Long Beach Plaza Little League: Challenger
Challenger Registrations
Signups for the 2009 Baseball Season
All students (ages 5 and up) in the Long Beach, Lakewood, Cerritos area are welcome to signup for District 38, Plaza Little League, Challenger Baseball.
Little League Challenger Division is a program for special needs children, this includes mentally and/or physically disables youth. The program is open to both boys and girls.
Signups will be on:
Saturday, January 31st from 11:00am to 3:00pm
Tuesday, February 3rd from 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Wednesday, February 4th from 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Straw Hat Pizza
6522 Spring St., Long Beach
(southeast corner of Spring and Palo Verde)
Cost is $35 per player.
For information, contact:
Orlando Gonzales 562-607-1095 oeg572@yahoo.com
Robin Sumner 562-860-7829 dpaddict@aol.com
Challenger Division of Little League - for Mentally and Physically Challenged Youth
The Challenger Division of Little League is a program for mentally and physically challenged youth, helping them to enjoy the full benefits of Little League participation in an athletic environment structured to their abilities. More than the skills of baseball learned through the experience, the value of the Little League Challenger Division is found in the proven therapeutic and socialization benefits of participating in sports, the strengthening of participants’ self-esteem, the opportunities to mainstream into other divisions of play, and the disciplines of teamwork, sportsmanship and fair play, which are hallmarks of the Little League program. The Little League Challenger Division provides the framework so Little League programs may offer a structured, athletic activity for all youth in their communities. Playing with the same equipment on the same fields, Challenger Division participants have the opportunity to experience the joys of pulling together as a team, being cheered, and earning awards for their achievements.
http://www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/divisions/challenger_brochurecolor_08.pdf
The Challenger Division was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League Baseball to enable boys and girls with physical and mental disabilities, ages 5 and up, to enjoy the game of baseball along with the millions of other children who participate in this sport worldwide.
Teams are set up according to abilities, rather than age, and can include as many as 15-20 players, who can participate in one of three levels: Tee-Ball, Coach-Pitch or Player Pitch.
Each player gets a chance at bat. The side is retired when the offense has batted through the roster, or when a pre-determined number of runs has been scored, or when three outs are recorded. Little League recommends that no score be kept during games. The Challenger players wear the same uniforms, shoulder patches and safety equipment as other Little League players.
One of the benefits of having a Challenger Division is that it encourages the use of "buddies" for the Challenger players. The buddies assist the Challenger players on the field but whenever possible, encourage the players to bat and make plays themselves. However, the buddy is always nearby to help when needed.
