinator. "As a parent volunteer, you have the opportunity to spend quality time with your child in a safe, fun-filled environment and it allows you to share common interests and goals." 

Divisions of play
Eligible boys and girls can opt to play either baseball or softball. The divisions are as follows:
Baseball 
- Tee Ball (ages 5 and 6) 
- Minor B (ages 7 and 8) Note: Players league age 6 who participated in Tee Ball last year will be permitted to advance to Minor B if they choose to. 
- Minor A (ages 9 and 10) 
- Majors (ages 11 and 12) 
- Juniors (ages 14 and 14)

Softball 
- Minors (ages 7 to 10) 
- Majors (ages 11 and 12)

Tee Ball games are four innings, minors and majors are six innings and juniors are seven innings.

Other information
Coaches set practice times and will notify parents. Practices for all divisions are scheduled to start the week of March 24. Parents are required to attend an orientation session where coaches and teams are introduced, and league rules and requirements are discussed. The meetings are March 19 for all baseball divisions and March 20 for softball divisions starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Youth Center.

"The Little League program is a quality program that provides a meaningful fitness opportunity for the kids," said Cindy Berg, Youth Programs director. "We have come a long way in 50 years and the program is literally for everyone now."

Anyone with questions can contact the Youth Center staff at 731-2422 or 731-4634.
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