Information from Little League International on the Child Protection Policy:
Being above reproach as a leader, role model, and mentor are the standards set by Little League® volunteers. Developing and maintaining a safe and healthy environment are critical to this positive outcome and to help support that, the Little League Child Protection Program requires all chartered Little League programs to adhere to the following requirements:
COMPLETE BACKGROUND CHECKS
Utilize the Little League volunteer application form to conduct annual background checks on volunteers and prohibit anyone with any offenses that would disqualify them as a participant in any Little League activity.
MANDATORY TRAINING & CONTINUING EDUCATION
Annually require all volunteers to complete an Abuse Awareness Training provided by USA Baseball or a comparable training.
MANDATORY REPORTING REQUIRMENTS
Report Child Abuse, including sexual abuse involving a minor, to the proper authorities within 24 hours.
NON-RETALIATION FOR REPORTING
Adopt a policy that prohibits retaliation against “good faith” reports of child abuse.
PROHIBIT ONE-ON-ONE INTERACTIONS
Adopt a policy that limits one-on-one contact with minors without being in an observable and interruptible distance from another adult.
All volunteers are required to complete the Little League Official Volunteer Application. Each league must conduct a background check for all board members, managers, coaches, umpires, and other volunteers or hired workers who provide regular service to the league and/or who have repetitive access to, or contact with, players or teams. The background check must, at a minimum, meet the standard of a nationwide criminal search, a national sex offender registry search, a review of the US Center for SafeSport’s Centralized Disciplinary Database, and the Little League International Ineligible/Suspended List.
Background checks conducted by JDP for local Little League programs include all of the required database searches. Little League provides every chartered league up to 125 free background checks through JD Palatine (JDP). JDP offers a quick and easy option for potential volunteers to complete their volunteer application and a background check in the same process – the JDP QuickApp . To use this tool, the League Official will input the potential participant’s information into the JDP platform, which automatically sends an email to the potential volunteer with a secure link to the Little League Official Volunteer Application for the potential volunteer to submit their own information for a background check.
For leagues that utilize Sports Connect, there is an opportunity for potential volunteers to complete the Official Little League Volunteer Application and background check in one platform. As the Preferred League Technology Platform Provider of Little League, Sports Connect is integrated together with JDP to provide a process for the league officer to review and approve a potential volunteer directly in the Sports Connect platform.
Commencing with the 2024 season, all individuals who complete the volunteer application for a league must also annually complete Abuse Awareness Training. This includes anyone who wishes to be a manager, coach, member of the Board of Directors, volunteer, and any other person who provides regular services to the league and/or has repetitive access to or contact with players or teams. Each local league is permitted to determine which specific abuse awareness training program should be completed by the volunteers in their league. Your league will provide you with information regarding the training program you must complete and how to provide verification of completion.
As a volunteer, you should review and understand the Little League Child Protection Program. If you have any questions, please contact Little League International, at: 570-326-1921; or e-mail: Support@LittleLeague.org.
Thank you,
Little League International
