I'll be honest... I never heard the term "fall ball" until very recently.

Where I'm from (the northeast), the fall sports we play are the standard ones... soccer, football and field hockey in the fall. Baseball and softball end sometime in the summer.

But apparently in many regions of the country, the standard no longer applies and the "conventional" sports calendar is turned completely upside down. Baseball games in the fall, softball teams playing after school deep into November and spring football practices... I mean, has the world gone mad? What is this craziness?

It does explain why we're starting to see a bunch of "Fall Ball" softball teams and groups popping up here on weplay, which don't seem to be replacing you're the traditional fall sports, but just another thing to add to those busy calendars (good thing you can manage multiple team calendars all in one place here on weplay). That also means we can keep our new Softball Hub going year round...

Ok fine, I'll admit it. I'm pretty jealous. I only get to play one sport at a time until the season changes.

But in places like California, Florida, Arizona and Texas, while the rest of us seek the warmth of indoor sporting venues, you are all enjoying the sunshine and fresh air all year long. We northern Yanks are missing out on something good.

Now that I think about it... maybe that's why those states produce so many of most talented athletes in these sports, you get twice as much practice as the rest of us (Yeah, I'm talking to you, Miss Finch)!

Major League Baseball's recent decision to implement Instant Replayis being widely discussed by journalists, bloggers, fans and even some players and managers. Truth be told, most other major league sports already have replay in some form or another, so it was only a matter of time before baseball got on board.

According to the agreement between the leagues, the players and the umpires, a "limited" form of instant replay can now be used to review home run boundary calls such as fair versus foul, fan interference, and whether a ball cleared the fence. Chances are that we won't see it implemented in baseball very often since it is meant to be used as a last resort, but either way, this is good for baseball.

Any time a sport can use technology to ensure fair play, I'm all for it (as long as it doesn't disrupt the flow of the game). You've got people at home who can see the play over and over again, but the trained professionals now have extra help to do their jobs.

But all this talk got me thinking... umpires and officials in youth sports do not have the benefit of technology to back them up. They are called upon to make split-second decisions without the safety net of replay to fall back on. What's more, there are typically fewer umpires in a youth league game, two if you're lucky, as compared to the four or more in a Major League game.

Despite the fact that few, if any, youth baseball umpires are full-timers, the pressure to "get it right" can be just as intense, if not more so. Whereas professional umpires are trained to deal with all sorts of scenarios, the same protocols and standards are not uniformly in place to empower youth umpires and officials to guide them through tenuous situations.

Plus, an angry coach or parent can argue a call all the way to the parking lot, which is NOT true in MLB games.

This year's Little League World Series actually had instant replay in place for the first time, but with the help of ESPN's cameras. At the end of the day, most Little League umps will never be able to take advantage of the same technological developments as the big leaguers (save asking a team parent to see a replay in their personal camcorder).

So let's honor the effort, committment and dedication of these proud professionals and cut them some slack every once in awhile, even if you do disagree with the call.

Whoooo hoooo!!!
Peyton blogged about it, and now it's fact as reported just about 20 minutes ago.

Colts activate Peyton Manning after surgery

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Peyton Manning is finally healthy enough to start practicing with the Indianapolis Colts. Coach Tony Dungy says the team activated the two-time NFL MVP on Tuesday, clearing the way for him to begin working out with his teammates. Manning had been on the physically unable to perform list since training camp opened after surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee July 14.

He didn't appear with the team until last week when he lobbed a few passes to teammates as the Colts practiced at the new Lucas Oil Stadium.

Manning was expected to go through team drills for the first time Tuesday afternoon.

When it comes to youth baseball, safety is important. But so is the right to play.

The below story has been scattered about our local news here in the northeast over the past day, and now it's on CNN and across the web.Read more about his nine year old boy in Connecticut who is too good to play in his local baseball league.

You're telling me they punished a kid for being TOO good? How is this the right message to be sending to our kids? We might as well start telling them to eat candy, curse and start fights with the other team. WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Any time lawsuits are involved, something has gone seriously wrong.Can't he just play with 11 or 12 year olds if he is that good?Let's find this kid a team!

Check it out and sound off on what you think should happen:


NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP)--Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player-- too good, it turns out.

The right-hander has a fastball that tops out at about 40 mph. He throws so hard that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven told his coach that the boy could not pitch any more. When Jericho took the mound anyway last week, the opposing team forfeited the game, packed its gear and left, his coach said.

Officials for the three-year-old league, which has eight teams and about 100 players, said they will disband Jericho's team, redistributing its players among other squads, and offered to refund $50 sign-up fees to anyone who asks for it. They say Jericho's coach, Wilfred Vidro, has resigned.

But Vidro says he didn't quit and the team refuses to disband. Players and parents held a protest at the league's field on Saturday urging the league to let Jericho pitch.

"He's never hurt any one," Vidro said. "He's on target all the time. How can you punish a kid for being too good?"

The controversy bothers Jericho, who says he misses pitching.

"I feel sad," he said. "I feel like it's all my fault nobody could play."


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/08/25/pitcher.toogood.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

BEIJING (Reuters) - World softball officials will launch a Youth World Cup event next year in Europe as part of its bid to rejoin the Olympics after being removed for London 2012, organisers said on Friday.

The International Softball Federation's initiative for girls aged 16 and under is geared to combat poor media coverage, lack of global awareness and a fear that U.S. teams will always crush competitors from abroad.

Softball, a traditional American community sport that follows most rules of baseball, was voted out of the 2012 London Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will consider it for 2016.

"We will stop at nothing to get back on the programme in 2016," federation president Don Porter told a news conference. "We aim to be back. There is no doubt about that."

The National Youth Baseball Championships are in full swing again today as all 16 teams are in action. The 12U tournament gets underway today and the 10U teams are back in action. Each team will play two games today to round out pool play today and tomorrow.

In the 10U games yesterday, we saw several lopsided scores. The Jaguars from the NABF knocked off the Marshals of Super Series, 11-4. The USSSA team from Tomateros de California cruised to a 10-0 win over the Dixie representatives from McComb, Miss. The AAU squad put up 14 runs to the Brooklyn Bonnies (AABC) 1 and the PONY champs Tamiami Playmakers defeated the Babe Ruth League champs from Kenner, La., 14-1.

Once again, you can watch every game LIVEall the way through the weekend until two champions are crowned:

http://www.mlb.com/youthmajors/events/event_nybc.jsp

Of interest in this tournament is that former MLB standout Chet Lemon is coachingBOTH the 10U and 12U teams! Meaning he will be coaching four games in a row today. Just following him around today will be exhausting!

Note there is a slight rain delay in Memphis so first pitch times have been postponed until noon ET.

More than 100,000 teams from across the nation have competed for the chance to play in this tournament. The 10U semis will take place tomorrow morning with the championship game going off at 7 p.m. ET. The 12U semis and title game will take place on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Back in Williamsport...

The Little League World Series will also reach its feverish climax and conclusion this weekend with lots of great action to watch!

Last night on ESPN, teams from Japan and Mexico qualified for Saturday's International Championship (12:30 p.m. ET, ABC). The U.S. semifinals also wrapped up last night as the United States Championship will also be played tomorrow immediately following the international game. The undefeated team from Waipahu, HI will match up with the boys of Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Then tune in on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET to see the Little League World Series Championship Game between the U.S. and international champions.

Of course, we at weplay would like to wish Coach Timoand the Waipio LL boys the best of luck! We can't wait to see your pictures on weplay when you get home!!