Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 14, 1995                   TAG: 9505020011
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WILLIAMSPORT, PA.                                 LENGTH: Medium

ON-DECK CIRCLE REMOVED FROM LITTLE LEAGUE

Anyone who has played baseball knows the feeling of being on-deck. The anticipation builds as the player takes practice swings, glares at the pitcher and imagines hitting a home run.

The next generation of Little Leaguers won't experience that feeling until they are at least 13.

The Little League Congress voted last month in Reno, Nev., to eliminate the on-deck circle and outlaw the headfirst slide for players under 12. Both rule changes were implemented to avoid injuries, said Dr. Barry Goldberg, chairman of USA Baseball's medical and safety advisory committee.

The new rules go into effect in 1996 because the 1995 rulebook already has been distributed.

The on-deck circle is designed to give the next batter a chance to practice his swing and study the pitcher, but many youngsters use it for other purposes, Goldberg said.

``They get down on one knee like major leaguers, look at what kind of grass is growing or look in the stands where their mother is sitting,'' he said. ``They do not loosen up.''

And they are not watching the ball, which is why many players were injured by foul balls.

``There have been, though not an astronomical number, instances where the person in the on-deck circle is injured by a foul ball,'' Goldberg said.

Jon Wilson, a coach and parent of two Little Leaguers in State College, said some fields have installed fenced-in areas where a player can safely take practice swings.

``For the other fields, it's probably best that they don't go to the on-deck circle,'' Wilson said. ``There's always a chance for a youngster to get hit by a foul ball and I've seen it happen.

``Most of them don't need to take practice swings,'' Wilson said. ``They're either ready to hit or they're not.''

The rule also prohibits players from going outside the field for practice swings because batters may accidentally hit spectators.

Young players are more flexible, so they need less stretching, Goldberg said. Players should take practice swings as they walk to the plate and when they are in the batter's box.

The headfirst slide was outlawed because it is dangerous and has little value, Goldberg said.

``There are a lot of people who feel that the headfirst or hands-first slide doesn't provide any advantage at all,'' he said. ``There have been a reasonable number of catastrophic neck injuries, particularly among the younger ages, from hands-first slides.''

Any player that slides headfirst will be called out.

Little League spokesman Dennis Sullivan said concerns about serious injuries prompted the change.

``The possibility of injuries includes everything - hands, elbows, teeth and eyes,'' Sullivan said. ``Our major concern is injuries to the neck.''

With more players wearing facemasks, the possibility of masks getting stuck in the dirt during a headfirst slide increased, Sullivan said.

Williamsport-based Little League is largest organized youth program in the world with 2.9 million children participating in 90 countries.