Reading, MAReading, MA

Where the Dream Where the Dream BeginsBegins……

History … A VisionHistory … A Vision

•Founded in 1939 by Carl StotzFounded in 1939 by Carl Stotz

•First Organized League had 3 teams with First Organized League had 3 teams with Sponsors and played their first game on Sponsors and played their first game on June 6, 1939June 6, 1939

•Currently, 176,000 teams with 2.3 million Currently, 176,000 teams with 2.3 million youngsters in 86 countries play in the youngsters in 86 countries play in the Little League Program Little League Program

The Goals of Little LeagueThe Goals of Little League

•To help youngsters develop citizenship, discipline, teamwork and physical well being through sports

•To help youngsters learn their own strengths and weaknesses, the meanings of sportsmanship and cooperation, the essence of competition, and the qualities that constitute effective leadership.

The Mission of Little LeagueThe Mission of Little League

• To provide an opportunity for all children to play baseball and softball

• To focus on development of all players during the regular season

• To offer a recreational program with an opportunity for postseason tournament play as opposed to a travel program

Divisions ofDivisions of Little League Baseball Little League Baseball

•Tee Ball 5-8

•Minors 7-12

•Majors 9-12

•Juniors 13-14

•Seniors 14-16

•Big League 16-18

Little League Challenger Little League Challenger DivisionDivision

• Created in 1989 to provide children with disabilities the chance to play

• For children ages 5-18• Charter Fees,

equipment and insurance is structured as other divisions

Little League in the Little League in the Eastern RegionEastern Region

• Number of LeaguesNumber of Leagues

1,9901,990• Number of Teams:Number of Teams:

55,96555,965

Little League in Little League in MassachusettsMassachusetts

•Number of LeaguesNumber of Leagues

228228

•Number of Teams:Number of Teams:

7,3047,304

MA District 13 Little MA District 13 Little League ProgramsLeague Programs

•Acton Boxboro LL•Assabet Valley LL•Lexington American LL•Lexington National LL•North Reading LL•Stoneham LL•Sudbury LL

•Weston LL•Wilmington LL•Woburn American LL•Woburn National LL•Wakefield American LL•Wakefield National LL

• Walpole LL (2007)• Saugus American LL

(2003)• Worcester Jesse

Burkett LL (2002)

Recent Massachusetts Recent Massachusetts World Series ParticipantsWorld Series Participants

What will it cost to affiliate with Little League?

• $16/team

• Average of about $5/player (Charter fees and Insurance cost included)

• $100/team tournament fee

• $1/mile tournament travel reimbursement

Cost of Affiliation:Reading Youth Baseball

Little League

Charter Fees $768 ($16 per team)

Accident Insurance $912 ($22 per team)

Liability Insurance(includes D & O)

$1589.40 ($30.30 per team + $135 for D & O)

Total $3269.40 (about $5.20 per player)

BoundariesBoundaries

•Ensure parity among chartered Little League programs•Prevents stacking teams•Boundaries are protected by Little League•Each league works with the District Administrator to establish a boundary map

• Accident insurance for players and volunteers

• General liability insurance

• Insurance Coverage is Year Round

Required Optional

InsuranceInsurance

Crime insurance

A Safety Awareness ProgramA Safety Awareness Program (ASAP) (ASAP)

•A Chartered Little League that has a qualified safety program in place receives a 20 percent credit on AIG/Little League accident insurance.

•The best Little League safety program in each U.S. Region receives $500.

•The best Little League safety program in the U.S. receives a free set of Musco ballfield lights, a trip for two to the Little League World Series and $500.

•League receives a monthly ASAP Newsletter and receives a Safety Officer Program Kit

Team SelectionTeam Selection

• Little League provides 3 approved draft methods in the Little League Operating Manual

• Players selected to a team at the Major Division or above remain with that team for the duration of their playing time in that division

• Leagues may request to use an alternate draft method by submitting a waiver to the Charter Committee

Participation in Participation in Other ProgramsOther Programs

• Leagues may allow players to participate in other programs

• Little League teams participate in other programs in the state including the Jimmy Fund Tournament

• Players can participate in other programs at any point during the season including the International Tournament

Jimmy Fund Jimmy Fund Little League TournamentLittle League Tournament

• Allows all interested players ages 8 – 12 to continue playing and developing skills after the regular season

• Little League teams raise money for the Jimmy Fund

• July 13 – Aug 15, 2009

Local League AutonomyLocal League Autonomy

• Leagues may implement local league options and rules provided that they do not directly conflict with the Little League rule book

• Leagues govern themselves… Little League International does not run the local program

• Leagues may play multiple seasons under the same charter (spring, summer, fall, etc.)

Benefits of Little League:Benefits of Little League:The World SeriesThe World Series

• In all eight divisions, more In all eight divisions, more than 30,000 games are played than 30,000 games are played in less than two months to in less than two months to determine eight World determine eight World ChampionsChampions

• Entry fee of $100 per team is Entry fee of $100 per team is for ENTIRE tournament, up to for ENTIRE tournament, up to and including the World Seriesand including the World Series

• Leagues advancing beyond Leagues advancing beyond district level are reimbursed at district level are reimbursed at a rate of $1 per milea rate of $1 per mile

•Media coverage is superior to any other youth sport Media coverage is superior to any other youth sport in the world -- ABC Wide World of Sports, ESPN, in the world -- ABC Wide World of Sports, ESPN, ESPN2, USA Today. World Wide Web (Internet) -- ESPN2, USA Today. World Wide Web (Internet) -- just to name a fewjust to name a few

Benefits of Little League:Benefits of Little League:Cost SavingsCost Savings

• Free Rule Books• Free Operating Manuals• Free Manager and Coach Education Program• 125 Free Background Checks• Tournament Travel Reimbursement• Affordable Insurance Coverage• Grants Available

Benefits of Little League:Benefits of Little League:Training and EducationTraining and Education

• Clinics and Seminars for Clinics and Seminars for volunteers are offered at the volunteers are offered at the Region Headquarters and at Region Headquarters and at International Headquarters in International Headquarters in Williamsport, Pa.Williamsport, Pa.

• Clinics and extensive resource Clinics and extensive resource materials are available for materials are available for Managers, Coaches, Umpires, Managers, Coaches, Umpires, League Officers, etc.League Officers, etc.

• Summer Camp programsSummer Camp programs

• Al & Al manager and coach Al & Al manager and coach clinics offered locally in MAclinics offered locally in MA

Benefits of Little League:Benefits of Little League:Coaches Resource CenterCoaches Resource Center

• Free to all Chartered Leagues

• Updated Regularly

• Features both video and text based articles as well as the latest Little League news

• Content specific areas for baseball, softball, and minor leagues, with more to come

http://www.LittleLeagueCoach.org

Temporary Access Code: NL0609

Benefits of Little League:Benefits of Little League:Service and SupportService and Support

• Free rules interpretation service by phone and email• Operating Manuals with recommendations for

structuring league activities are provided every year (include sample schedules and board positions)

• Full time staff available to answer questions and concerns

• Experienced District and State staff to support Little Leagues in MA

• Published annually• Stories, photos, games and

more ... just for kids• Mailed DIRECTLY to the homes

of Little League Managers whose leagues have sent in rosters through the internet or computer diskette

• Completely FREE

Little League MagazineLittle League Magazinepresented bypresented by

Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball

Little League Youth ClinicLittle League Youth Clinic and Skills Challenge and Skills Challenge

•Offered through an exclusive partnership with the Baseball Factory•For baseball players League Age 11-12•Four hour on-field workout

•Hitting •Pitching•Fielding•Base Running•Catching

•Players receive evaluations and educational handouts with drills and tips for continued on field success.•Top challenge performers at the event highlighted on BaseballFactory.com

Little League Little League National TryoutsNational Tryouts

•Offered through an exclusive partnership with The Baseball Factory•For baseball players in the Senior and Big League Divisions•Professional Workout•Evaluation from a pro-scout•Instruction•College Recruiting Information

•Parent and Player Seminars•Free college recruiting calendar

Child Protection ProgramChild Protection Program

• Originally Developed in Originally Developed in ’96’96

• Designed to educate Designed to educate leagues on keeping their leagues on keeping their programs safe and programs safe and healthyhealthy

• Recently revised to Recently revised to include background include background checkschecks

• 125 free checks/league125 free checks/league

• “For our area’s three Little Leagues (1,700 kids, 140 teams) the Little League organization has been there, from the DA, all the way up through the regional centers, to Little League Headquarters.”

• “The internet has been great. It’s just so convenient. Last year we had people registering on-line, and were able to do background checks and use the computer to find out plenty about the program.”

• “The support from the web as well as from the districts and main headquarters (Little League International) is better than other programs that we looked at. When you need help you can always get and answer, because the people at the Little League offices are really helpful.”

What other’s have said..What other’s have said..Service…

What other’s have saidWhat other’s have said..Structure…

• “Little League provides structure. There are no arguments about playing rules, and no concerns about judgments made by the league because Little League provides specific guidelines.”

• “We didn’t have to invent anything. There is a wealth of things to look at (instructional material) and its comfortable saying we can get better by doing what is out there. Since we’ve joined we’ve helped three areas that did not have programs before.”

• “When we started we had six board members with Little League-age kids and we had a great working relationship between our league and the recreation department. We did not have to do a lot of hard selling. We said to the rec. department, ‘Here’s the handbook and the rulebook that comes with the name of Little league,’ and from there it was pretty easy to say, ‘That makes sense’.”

• “Joining Little League created interest for kids. It’s a feather in our cap if we say we belong to Little League. Being with Little League helps show we are trying to improve, and do good things for our program.”

• “We now have name recognition. No matter where you go in neighboring towns, the community people see uniformity (The rules are the same, each team has Little League patches on there uniforms, etc.). I think being in Little League creates a whole different awareness for the program, and we are building a tradition of Little League Baseball.”

What other’s have said..What other’s have said..Little League Stands Out …

New League Incentive Package

• As a newly chartered Little League Program, you will receive the following:– 50 Additional Rule Books for your first season

(in addition to the 2 per team you will already receive)

– 50% off your league’s Little League uniform patch order for your first season

– Your league’s charter fees will be waived in full for your second year of affiliation

• Gratis supplies and regular mailingsGratis supplies and regular mailings

• Playing rules interpretation servicePlaying rules interpretation service

• Training seminars and clinicsTraining seminars and clinics

• Democratic voice in rule changesDemocratic voice in rule changes

• Protected boundariesProtected boundaries

• Insurance: Low rates -- broad coverageInsurance: Low rates -- broad coverage

• Time-tested safety rules and regulationsTime-tested safety rules and regulations

• Tax exemption assistanceTax exemption assistance

• Wide range of programs, including Challenger Wide range of programs, including Challenger Division for physically/mentally disabled youthDivision for physically/mentally disabled youth

• International Tournament: One-time entry fee International Tournament: One-time entry fee annually, AND mileage reimbursement for teams annually, AND mileage reimbursement for teams advancing beyond Districtadvancing beyond District

Why Little League?Why Little League?The Top TenThe Top Ten