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Little League International and the Western Region are giving guidance shortly for restarting the season. You can see their comments below.
It is my hope that every league can come up with a plan to have a season restart after May 11. (Or sooner if allowed by local guidance).
This is GOOD for the kids, especially after having their lives made chaotic by the COVID-19 virus.
Many states are beginning to reopen and we think Washington is not too far behind.
We will be getting some further guidance by Western in the next couple of days regarding restarting the season. I would ask all Boards to hold on anything regarding season decisions until after we have our local State DA conference – which is this weekend.
Please read below for further details from Western/Little League
JP
District Administrator
We understand that many of our districts, leagues, volunteers, parents, and players want to get back to the Little League® field, and so do we, but our primary focus is on the safety and well-being of all of our members around the world. Little League International will continue to monitor the progression of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak both in the United States and around the world and provide updates to its local leagues and districts. However, especially as certain states and municipalities begin their phased approaches to reopening, it is highly encouraged that each league and district adheres to the guidelines set forth by their respective state and local government and health officials in terms of public gatherings and sporting events when determining when it is safe to return to normal activities after May 11. Leagues should contact their local health authority for guidance prior to resuming any Little League activities.
As mentioned last week, we are planning to have more information and guidance to our volunteers by early May. Please continue to visit LittleLeague.org/Coronavirus for all the latest updates. Within these updated guidelines, information included will be:
• Pre-start checklist
• Team adjustments and Interleague Play/Combined Teams guidance
• Finance and insurance review
• Scheduling assistance
• Approved rulings for 2020 rule and regulation updates
• Best practices in returning to Little League play
As your leagues prepare to assess the resumption of Little League activities, we strongly encourage you to follow the important guidance outlined here. Additional items will be included in the Pre-Start Checklist:
• Determine the start date for practices and games according to guidance above. Little League International strongly encourages leagues to contact their local/municipal/county health department to receive the most appropriate recommendation for your specific league. If your league plans to fully alter your offerings for the 2020 season, please contact SeasonUpdate@LittleLeague.org.
• Contact board members, volunteers, managers/coaches, and families to confirm if anyone is unable to continue in their position for the rest of the planned season.
• Confirm field availability for the rest of the season and, potentially, for an extended season (through June/July/August).
• If fields are unavailable because of local municipality healthy/social distancing/gathering restrictions, your league should not resume Little League activities in any way.
• Develop and share your league’s refund policy for families and sponsors that are unable to participate for the rest of the year.
• Please review the Financial Guide at LittleLeague.org/Coronavirus for more information.
• Determine if new manager/player counts based on any new registrants or anyone unable to participate will require rebalancing teams.
• Confirm that all existing and new volunteers have completed the required background screening process.
• During these challenging times, Little League® International wants to recognize the incredible volunteers and players who are playing an important role in keeping our communities safe during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. From league volunteers who serve as essential workers risking their lives on the front line, to the dedicated Little Leaguers working to make masks and other protective equipment for their community, join us in celebrating these individuals by submitting a nomination below. Little League International will recognize a number of these individuals on its official social media platforms (@LittleLeague) and leagues are encouraged to share these stories on their platforms as well. Submit a nomination today!
• New content series, Time Called, features conversations with Little League International staff and Little League Baseball® World Series manager from Elmora (N.J.) Little League, Jairo Labrador. Also, we caught up with MLB Umpire and Little League Umpire Advisory Board member, Gerry Davis. If you have future topics you’d like to see us cover, submit them to Chris Downs (CDowns@LittleLeague.org).
• If you have questions on ASAP, including your District participation percentage, please contact Chris Taddeo (CTaddeo@LittleLeague.org).
• Please be aware of any online and email scams that may be occurring more frequently as more people spend time using email and social media. Encourage your staff and league to review this Don’t Let This Happen: Duped Into Issuing Online Payment.
Thank you for your patience, dedication, and leadership in your communities. Please be on the lookout for additional, important communications in the coming weeks.