Structure of Little League Baseball and
Softball
The First Level: The Local Little League
Each Little League program is organized with a
community. The league establishes its own boundaries with certain
restrictions (explained later in this section). It is only from
within this territory that the league may register its players.
All league personnel, including the officers, managers, coaches,
umpires, auxiliary, field workers, etc., should be volunteers
interested in providing the benefits of a Little League program to
the youth of their community. Each league is guided by a Board of
Directors, usually five to 25 adult volunteers from the community.
There are now more than 7,400 Little League programs in more than
100 countries around the globe.
Although Little League regulations do not prohibit payments to
umpires or other personnel, such employment is strongly discouraged.
Those who work with children at the local league level should be
interested only in volunteering their time to make their community a
better place. The local league Board of Directors, elected from and
by the adult members of the league, is responsible for the
day-to-day operations of the league within the rules, regulations
and policies of Little League. The local league is encouraged to
become incorporated, but it is not required.
Local Little Leagues are also provided with a suggested formula
for organization, elections, etc., known as the league's
"Constitution." Each league's Constitution must be reviewed and
approved at the Regional Headquarters level.
To accomplish its goals, the Little League organization protects
the integrity of each player, each team, and each community. Little
League programs operate within specific boundaries for each league's
territory to permit participation by all eligible youngsters within
the boundaries. Adults in communities where no chartered Little
League programs/divisions exist can organize a program with help
from Little League Headquarters.
Each local league in the Little League program establishes its
own boundaries with the total population not to exceed 20,000 within
the boundaries. There are some exceptions to this as determined by
the Charter Committee in Williamsport. A league's boundaries must
not overlap or encroach on another chartered Little League's
boundaries.
Although leagues may assess a registration fee, used to purchase
uniforms and equipment, maintain fields, etc., the fee cannot be a
prerequisite for playing. The Little League philosophy does not
permit any eligible candidate to be turned away. Emphasizing the
spirit of Little League, rules require that every child plays in
every game.
The Second Level: The District For administrative and
tournament purposes, roughly 10 to 20 leagues in a given area
usually comprise a district. The District Administrator is an
experienced volunteer elected by the constituent leagues to counsel,
direct, and provide leadership in the policies and rules of the
Little League program and to serve as liaison between the leagues
and the Regional Director.
The District Administrator organizes the district tournament and
attends the periodic International Congress where Little League
rules and regulations are democratically reviewed and revised for
the betterment of the program. There are more than 450 District
Administrators worldwide, each with a staff of appointed and/or
elected assistants to help more effectively serve his or her
leagues. It is recommended, but not required, that the District
become incorporated.
The Third Level: The Region The District
Administrators report to the Regional Director, of which there are
five in the United States. As part of the staff of Little League
Baseball, Incorporated, the Regional Directors work out of Regional
Centers at St. Petersburg, Florida; San Bernardino, California;
Indianapolis, Indiana, Bristol, Connecticut, and Waco, Texas.
Representatives for the International regions of Little League
maintain offices in Puerto Rico, Canada, Japan and Poland.
The Fourth Level: International Headquarters Little
League operations are led by Stephen D. Keener, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Little League Baseball. Mr. Keener responds to
the Little League Board of Directors, which includes eight field
District Administrators elected to rotating terms by fellow District
Administrators at the Congresses.
The full-time staff members of Little League Baseball,
Incorporated, work with District Administrators, their assistants,
and local league officials in developing new leagues, coordinating
tournaments, and assisting in the overall operation of a local
league program. Worldwide, there are about 110 full-time Little
League employees (about one for every 40,000 children and adult
volunteers).
Little League Headquarters, in agreement with its insurance
carrier, offers various services including the processing and
payment of accident claims under the programs offered by Little
League Baseball. The service speeds up the necessary processing and
provides a valuable service to affiliate leagues. The staff of
Little League is available to provide a full range of services to
more than 2.8 million participants registered in new and established
leagues throughout the year.
The headquarters building is the focal point of the Little League
complex of 66 acres in the Borough of South Williamsport, located
south of the city of Williamsport on U.S. Route 15, a main
north-south highway connecting Buffalo, New York and Washington,
D.C. The plot contains five diamonds, including two regulation
diamonds for Senior and Big League play, practice facilities,
housing, dining and recreation areas, Howard J. Lamade Stadium (site
of the annual World Series in August), a new World Series stadium,
the John W. Lundy Conference Center, and the Peter J. McGovern
Little League Museum.
The headquarters building houses all administrative and business
offices of Little League, as well as facilities for storage and
mailing of large quantities of materials distributed annually to
local leagues. Its operation is geared to five-day-a-week service
throughout the year.
More than 300 games are played on Little League Headquarters
diamonds from June to mid-August. Under scrutiny of headquarters
personnel, these games offer opportunities for research in many
areas of playing situations. As a result, new techniques in safety,
training, equipment, etc., are constantly in view.
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