To view past issues of the ASAP Newsletter, please visit

LittleLeague.org/ASAPNews

February/March 2016 • Volume 23/Number 1

Continuing the Little League® tradition of making it "safer for the kids."

ONLINE ASAP SAFETY PLAN

SUBMISSION IS NOW AVAILABLE! Through the Little League® Data Center (LittleLeague.org/datacenter), you can now upload your 2016 ASAP (A Safety Awareness Program) safety plan; and access and update your Facility Survey (ASAP Requirement #8). Email submissions will not be accepted, however, leagues and districts may still mail their safety plans to Little League International. To submit your plan electronically, select the Little League Data Center’s menu option “Submit ASAP Plan/Facility Survey.” Then select the “Safety Plan Submission” tab. First, you must upload the 2016 Qualified Safety Plan Registration Form (ASAP Requirement #15), either with your league’s complete safety plan, or you can upload it as a separate PDF file. Selecting the “Browse” button on the screen allows you to search and locate your plan and/or 2016 Qualified Safety Plan Registration Form. Once you’ve selected your file, click the green “paper clip” button to finish uploading your plan. You will see that your plan is now successfully uploaded to the site. A notification will be sent to Little League International verifying your

plan submission. You can check the Little League Data Center, or visit Little League’s website, at LittleLeague.org/ASAPplans, to see the plan’s review status. ASAP plans will not update on this site for two business days. If your league or district’s plan is not approved because it is missing documents, or adjustments are necessary, you can add additional files to the site using the same method as your initial upload. This submission will send verification to Little League International, and you will be notified when your plan has been approved. If you have more than one charter, the plan must be submitted for each league. Should you have questions about the upload process, or if you have issues accessing the Little League® Data Center, contact Jim Ferguson, Little League Assistant Director of Risk Management and Safety, at: 570-326-1921, ext. 2212; or jferguson@ LittleLeague.org. To contact the ASAP Hotline, call: 800-811-7443; or e-mail: [email protected].

ASAP SAFETY PLAN DEADLINES AND INCENTIVE INFORMATION The information and materials needed to complete your league’s 2016 A Safety Awareness Program (ASAP) plan are currently available at: LittleLeague.org/safety.

As Safety Officers complete the 2016 ASAP plan for their leagues, they are reminded that a copy of the plan is to be mailed to Little League® International (539 U.S. Route 15 Highway, Williamsport, Pa., 177010485) along with the 2016 Qualified Safety Program Regulation form, OR submitted online through the LittleLeague.org/DataCenter. The deadline for districts to complete the process regarding the district monetary incentive for early local league participation is Friday, March 11 for plans to be delivered an approved. Plans submitted via e-mail will not be accepted. The deadline for local leagues not participating in the District incentive is April 1, 2016.

TOURNAMENT GAME SITE SELECTION

Submitting your plan is a requirement if your district intends to host any Little League International Tournament games above the district level. All host leagues must have an approved ASAP plan, and must be implemented before the start of the regular season to qualify for the current year. Creating a local league or district-wide incentive may encourage more leagues to participate

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in the ASAP program. Remember that tournaments or special games events should not be awarded to leagues without an ASAP plan.

REMINDERS

• Create your free Little League University account today at LittleLeagueU.org to access training and education content for Little League parents, coaches, local league administrators, and district officials. Come learn with us! • All local Little League programs must be diligent and transparent in their accounting procedures. Implement a series of checks and balances to protect against financial problems. Little League offers direction in this area in the League Officials section on the Little League University website, LittleLeagueU.org. • Now is the time of year to conduct background checks. The first 125 checks for each league have been paid for by Little League International at no charge to the league/district. After the first 125 checks are complete the cost for additional checks is $1 per check. For additional information or to complete your background checks visit LittleLeague. org/background.

• Leagues are encouraged to complete first aid and CPR training prior to the start of their regular season. Coaches, Managers, league officials, and other volunteers with repetitive access to children are to complete this training. • The most recent editions of the ASAP Newsletter are available online, at: LittleLeague.org/ASAPNews. The information presented in past issues can help to inform and educate your league on a series of best safety practices.   We recommend incorporating these five items into your next Board of Directors meeting and discuss any questions or concerns. Develop a course of action and a realistic timeline to accomplish them, and ask your League Presidents to give you the name of the person who will be responsible for each task.

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Twice a year, in January and June, Little League® provides updates to the state statutes affecting player safety throughout the program. The current information about concussions, child abuse reporting, and state background check laws are available at: www.LittleLeague.org/concussions. Also, Little League has released new information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) with regards to concussions, and a microsite that leagues can add to their own websites for up-to-date information.  For leagues in Connecticut and Illinois, there have been significant amendments to their Concussion state laws since the last update in June 2015.

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CONCUSSION INFORMATION

Little League requires all leagues and teams to comply with all applicable laws and to review the information and training materials on concussions, which are free of charge, and available on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website. In addition, leagues can now embed the CDC’s concussion information onto their websites. This access also will provide leagues with resources, tools, and safety information. The microsite provides baseball and softball information, as well as training, videos, and safety tips. All content is maintained by the CDC and syndicated to your site. When information is updated, it will be automatically placed in the organization’s HEADS UP content. Visit the cdc.gov/headsup for more information on how to embed the code

on your local league website, or email [email protected] for technical help.

FIRST ADVANTAGE BACKGROUND CHECKS

Striving to create a safe and fun environment for Little Leaguers® to enjoy tops the list of reasons why conducting annual background checks is mandatory in Little League®. Per Little League Regulation I (c) 8 and 9, national background checks are required for the following positions: managers, coaches, practice coaches, Board of Directors members, umpires, and others, including equipment manager, field maintenance staff, scorekeeper(s), announcer(s), general volunteers, concession workers and team parents. There may be other

positions within a league or district that would fit the “repetitive access” or “regular service” criteria. As a reminder, if umpires provide service to multiple leagues in your district, then each league is responsible for conducting a separate background check. To begin conducting background checks, the league needs a fully completed “Little League Volunteer Application” from each individual. If a volunteer is returning to the league for the coming season and met the background check criteria from the previous season, then the returning volunteer application may be used. All returning volunteers need to undergo a background check every year. If a local league is utilizing Little League’s partnership with First Advantage to

complete the background check process, then a social security number is required only the first year on the original volunteer application. Thereafter the returning Volunteer application does not request the social security number, or date of birth, as that information is redacted in the First Advantage system. The league only needs to access the person returning from the history file and rerun the check for the current year (which you can redact or conceal on the original Volunteer Application after it has been entered into the database), along with a copy of a government-issued photo ID to verify all information on the application. Remember, Little League works with First Advantage Screening Solutions to provide local leagues and districts with a site that allows leagues to search a criminal records

database of more than 350 million records. Little League International provides the first 125 searches per chartered league and district are free of charge to the local league and district. Any additional background checks will cost the league or district $1. In addition to the requirements of the background check regulation, Little League strongly encourages all leagues to also check any new state laws available, at: LittleLeague.org/ StateLaws.

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Social Media and Websites Offer Easy Ways to Communicate, Share Information

There are several benefits to expanding your current online and social media presence. Local leagues and districts are encouraged to have websites that provide information about their activities in the local community; while also utilizing the various social platforms to post and share the latest news.

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It is beneficial for a local league or district website to list the local league name, Little League® affiliation, registration, facilities locations, board members, and other information for parents and volunteers that could be valuable. However, any league or district that wants to host a website must submit their league URL (universal resource locator) into the Little League Data Center annually, since it includes Little League’s registered trademarks. The site address/url is listed under the league president.

• Always obtain prior permission from individuals if you are posting a video or photo. This is a great way to interact and engage with the community, but you need consent and permission. One idea to consider is having parents fill out the 2016 Model Release form at the start of the season if you are planning on posting photos and videos. The 2016 Model Release Form can be found at LittleLeague.org/ModelRelease.

Using any form of social media can benefit the communication within your league, including parents, volunteers, and the community. Facebook is a good tool to share information since it has a broad range of users. If you are planning on taking advantage of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media venues, remember these tips:

• Refrain from posting controversial topics or messages. What you post represents your league and it’s wise to maintain a professional, inclusive and respectful approach at all times. • Be creative. Think of different ways to use social media to involve players, parents and community

members, and it’s a great way to connect with schools, organizations, and potential sponsors. For both website maintenance and social media postings, find a volunteer to help you. It’s important to maintain content that is up to date and accurate. Building trust from your constituents is critical. The best way to do that is to promote and provide regular oversite. Little League University (LittleLeagueu.org), Little League’s new training and education website, offers several articles on the advantages of using the Internet (website and social media) and describes several proven ways to organize and manage your online presence.

NOTES TO HELP YOUR LITTLE LEAGUE GET THE SEASON OFF AND RUNNING

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With a new Little League® season comes new ideas and innovations to share. This year, Little League is accepting charters exclusively online; and again will be receiving player and coach information through the Little League Data Center. Local leagues can also experience the latest in training and education through the recently-launched Little League University website, LittleLeagueU.org. The annual chartering process for the 2016 season is the first in which each Little League® will charter and purchase insurance online through the Little League Data Center. This will be the third year where local leagues will be expected to provide player and coach information before drafting players on to team rosters. By using your league ID Number to log in to LittleLeague.org/DataCenter, your league can update league officers and upload the required player and coach data. It is recommended that the Player Agent adjust team and player numbers following the completion of your registration process and before tryouts are held. As a reminder, the player/coach data does NOT require that players, coaches, and managers be assigned to rostered teams at the time of upload. Leagues have the option of updating that information later in the season. • Leagues are encouraged to carefully review their charter application to ensure accuracy with fees, credits and debits, and contact information. Please, keep in mind that a partially-completed application will delay the process. • After receipt of this season’s approved charter documentation, league supplies and rulebooks will be delivered to the League President. Every effort will be made to distribute the materials before the start of the season.

• Secure Insurance coverage for this season. Note: A “Deferred Fee” message in your league’s Little League Data Center profile only applies to a league’s charter fees. If insurance fees were not paid in full and deferred after January 1, 2016, then the insurance coverage effective date will not be until the date that the insurance fees are received, paid in full, and approved for each chartered Little League. Lastly, LittleLeagueU.org is the newest innovation in training and education. Create your free Little League University account today to access training and education content for Little League parents, coaches, local league administrators, and district officials. The dedicated, user-friendly portal features customized instruction, an assortment of practice plans for all facets

of the program. The new website builds on the success of the Coaches Resource Center and Umpire Resource Center that were launched in 2008. LittleLeagueU.org replaces these two websites, providing a one-stop online experience for all Little League volunteers and parents to receive training and educational materials. The Little League University website is responsive and optimized to be viewed on mobile devices, tablets, and desktop and laptop computers. A free account can be created using a valid e-mail address; or through the Facebook, Google Plus and LinkedIn social sign in. For questions or comments about Little League University, email Little League, at: [email protected].

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COMMON SENSE FROM THE FIELD Start a reporting system from each team to the league safety officer to review accidents, near accidents, and safety ideas. Devote a minimum of 20 minutes of the monthly general meeting to review this information. – District 46, California All bleachers will have protective awnings to stop fly balls and safety rails. – Elgin National LL, Illinois

Each manager is given a specific search area to cover in the instance of a Code Adam. – Warren Township LL, Indiana

We put cones and traffic flags on the main roadways leading into and surrounding the fields to control speed and flow of traffic to ensure the safety of pedestrians. – Lakewood LL, New Jersey

The Safety Officer will be at the park every night observing and enforcing safety rules and policies to help prevent injuries. The safety officer will visit each team periodically to ensure that safety regulations are being followed. – Pembroke Pine Optimist LL, Florida

When injury occurs make sure to stop all play to protect the player from further injury, as well as those not being closely monitored due to the focus on injured player. – Boling–New Gulf Youth LL, Texas

To submit ideas for Common Sense, email us at [email protected].

TIPS FROM LITTLE LEAGUE®

All Board of Directors, managers, coaches and any other persons, volunteers or hired workers, who provide regular service to the league and/or have repetitive access to, or contact with, players or teams must annually complete/submit a Little League Volunteer Application. The league must also conduct a background check on all personnel listed above in accordance with Regulations I (c) 8 and 9.

Fax: 641-672-1996 E-mail: [email protected] All materials in the ASAP News may be reprinted by chartered Little Leagues without prior permission. ASAP Hotline: 800/811-7443 ©2016 Little League Baseball, Incorporated and Musco Sports Lighting, LLC. All rights reserved. ASAP News is a service of Little League® Baseball and Softball facilitated and published by Musco Lighting 539 US Highway 15 South Williamsport, PA 17702