League Safety Officer Manual. League Name. League # - -

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2 League Safety Officer Manual League Name League # - -

3 Dear Safety Officer, ASAP Safety Officer Manual & League Resources CD: 2012 October, 2011 Thank you! Due to your efforts and others like you committed to improving Little League through safety, we ve seen extraordinary results in injury prevention. In 2011, 87 percent of all leagues voluntarily operated a safety plan. That s incredible! Since ASAP began in 1995, injuries in all of Little League have decreased by 76%. That s great! Together, we are making a difference. But we need everyone to get involved; not just for one year, but to maintain effective safety programs in your league year after year. Now is the time! And here is what you need if you ve never developed a safety plan. New This Year and Reminders ALL safety plans must be submitted WITH the Qualified Safety Plan Registration form included in this packet. Your safety plan WILL NOT be shown as received without the form stating who is submitting it, and what league(s) the safety plan covers. All safety plan materials must be postmarked no later than April 13, 2012 to win the cash award and enter the awards contest. Leagues working toward the District Incentive must have all requirements approved at Little League International by March 13. ALL LEAGUES not just those operating a safety plan must have applicable volunteers fill out the 2012 Volunteer Application Form as well as conduct a nationwide background check on all applicable volunteers (Reg. I(b), Reg. I(c)8 and Reg. I(c)9). The material enclosed contains information to help you learn more about performing the background checks required under the Child Protection Program. The 13 minimum requirements remain the same as last year to win a cash award for your league based on the number of teams your safety plan will help protect. Remember, one representative from each team must attend the first aid clinic and the player fundamentals clinic you provide to all coaches/managers, and each coach/manager must attend these clinics at least once every three years to be eligible. However, licensed health care professionals are exempt from the first aid training. Please tell how your league is tracking this requirement in your plan. Please keep a copy of the complete plan for next year, and distribute printed copies of your plan to appropriate volunteers! Awards for the 2012 ASAP Best Safety Plan Contest All leagues submitting a qualified safety program with the qualified safety program registration and facility survey who take Little League Chartis Insurance for player accident coverage will win a cash award based on the number of teams covered by their plan. First and second place winners from each region for best safety plan: $500 safety award; recognized in ASAP Newsletter; First place winner from each region: Little League World Series trip for the league president and safety officer in August; Best safety plan in the nation: a Musco Lighting 200-foot field Light-Structure Green lighting system. Inside This Mailing Included in this mailing are the updated pages for the Safety Officer Manual, as well as a CD of the entire manual, including: The complete manual, including all revised pages; All forms, registration material and documents needed; The software to view the manual; A winning sample safety plan by Warwick, RI, Little League; The last 12 years issues of the ASAP News, so you have these important references; Safety signs to print, post and distribute around your sports complexes; Several resources: * registration materials; * background check information; * several slide show presentations for league administrators; and other important resources for league administrators. We re sending the material on CD so you can view the entire kit on a computer, and print as many copies as you need. The material is also available on Little League s web site at: We re glad we can help you make it safer for the kids.

4 Table of Contents Some of the ideas in ASAP are so simple one wonders why we haven t thought of them before. - David McClain, Safety Officer Tuckahoe National/American LL INTRODUCTION The Safety Officer Opportunity YOUR SAFETY PROGRAM Help in creating a program for your league 1 2 COMMON SENSE More than 300 ideas from leagues like yours 3 PLAY IT SAFE A timeless guide to safer league operations 4 FORMS Everything you need to register your safety program 5 ASAP NEWS Store your ASAP newsletters here 6 ASAP SIGNS Keep your volunteers thinking of safety with these 7

5 The Safety Officer Opportunity history of the safety officer The position of safety officer was created by Little League Baseball in the 1960s, but in many leagues it never achieved its potential. Often, the safety officer was the person responsible for filling out insurance forms. In 1995, ASAP was introduced with the goal of re-emphasizing the position of safety officer. Resources have been devoted to helping safety officers prevent injuries, rather than simply reacting to them. The mission ASAP was created from the grassroots of Little League. A focus group of Little League volunteers shaped the safety officer s mission: To create awareness, through education and information, of the opportunities to provide a safer environment for kids and all participants of Little League Baseball. A Network Of ideas tools for a safer league THE BENEFITS Of asap As a safety officer, you ve got thousands of partners in leagues across the country. You ll receive ASAP News every month. Each issue of the newsletter contains safety ideas that may make your league safer for the kids. The toll-free ASAP hotline and an ASAP address allow safety officers to easily exchange their safety ideas and questions. This notebook was developed with the help of veteran safety officers. Inside you ll find: Guidelines for creating a qualified safety program A Little Common Sense About Safety More than 1,000 ideas from fellow safety officers Play It Safe A timeless guide to safer league operations A facility survey to help you assess your facilities and target needs Knowing that you have made your league safer for the kids is the primary benefit of ASAP. But there are secondary rewards when you use this notebook to create a qualified safety program. The ASAP Awards recognize outstanding safety programs with prizes including a Musco Little League Lighting System. And leagues who use Chartis Insurance Companies receive a 20 percent credit on their accident insurance premium when they register their program with Little League International. The Future Your efforts will collectively raise safety awareness among participants of Little League Baseball. Safety will become a habit, and activities will become safer for the kids. Your safety program will survive transitions in leadership, and your league will gain control over injury and liability concerns. As a dedicated safety officer, you really can impact the lives of future generations. October

6 Resources

7 Baseball is a game of inches. The difference between a hit and a miss or a catch and a drop can be minuscule. So hand-eye coordination is critical. Yet 30 percent of all athletes are hindered by vision deficiencies, according to the International Academy of SportsVision. That means tens of thousands of Little Leaguers may be performing below their abiity because of eye problems. Most eye problems are correctable. Safety officers can help identify kids with previously undetected vision problems. The eye chart on page five can be used with the directions at right to screen the players in your league. M ay 1996 Volume 3 Number 5 Continuing the Little League tradition of making it safer for the kids. Kids who repeatedly squint, blink, rub their eyes or tilt their heads may be signaling vision problems. Other warning signs include complaints of headaches, blurred or double vision, and sub-par athletic performance. Safety officers who detect or suspect a vision problem should inform the athlete and the parents and recommend they visit an eye doctor for a complete examination. For a free copy of the brochure Seeing is Achieving send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: International Academy of SportsVision 200 South Progress Ave. Harrisburg,PA IMPORTANT - The eye charton page 5 is intended to be used as a simple screening test and does not take the place of a complete eye examination. The test is designed to detect nearsightedness. It does not detect farsightedness, lazy eye, or other eye defects. Directions: 1. Athletes who wear glasses or contacts should wear them for thetest. 2. The test can be done inside or outside, but not in direct sunlight. 3. Tape the charttoawallortreeat eye level. Have your athletes stand exactly 20 feet from the chart.(itispreferable to call the players over one at a time, so they cannot memorize the chart while waiting their turn.) 4. Ask the athlete to cover the left eye and read the smallest row of letters he or she can see clearly with the right eye. Then cover the right eye and read with the left.finally, ask the athlete to read the smallest line possible with both eyes open. 5. Failuretoread the smallest row oflettersfrom a distance of 20 feet indicates less than normal visual acuity, and the athlete should be referred to a sports vision specialist for a complete examination. Adapted from the International Academy of SportsVision brochure Seeing is Achieving Resources and Support Materials Little League Resources Publications: Operating Manual A guide to sound administration of the Little League program in the local community. Official rule books All divisions. Contains official regulations/rules as well as valuable safety information Oh Say Can You See? Poor play often caused by bad vision Illustration: Kris Atha You can test your players ASAP News A monthly newsletter directed to safety officers gives you a forum for exchanging ideas and learning about safety issues on how to make it safer for the kids. Available on-line at: org/learn/ newsletters/asap_newsletter.htm ASAP Hotline: (800) , address: asap@musco.com Little League web site: littleleague.org which has publications for league officials, parents, safety officers and more for successfully running your local league. E-News Sign up any league member on Little League s web site for all the latest safety information, rules and other updates. Receive notification of the latest ASAP News availability, Little League press releases and World Series updates. Sign up on Little League s website at: Programs: ASAP A Safety Awareness Program Emergency Management Training Program Practical first aid training no coach or manager should be without. Available through Little League Headquarters Insurance Services at (570) The above may be ordered from Little League Baseball, Inc. or through your District Administrator Local Resources League Volunteers District Administrators/District Safety Officers Ideas from other leagues in your area Police Departments Traffic safety education/drug awareness/resistance education (D.A.R.E.) Fire Departments First aid training/emergency preparation Businesses Address specific concerns: Bike shop talks about bicycle safety; sporting goods about safety equipment High School and Professional Coaches Fundamentals training/player and coach education Who to Call If you have a safety idea to contribute... If you have questions about ASAP... Call the ASAP Hotline: (800) Or send us an asap@musco.com If you have questions about Little League insurance... If you want to order safety materials... Call Little League Headquarters: (570) Important Phone Numbers Little League International: Jim Ferguson, Assistant Director of Risk Management, (570) Regional Center: ( ) - District Administrator: ( ) - District Safety Officer: ( ) - League President: ( ) - Police Department: ( ) - Fire Department: ( ) - October

8 Basic 13 Requirements for a ASAP Safety Plan Requirement 1 Have an active Safety Officer on file with Little League International. This position needs to be a dedicated person, not the president Update your Little League either through: - The Little League Data Center - Or return the League Officer Change Form to Little League (fax to ) Requirement 2 PUBLISH and distribute a paper copy of the applicable safety manual to all appropriate and applicable volunteers. Print and distribute the safety plan to all staff: concession manual to concession workers, equipment policies to facilities crew, first aid to managers and coaches, etc. Keep copies in common areas for all volunteers. While safety plans may be posted on the internet, individuals must be provided with printed copies to carry with them to the areas where their duties are performed. Samples can be found in the example safety manuals on the CD or Little League web site Include all relevant material for coaches, including these minimum standards. Keep a complete copy for your league. Send a copy to your District Administrator or District Safety Officer. Little League International does not keep copies for leagues future use. Talk Safety (Article on Importance of raising safety awareness) Add to Safety Plan Annually Requirement 3 Post and distribute emergency and key officials phone numbers. Include league president and safety officer, consider head umpire, board members. Include emergency procedures for handling injuries and who to contact to track/report them. Include emergency phone numbers for ambulance, police, fire department, etc. Emergency Plan (Example of Emergency Plan)

9 Requirement 4-For 2012 LexisNexis must be used with Use the Little League official Volunteer Application Form and check for sexual abuse. Managers, coaches, board members and any others, volunteers or hired workers, who provide regular services to the league and/or have repetitive access to or contact with players or teams must fill out an application form as well as provide a government-issued photo identification card for ID verification. Check name spellings and numbers for accuracy. League must at a minimum conduct a search of the Department of Justice s nationwide sex offender registry, using Volunteer Application Forms, on all applicable volunteers. Information on running background checks that go beyond this minimum to contain not only references of those on a sex offender registry, but also include other crimes of a sexual and non-sexual nature, can be found on the Little League website May conduct nationwide criminal background check using resources such as LexisNexis. Anyone refusing to fill out the Volunteer Application is ineligible to be even a league member. League president must retain these confidential forms for the year of service. Do not send in volunteers filled out forms; provide a blank copy of league s application form from correct year with league safety plan. Background Checks (Explains benefits of LexisNexis check and the necessity of background checks) Volunteer Application 2012 Volunteer Badges (Example of a way to make sure volunteers have been checked) Requirement 5 Provide and require fundamentals training, with at least one coach or manager from each team attending (fundamentals including hitting, sliding, fielding, pitching, etc.). It is not necessary for the first aid and fundamentals training to be held before your league s Safety Plan is submitted. It is acceptable for scheduled dates/locations to be listed to meet the requirement. Document the date, location, and who is required to attend as well as who did attend. Intent is to provide training to ALL coaches and managers; a minimum of one participant per team must attend training annually. Training qualifies a volunteer for 3 years; but one team representative is still required each year to attend the training. High school, college or experienced league coaches can be great resources to provide the training to a league s coaches/managers. Break down the training to specific divisions of play, giving the needed information for Minor Leagues separate from Little League, or Juniors,

10 Seniors, etc. Provide training appropriate to the age and skills of the players involved. Give softball and baseball specific training as needed. Districts can assist by providing training sessions on a district-wide basis. Training should be modified annually to meet the local needs of players and their facilities. Michele Smith Conditioning (Techniques for conditioning) Michele Smith Stretching (Techniques for Stretching) Warm-Up Exercises Learn-Teach Dangers of Over-Use Weather its Safe to Play Curveballs-Catchers-Fatigue Fundamentally Sound Ball Avoid Collisions Requirement 6 Require first-aid training for coaches and managers, with at least one coach or manager from each team attending. It is not necessary for the first aid and training fundamentals to be held before Safety Plan is submitted. It is acceptable for scheduled dates/locations to be listed to meet requirement. Due to their training and education, it is not necessary for licensed medical doctors, licensed registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and paramedics to attend first aid training in order to meet requirement; however, it is recommended that leagues utilize these professionals from their league/community to present the training. Other individuals who attend various outside first aid training and courses are not exempt. Document the date, location, and who is required to attend as well as who did attend. Again, the intent is to provide training to ALL team coaches/managers; a minimum of one participant per team must attend training annually. Training qualifies volunteer for 3 years, but one team representative still needed each year. First Aid Training First Aid Clinic Outline (Outline from EMTP program for giving first aid training) Could You Save a Life

11 Requirement 7 Require coaches/umpires to walk fields for hazards before use. Recommend leagues use form to track and document any facility issues needing to be fixed. Common sense activity look for rocks, glass, holes, etc. Specify who is responsible for doing this home coach, visitors, umpire, or all? Hey Coach (Checklist poster for coaches reminding of the need to check the field before playing begins) Umpire Guidelines (Card for umpires to make sure field is checked before playing begins) Requirement 8 Complete the annual Little League Facility Survey As a requirement each year, it can help leagues find and correct facility concerns. Provided by mailing to League Safety Officers, also available electronically from web site - or asap@musco.com Excel spreadsheet and pdf included on Safety Officer Manual CD for easy filing or recording for future use and records. Keep a copy on file for future needs; Little League does not maintain copies of surveys. Facility Survey Explained (Explains how the Facility Survey should be used annually to check for problems) Facility Survey Requirement 9 Have written safety procedures for concession stand; concession manager trained in safe food handling/prep and procedures. Local restaurant operators are good resources for training assistance. Training should also cover safe use, care and inspection of equipment. See concession suggestions: April and June, 2000, issues of ASAP News available on Little League s website and Safety Officer Manual CD. Concession Safety (Food handling essentials guide) Barbeque Safety (Maintenance and proper use of barbeque grills and cooking guidelines) Wash Hands (Poster for restroom reminding of theneed to keep hands clean)

12 Requirement 10 Require regular inspection and replacement of equipment. Coaches and umpires inspect equipment before each use by players. Don t just discard bad equipment: destroy it or make it unusable to stop children from attempting to save it from waste. Recommend use of form to remind coaches and to track equipment needs. Safety Procedures (Several safety guidelines for coaches, managers, and umpires prior to games and practices) Equipment Checklist Low-Impact Balls Protect with Proper Equipment Requirement 11 Implement prompt accident reporting and tracking procedures. Requiring accident forms be filed with safety officer within hours of an incident is common. Forms are available through Little League website and on CD. Track near-misses as a proactive tool to evaluate practices and avoid future injuries. Share information on accidents and near-misses with District staff. Accident Notification and Tracking (Guidelines for Chartis Accident Notification Form and ASAP Injury Tracking Sheet) Requirement 12 Require a first-aid kit at each game and practice. Many leagues have a complex, but each team needs some form of first- aid kit for off-site practices or travel/tournament games. Local hospitals and medical supply companies are good sources. If necessary, fund through special drive. First Aid Kits (Tells leagues what a wellstocked first aid kit should include) Requirement 13 Enforce Little League rules including proper equipment. Most Little League rules have some basis in safety follow them. Ensure players have required equipment at all times, even catchers warming up during infield. Make sure coaches and managers enforce rules at practices as well as games. Make sure all fields have all bases that disengage from their anchors, as required starting in Remind managers, coaches they are not allowed to catch pitchers (Rule 3.09); this includes standing at backstop during practice as informal catcher for batting practice.

13 Coaches Code of Conduct (Reminder of general rules and standards that coaches are expected to adhere Disengage-able Bases (Make sure all fields have bases that disengage from their anchors, as mandatory in This needs to be included in your ASAP plan.) Disengage-able Base Manufacturers (Manufactures of Disengage-able bases) Don't Swing (Poster reminding players to leave bats down until up to plate) Lightning Safety Flyer (NOAA flyer on lightning facts and safety) Mower Safety (Poster for Equipment Sheds, etc.) Players Catch (Reminder on rule Safety Code (General reminder against warming up pitchers) of safety rules for players and adults) Volunteer Code of Conduct (Volunteer Code of Conduct for coaches and managers to sign) Protect Volunteers to)

14 2012 Qualified Safety Program Registration Form Registering your qualified safety plan is as easy as 1, 2, 3! 1) Complete all four sides of this Registration Form; 2) Complete the 2012 Facility Survey for all fields your league uses (DO NOT copy last year s form); 3) Submit both forms with your complete safety plan including all 13 minimum requirements clearly detailed with a postmark no later than April 13, This will register your safety program with Little League International (see pages for more information). Due to the volume of plans received, plans may be submitted starting Jan. 1, Approved safety plans will win your league a cash award based on the number of teams your safety plan covers, if you carry Little League Chartis Insurance. In addition, your program will automatically be entered in the 2012 ASAP Awards! District Administrators: To earn the district incentive for ASAP participation, a district s league plans must be received at and approved by Little League International by March 13. This is different than the league deadline and requirement. Districts with 87% or better of their leagues that LLI received a qualified safety plan by March 13 will earn a $350 credit. Districts with 70%-86% of their leagues that LLI received a qualified safety plan by March 13 will earn a $150 credit. This Registration Form MUST Accompany Safety Plan Submission League Name League I.D. # City State League I.D. # (If board operates more than one charter, please list all:) League I.D. # League Safety Officer Address City League President Address City State Zip Code State Zip Code Work Telephone ( ) Work Telephone ( ) Home Telephone ( ) Home Telephone ( ) Cell/Pager Number ( ) Cell/Pager Number ( ) Items included with this application form: # of pages of league s safety program outline: # of non-returnable photographs: Person submitting application (if different from above): Name Title Address City State Zip Code Telephone ( ) Signature Date Name and signature of professional photographer to be credited and granting permission for reproduction of photographs (if applicable) Return this form and 2012 Little League Facility Survey, along with supporting safety manual, to: Mailing Address: ASAP Award Program or Shipping Address: ASAP Award Program Little League International Little League International P.O. Box U.S. Route 15 Hwy. Williamsport, PA So. Williamsport, PA Returned & Approved by March 13 for DA incentive or no later than April 13 for basic approval Over

15 Qualified Safety Plan Requirements Making It Safer For The Kids These two pages contain the 13 minimum requirements for your safety plan to qualify for the cash award if you take Little League Chartis player accident insurance. Page 4 provides a list of ways to improve on the minimum requirements. This form does not constitute a safety program. Please submit the safety manual that was distributed to league personnel, this form and your facility survey, as well as any other supporting pieces illustrating your safety program. Please specify all areas on which you wish your program to be judged (facilities improvements, safety equipment usage, etc.), and document to the best of your ability those changes (photos, forms, written procedures, etc.). Judging: All judging will be conducted based on the material submitted. Non-original safety plans will not be considered for the awards. Please list dates when training was/will be held; and where each requirement can be found in your plan. Please note: Leagues are required to conduct a background check for sexual abuse offenses for all applicable personnel. See Requirement 4. This is a regulation for all leagues: See Regulation I(b), Reg. I(c)8 and I(c)9. This begins with leagues using the Little League Volunteer Application Form. 1. Have active safety officer on file with Little League International * Please List Page Number Where Each Item Below Is Located In Your Safety Plan 1. Page: 2. PUBLISH and DISTRIBUTE a paper copy of the applicable safety manual to volunteers The intent is to print and distribute the safety plan to all staff: concession manual to concession workers, equipment policies to facilities crew, first aid to managers and coaches, etc. Keep copies in common areas for all volunteers. While safety plans may be posted on the internet, individuals must be provided with printed copies to carry with them to the areas where their duties are performed. Samples can be found in the example safety manuals on the CD or LL web site. Include all relevant material for coaches, including these minimum standards. Keep a copy for your league. Send a copy to your DA or District Safety Officer. Little League International does not keep copies for leagues future use. 3. Post and distribute emergency and key officials phone numbers Include emergency procedures for handling injuries and who to contact to track/report them. Include emergency phone numbers for ambulance, police, fire department, etc. Include league president and safety officer, consider head umpire, board members. 4. Use 2012 Volunteer Application Form and check for sex abuse Managers, coaches, board members and any others, volunteers or hired workers, who provide regular services to the league and/or have repetitive access to or contact with players or teams must fill out application form as well as provide a government-issued photo identification card for ID verification. Check name spellings and numbers for accuracy. Must conduct a search of the Department of Justice s nationwide sex offender registry, using 2012 Volunteer Application Forms, on all applicable volunteers. Information on running background checks that contain not only those on a sex offender registry, but other crimes of a sexual and non-sexual nature, can be found on the Little League website. May conduct a supplemental criminal background check using resources such as LexisNexis. Anyone refusing to fill out Volunteer Application is ineligible to be even league member. League president must retain these confidential forms for the year of service. Do not send in volunteers forms; blank copy of league s application form from correct year should be sent. 5. Provide and require fundamentals training, with at least one coach or manager from each team attending (fundamentals including hitting, sliding, fielding, pitching, etc.) It is not necessary for the first aid and training fundamentals to be held before the Safety Plan is submitted. It is acceptable for scheduled dates/locations to be listed to meet requirement. Document date, location, who is required to attend and who did attend. Save copies of attendees to track their participation for future use. Intent is to provide training to ALL coaches and managers; minimum of one participant per team. Training qualifies volunteer for 3 years; but one team representative still required each year. High school, college or experienced league coaches can be great resources. Districts can assist by providing training sessions on a district-wide basis. Training should be modified annually to meet the local needs of players and their facilities. 2. Page: 3. Page: 4. Page: 5. Page: 5. Date Was/ Will Be Held: 5. Date Was/ Will Be Held: 2 October 2011

16 Qualified Safety Plan Requirements Making It Safer For The Kids 6. Require first-aid training for coaches and managers, with at least one coach or manager from each team attending It is not necessary for the first aid and training fundamentals to be held before Safety Plan is submitted. It is acceptable for scheduled dates/locations to be listed to meet requirement. Due to their training and education, it is not necessary for licensed medical doctors, licensed registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and paramedics to attend first aid training in order to meet requirement; however, it is recommended that leagues utilize these professionals from their league/community to present the training. Other individuals who attend various outside first aid training and courses are not exempt. Document date, location, who is required to attend and who did attend. Save copies of attendees to track their participation for future use to show have had training in past three years. Again, the intent is to provide training to ALL coaches/managers; minimum of one participant per team. Training qualifies volunteer for 3 years, but one team representative still needed each year. 7. Require coaches/umpires to walk fields for hazards before use Recommend leagues use form to track and document any facility issues needing to be fixed. Common sense activity look for rocks, glass, holes, etc. Specify who is responsible for doing this home coach, visitors, umpire, or all? 8. Complete the 2012 ANNUAL Little League Facility Survey A requirement each year, can help leagues find and correct facility concerns. Provided with mailing to League Safety Officers, also available from web site facilitysurvey.musco.com or asap@musco.com Excel spreadsheet included on CD for easy filing, recording for future use and records. DO NOT simply make copy of past year s facility survey; physically review fields for changes and needs from prior year s survey, and record changes/needs on 2012 form. Keep a copy on file for future needs; Little League does not maintain copies of surveys. 9. Written safety procedures for concession stand; concession manager trained in safe food handling/prep and procedures Local restaurant operators are good resources for training assistance. Training should also cover safe use, care and inspection of equipment. See concession suggestions: April and June, 2000, issues of ASAP News available on Little League s website and Safety Officer Manual CD. 10. Require regular inspection and replacement of equipment Inspect equipment before each use by coaches and umpires. Don t just discard bad equipment: destroy it or make it unusable to stop children from attempting to save it from waste. Recommend use form to remind coaches and to track equipment needs. 11. Implement prompt accident reporting, tracking procedure Accident forms to safety officer within hours of incident is common. Forms are available through Little League website and now on CD. Track near-misses as a proactive tool to evaluate practices and avoid future injuries. Share information on accidents and near-misses with District staff. 12. Require a first-aid kit at each game and practice Many leagues have a complex, but each team needs some form of first-aid kit for off-site practices or travel/tournament games. Local hospitals and medical supply companies are good sources. If necessary, fund through special drive. 13. Enforce Little League rules including proper equipment Most Little League rules have some basis in safety follow them. Ensure players have required equipment at all times, even catchers warming up during infield. Make sure coaches and managers enforce rules at practices as well as games. Make sure all fields have all bases that disengage from their anchors, as required starting in Remind managers, coaches they are not allowed to catch pitchers (Rule 3.09); this includes standing at backstop during practice as informal catcher for batting practice. 6. Page: 6. Date Was/ Will Be Held: 6. Date Was/ Will Be Held: 7. Page: 8. Page: 9. Page: 10. Page: 11. Page: 12. Page: 13. Page: October

17 2012 Qualified Safety Program Registration Highly Recommended Ideas Looking to improve your program? Here are ideas pulled from the leading safety plans in the country: ORGANIZATION 14. Conduct supplemental criminal checks on volunteers (i.e., thru LexisNexis) 14. Page: 15. Have your safety plan reviewed by your DA or DSO 15. Page: 16. Include the safety officer as a board position 16. Page: 17. Have team safety representatives (i.e. team parents) 17. Page: 18. Have player safety representatives (i.e. team safety officers) 18. Page: 19. Allocate part of annual budget for safety 19. Page: 20. Distribute ASAP News newsletters within league 20. Page: 21. Use local safety resources (i.e. police, fire dept., hospital staff) 21. Page: 22. Have league safety mission statement 22. Page: TRAINING 23. Provide CPR/AED training to coaches, managers, board members, parents 23. Page: 24. Provide bicycle and traffic training to players 24. Page: 25. Provide drug education training to players and volunteers 25. Page: 26. Provide Parent Orientation Program on Code of Conduct 26. Page: 27. Teach coaches/managers about heat illnesses, warning signs 27. Page: 28. Teach coaches/managers about stopping play, breaks for weather: 28. Page: Stop play for lightning; take breaks between innings for water, shade in high heat 29. Teach coaches/managers about sports fundamentals, like: 29. Page: Proper warm-ups, running safe practices and games 30. Involve umpires in safety training and safety importance 30. Page: FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT 31. Complete annual LL Lighting Safety Audit for lighted fields 31. Page: 32. Complete a long-range facility plan for safety improvements 32. Page: 33. Use reduced impact balls, especially for younger ages 33. Page: 34. Use disengage-able bases (mandatory starting in 2008) for ALL fields 34. Page: 35. Use double-first base to avoid collisions of fielders, runners at first 35. Page: 36. Use warning tracks in the outfield to protect outfielders 36. Page: 37. Use protective/padded fence tops to protect fielders 37. Page: 38. Use fencing or netting to protect spectators from foul balls 38. Page: 39. Have a telephone available to all fields even for practices 39. Page: 40. Have back guard rails and side rails on taller bleachers 40. Page: 41. Have an AED (automatic external defibrillator) available for use 41. Page: 42. Have electronic weather detector to alert for approaching storms 42. Page: 43. Have guidelines for safe equipment usage (i.e. no riders on mowers, etc.) 43. Page: 44. Control speed and flow of traffic in and around facilities 44. Page: ACTIVITIES 45. Encourage league input through Safety Suggestion Box 45. Page: 46. Provide continuous safety messages through: 46. Page: Bulletin boards, newsletters, s, meetings 47. Encourage and recognize safety efforts from players: 47. Page: Safety poster contest, safety tips, player team safety officer 48. Require/Encourage use of protective cups for players, esp. infielders 48. Page: 49. Require/Encourage use of mouth guards for players, esp. infielders 49. Page: 50. Require/Encourage use of face guards on batting helmets 50. Page: 51. Encourage all adults to sign up for Little League E-News 51. Page: Little League International and Musco Sports Lighting, LLC SPPA12 October 2011

18 Facility surveys may also be entered online at: LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL NATIONAL FACILITY SURVEY 2012 League Name: District #: ID #: (if needed) (if needed) ID #: ID #: City: State: President:. Safety Officer: Address:. Address: Address: Address: City:. City: State: ZIP:. State: ZIP: Phone (work):. Phone (work): Phone (home):. Phone (home): Phone (cell): Phone (cell): . PLANNING TOOL FOR FUTURE LEAGUE NEEDS What are league's plans for improvements? Indicate number of fields in boxes below. Next 12 mons. 1-2 yrs. 2+ yrs. a. New fields b. Basepath/infield c. Bases d. Scoreboards e. Pressbox f. Concession stand g. Restrooms h. Field lighting i. Warning track j. Bleachers k. Fencing l. Bull pens m. Dugouts n. Other (specify): 2012 LL Season

19 SPECIFIC BALLFIELD QUESTIONS Please list all fields by name. For more than 20 fields, copy this form or request additional forms from ASAP (800/ or Field Identification (List your ballfields 1-20) Use additional forms if more than 20 fields ASAP - A Safety Awareness Program Limited Edition 10-year Pin Collection This survey can assist in finding areas of focus for your safety plan. During your annual field inspections, please complete this form and return along with your qualified safety plan. In return, we'll send you the 2012 Disney character collector's pin shown at right featuring Dugout at first base. Or enter data online at: facilitysurvey.musco.com for your league. Check your for your league identification and password. Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Please answer the following questions for each field: Field # GENERAL INVENTORY (For the following questions, if the answer is "No" please leave the space blank.) 1. How many cars can park in designated parking areas? None or more 2. How many people can your bleachers seat? None/NA or more 3. What material is used for bleachers? Wood Metal Other 4. Metal bleachers: Ground wire attached to ground rod? Yes 5. Wood bleachers: Are inspected annually for safety? Yes 6. Is a safety railing at the top/back of bleachers? Yes 7. Is a handrail up the sides of bleachers? Yes 8. Is telephone service available? Permanent Cellular 9. Is a public address system available? Permanent Portable 10. Is there a pressbox? Yes 11. Is there a scoreboard? Yes 12. Adequate bathroom facilities available? Yes 13. Permanent concession stands? Yes 14. Mobile concession stands? Yes 2012 LL Season

20 FIELD 15. Is field completely fenced? Yes 16. What type of fencing material is used? Chainlink Wood 17. What base path material is used? Sand, clay, soil mix Wire Ground burnt brick Other: 18. What is used to mark baseline? Non-caustic lime 19. Is your the infield surface grass? Yes 20. Does field have conventional dirt pitching mound? Yes 21. Does field have a temporary pitching mound? Yes 22. Are there foul poles? Yes 23. Backstop behind home plate? Yes PERFORMANCE AND PLAYER SAFETY 24. Is there an outfield warning track? Yes 24.a. If yes, what width is warning track? Please specify: 25. Batter's eye (screen/covering) at center field? Yes 26. Pitcher's eye (screen/covering) behind home plate? Yes 27. Are there protective fences in front of the dugouts? Yes 28. Is there a protected, on-deck batter's area? (On-deck areas have been eliminated for ages 12 and below.) Spray paint Field # Commerc'l marking (Width in feet) Yes 29. Do you have fenced, limited access bull pens? Yes 30. Is a first aid kit provided per field? Yes 31. Do bleachers have spectator foul ball protection? Overhead screens Fencing behind 32. Do your bases disengage from their anchors? (Mandatory since 2008) Yes 33. Is the field lighted? Yes 34. Are light levels at/above Little League standards? Yes (50 footcandles infield/30 footcandles outfield) Don't know 35. What type of poles are used? Wood* (Wood poles have not been allowed by Little League Steel for new construction of lighting since 1994) Concrete 36. Is electrical wiring to each pole underground? Yes 37. Ground wires connected to ground rods on each pole? Yes 38. Which fields were tested/inspected in the last two years? Electrical System Please indicate month/year testing was done (example: 3/10). Light Levels 39. Fields tested/inspected by qualified technician? Electrical System Light Levels 2012 LL Season

21 Field # FACILITY MANAGEMENT 40. Which fields have the following limitations: a. Amount of time for practice? Yes b. Number of teams or games? Yes c. Scheduling and/or timing? Yes 41. Who owns the field? Municipal School League 42. Who is responsible for operational energy costs? Municipal School League 43. Who is responsible for operational maintenance? Municipal School League 44. Who is responsible for puchasing improvements Municipal for the field - ie bleachers, fences, lights? School League Other 45. What divisions of baseball play on each field? T-Ball & Minor Major Jr., Sr. & Big Challenger 46. What divisions of softball play on each field? T-Ball & Minor Major Jr., Sr. & Big Challenger 47. Do you plan to host tournaments on this field? Yes 2012 LL Season

22 FIELD DIMENSION DATA Please complete for each field. Use additional space if necessary. Height Distance from home plate to: Foul territory distance from: of Outfield fence Left field line to fence at: Right field line to fence at: Field outfield Back Outfield Outfield No. fence Left Center Right stop Home 3rd foul pole Home 1st foul pole Return completed survey with safety program registration and supporting materials by April 13, 2012 to: Mailing address: Little League International PO Box 3485 Williamsport, PA Shipping address: Little League International 539 US Route 15 Hwy. South Williamsport, PA Leagues completing their facility survey online at should include it with safety plan submission LL Season

23 Your Safety Program Little League International and Musco Sports Lighting, LLC BSPE12 October 2011 A QUALIFIED LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SAFETY PROGRAM The requirements to put together a Qualified Little League Safety Program are simple and easy. The benefits are many. The requirements: 1. Safety officer must be on file with Little League International. If new, include on the league charter application or on your Qualified Safety Plan Registration form. 2. Safety plan with safety plan registration form on file with Little League International by April 13, Submit your completed safety plan by April 13, Your plan may be submitted as early as Jan. 1, Any plan not meeting the 13 requirements by April 13 th will not be considered for the awards and incentives. Use the registration form in the Forms section to show on which pages your minimum requirements can be found. If the registration form is not submitted, your safety plan will not be approved. Minimum plan requirements are outlined on the form, as well as on the next two pages. 3. An updated, completed 2012 Facility Survey must be turned in to Little League International, as well. See the Facility Survey form in the Forms section of this notebook. (Keep a copy of this survey for your league s records, along with the safety plan copy.) The benefits: 1. Establish a clear league commitment to safety. 2. Win a cash award based on the size of your league for those leagues who take Little League Chartis Insurance for their players accident coverage. 3. Automatic entry into a national award program with a chance to win a trip for the league president and safety officer to the Little League World Series, cash awards, or even a free Musco Light-Structure Green lighting system. 4. Free subscription to ASAP News a national publication for League Safety Officers. 5. NOTE: Only US leagues are currently eligible for this safety and awards program. Past national winners are ineligible for future national prizes. Please take some time to look through this section. Then put together your program and send your written safety plan along with the registration forms to Little League. Programs postmarked on or before April 13, 2012 will qualify for the cash incentive and awards program. Due to volume, please submit your safety plan as early as Jan. 1 st for review. IN THIS SECTION Qualified safety plan requirements What is it and how do I register? Where are we now? A short questionnaire to determine where your safety program stands and provide some guidance for development Putting your program together Steps to further develop your program Safety Net A Safety Officer s Diary How a typical year may look for a new safety officer Little League Injury Data Summary data to provide focus for training and education Example of a Safety Manual The 2007 best safety plan from Warwick, R.I., Little League gives an example of a top quality safety program After you submit your plan, check its status at under the navigation tab League Officers, Check Safety Plan Status. The 2012 ASAP Awards When you register your safety plan with Little League International, your league will automatically be entered in the 2012 ASAP Awards. While meeting the three requirements detailed on this page will win you a cash award based on the size of your league, leagues may want to provide additional information, photographs and supporting materials for award consideration. For complete information on the 2012 ASAP Awards, see the Forms section of this manual. Award winners will be determined from plans implemented and in effect prior to April 13, District Incentive Deadline: Approved by March 13 th By turning in safety plans early, with all minimum requirements approved by Little League International, your league can help your district earn up to $350, to use on district tourneys, training, increased local opportunities and more. Submit your safety plan, with all requirements approved, by March 13 th to help your district earn this cash bonus! 2.1

24 Where Are We Now? This questionnaire will assist in determining your league s current level of safety awareness. These ideas were gathered from the best safety programs. They address components of a great safety plan. Use them to target areas for starting or expanding your program. Shaded areas, numbered 1-13, are the minimum requirements for a qualified safety program. The rest are highly recommended. Issues not addressed this year provide opportunities for the future for improvement. ORGANIZATION Does your league: YES NO Minimum Requirement: 1. Have an active safety officer?...q q 2. Publish and distribute league safety policies or manual?...q q 3. Post and distribute emergency, key league officials phone numbers?. q q 4. Use the 2012 Little League Volunteer Application form and conduct nationwide background checks on all applicable volunteers?... q q Highly Recommended: * Conduct nationwide criminal checks on all applicable volunteers?...q q * Have your safety plan reviewed annually by your DA/DSO?...q q * Include the safety officer as a board position?...q q * Have team safety representatives (i.e. team parents)?...q q * Have player safety representatives (i.e. team safety officers)?...q q * Allocate part of the annual budget for safety?...q q * Distribute ASAP News newsletter within league?...q q * Make use of local safety resources (i.e. police, fire dept., hospital)?. q q * Have league safety mission statement?... q q *Filling out this checklist does NOT qualify as a safety plan* TRAINING Does your league:.... YES NO Minimum Requirement: 5. Provide and require fundamentals training for all coaches and managers, with at least one representative from each team attending each year and a minimum of each coach/manager at least once every 3 years?. q 6. Require First-Aid training for all coaches/managers, with at least one representative from each team attending annually and a minimum of each coach/manager attending clinic at least once every 3 years?.. q q Highly recommended: * Provide CPR/AED training to all coaches, managers, other volunteers?.q q * Provide bicycle and traffic training to players?...q q * Provide drug education training to players and volunteers?...q q * Provide training/information to coaches and managers on: a. heat-related illnesses and their proper prevention?...q q b. when to stop play due to threatening weather and/or darkness?..q q c. teaching fundamentals: proper warm-ups, practice and play?...q q * Involve umpires in safety training?...q q * Provide parent orientation program available thru Little League?.. q q 2.2 October 2011 q

25 Where Are We Now? FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT Does your league: YES NO Minimum Requirement: 7. Require field inspections before games or practices?...q q 8. Complete the annual 2012 Little League Facility Survey?...q q 9. Have written safety procedures for concession stand?...q q 10. Require regular inspection and replacement of equipment?...q q Highly recommended: * Complete and submit annual Little League Lighting Safety Audit?. q q * Have a long-range facility plan for future safety improvements?...q q * Use reduced impact balls, especially for the younger divisions?.... q q * Use break-away bases (mandatory in 2008) and double first base?. q q * Use warning tracks in the outfield to protect outfielders?...q q * Use protective/padded fence tops to guard against fence injuries?..q q * Use screens, fencing or netting to protect spectators from foul balls?..q q * Have telephones available to all fields, or arrange for cellular phone?..q q * Have back guard rails and side hand rails on bleachers over 4 rows?.q q * Have guidelines for safe equipment usage (i.e. no riders on mowers)?. q q * Control speed and flow of traffic in and around facilities?... q q *Filling out this checklist does NOT qualify as a safety plan* Submit a copy of your safety manual, not this form for credit ACTIVITIES Does your league:.... YES NO Minimum Requirement: 11. Have a method to report and track injuries, including near-misses?. q q Highly recommended: 12. Provide each team with a well-equipped First-Aid kit at practices as well as games?...q q 13. Enforce catchers gear and helmet rule during practice and warm-up?. q q * Make sure all fields have all bases that disengage from their anchors, as required starting in q q * Encourage league input by use of a Safety Suggestion Box or Safety Officer mailbox at a central location(s)?...q q * Provide continuous safety messages through use of bulletin boards, newsletters, s, etc.?... q q * Encourage and recognize safety efforts from all levels of players (i.e. a safety poster contest, safety tips, etc.)?... q q * Encourage/require use of protective cups for players, especially infielders?. q q * Encourage/require use of mouth guards for players, especially infielders?.q q * Encourage/require use of face guards on batting helmets?...q q * Encourage all adults in league to sign up for E-News?...q q Share your ideas by calling the ASAP Hotline at (800) or them to asap@musco.com. October

26 Putting Your Program Together Now that you ve finished the questionnaire, you should have a good idea of your league s current safety position. Follow the steps below to further develop your program. Be sure your plan includes all 13 minimum requirements. 1. List the items you will include in your safety program. Good programs will address three key areas - Activities, Equipment and Facilities. See the Safety Net below for an example on how to plan for safety. Be sure to include required minimums which appear as shaded items on pages 2.2 and 2.3, and on the inside of the entry form in Section 5, Forms. 2. List the people, resources and actions needed to make it happen. Document what you ve done. Several examples of what other leagues have done are in this section. Photos are great additions! 3. Complete the annual Little League Facility Survey. See the Forms section of this notebook. This survey is based upon tournament selection recommendations. It will help orient you to facility issues. If you completed the survey last year, it need only be updated, but use the current year form to do so. 4. Review your program with League President, gain approval by Board for implementation. Their approval will greatly increase the odds of operating a successful program. 5. Put your program into action. 6. Complete the Qualified Registration Form located in Section 5. When completed and mailed no later than the entry date, along with your entire safety plan, your league will qualify for the benefits outlined on this section s first page November 1997 Safety Net: Planning for safety can be as simple as A B C The Safety Net can be used to make sure your safety program covers all the bases. Each area of the Net represents an opportunity to make your league more safe. Does your program address the safety of activities, equipment and facilities? Do you provide education, ensure compliance and allow for reporting of unsafe situations? R OLES provided or delegated by Safety Officer AREAS where Education, Compliance and Reporting are needed. A B C What training is needed to raise safety awareness? How do you maintain the awareness you ve created? What issues should be tracked to identify unsafe situations? 2.4 October 2011

27 2012 ASAP PLAN Dugout Little League Williamsport, PA.

28 Qualified Safety Plan Requirements 1. League Safety Officer: Chris Downs on file with Little League Headquarters. 2. Dugout Little League will distribute a paper copy of this Safety Manual to all Managers/ coaches, league Volunteers and the District Administrator. 3. Emergency Phone Number: 911 Local Police Emergency Local Fire Emergency League President: Dan Kirby League VP: Jim Ferguson: League Player Agent: Pat Wilson League Maintenance : Lance Van Auken League Treasurer: Melissa Singer League Safety Officer: Chris Downs This list will be posted in the concession area and dugout area s.

29 ASAP Plan page 2 4. The Dugout Little League will use the Official Little League Volunteer Application form to screen all of our volunteers. 5. Fundamentals Training: March 23, 2012 At least one manager/coach from each team must attend the training. Every Manager/Coach will attend this training at least once every 3 years. Training will at the Notre Dame HS by Whitey Herzog

30 ASAP Plan page 3 6. First Aid Training: April 9, 2012 Dugout Little League will require at least one manager/coach from each team to attend. Every manager/ coach must attend this training once every 3 years. Dr. Ferguson will conduct the training at Selinsgrove H.S. 7. Coaches will be required to walk/ inspect the fields prior to practices and Games. Umpires will also be required to walk the fields for hazards before each game.

31 ASAP Plan Page 4 8. Dugout Little League has completed and updated our 2012 Facility Survey on-line. 9. Concession Stand Safety 1. Menu shall be posted & approved by the safety officer and the League President Our Concession Safety Procedures will be posted several times in stand. Enclosed is a copy of the Dugout Little League Concession Stand Safety Procedures.

32 ASAP PLAN Page The League Safety Officer will Inspect all equipment in the pre-season. Managers/ Coaches will inspect equipment prior to each game. Umpires will be required to inspect equipment prior to each game. 11. Implement Prompt Accident Reporting. The League will use the provided incident tracking form from the LL website and will provide completed Accident forms to Safety Officer within hours of the incident. Please see copy of accident Reporting form.

33 ASAP PLAN Page 6 12.Each Team will be issued an updated First Aid Kit and is a requirement to have it at every practice and game. 13. Dugout Little League will require ALL TEAMS to enforce ALL Little League Rules. Including Proper Equipment for catchers. a. No On-deck batters b. Coaches will not warm up pitchers c. Bases will disengage on all fields

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36 Facility and Field Inspection Checklist Facility Name Inspector Date Time Holes, damage, rough or uneven spots Slippery Areas, long grass Glass, rocks and other debris & foreign objects Damage to screens, fences edges or sharp fencing Unsafe conditions around backstop, pitchers mound Warning Track condition Dugouts condition before and after games Make sure telephones are available Area s around Bleachers free of debris General Garbage clean-up Who s in charge of emptying garbage cans Conditions of restrooms and restroom supplies Concession Stand inspection NOTES/ HAZARDS Signature

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39 2007 National Safety Plan Winner Complete Safety Plan For the complete Warwick Little League 2007 Safety Manual click here Please Note the manual is in PDF format and is 8.37Mb in size

40 A Little Common Sense About Safety From a Million Little League Volunteers

41 A Little Common Sense About Safety INTRODUCTION Safety ideas, safety ideas, safety ideas. If you ve been involved with ASAP for more than a month, you ve probably heard the term safety ideas many times. The newsletter begs for them. Send in your safety ideas, call in your safety ideas, fax in your safety ideas, your safety ideas. Well, here s the payoff. This booklet contains more than 180 ideas from leagues in 31 states, proof that the network of safety officers created by ASAP is producing results. Maybe ASAP has provided an idea for your league in the last year. Maybe you ve provided an idea for someone else. Either way, Little League Baseball and Softball and Musco Lighting would like to thank you for your involvement in the program and challenge you to keep up the good work. By the way, if your ideas were left out, we apologize. As always, we ask that you simply call the ASAP Hotline and let us know your thoughts... It is just amazing the ideas that come through. Butch Faber District 6 Wisconsin CONTENTS There we go, asking for safety ideas again. Activities Ideas Equipment Ideas Facilities Ideas Index

42 Activities EDUCATION... Hold an instructional and safety minicamp at the beginning of the season. Groves National LL, Texas Oakland LL, Maryland We make sure to promote the safety materials provided by Little League. The Safety Code is excellent. SAFETY CODE FOR LITTLE LEAGUE A local chiropractor held seminars for the league on proper stretching techniques and injury prevention. Murietta Valley American LL, California Members of the local Double-A professional team taught our kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Minersville LL, Pennsylvania Create a safety manual for all managers. Upland National LL, California Responsibility for safety procedures should be that of an adult member of the local league. Arrangements should be made in advance of all games and practices for emergency medical services. Managers, coaches and umpires should have some training in first-aid. First-aid kit should be available at the field. No games or practice should be held when weather or field conditions are not good, particularly when lighting is inadequate. Play area should be inspected frequently for holes, damage, glass and other foreign objects. Dugouts and bat racks should be positioned behind screens. Only players, managers, coaches, and umpires are permitted on the playing field during play and practice sessions. Responsibility for keeping bats and loose equipment off the field of play should be that of a regular player assigned for this purpose. Procedure should be established for retrieving foul balls batted out of the playing area. During practice and games, all players should be alert and watching the batter on each pitch. During warm-up drills players should be spaced so that no one is endangered by wild throws or missed catches. Equipment should be inspected regularly. Make sure it fits properly. Batters must wear approved protective helmets during practice and during games. Catchers must wear catcher s helmet, mask, throat protector, long model chest protector, shin-guards and male catchers must wear a protective supporter at all times. Except when runner is returning to a base, head first slides are not permitted (12 years old and under). During sliding practice bases should not be strapped down and should be located away from the base anchoring system. At no time should horse play be permitted on the playing field. Parents of players who wear glasses should be encouraged to provide safety glasses. Players must not wear watches, rings, pins, jewelry or other metallic items. Catchers must wear catcher s helmet and mask with a throat protector in warming up pitchers. This applies between innings and in bull pen practice. District 3, Michigan We made a community safety awareness opening day. We re making it communitywide to get more people involved in our league. SW Norwalk LL, California One of our local physical therapists came down and gave a talk on pitching technique and stretching, along with some ideas on arm strengthening. Reynolds LL, Pennsylvania October

43 A Little Common Sense About Safety Education... Tell your coaches to watch for kids that might need their eyes checked. If a kid continually misses the ball, it could be that his eyes are bad and he doesn t know it. District 4, Virginia Each year most of our leagues develop a coaches package. As part of this, we ve developed the Ten Commandments of Safety. District 4, Virginia Put an article about safety in each issue of the league newsletter. Abbott O Rabbit LL, Alaska The Keep Em Safe video was shown at the first general meeting of the year. Northeast Garden Grove LL, California Each practice will include 20 minutes of safety training for the kids on subjects like safe sliding, bat handling and proper use of safety equipment. District 46, California We required all of our teams to have at least two adult volunteers, be they coaches or parents, certified in first-aid and CPR. Reynolds LL, Pennsylvania 3.2 Our managerial and coaching staff will attend a seminar on children s sports injuries. Washington Township LL, Pennsylvania October 2007

44 Activities Education... We developed a code of ethics for all participants to follow as part of our committment to provide for the emotional safety of our players. Northside Suburban LL Stranger Danger program was implemented to stress the dangers of accepting rides from strangers. Ashley-Newtown LL, Pennsylvania We encourage the managers or coaches to talk to the rest of the team when an injury occurs. Often players are upset and worried when another player is injured. They need to feel safe and understand why the incident occurred. Missouri Valley East LL, Missouri We used information from the Internet to gain further information about safety. South Beaches LL, Florida Nyack-Valley Cottage, New York We established a safety banner program to promote safety. They re donated by different organizations and hung up at each field. Crystal Lake National LL, Illinois The Safety Director will hold a mandatory mid-season meeting with all division directors and coaches to discuss injuries and review preventive measures. North Springs LL, Florida A Safety Clinic will be offered to all children of the league. Blackwood Kiwanis LL, New Jersey The player whose safety suggestion was deemed suggestion of the year will receive a $100 savings bond. Nyack-Valley Cottage LL, New York October

45 A Little Common Sense About Safety Education... As Safety Director for the Buckingham Little League, let me say THANKS to Musco for the ASAP program, the monthly newsletters, and to all the leagues who continue to write and give their own helpful hints in keeping us all safer. Buckingham LL, Florida I used a local physical therapist as a resource for teaching coaches and managers about stretching, recognizing overuse injuries, evaluating players return from injury and pitching techniques from an injury prevention standpoint. North Issaquah LL, Washington During the season we had a safety poster contest. Each division had the opportunity to have one winner. Each winning team received a free pizza party. This contest was held to push safety awareness. North Anaheim LL, California We issued a window cling sticker to each player at registration to let everyone know our committment to safety. The kids loved them! Safety parents are given a packet of information which includes: Introduction and thank you letter District and league inspection rules & tips Safety check-out form for pre-game registration Preliminary accident report forms Suggested items for first-aid kit Instructions on assembling a blood borne pathogens clean-up kit First-aid guidelines on When to Call for Aid. Foster LL, Washington 3.4 Bolingbrook Associated LL, Illinois I made umpire guideline cards and had them laminated for the umpires. North Issaquah LL, Washington Managers shall give extra attention and training to players whose physical handicap, lack of coordination or experience might make them susceptible to injury. North Issaquah LL, Washington October 2007

46 Activities Education... Parents with cellular phones are encouraged to bring them to games and practices in case of emergencies. Abbott O Rabbit LL, Alaska Educate coaches and parents on the dangers of riding in the back of pickup trucks. PLEASE Maps to all fields and practice locations were provided to the fire department. Harney LL, South Dakota All managers are CPR and first-aid certified. Several leagues Several leagues and districts Have one parent or coach certified to teach CPR and then he or she can teach the rest of the league. Sahuaro LL, Arizona Leagues can work with school health teachers, physical education instructors and coaches to develop safety awareness programs that are taught in the schools and to the leagues. District 3, New York The sheriff s department talked about drug and alcohol abuse and what to do in emergency situations such as finding old needles. Nederland North LL, Texas Inside our first-aid kits we have directions on how to get to the field. Also, we have directions to the nearest urgent care facilities. Reynolds LL, Oregon October

47 A Little Common Sense About Safety Education... The local police department came to fingerprint our kids. Lampeter-Strasburg LL, Pennsylvania We opened the doors of our Emergency Management Training Program to all the leagues in our district. Vista American LL, California Don t put kids names on the back of their jerseys. It could increase the risk of abduction. District 4, Virginia Every coach is given a copy of Play It Safe. Nederland South LL, Texas Make sure that all league personnel know how to contact EMS rescue personnel. District 10, Florida We held a safety poster contest to increase kids awareness of safety. We re committed to having 50 people trained in Little League s Emergency Management Training Program course. Millsboro LL, Delaware In the future, each of our fields will have a 4' x 4' billboard expressing the importance of safety. Darlington American LL, Rhode Island Blackwood Kiwanis LL, New Jersey Peninsula LL, California 3.6 October 2007

48 Activities Education... Rather than reinventing the wheel, we refined and implemented the safety program of a league in our district who won the national ASAP award. Fletcher Hills LL, California Provide mail slots at the ballpark for all managers where they can receive regular safety reminders. Encourage parents to teach children safety awareness. Medford American LL, Oregon Each team in each division provides a safety ambassador to instruct and nurture the division below them. They are to present themselves as a role model to younger children. Benson LL, Nebraska South Beaches LL, Florida Each player is issued a Safety Patrol membership card to make them all aware that safety is #1. Santee Pioneer National LL, California Safety parents hold a five minute safety meeting with the team each week. Antioch LL, California ASAP is presented to managers on draft night. Middlebury LL, Indiana Hold an umpire clinic before the season. Walk all umpires to the field and explain the proper places to stand, to keep from blocking a player s view. Federal LL, Florida October

49 A Little Common Sense About Safety Education... Tell coaches of minor and T-ball players to be alert to kids in the outfield who tend to not pay attention to the play. Clendinin LL, West Virginia We displayed a banner to show players and visiting teams that safety is our first priority. Our district safety officer called a meeting of all the safety officers in our district. As a result, other leagues are using all or part of our manual. Millsboro LL, Delaware South Beaches LL, Florida Note: South Beaches Little League won 1996 s National Best Safety Program award. We actively recruit volunteers from local senior citizen organizations to assist in concession stands, operate scoreboards, and act as team grandparents for Tee Ball and instructional leagues. Westville LL, New Jersey Educate coaches on the importance of wearing safety glasses and helmets while operating pitching machines. Roger Allen LL, New Hampshire The crash test dummies appeared at our safety meeting. Peninsula LL, California Because of the on-deck rule, we have posted no on-deck signs on our fences. Ashley-Newtown LL, Pennsylvania Before managers can sign out their equipment, they are required to attend a meeting that covers proper warm up and stretching. Bolingbrook Associated LL, Illinois 3.8 We have a bulletin board in our clubhouse where we post clippings of safety ideas. Pallisades Park LL, New Jersey October 2007

50 Activities...New! EDUCATION... NEW! Local Doctor s Advice... We provide an Eyes Down Clinic run by professional instructors. Every child receives special glasses, designed to train the eyes when catching ground balls. Great Kills LL, New York Dr. John McShane visited the Aston- Middletown Little League field house and spoke during the General Membership meeting. Dr. McShane s resume includes being a member of the Philadelphia Phillies medical staff and a foremost physician at the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia. One of the most noted sports orthopedists in the region, Dr. McShane gave a riveting PowerPoint presentation in which he explained how arm injuries occur in young ballplayers, how to prevent them and the importance of pitch counts. He concluded with a 40-minute question-and-answer session with parents, managers and coaches. Aston-Middletown LL, Pennsylvania Videos, seminars, meetings, programs... We re working with the local optical departments in providing discounts for safety glasses. Ashley-Newtown LL, Pennsylvania Clinics are scheduled for Tee Ball players and their parents to teach basic throwing and catching skills to avoid injury and encourage parents to practice while not at the field. Monticello LL, Virginia We have a guest speaker at our banquet speak on drug, alcohol, and steroid education. Barnstable National LL, Massachusetts The Safety Committee meets on the first Monday of each month at the ball field to discuss safety issues and review the ASAP News release. Virginia Beach LL, Virginia October

51 A Little Common Sense About Safety Education... New! Contests, Posters... We sold candy bars for a fundraiser and implemented the following rules: never carry lots of cash, have an adult accompany you when selling, older kids who go without parents should take a buddy, and always tell a parent where you are going and when you will return home, be smart and safe pedestrians, riding a bike is not recommended; if a bicycle is used, obey traffic rules and signs, and wear a protective helmet, never give out your full name or telephone number, never go inside anyone s home, and never approach cars. Elmhurst LL, Indiana We are bringing back our safety tip of the week program. Each team will be assigned one week during which they will be responsible for a safety tip of the week. Each player on the team writes a tip and the winning tip is posted at the park and on the web page. Hopkins Area LL, Minnesota We have a safety mascot, Safety Sam the safety gorilla, who promotes safety to all our leagues. We have the Safety Sam Club where: Pamphlets about bicycle safety, drug awareness and dangerous situations are distributed throughout the season Any player recognizing an unsafe condition and finding ways to better our safety program is given a certificate to the refreshment stand Poster contest is held to create a safer playing environment held throughout the season PAR Troy West LL, New Jersey We have a bulletin board in our clubhouse where we post clippings of safety ideas. Pallisades Park LL, New Jersey 3.10 October 2007

52 Activities Education... New! We use the Buddy System among our coaches. We match a new, inexperienced coach with a more experienced coach to help with drills, skill building, and general, overall assistance. Mountaineer LL, West Virginia We provide special training for managers and coaches incorporated with the Challenger Division. Hopkins Area LL, Minnesota All managers and coaches wear red shirts and hats with the Little League logo printed on the front. This allows players and spectators to know who should be on the playing field and gives them a contact person if any emergencies occur. Frederick County LL, Virginia The billboard outside the concession stand will have one side dedicated to safety information. Maugansville LL, Maryland Manager s Duties... First-time managers and coaches are requested to read books or view videos on Little League Baseball mechanics furnished on a library loan-out basis from the league. October 2007 Los Osos LL, California Managers and coaches will have the opportunity to observe a practice of the Everett High School Varsity Baseball Team. They will see first hand the effective use of practice time and skills drills. Everett LL, Pennsylvania Select those players whose lack of coordination or physical handicap might make them susceptible to injury and give them extra attention and training. Play these players at positions that minimize their risk of injury. Costa Mesa American LL, California 3.11

53 A Little Common Sense About Safety Education... New! This year we have added a business card size, SCLL Safety Big Five. This is a check-off card for coaches to refer to before games. It is the main points and most important things to remember. Santa Cruz National/American LL, California Drugs... Each team shows a video on the use of smokeless tobacco. Omar Community LL, West Virginia Flora Little League will sponsor a bicycle and anti-drug seminar for all players due to the number of players on bicycles this summer. This safety seminar will be held during Parent s Night. Flora LL, Indiana Wear your helmet Only one on a bike Watch for cars Yield to pedestrians Ride with traffic Players... We teach our players never to throw the ball until they see the glove, meaning the receiving player s glove is up and in the ready-to-catch position. Nanticoke LL, Delaware We have a Lower Level Mentoring Program: Starting in 2003, each Majors team will adopt a team from our A/Instructional level. This mentoring program will allow younger players to learn from kids closer in age but more skilled. All Majors players are expected to assist in scheduled practices of the A/Instructional teams. In turn, the younger players are encouraged to attend and watch their older siblings play their games. Stoughton LL, Massachusetts We are developing a program for players to take active roles in safety. Ideas include, team safety player of the week. Each player will have a week where they work with the manager to inspect fields and equipment, and report any safety hazards. Huntington Valley LL, California Teach your players to be decisive when sliding. Most injuries are caused by indecision on the part of the runner. Foothills LL, California 3.12 October 2007

54 Activities Education... New! Parents... In our Safety Manual, we include a page on self-esteem and what parents can do to help build their child s self esteem. Clay County LL, West Virginia Safe kids know whom they can ride with. The magic word is a code that you share with your parents. No one is to know this word other than you and your parents. It is used as a code word in special ways. If your parent can t pick you up from ball practice, they may send someone else to bring you home. You should only go with that person if he or she knows the magic word. If a person tries to pick you up who doesn t know the magic word, you should run from them, find help, and call 911. Tucson International LL, Arizona Umps... Umpires go through a series of classroom sessions and a 3-hour field mechanics session, and get tested to ensure that they adequately understand the material presented and can succeed when called on to umpire. Fairfax LL, Virginia Teams... We had the local high school Boys Baseball and Girls Softball teams hold a camp for ages 8 and up. They instructed players on pitching mechanics, defensive drills, batting skills, and base running techniques. Essex County LL, Virginia We make our own ice packs with 1 cup of water and ¾ cup rubbing alcohol. Then we put them in a freezer in a self-closing bag. This cuts down on the cost of ice packs. Several Leagues People / Concessions... The Unicoi County Little League is continuing the Outfield Angels program. Under this program, any adult volunteer, who has passed an approved background check, will wear a yellow or other highly visible T-shirt with a vest. This Outfield Angel will patrol the Little League complex, moving around watching for anyone who may need assistance. This person will be equipped with a 2-way radio to call for help if the need arises. The vest will also be equipped with basic first-aid supplies and deterrent spray for dogs in the case of a dog attack. The 2-way radio will be monitored during all game times by a league official in the press box that can then provide additional assistance or call for additional help. Unicoi LL, Tennessee October

55 A Little Common Sense About Safety COMPLIANCE... NEW! We are adjusting our concession stand menu to include apples, bananas, oranges, teriyaki rice bowls, turkey sandwiches, and 100% fruit juice to promote a healthier diet. Benicia LL, California First-In-First-Out: The food first put into storage or refrigeration should be the first food to be used. Pt. Acres LL, Texas October

56 Activities COMPLIANCE... NEW! The safety officer will visit each team periodically to ensure that safety regulations are being followed. Pembroke Pine Optimist LL, Florida Only league approved coaches are allowed to practice teams. San Mateo LL, Florida We ve developed an umpire card that highlights the items to discuss with the coaches in the pregame meeting at homeplate. Pembroke Pine Optimist LL, Florida We use positive reinforcement safety tokens to reward coaches and players who identify safety problems. The tokens are redeemable at the concession stand. Lakeside American LL, California Note: This idea was one of the reasons Lakeside American won 1995 s Best Safety Program award. Our safety checklist is given out during a mid-year coaches meeting. It s another way for us to remind everyone to keep thinking about safety. District 4, Virginia We installed a misting system in our two permanent dugouts which can be dismantled at the end of the season. The estimated reduction in dugout temperature is 20. West Redding LL, California Issue written safety citations to coaches for unsafe actions. Three strikes and you re out! Plaza LL, California October

57 A Little Common Sense About Safety Compliance... All equipment must be inspected before every game by both managers and the umpire using our Safety Inspection Sheet. District 28, California Managers are required to fill out a pre-game safety check card before every game. Berkeley Little League Pregame Checklist Team: Date: Field: Teams Phone Numbers: Field Conditions: Playing Field, Bases, Benches, Fences, Bleachers Helmets: Bats: Spike Check: Catchers: Chest Protector, Helmet, Mask, Shin Guards, Cup If a heat wave hits, rent commercial fans, keep cold rags in the dugout and take a 10- minute break after the third inning. Benson LL, Nebraska First Aid Box: Ice Packs, Cleansing Packs, Band Aids, Bee Sting, Accident Reports, Rubber Gloves, Change for Phone Emergency Manager Phone Numbers: Signature: Berkeley LL, New Jersey Proper equipment is required for pick-up games at team picnics or gatherings. District 5, Washington At each monthly Little League board meeting, safety rules and improvements are discussed and implemented. Brockton-West LL, Massachusetts Leave a blank for parent occupation on registration forms. Those parents with medical or safety backgrounds are asked to volunteer for the safety committee. Abbott O Rabbit LL, Alaska I got our medical information forms printed up with carbonless paper. The coaches keep the original copy and the carbon copy is kept in a central file in our canteen. Teaneck LL, New Jersey 3.16 October 2007

58 Activities Compliance... We developed a team safety rating card for each team to fill out after a game. Safety points are accumulated throughout the season and good safety performance is rewarded with a year-end pizza party. Team Safety Rating At all levels of tournament play, any time the temperature or heat factor is above 90 degrees, all players of all ages and all divisions will rest after the second inning and fourth inning a full five minutes. Palos Hills LL, Illinois Team T-Ball Minor U-10 Minor Major RATING: FIELD INSPECTION: Yes No INJURY: Yes No Player Coach Spectator Umpire Bat Throwing Sliding Helmet Wear Equipment COMMENTS: One member of the board is responsible for monitoring the weather and the lightning detector each night. That person makes the call to cease play until weather conditions improve. Palisades Park LL, New Jersey Sundown LL, California We re working with the local optical departments in providing discounts for safety glasses. Ashley-Newtown LL, Pennsylvania Coaches have been told not to carry more children in their vehicle than they have seatbelts for. Pinecrest LL, Florida Safety parents pick up an air horn before each game to blow in case of emergency. Peninsula LL, California October 2007 In our state it is a law that all bicyclists under 16 must wear a helmet. We will post this law at all our fields. Clackamas LL, Oregon 3.17

59 A Little Common Sense About Safety Compliance... Umpires will be designated Acting Safety Officers of games they officiate. Pacifica National LL, California Make sure players and spectators keep their fingers out of the fencing. Clackamas LL, Oregon Establish a safety monitor or team safety parent to help coaches monitor and improve safety during games and practices. District 2, Nevada Ask each team to appoint a safety patrol person. Statham LL, Georgia In my district, all my pitchers when warming up in practice wear batting helmets so they won t be hit by fielders taking infield. District 2, New York City ordinance to keep dogs out of the park was posted and the ordinance is strictly enforced. West Haven American/National LL, Connecticut Coaches do not leave until every boy and girl is picked up. Page LL, Arizona No bats and balls are permitted on the field until all players have done their proper stretching. Williamson LL, West Virginia Two parents from each team retrieve foul balls during games. District 18, Florida When the heat becomes excessive (95 degrees or above) we will observe a 10 minute break at the end of the third inning of play. This will be enforced! Coaches and umpires should address this in a pre-game conference. Princeton Youth Baseball, Illinois 3.18 October 2007

60 Activities Compliance... We purchased eight Camelback hydration systems for our umpires to prevent heat illness. As part of our maintenance policy, maintenance operations should not be done by a lone individual. There should always be another person present in case of an injury or accident. East Jefferson LL, Washington West Redding LL, California October

61 A Little Common Sense About Safety Compliance... NEW! Players... There will be no chattering allowed while the pitcher is in his pitching motion. Bucksport LL, Maine Pitchers shall be instructed not to quick pitch or quick return with the obvious intent to catch a batter off balance. West IsLip LL, New York When a pitcher is warming up between innings, another player wearing an approved Little League protective batting helmet and field glove is required to stand in the vicinity to alert and protect the pitcher and catcher of any balls coming their way. Nottingham LL, New Jersey If a player does not slide and it results in a collision, the player will be called out. Upper Keys Athletic Association, Florida All players will have a buddy with them at all times until the manager determines they can safety play alone. Tri-County Challengers LL, Florida Any pitcher with three hit batters outside of the strike zone during a game shall be removed from the pitching position. Gold Valley, Oregon Observe the no jewelry rule at all games as well as practices. Tualatin City LL, Oregon Any batter that fakes a bunt and then pulls back for a full swing will be called out. This is a dangerous play. Bradley-Bourbonnais LL, Illinois Long hair must be pulled back off the face and in a ponytail. Several Leagues 3.20 October 2007

62 Activities...New! Compliance... NEW! Choral chanting, continuous razzing, and the use of name-calling are strictly prohibited. Positive chanting is allowed as long as it is not disruptive to the game. Seaview LL, California Pitchers may not wear any metallic items, sunglasses, long white sleeve shirts or any object that may distract the batter. Merillon LL, New York Pitchers shall not wear under shirts with long, white sleeves, or use a glove that is white, gray, or with no uniform stitching. Several Leagues All little league baseball/softball participant s ages 8-12 must attend player evaluations. Continental Ranch LL, Arizona The umpire-in-chief may set temporary ground rules on a single game basis to accommodate such conditions as standing water or other issues as determined by the umpire. Cape Elizabeth LL, Maine No Catcher s Chatter Catchers are not allowed to talk to opposing batters during a pitch. San Mateo National LL, California If a player misses more than 7 consecutive games and practices the player must have a doctor s note to return. Rutland LL, Massachusetts Coaches, managers... We have implemented the S.K.I.P. (Safety Kone Inspection Plan) for pre-game field inspection. Managers, coaches, and umpires must walk the field prior to each game and pick up the 8 cones that have been placed on each of the bases and in the outfield positions. After each game, these cones must be replaced in the same spots. Hilliard LL, Florida Runner is out when sliding into first except when returning to base or avoiding collision or being hit with an errant throw. Merillon LL, New York Compliance... NEW! Every manager should have a rulebook with him at all games. Suggestion: keep with scorebook or first-aid kit. Macomb Township LL, Michigan October

63 A Little Common Sense About Safety No manager, coach, or player, shall at any time, whether from the bench or the playing field or elsewhere make any move calculated to cause the pitcher to commit an illegal pitch or take a position in the batter s line of vision with deliberate intent to distract the batter. Par Troy East LL, New Jersey All girls teams will have a female coach at practices and games at all times. (Team mother substitute permitted in absence of coach.) East LL, Rhode Island We require managers and coaches to attend an in-house clinic to review rules and procedures before they receive their equipment. Withholding equipment assures compliance, since managers need their equipment to begin their practices. Bolingbrook Associated LL, Illinois There must be at least two coaches at each game and practice. West Bend LL, Wisconsin Each manager must hold a minimum of two practice sessions per week during the preseason and one practice session per week during the regular season. This does not include league games. Niles FOP LL, Michigan Managers are responsible for having at least one other adult present at all practices to assist in an emergency. Should an accident occur, one adult could provide assistance to the injured person while the other contacts emergency medical personnel. Daniel Boone LL, Missouri 3.22 During practice, each manager should establish pick-up and drop off rules with parents and enforce them. West Altadena LL, California Both managers and the umpire using our Safety Inspection Sheet must inspect all equipment before every game. District 28, California October 2007

64 Activities Compliance... NEW! Managers are required to fill out a pre-game safety check card before every game. Berkeley LL, New Jersey Teams/Leagues... A minimum of three practices are required before the first game is played. ATYAA, Michigan Should equal to or greater than three injuries occur specific to one team, the Safety Committee shall meet to review and determine if any action is needed. Blacksburg LL, South Carolina Parents... Each team is expected to maintain a supply of ice sufficient to treat minor injuries during the course of a game or practice. Lionville LL, Pennsylvania Franklin Little League will provide a safe area for all children in the park. The ultimate responsibility lies with the parents to know the whereabout of their children at all times. If a situation arises, a Code Red will be implemented immediately. An air horn located in the concession stand will be sounded. Two long blasts will signal an emergency. All play will be stopped. All board members at the park will seal off the exits immediately. Franklin LL, Louisiana A maximum of four events, practices or games, is allowed in a week. Arrowhead LL, Arizona Newport Beach LL, California Every practice must have two to five gallons of water with ice available. Conestoga Valley LL, Pennsylvania We do not allow flash photography at our night games, so as not to obstruct the vision of our players. West Brownsville LL, Texas Umps... Umpires will be designated Acting Safety Officers of games they officiate. Pacifica National LL, California The playing area should be inspected frequently for holes, damage, stones, glass, or any foreign object. Attention should also be toward sprinklers that are still in the up position. Greater Dunedin LL, Florida October

65 A Little Common Sense About Safety Compliance... NEW! All pre-game warm-ups should be performed within the confines of the playing field and not in spectator areas. Happy Valley LL, North Carolina Our safety checklist is given out during a mid-year coaches meeting. It s another way for us to remind everyone to keep thinking about safety. District 4, Virginia Tennis shoes are suggested for beginning sliding and tagging practice to avoid injury to the defensive player. Several Leagues The league is equipped with a bed and an air conditioner for those suffering from overheating. Robinson LL, Texas At registration before each season, we set up a table where we ask each parent as they come by about any medical conditions of their players the league should know about. Dr. Phillips LL, Florida The league will maintain a list of those within the league who are qualified EMT s, nurses, doctors, and paramedics. This information will be gathered during sign-ups and tryouts. This information will be used only in case of an emergency during a game Rehobouth Beach LL, Delaware New safety signs each year. Give a copy of game schedule to police and fire department. Huntington Tri-Village LL, New York People... No spectators around the dugout or talking to the players. It distracts them from listening to managers and coaches and from watching the game. They could be hit by a foul ball if not paying attention. Oceanside National LL, California One member of the board is responsible for monitoring the weather and the lightning detector each night. That person makes the call to cease play until weather conditions improve. Palisades Park LL, New Jersey A part of our maintenance policy, maintenance operations should not be done by a lone individual. There should always be another person present in case of an injury or accident. East Jefferson LL, Washington We have a commitment from the Fulton City Police to stop at the fields during the games. This sends a subtle message. Fulton LL, New York October 2007

66 Activities Tobacco and alcohol on the premises are strictly prohibited. Do not carry snuff cans, cigarettes, cigars, etc. in your pocket if anywhere they are visible to the children. Mt. Pleasant LL, Pennsylvania No one is permitted behind the backstop area during a game. Half Hollow Hills LL, New York Fort Belvoir LL, Virginia Concession stand workers under the age of 18 are not allowed to handle any hot food or money. Sparks LL, Nevada No one under the age of 16 is allowed to work in the concession stand. Gladwin LL, Michigan Anyone who handles money in the concession stand is not allowed to touch unwrapped food. Several Leagues We have a Zero Tolerance Policy toward unsportsmanlike harassment of players, coaches or umpires. There is no use of profane, obscene or vulgar language in any manner at any time. Central Greenbrier LL, West Virginia Concession... (Snack Bar Rules) Hats and plastic gloves must be worn at all times. North Providence East LL, Rhode Island We discard any cooked foods that are not served within 45 minutes of being cooked. Warren County LL, Ohio Microwave popcorn is used in place of conventional popcorn as it is much more sanitary and yields a safer method of preparation as there are no hot warmers, butter, or oil to be concerned with. Fort Belvoir LL, Virginia October

67 A Little Common Sense About Safety We have a list of barbecue safety tips and how to deal with meat. This sheet deals with safely transporting food, precooking, and preventing cross-contamination. We also listed some resources on the internet and in books to check out. Logan LL, New Jersey We provide food, free of charge for any ambulance personnel who comes and parks at our facility during their standby time. Baytown North LL, Texas The Safety Director will work with each coach/team to build a team of Safety Parents so at all times safety will be covered. Western LL, Michigan One coach per team shall be designated Team Safety Coach. The league provides a cap that will be used to maintain visible emphasis on safety. Glastonburg American/National LL, Connecticut When lightning is detected in the area, one of our concession stand employees will sound a horn signifying an immediate halt to play and evacuation of the fields. Penokee Range LL, Michigan Safety Officer... 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 The Safety Officer/Director will visit nearby leagues to get a fresh perspective and new ideas. Several Leagues 3.26 October 2007

68 Activities REPORTING... We ve instigated a voice messaging system on our league phone so that safety issues can be conveyed immediately to the league safety officer. North Everett LL, Washington We have notices posted in the dugout that any player who spots something unsafe or has helped correct a safety problem goes to our stand, tells what they ve done, and gets a free soft drink. Southeast LL, Texas Track all injuries and near misses in order to identify injury trends. Several leagues and districts 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. The safety officers in my district will visit each other s leagues to allow a fresh perspective on safety. District 15, Virginia Each league is developing a postcard with a checklist for coaches to report accidents. Cards are pre-addressed to the safety officer. District 1, New Hampshire At the end of each year we discuss the following questions Did anything happen this season that could have been prevented? Was anything seen that could have been potentially unsafe? Fleming-Neon LL, Kentucky We include incident report forms in our Safety Handbook. Benson LL, Nebraska October 2007 District 46, California 3.27

69 A Little Common Sense About Safety Reporting... Our accident form included a space for how this accident could be prevented in the future. Santee Pioneer National, California The safety officer will track preseason and season practices weekly to make sure managers are following Play It Safe guidelines. Paradise LL South, California Each first-aid kit includes a sheet where coaches could track accidents throughout the year. This will allow us to identify hazards and areas where we need improvement. Visalia National LL, California We require a medical release to play following a player s injury before he s allowed to return to ensure the player has been evaluated and fully recovered from his injury. CALN Township, Pennsylvania REPORTING... NEW! Accident Report Forms... We use an automated injury database to track our injuries. Injury reporting can be done electronically through this database. Fairfax American/Dominion/National LL, Virginia Track all injuries and near misses in order to identify injury trends. Several leagues and districts Former accident claims are pulled out and reviewed to find unsafe areas we may have missed. West Salem LL, Oregon An emergency card for each child was completed at registration listing home phone and emergency numbers, doctor s and hospital names; persmission to use ambulance and pertinent health information (allergies, health conditions, etc.). One copy went to the child s coach, the other in the league file. Ashley-Newtown LL, Pennsylvania 3.28 Our safety manual and all of the accident reporting forms, travel forms, medical forms, and volunteer applications are available online for anyone who has access to a computer. Covina National LL, California Medical Release Forms... We have a Power of Attorney wavier for parents to fill out in preparation for the need of medical attention to their child. Continental LL, Illinois October 2007

70 Activities How to Report... The safety officer has a mailbox in the concession stand for reports of unsafe practices of conditions. Bolingbrook Associated LL, Illinois Included in our safety manual is a Bomb Threat Worksheet for the receiver of the call to fill out about the caller. This worksheet is kept near the phone. Sherwood LL, Texas Checklists She was warming up with another player when the ball hit her in the mouth. I believe if it were not for the mouthguard that she would have had a more serious injury... Each league is developing a postcard with a checklist for coaches to report accidents. Cards are pre-addressed to the safety officer. District 1, New Hampshire INCIDENT REPORTS SAFETY OFFICER During outfield practice, a nineyear-old injured the forefinger on his right hand. He dove for a fly ball, misjudged the ball, and the ball hit his barehand... In our safety manual we include a Robbery Checklist for the concession stand. This includes things to remember about the robber, when and where it happened. Also included is a fill-in-the-blank picture to help the police apprehend the robber. Lake View LL, Texas My second baseman was hit by a line drive that took a hard bounce up into the center of his chest. He had taken a shot to the ribs right at the heart so this concerned me... We have notices posted in the dugout that any player who spots something unsafe or has helped correct a safety problem goes to our stand, tells what they ve done, and gets a free soft drink. Southeast LL, Texas Over-sight... The Port St. Lucie American Little League has established a Safety Committee made of concerned individuals. Their role is to express ideas and to plan, implement, and report on the status of current safety program at PSL American. Port St. Lucie American LL, Florida Our accident form included a space for how this accident could be prevented in the future. Santee Pioneer National, California A member of the safety committee will patrol practices and games to ensure players and public safety. This includes the concession stand, spectator, and parking areas. Gold Valley, Oregon October

71 A Little Common Sense About Safety 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 this monthly general meeting to review this information. District 46, California At the end of each year we discuss the following questions: Did anything happen this season that could have been prevented? Was anything seen that could have been potentially unsafe? Fleming-Neon LL, Kentucky At the conclusion of the season, the Coaches and Education committee mail each player s family a survey form requesting feedback on the coach. This gives the Coaches and Education committee feedback in order to improve in future years. Sadbury LL, Massachusetts 3.30 October 2007

72 Equipment EDUCATION... We use tennis rackets and tennis balls during practices to allow kids to learn proper fundamentals without the fear of injury from a hard baseball. We provided safety posters and examples of safety equipment at signups. Dixie LL, Virginia Gilroy National LL, California COMPLIANCE... Switch to a safe ball for T-Ball games. Fleming-Neon LL, Kentucky Our nine- and ten-year-olds are wearing faceguards at the plate. If they reach base, they can switch to helmets without faceguards. Fleming-Neon LL, Kentucky October

73 A Little Common Sense About Safety Compliance... Any player warming up a pitcher must be in full catcher s equipment, including shin guards, chest protector, face mask and helmet. Several leagues All players are issued protective mouth pieces and required to wear them. Westville LL, New Jersey No adult is allowed to warm-up a pitcher at any time. District 4, Connecticut All male catchers must wear a protective cup. San Mateo LL, Florida We require helmets on all T-ball players on the field. Southside LL, Indiana An extra set of catcher s gear has been ordered for every team. District 10, Florida The league has purchased 40 new batting helmets with face shields. By purchasing these helmets, combined with instruction to managers and coaches on how to teach batters to turn away from a pitched ball, we have reduced the potential for serious facial injuries. Redmond North LL, Washington Pull the throat gobblers off worn-out catcher s masks and give them to your district umpires. Then if they see a catcher with no gobbler, they can tie one on. District 6, Illinois We started using chin straps on the helmets so the kids don t lose their helmets running around the bases. Pottstown LL, Pennsylvania This year we gave every team a new first-aid kit. This year we added extra gloves and ice packs, and put a larger first-aid kit at each of our fields... We also have a lot of gloves and ice packs at the snack bar. We require the snack bar helpers to use gloves when handling food. Costa Mesa National LL, California 3.32 October 2007

74 Equipment Compliance... A quarter is taped on every manager s clipboard in case a pay phone is needed to call for help. Abbott O Rabbit LL, Alaska Coaches and managers make sure every kid goes to proper fitting helmet. Managers inventory and check equipment condition on a weekly basis. District 6, Wisconsin 1985 LLB Inc. District 12, Massachusetts I go around to each team and size up the catchers equipment and helmets each week. As players move up from the minors to the majors, I make sure the equipment changes with them. Staten Island American LL, New York All batting helmets are equipped with safety chin straps. Rio Arriba South/Espanola Valley, New Mexico We appointed an Equipment Manager who is responsible for checking and upgrading all equipment to league standards. Clayton LL, New Jersey Face shields are available and provided upon request. Pine Bush LL, New York October

75 A Little Common Sense About Safety Compliance... Umpires could do a quick check before every game to make sure there are no metal cleats. Fill up latex medical gloves with water, freeze them, and use them instead of chemical ice packs. It cheers the kids up because it s a frozen hand. Garden City South LL, New York Virginia ASAP meeting Besides a complete check of equipment before the season, it s very necessary to check with individual teams and their players to see that the equipment you have given them is fitting. Especially the catcher s equipment. Olton LL, Texas The fire company agreed to donate 300 water bottles to combat heat exhaustion. Blackwood Kiwanis LL, New Jersey A local hospital has donated 90 percent of the supplies needed for our first-aid kits. Robbinsdale Youth Baseball, Minnesota We limit the operation of our mower to appointed staff only. Oakland LL, Maryland During tryouts all the nine-year-olds wear a batting helmet with a faceguard when catching flyballs. Some nine-year-olds are not proficient at catching flyballs. South Shore LL, New York 3.34 October 2007

76 Equipment Compliance... We tape the safety officer s name and phone number on all first-aid kits. Blackwood Kiwanis LL, New Jersey Install double bases at first base to avoid collisions. Be sure that equipment bags contain a fullystocked first-aid kit. Often teams practice at remote locations where first-aid supplies are not available. District 18, Illinois Crystal Lake National LL, Illinois An area doctor donated 500 mouthguards to our league. Plymouth LL, Connecticut REPORTING... A safety officer should do spot checks at practices to make sure all managers have their first-aid kits. Little Lake LL, California Include tooth-saver kits in first-aid bags. Several leagues An Equipment Problem Report is filled out by managers, coaches and umpires and filed with the equipment manager for immediate correction. Virginia Beach LL, Virginia We place change in each first-aid box for the pay phones they have to use to notify authorities in case of an injury. Freeport LL, Illinois Electrical equipment in concession stands needs to be approved and inspected weekly and documented on a weekly log equipment checklist. Blackwood Kiwanis LL, New Jersey October

77 A Little Common Sense About Safety COMPLIANCE... New! Helmets... We require helmets on all Tee Ball players on the field. Southside LL, Indiana We require the use of helmet straps in all divisions to ensure the safety of batters and base runners. Several Leagues In Tee Ball, the pitcher shall wear a Little League-approved protective helmet that has an attached faceguard while on the mound. Ira Township, Michigan All coaches under the age of 18 must wear protective helmets. Mission Hills LL, California Players shagging baseballs for a coach are required to wear a helmet. Hobart LL, Indiana Merrillville LL, Indiana Our 9- and 10-year-olds are wearing faceguards at the plate. If they reach base, they can switch to helmets without faceguards. Fleming-Neon LL, Kentucky Intentional removal of batting helmets is illegal and will result in the player being called out. Upper Keys Athletic Association, Florida Helmets must stay on the player s head until they reach the bench area. North Central National/American LL, Wisconsin Bats... A batter who throws the bat more than ten feet shall be called out. Post Falls LL, Idaho 3.36 October 2007

78 Equipment...New! Compliance... New! We recycle our old aluminum bats to raise money for new equipment. Essex County LL, Virginia Reduced impact balls are used in tee ball divisions to prevent injury from being hit by the ball. Several Leagues No laminated bat shall be used. Painted bats made of wood are not acceptable. Deer Park LL, New York No white bats will be used. Balls... Groton LL, Connecticut Once a ball has been discolored or water soaked it will be discarded. Arkansas Pass LL, Texas RIF Level 5 We require the use of yellow safety balls in all softball divisions. ATTYA LL, Michigan Coaches are encouraged to use RIF balls at the first few practices, especially in minor league, to allow players to learn proper fielding fundamentals and increase player s confidence before using hard balls. Marion LL, Virginia Switch to a safe ball for T-Ball games. Fleming-Neon LL, Kentucky Any loose balls near the batter s feet should be cleared away before a pitch is delivered Omar Community LL, West Virginia October

79 A Little Common Sense About Safety Compliance... New! Catchers Gear... Periodically check players gloves for broken rawhide laces. Skowhegan LL, Maine We purchased catchers Knee Savers for all teams throughout our league. We considered this a must when it came down to the strain put on a catcher s knee. Capital Midwestern LL, West Virginia Catchers must wear a catcher s mitt (not a first baseman s mitt or a fielder s glove) of any shape, size, or weight consistent with the protection of the hand. Several Leagues All male catchers must wear a protective cup. Several Leagues Any player warming up a pitcher must be in full catcher s equipment, including shin guards, chest protector, face mask, and helmet. Several Leagues Mouth Guards... All players are provided one mouthpiece by the league which is expected to be worn. If the individual loses his or her mouthpiece, one can be purchased at the concession stand. Several Leagues All players who wear braces are required to wear a mouth guard whether at a game or at practice. All other players are strongly urged to wear a mouth guard. Mishawaka Southwest LL, Indiana Mouth guards hold top priority as sports equipment. They protect not just the teeth, but also the lips, cheeks, and tongue. They help protect children from such head and neck injuries as concussions and jaw fractures. Increasingly, organized sports are requiring mouth guards to prevent injuries to their athletes. Research shows the most oral injuries occur when athletes are not wearing mouth protection. Palm Coast LL, Florida Umpire Gear... Home plate umpires MUST wear shin guards, a chest protector, a protective cup, mask and a throat protector. Commack North LL, New York An extra set of catcher s gear has been ordered for every team. District 10, Florida This year, CNLL replaced the majority of the volunteer umpire equipment so our umpires could be safe too. Covina National LL, California 3.38 October 2007

80 Equipment...New! Compliance... New! Pull the throat gobblers off worn-out catcher s masks and give them to your district umpires. If they see a catcher with no gobbler, they can tie one on. District 6, Illinois Delta Little League has purchased the new batter-chest protectors. Each batter will need to get used to the feel of this metallike plate worn to protect the heart. We are striving to commit to equipment that will keep our children safe. Delta LL, Indiana Miscellaneous Gear... BICYCLE SAFETY TIPS FOR KIDS Wear an approved bicycle helmet every time you ride. If you re under 16 it s the law. The helmet should fit snugly, sit low on your forehead, and always be buckled. Know and follow the rules of the road: such as, ride on the right side of the street, do not ride against traffic, obey all traffic signs and signals, and use hand signals. You must obey all traffic laws just like the driver of a car. Ride single-file and never ride double on one bike unless it is a tandem bike. Avoid biking at night. If you must ride during darkness, wear reflective clothes and use a front light and reflectors on your bike. Be extra careful. Before crossing a street, stop at the edge and look left, right then left again for motor vehicles. Listen to School Crossing Guards at School Crossings. Be alert and watch for cars. Drivers may not see you even if it seems like they are looking right at you. Be extra careful. Watch for motor vehicles moving out from a curb, driveway, or alley, and maintain a safe distance from parked vehicles to allow for doors opened suddenly. Make sure your bike is not too big or too small. You should be able to straddle your bike comfortably with both feet flat on the ground. When sitting on the seat you should be able to touch the ground with the tips of your shoes. Keep your bicycle in good condition. Check brakes, tires, and handlebars every time you ride. Watch for and avoid potholes, drain grates, sand and other hazards on the road. Walk your bike when crossing a street in a crosswalk and on school property. Shoes... All players are required to wear rubber cleats. No tennis shoes or metal cleats allowed. Murrieta National LL, California No open-toed shoes or sandals allowed during practice or games for players, coaches, or adult volunteers. Franklin LL, Wisconsin Umpires could do a quick check before every game to make sure there are no metal cleats. October 2007 Virginia ASAP meeting North Springs LL, Florida A cellular phone must be on hand if a land line phone is not available. Waterford South LL, Connecticut Children are required to wear a strap on their glasses. Southridge LL, California Space Coast LL, Florida Sunglasses are permitted but not recommended. It is recommended that the player use charcoal to reduce the glare. This is applied in a strip directly under the bottom of the eyes at the top of the cheek. This assists in cutting down sun glare in the players eyes. (Different variations are available. Most sporting goods stores have this in a tube.) Elk District LL, West Virginia 3.39

81 A Little Common Sense About Safety Compliance... New! Batting vests are required to be worn by Minor League players and are highly recommended for Major League players. Wanaque LL, New Jersey We installed permanent underground electricity to the scorer s tables at two fields thus eliminating tripping hazards and possible shock hazards from extension cords. Red Land LL, Pennsylvania Special medical equipment (i.e. medication, inhalers, etc) for any player will be in the team s first-aid kit during practices and games. Manteno Youth Baseball/Softball League, Illinois A sweatband or some other item that will protect the player from possible injury should cover medical alert bracelets. District 9, Oregon Keep at least 2 quarters inside your firstaid kit at all times for emergency telephone calls. West Plains LL, Washington Latex free products will be provided in first-aid kits for those teams with latex sensitive players. Greene County LL, Iowa - District 9, Oregon All teams must have a minimum of two ice packs at all times. Belmont LL, Illinois Fill up latex medical gloves with water, freeze them, and use them instead of chemical ice packs. It cheers the kids up because it s a frozen hand. Garden City South LL, New York Long pants must be worn at all practices to prevent sliding injuries to the legs. Sparta LL, Michigan Vision Center will provide safety glasses at a discount price to any Little League player. Pleasanton Little League, Texas First-Aid Kit... If a player on your team has asthma, it is REQUIRED that an extra inhaler be kept in the team s first-aid kit (labeled with the child s name). Southridge LL, California To keep ice packs from breaking in the team bag, we put them in an old Tupperware, Serve-n-Saver, or a semi-disposable Glad Ware container. This is also a convenient place to keep player s telephone numbers and parent s cell phone numbers. Penfield American/National LL, New York Proper equipment is required for pick-up games at team picnics or gatherings. District 5, Washington 3.40 October 2007

82 Facilities EDUCATION... All concession stand workers are instructed on the use of fire extinguishers. Blackwood Kiwanis LL, New Jersey Establish comprehensive procedures for concession stand safety. Blackwood Kiwanis LL, New Jersey Concession stand workers should be trained in the Heimlich maneuver. Fairfax LL, Vermont We replaced the dilapidated wooden boards of our bleachers. Baden Aquasco LL, Maryland Levittown American, Pennsylvania Vidor LL, Texas COMPLIANCE... We hung a dusk to dawn light at the concession stand to provide light for children and parents at the park after dark. Memorial LL, Pennsylvania Open ended metal tubing on the bleachers were capped off to prevent yellow jacket wasps from building nests inside. Taunton West LL, Massachusetts Latex gloves are worn not only when treating injuries but also when volunteers empty the trash barrels. Benson LL, Nebraska We installed emergency tornado sirens for the west edge of our community between our two ball diamonds. Rushville LL, Illinois October

83 A Little Common Sense About Safety Compliance... Install a warning track to prevent playerfence collisions. A local mining company gives us used conveyor belts which we install at the base of the backstop. This keeps balls from going underneath and keeps the fence from curling up. District 4, Virginia The top rail and top of the chain link fencing fabric can be enclosed in PVC drainage tile to reduce the risk of abrasions. Split the tile lengthwise, place over the top rail and secure with electrical ties. District 18, Florida Before the games, the home team walks the field checking for debris or any holes that need to be filled. Carpentersville LL, Illinois Groves National LL, Texas Salem LL, West Virginia We extended the fence to protect spectators from foul and overthrown balls. Statham LL, Georgia We purchased a lightning detector. Benson LL, Nebraska Manchester North LL, New Hampshire We covered bleachers with a wood awning to protect spectators from foul balls. District 18, Florida 3.42 October 2007

84 Facilities Compliance... Putting up backstop netting eliminated 90 percent of the foul balls that used to land in our bleachers. Rocklin LL, California We installed on the backstops of all of our fields a piece of PVC tubing to place our foul balls that are hit over the backstops. This keeps kids from throwing the balls back onto the fields where they could hit players or umpires. Post signs alerting fans of foul ball dangers. Athens American/National LL, Georgia Bayside LL, Texas We installed overhead and side barrier netting to catch foul balls to prevent spectator injury and automobile damage. South Beaches LL, Florida Nyack-Valley Cottage LL, New York We have moved our spectators to the outfield so they don t interrupt coaches and players during the game. Stilly Valley LL, Washington To help prevent injuries, we improved the field playing surface by using a sports surface composed of 10% Turface, 50% sand and 40% clay. Dixie LL, Virginia We installed fence extensions to stop players and fans from walking by an unsafe railroad tie wall next to a pond. Morris Plains LL, New Jersey October

85 A Little Common Sense About Safety Compliance... We enclosed the area under our stands to keep kids from injuring themselves under the bleachers. Weslaco LL, Texas Electrically ground all metal bleachers. Manchester North LL, New Hampshire We put in sidewalks to assist our Challenger Division players. Northern LL, Texas No bikes or roller skating are allowed at any of our stadiums. Union LL, New Jersey We installed end caps on all metal bleachers. Indian Valley LL, New York We banned smoking in our park; in fact, we passed a city ordinance. Vassar LL, Michigan We placed fencing around our fields to prevent balls from being hit into the field of play of bordering fields. Granville LL, New York We regraded our field and installed new sod to make conditions safer. Lehigh LL, Pennsylvania Fences should be at least four feet high. Four feet provides insurance that no player will fall over the barrier if a collision does occur. Beverly LL, Massachusetts We noted our T-ball field was too close to the street and parking lot. So for safety we moved our T-ball field to a lot with no street traffic. Los Serranos Butterfield LL, California We have installed handicapped bathrooms for our Challenger program and added lights to the top of the bathroom to shine on our handicapped accessible playground. Federal LL, Florida 3.44 We relocated our dugouts, which used to protrude onto the playing field. South Austin Optimist, Texas We planted six mature trees so fielders wouldn t have to look into the sun and spectators could sit in the shade. Baden Aquasco LL, Maryland We replaced the solid backs of our dugouts with chain link fencing. This allows police to see into the dugouts from the road, and has cut down on vandalism. Saginaw Township South, Michigan October 2007

86 Facilities Compliance... Many concession stands use outdoor grills, and they are placed by the only exit to the stand. Should a fire start in the grill, all of the people in the concession stand would be trapped. Richmond LL, Virginia Install a fence around barbecue grills to avoid possible burns. Missoula Westside LL, Montana Upgrade lighting to meet Little League standards. Hagerstown LL, Indiana Install a batter s eye in dead centerfield at least 24 feet wide. It provides a field of contrast for the white ball allowing hitters to better see pitched balls. The County Health Department inspected our concession stand. Southside LL, Indiana We are not selling glass bottle refreshments anymore. We re selling cans and plastic, and we will have recycling bins. Levittown American LL, Pennsylvania Try going to your county probation department. We get guys that have community service to do, and we bring them in to work on our facility. Perrin Beitel LL, Texas Missoula Westside LL, Montana Install a pitcher s eye so fielders can pick up the ball coming off the bat. Also, pitchers won t be distracted by people behind the fence. Some of our local cops came through our program. I ask them to stop in once in a while with their uniform and car. It wouldn t take long for someone to grab a kid, but the police can deter them. Newburgh LL, New York We put up chain link fences in front of our dugouts. City of Poughkeepsie LL, New York Cisco LL, Texas Morris Plains LL, New Jersey October

87 A Little Common Sense About Safety Compliance... Secure CO2 tanks in your concession stand so they stand upright and can t fall over. Report damage to tanks or valves to your supplier and discontinue use. Batting cages must be run by an approved manager, coach or volunteer. Millsboro LL, Delaware Bleachers should have safety rails. Several leagues Install bat racks in every dugout. Kris Atha Dixie LL, Virginia Culver City LL, California Manchester North LL, New Hampshire California state meeting We removed an old hazardous barn near the fields that children used to wander into. Baden Aquasco LL, Maryland We closed an entrance to automobiles that allowed vehicle access close to the concession stand. Statham LL, Georgia 3.46 We removed an old grill and picnic table kids used to climb and get hurt on. Canyon Lake LL, California October 2007

88 Facilities Compliance... All parking areas were moved to the outer perimeter of the park, away from the flow of kids. Middlebury LL, Indiana Install speed bumps to slow down traffic in the parking lots. Port Acres LL, Texas Paint the guy wires of your light poles yellow to make them more visible. East Base Line LL, California A maintenance and safety checklist has been adopted for a weekly inspection of each field. Robbinsdale Youth Baseball, Minnesota We purchased an L-net to protect our coaches who are feeding the pitching machine. Manchester North LL, New Hampshire We got permission to close down a road next to the ballpark during games so kids chasing foul balls wouldn t run into traffic. Ingleside LL, Texas We are replacing our metal billboards with new plywood billboards. The metal signs had sharp edges, while the edges of the plywood signs are protected with a plastic border. Manchester North LL, New Hampshire Old We put up a fence to keep kids out of a creek by the ballpark. Benson LL, Nebraska New Install breakaway bases. Palos Hills Baseball Asssociation, Illinois October

89 A Little Common Sense About Safety Compliance... It is inexpensive to develop colorful, eyecatching safety signs to post around the ballpark, reminding all participants of good safety practices. District 18, Florida Plastic breakaway fencing now surrounds all of our softball fields. Emergency vehicle parking spots were reserved next to the fields. Harney LL, South Dakota We replaced the lift-up plywood doors on our concession stand with a roll-up door. Ashland LL, Pennsylvania We removed all trees in close proximity to the outfield fence to prevent balls from deflecting off limbs toward fielders and to discourage youngsters from climbing in the trees to watch the games. Nyack-Valley Cottage LL, New York Antioch LL, California We appointed a field manager responsible for evaluating repairs needed on all fields. Martinsburg LL, West Virginia Instead of the on-deck circle, our players now take their warm-up swings at homeplate. Abbott O Rabbit LL, Alaska Complete a National Facility Survey and a lighting safety audit. Bradley-Bourbonnais American/National, Illinois 3.48 October 2007

90 Facilities...New! COMPLIANCE... NEW! Field Maintenance... We appointed a field manager responsible for evaluating repairs needed on all fields. Martinsburg LL, West Virginia A maintenance and safety checklist has been adopted for a weekly inspection of each field. Robbinsdale Youth Baseball, Minnesota We have installed new underground drainage to eliminate standing water on the fields and walkways. East Lake LL, Florida Our league has initiated a game rule stating: If any ballplayer is caught digging holes in the outfield, then their team will start the next inning with one out. This rule has greatly reduced the number of holes found on the ball fields and has helped in eliminating a very real tripping hazard. Green River LL, Wyoming Before the games, the home team walks the field checking for debris or any holes that need to be filled. Carpentersville LL, Illinois We have requested the removal of all low hanging branches in field areas to eliminate spectators children from climbing in the trees. Killingworth You LL, Connecticut Our league had created crosswalks made up of chains with colored flags on them and painted walkways so children know exactly where they can cross safely and not worry about cars. Delta LL, Indiana Fence Maintenance... We have purchased and installed portable fencing to create a regulation playing field for girl s softball. The fencing is collapsible and was designed to be a safe outfield fence for our kids. West Redding LL, California October

91 A Little Common Sense About Safety The top rail and top of the chain link fencing fabric can be enclosed in PVC drainage tile to reduce the risk of abrasions. Split the tile lengthwise, place over the top rail, and secure with electrical ties. District 18, Florida We purchased first-aid kits from at $5.58 each. All managers will keep their kit at the end of the season as a thank you. Hobart LL, Indiana Uniform/Clothing... We encourage players to wear personal baseball caps under the heavy plastic batting helmets to prevent the transfer of lice. Lyons Township National LL, Illinois Tri-City LL, California We placed fencing around our fields to prevent balls from being hit into the field of play on bordering fields. Granville LL, New York A practice or game may not begin unless there is a first-aid kit in the dugout. Warwick LL, Pennsylvania Hats are mandatory on the field at all times. Several Leagues Switch to light colored uniforms for players, due to intense heat during the season. Oak Ridge Woodlands Area LL, Texas Players are responsible to provide a change of clothes and a large plastic bag at all practices and games in the event that clothing becomes bloodstained. Players in bloodstained clothing will not be allowed to participate. Southridge LL, California 3.50 October 2007

92 Facilities...New! We do not allow players to have their names on either their team hat or uniform to protect the children from risk of abduction. Several Leagues A safety officer should do spot checks at practices to make sure all managers have their first-aid kits. Little Lake LL, California Always pack a blanket in your car for practices. These can help prevent a child from going into shock in the event of injury or seizure. Eastside LL, Indiana Turn in any equipment found after the game and receive $.05 worth of candy. We have a large selection of $.01-$.05 candies to choose from. Painesville National/American LL, Ohio We have a Defective Equipment Form that is sent to the manufacturer with any defective equipment. Perris Valley LL, California During the month of September, 2004, our area was hit hard by four hurricanes. The backstops were then secured with higher strength poles that can withstand hurricane force winds. Greater West Melbourne LL, Florida An Equipment Problem Report is filled out by managers, coaches, and umpires and filed with the equipment manager for immediate correction. Virginia Beach LL, Virginia The posts for the dugout fences will have padding installed to protect players trying to catch foul balls. Heights LL, Pennsylvania Electrical equipment in concession stands needs to be approved and inspected weekly and documented on a weekly log equipment checklist. Blackwood Kiwanis LL, New Jersey Fence lines should be clear. All spectators must be a minimum of two feet behind the fences for their own safety and the safety of those around them. Raleigh Hills LL, Oregon October

93 A Little Common Sense About Safety The concession stand has a new First-Aid Station that is complete with a new emergency AED defibrillator for added player safety. Crystal Lake LL, Illinois Temporary overhead mesh installed over eating area for protection Brentwood LL, New York Dugout Maintenance... We replaced the solid backs of our dugouts with chain link fencing. This allows police to see into the dugouts from the road, and has cut down on vandalism. Saginaw Township South LL, Michigan MNLL has purchased and installed a chain link fence around our batting cages for the protection of anyone standing near the batting cage. Montville National LL, Connecticut Metal signs are being replaced with safer plastic ones in the outfields. West Shore LL, New York 3.52 In our area, it is common to have spring and summer days when the temperature could rise to a very uncomfortable state. On those days, it is strongly recommended that the dugout overhead be covered with a tarp from the equipment shed to provide comfort to the players. Sunnyvale LL, California Tri Cities Pacific LL, California We allow water only in our dugouts. Other food and drinks attract wasps and bees and can lead to stings and serious allergic reactions. Several Leagues October 2007

94 Index bases , 13, 21, 31,32, 35, 36, 47 batter s eye batting cages , 52 bicycle safety , 12, 39 billboards , 11, 47 bleachers , 46 catcher s gear , 20, 32-34, 38, 39 checklists , 15, 16, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 35, 47, 49, 51 cleats , 39 coaching..1-3, 8, 11, 15, 18, 21, 22, 24, 32 concession stands , 11, 14 15, 23, 25, 26, 29, 35, 41, 45, 46, 48, 51, 52 drug education , 5, 9, 10, 12 dugouts....1, 15, 16, 24, 29, 44, 46, 51, 52 emergency management , 5, 6, 17, 22-24, 28, 40, 41, 48, 52 faceguards , 32-34, 36, 38 fencing , 18, 42-45, field surface , 12, 21, 42-44, 48, 49 first-aid kits , 2, 4, 5, 13, 21, 28, 32, 34, 35, 40, 50, 51 foul balls , 18, 24, 42, 43, 47, 50, 51 heat wave , 50 helmets , 8, 18, 31, 32, 33, 36, 50 injury reports , 3, 27, 28 lighting , 45, 48 lightning , 24, 26, 42 minicamps on-deck position , 48 pitcher s eye practices , 2, 11, 12, 18, 20-24, 28, 29, 31, 35, 37 registration , 16, 24, 28 rewards , 17 safety code , 3 safety glasses , 8, 9, 17, 40 safety tokens signage , 24, 43, 47, 48, 52 stretching , 4, 8, 20 traffic , 39, 44, 47 umpires , 4, 7, 13, 15, 21, 22, 25, 32, 34, 35, 38, 39, 48, 51 videos , 9, 11, 12 October 2007

95 A Little Common Sense About Safety From a Million Little League Volunteers 1997, 2007 Little League Baseball and Softball, and Musco Lighting October 2007

96 Play It Safe Little League Baseball & Softball A practical approach to leadership responsibility in an effective Little League Safety Program

97 Play It Safe FOREWORD As a spirited action program of established benefit to children, the movement of Little League Baseball is well known to the public and is identified with the highest standards of integrity and ethical practices consistent with the physical and emotional well-being of youngsters. One of the important responsibilities of adults who come forward voluntarily to help is to project Little League sensibly and safely for the ultimate enjoyment of the many thousands of children who come into the local ranks each year. It is hoped that this book will contribute to better understanding, and appreciation of the continuing necessity for making Little League a safe, wholesome activity. It is tailored for a wide range of interest local league personnel, the parent and all segments of the community which share a common objective of improving the safety factor in all sports. CONTENTS Play it Safe Safety is a Responsibility Defining Terms Structure of a Sound Program Administration Organization C H A R A C T E R Copyrighted 1998 by Little League Baseball, Incorporated Williamsport, Pennsylvania RPIS1 District Safety Officer C O U R A G E C O U R A G E League Safety Officer Controls are Essential Exposure to Unsafe Practices Hazards in Travel To and From Field Making Use of Accident Reporting First Aid Public Liability Accident Insurance Coverage Safety Code for Little League L O Y A L T Y

98 Play It Safe PLAY IT SAFE The purpose of Play It Safe is to provide information and counsel to Little League personnel on carrying out basic safety policies, and making Little League a safer and more enjoyable activity. Those who are engaged in Little League administration and management should have an understanding of how fundamentals of safety can be applied to various assignments in the organization. Safety practices should become routine discipline and a background reason for all activities. In short, become safety-minded. The four cornerstones for building an effective safety program, known as the four E s of safety, may be described as follows: EDUCATION refers to the important matter of including suitable safety precautions in instructions, training, communications, drill work and follow-up. EQUIPMENT applies to the safe upkeep and use of physical property, fields, personal protective equipment, bleachers, bats, balls, etc. ENTHUSIASM is the key to selling this important ingredient called safety, which can prevent painful and disabling accidents. ENFORCEMENT should be applied more as an incentive for skillful ball playing rather than as disciplinary action. Far better results can be obtained by praise and recognition than by forcing players into line. Tactful guidance must be backed by firmness and justly used discipline. SAFETY IS A RESPONSIBILITY In order to understand the reasons for a Safety Program, we should look at why Little League has been so successful. Little League Policy One of the reasons for Little Leagues wide acceptance and phenomenal growth is that it fills an important need in our free society. As our program expands, it takes, more and more, a major part in the development of young people. It instills confidence and an understanding of fair play and the rights of other people. Many of the younger children who develop slower than others are given an opportunity not only to develop their playing skill but to learn what competition and sportsmanship are all about. All who take part in the program are encouraged to develop a high moral code along with their improvement in physical skills and coordination. These high aims of Little League are more for the benefit of the great majority of children rather than the few who would otherwise come to the top in any competitive athletic endeavor. Safety Responsibility The very fact that it is a basic principle of Little League to provide an opportunity for most of the youngsters who sign up for a team to receive these benefits, multiplies the exposure to accidental injury. Having accepted this large group of partly developed fledglings, we must also accept the moral responsibility for their safety. This obligation rests with every adult member of the league organization as well as with inactive parents who have entrusted their children to us. Other Reasons In addition to our basic moral responsibility, other significant reasons for an organized effort to prevent accidents are to: 1. Stimulate public confidence in this high caliber youth program. 2. Hold insurance costs to a minimum. 3. Reassure parents as to the safety of their children. 4. Develop safety-mindedness for their protection in later life. November

99 Play It Safe DEFINING TERMS To clarify the meaning of these guidelines, we are defining use of the terms essential to an understanding of a basic accident-prevention program in Little League Baseball. They are as follows: 1. ACCIDENT is a sudden, undesirable and unplanned occurrence often resulting in bodily injury, disability and/or property damage. 2. ACCIDENT CAUSE is an unsafe condition, situation or act that may result directly in or contribute to the occurrence of an accident. 3. CORRECTIVE ACTION is the positive steps or measures taken to eliminate, or at least minimize, an accident cause. 4. CASE is used in the general sense, such as: accident case, injury case, claim case or insurance case. 5. HAZARD refers to a condition or a situation that could cause an accident. 6. INJURY is the physical harm or damage often resulting from an accident. 7. INSURANCE CLAIM refers to the right of a parent, as in the case of accident insurance to have eligible medical expenses resulting from an accidental injury connected with a game or scheduled practice paid by the appropriate insurance company 8. TYPE OF ACCIDENT is a phrase used to describe an unintentional, sudden incident that can be identified so effective counter measures may be taken. Examples are: struck by, tripped, fell, collision with, caught between, etc. 9. AN UNSAFE ACT refers to unintentional human failure or lack of skill that can lead to an accident. It is one of the two general accident causes, the other being an unsafe condition. 10. AN UNSAFE CONDITION is an abnormal or faulty situation or condition which may cause an accident. Its presence, particularly when an unsafe act is committed, may result in an accident. STRUCTURE OF A SOUND PROGRAM It is a recognized that the area personnel and facilities available for the operation of a Little League will dictate the structure of an effective safety program. These safety guidelines are presented as a goal toward which the adults who administer a league can work. The effectiveness of their efforts to prevent accidents will be measured more by their sincerity of purpose than by the amount of money and preponderance of volunteer effort at their disposal. Effective accident prevention is a commodity available only to those organizations which have a real desire to make it a part of their activities. It must be understood that although your safety program is designed to cover all personnel and all activities in the operation of your Little League, its scope does not supersede any existing lines of authority. We expect everyone to become safety-minded and be guided by safety considerations, but not attempt to change the structure of the Little League Organization. 4.4 November

100 Play It Safe ADMINISTRATION Responsibility The administration of an effective safety program is the responsibility of all who operate the Little League system on all levels. The inexperience and dependence of young children on adult guidance make it imperative that all levels of authority make safety an integral part of their behavior, transaction of league affairs and instructions to the players. Point of View Everyone s approach to the problem of accident prevention must be from a positive point of view if it is to be effective. We should be concerned primarily with controlling the causes of accidents which can be eliminated without taking any action, speed or competition out of the game. An attitude of alertness, hustle and enthusiasm without antagonism should be encouraged. Good equipment and proper instruction more than outweigh the risk of injury. A lively spirit of competition engenders that extra effort needed for development of skills. Basic Factors To minimize accidents, particularly during the initial learning period, instruction in the basic skills should be approached gradually. This applies particularly to fundamentals such as running, ball handling, batting and sliding which produce the majority of accidents. A second basic factor very important to the safe development and continuing use of baseball skills is the understanding and practice of teamwork and good sportsmanship. These intangibles have a direct bearing on accidents involving another person and can be made a part of the game by the following: 1. A courteous and considerate attitude by adults. They must set a good example. 2. Many of the players will need to be instructed in cooperation between teammates and good sportsmanship toward opponents. November

101 Play It Safe ORGANIZATION Little League Headquarters Regional Centers District Administrator District Safety Officer Maintain continuing emphasis on accident prevention at all times. Meetings and contacts with League Safety Officers to establish policy of: 1. Safe playing conditions. 2. Safe performance through better skills. 3. Improve alertness. 4. Exchange information on accident causes and their control. League Presidents League Safety Officers Help make safety part of fun, speed and competition of game. Coordinate safety policy in person and through meetings Player Agents Managers Coaches Umpires Parents Ladies Auxiliary Other Volunteers L I T T L E L E A G U E P L A Y E R S The organization of your safety program is built on the two key positions of a District Safety Officer and a League Safety Officer. Their services are needed because a safety program in a large, volunteer organization such as Little League requires direction and coordination. This can be accomplished best by the efforts of conscientious individuals having accident-prevention as their main responsibility. 4.6 November

102 Selection DISTRICT SAFETY OFFICER The Role in Effecting a Broad Program of Safety in the District The District Administrator should appoint a District Safety Officer (DSO) to act as a representative in carrying out the responsibility of preventing accidents in the leagues of the district. An interested safety professional from industry, public service or the insurance field could be found who is not only qualified for this responsibility but can assist the league presidents in the selection of a suitable person for League Safety Officer (LSO) in each league. Responsibilities It is suggested the District Safety Officer hold regular meetings with League Safety Officers to assist in the following: 1. Make sure League Safety Officers are carrying out their duties as safety advisors to each team manager, coach and umpire. If each League Safety Officer cannot attend all tryouts, games or proactive sessions, a deputy or alternate should be appointed to act in this capacity. 2. Exchange information on methods that have proven most effective in the prevention of accidents in each league. 3. Review the causes of accidents that have occurred since the previous meetings in order to forestall similar mishaps elsewhere in the district. Play It Safe 4. For leagues carrying insurance through Little League Headquarters, the District Safety Officer will review the reporting of claims by League Safety Officers as well as a follow-up on the prompt payment of medical bills. 5. In the event that a league president has difficulty in obtaining volunteer League Safety Officers with some safety experience it is the responsibility of the District Safety Officer to train them in accepted methods of accident prevention. 6. It may be beneficial to organize safety contests between teams in each league and between leagues in the district. 7. Great care must be taken to avoid the possibility of neglecting proper care of injuries to avoid having an accident charged against them. 8. The District Safety Officer, with the knowledge of the District Administrator, will also serve as liaison officer between the district and Little League Headquarters. This two-way line of communication will help the safety effort in both places. Headquarters will keep the district safety personnel informed of beneficial safety information coming from the field and other sources. 9. It is the District Safety Officer s responsibility to see that all adults make every effort to prevent accidents before they occur rather than waiting for an unfortunate mishap to signify a safety problem. November

103 Play It Safe Authority By unanimous action of the 1965 Little League International Congress and subsequent ratification of the Board of Directors, it was resolved that every chartered Little League shall appoint a Safety Officer. Selection The league president should take great care in selecting a League Safety Officer. It would be well to interview a number of people who may be qualified as outlined below. It is better to delay the selection of a League Safety Officer than to make the wrong person fit the job. Remember the selected individual will be your personal representative on this important part of your responsibilities. Qualifications The League Safety Officer should be someone having the following qualifications, at least to a reasonable degree: 1. Sufficient knowledge of baseball and softball to evaluate and suggest corrective measures for hazards without conflicting with Little League Rules. 2. It would be an asset if that person had first hand experience with a safety program, or at least an understanding of the importance of safety. Examples of people with indirect knowledge of safety would be doctors, insurance agents, and fire or police officers. 3. Such an officer should be a person who can adapt a point of view to that of other volunteers. In other words, the officer should be able to sell a safety package on its own merits. 4. The officer should have the interest and the time to coordinate the safety efforts of other adults in the organization. League Safety Officer s Authority The League Safety Officer s authority is mainly advisory with as much force behind advice as the league president has delegated that officer. It must be remembered that managers, player agents and umpires must carry out their own duties and responsibilities. Any differences of opinion on safety policy should be referred to the League President rather than argued. Further questions may be taken up with the District Safety Officer. The latter may refer such problems to Little League Headquarters. Responsibilities The main responsibility of a League Safety Officer is to develop and implement the league s safety program. The following may help in carrying out the assigned duties. LEAGUE SAFETY OFFICER 2. At the playing field, the League Safety Officer s first duty is to insure first aid facilities are available and emergency arrangements have been made for an ambulance or doctor. 3. The League Safety Officer s next obligation is to advise and follow up on the control of unsafe conditions. These will be brought to light by the adults in charge making a preliminary inspection of the field and being continually on the lookout for situations that might cause accidents. Since it would not only be impossible, but an invitation to buck passing, for a League Safety Officer to keep a degree of control over accident exposures alone, such efforts will be effective only when that officer and league president have convinced fellow volunteer workers that safety should be a primary consideration in whatever they are doing. 4. In addition to the League Safety Officer s advising on the control of unsafe conditions throughout the season, it is a specific responsibility to follow up on procedures and methods of instruction that will help control the human elements that may be the cause of accidents. Here again the work must be done through existing lines of authority in the organization to make accidentprevention a matter of league policy rather than an afterthought applied on a hit-or-miss basis. 5. It would be suitable if the League President delegates the handling of insurance claims to a League Safety Officer because: (a) A League Safety Officer will be familiar with accidental injury cases that require an insurance claim. (b) The personal knowledge of the people in the league will be helpful in following up on such cases. 1. Spot checks should be made at practices and games to be sure reasonable precautions are taken and assist (c) The League Safety Officer will recognize the pain wherever possible with advice and encouragement. and hardship which result from such injuries, and will 4.8 November

104 Play It Safe serve as an additional incentive to see that everyone is kept on their toes to prevent the occurrence of other accidents. Organized Plan The first duty of a new League Safety Officer is to sit down with the League President and prepare a safety program for the league. It should have the essential objectives of assuring that: 1. Practice and playing field conditions are made as safe as possible. 2. Players protective equipment and other facilities are available and in good condition. 3. Arrangements have been made for first aid treatment and more severe emergencies. 4. All managers, player agents, coaches and umpires have been instructed in the inclusion of suitable safety precautions as an integral part of their regular duties. 5. Other volunteers, such as grounds keepers and auxiliary members are carrying out their jobs safely. 6. A definite plan is in effect for traffic safety including players travel to and from the field. 7. Arrangements are made for the prompt investigation and reporting of accidents and near-misses with a definite follow up for the prevention of further accidents of a similar nature. 8. Procedures are in place for prompt and timely reporting of accidents requiring medical treatment to Little League Headquarters. The best way to institute such a plan is to call a meeting of key personnel, particularly the managers and umpires. If the safety plan or program is to be effective, they must not only agree that safety is essential to the operation of their Little League, but that they will do their part to make it succeed. They should also express a willingness to accept the help and advice of the League Safety Officer. Incentives for Safety Officers To people who are not familiar with the safety profession, the incentive and rewards for handling what seems to be a thankless job may appear to fall short of the inducements for taking other assignments in Little League Baseball. A dedicated Safety Officer gets a great deal of satisfaction from other people that they owe it to their families and themselves to be alert to prevent pain, suffering and general misfortune connected with the more severe accidents the majority of which could be prevented. The Safety Officer s enthusiasm for making accident-prevention work will rub off on other people in the Little League program. It is similar to the maxim that courtesy is contagious. CONTROLS ARE ESSENTIAL Having set the stage for your Little League safety program, let s look at the control of unsafe conditions. It is a logical step, because accident causes can be controlled more readily than those involving human element. Responsibility The League President has the primary responsibility for safe conditions. However, it is not possible to cover all details personally, so it is necessary to delegate most of this responsibility to others. The following assignments are suggested: 1. Safe maintenance of fixed ball field property, including structures, to the head groundskeeper. 2. Procurement and upkeep of practice and playing equipment, particularly personal protective equipment, to the equipment manager. 3. Each manager should see that the use of field and playing equipment by players does not create hazards. 4. The umpire should take the initiative to insure unsafe conditions are corrected on the playing field and in foul territory during games. 5. The responsibility for maintaining safe conditions for the entire league falls on the shoulders of the president. Some important safety jobs can be delegated to whomever is most suited to handle them, as follows: November (a) The safety of players and adults going to and from fields is very important as shown by the severity of traffic accidents. See chapter on Traffic Safety. (b) The first aid kit must be kept properly equipped and arrangements for emergencies up to date. See chapter on First Aid. (c) Taking measures to counteract the hazards that may be connected with special events such as picnics, fund-raising projects, etc. See chapter on Insurance Coverage. (d) The safety of spectators, including parking facilities. (e) The safe handling of food and drinks at the concession stand. (f) If the league operates under artificial lights, the president has the very important responsibility for making sure the lights meet minimum requirements. Check with the District Administrator for Little League Lighting Standards. This is a must for safe playing conditions. The only alternative to adequate lighting is to schedule practice and games during daylight hours. Light meter checks should be made at regular intervals to find out when it is necessary to clean reflectors and replace partly worn light bulbs which have lost their original rating. 4.9

105 Play It Safe Physical Checkups The physical well-being of players who are accepted in the Little League program is essential to avoid the hazard of unsafe personal conditions. It would be well to enlist the help of a local physician to advise the league on medical matters not covered by individuals family physicians. It is strongly suggested that all candidates for the Little League program pass a basic physical examination before they are accepted. Another important way that physical checkups can prevent accidents is obtaining a medical release to play ball after a player has recovered from an accident. If this final medical checkup is for evaluation of the player s recovery from an injury covered by accident insurance, the cost can be charged against the original claim. Safety Inspection Regular safety inspection of the field, permanent and temporary structures, ball playing equipment and personal protective equipment is the best way to determine which unsafe conditions require correction. The managers and grounds keepers should work together to insure serious accident exposures are corrected promptly! It is good experience and safety training to have the youngsters take part in the procedure. The following list will be of assistance in determining conditions that cause accidents. Prompt action must be taken on all serious hazards. Some examples are: 1. Unsafe field conditions such as holes, ditches, rough or uneven spots, slippery areas and long grass. 2. Foreign objects like stones, broken glass, old boards, pop bottles, rakes, etc. 3. Incomplete or defective screen, including holes, sharp edges and loose edges. 4. Wire or link fencing should be checked regularly for similar defects which could injure a participant. 5. Board fences should be free of protruding nails, loose boards, and splintered wood. 6. Forty (40) feet in the center section of the outfield fence should be painted a dark color and kept free of signs to provide a contrast with balls thrown toward home. 7. The warning track should be well defined and not less than 10 feet wide. 8. Bat rack and on-deck* circle should be behind the screen. 9. The backstop should be padded and painted green for the safety of the catcher. 10. The dugout should be clean and free of debris. 11. Dugouts and bleachers should be free of protruding nails and wood slivers. 12. Home plate, batter s box, bases and the area around the pitcher s rubber should be checked periodically for tripping and stumbling hazards. 13. Material used to mark the field should be a nonirritating white pigment (not lime). White plastic marking tape has proved better and less expensive than other methods of marking. 14. Loose equipment such as bats, gloves, masks, balls, helmets, etc., must be kept off the ground. 15. Constant attention must be given by managers, coaches and umpires to the possible lack or poor fit of personal protective equipment. This would include helmets, masks, catcher s pads and safe shoes. Plastic cup supporters are required for regular and reserve male catchers and are recommended for all male players in addition to regular supporters. 16. Personal jewelry, badges, pencils, etc., can be a hazard to the wearer and should not be permitted. UP DOWN 17. Corrective glasses should be of the sports type and equipped with industrial safety lenses. Shatterproof, flip-type sun glasses are good protection against losing a fly ball in the sun. 18. Bats should be inspected for orderly storage, secure grips and freedom from cracks. Cracked or broken bats should never be used. 19. Safety should be the major factor when making a decision on canceling a practice or game because of bad weather or darkness. 20. The greatest, although the least frequent, hazard in connection with weather conditions is exposure to lightning. Chances of surviving being struck by lightning are so slight that managers and umpires must not take any chances on continuing a practice or game when an electrical storm is approaching. At the first indication of such a storm, everyone should leave the playing field. 21. The correct fitting and spruce appearance of uniforms has the indirect benefit of contributing to pride and morale, which stimulates our main safety objective of greater skill for fewer accidents. * On-deck areas have been eliminated for ages 12 and below November

106 Play It Safe Congestion Congestion is one of the unsafe conditions that must be dealt with by constant supervision. The umpire will keep unauthorized people out of the way during games. The manager and coaches must control this hazard during practice sessions. Since the development of this hazardous condition results from unsafe acts it is covered more fully in the next chapter on that subject. Conditioning This important phase of Little League training has a direct bearing on developing a safe personal condition. Extensive studies on the effect of conditioning, commonly known as warm-up, have demonstrated that: 1. The stretching and contracting of muscles just before an athletic activity improves general control of movements, coordination and alertness. 2. Such drills also help develop the strength and stamina needed by the average youngster to compete with minimum accident exposure. These warm-up skills are most effective when the motions are patterned after natural baseball movements such as reaching for a ball, running and similar footwork. This is a good place also to drive home the basic safeguard of keeping the eye on the ball. EXPOSURE TO UNSAFE PRACTICES Unsafe acts are far more difficult to control than hazardous conditions. Also, they are the most challenging because they are involved almost entirely with the human element. It has been estimated that unsafe acts account for 80% of all accidents. Assuming that every effort has been made to provide safe conditions and equipment for a player, we should look at the exposure to a player s own or someone else s unsafe acts. Finding the causes is not enough definite steps must be taken to counteract them. Existing Safeguards Before looking at these accident exposures and some suggestions for their control let s look at some of the built-in safety factors that are in our favor. 1. It is obvious that non-contact sports such as baseball and track produce far fewer accidental injuries than contact sports like football and hockey. 2. Little League has proven the value of its playing rules and equipment requirements by the fact that each season less than 2 out of 100 players have accidents resulting in injuries requiring outside medial treatment. This is far better than the average accident frequency of 6 accidents per 100 participants for school baseball players in this same age group. 3. Furthermore, 9 and 10-year-old Little League children have fewer accidents than the 11 and 12-year-olds. There are probably a number of factors that account for this difference, such as: (a) The ball is neither batted nor thrown as hard by younger players as by older ones. (b) Nine and ten-year-olds do not put in as much time actually playing ball as the older players. (c) Younger players are less easily disabled by bumps and falls than their older teammates. With proper instruction and drill work, it is expected that most younger players will develop protective skills that will see them through the more competitive age levels of the November game. It must be kept in mind too that some 9 and 10-yearold youngsters will develop faster and are better able to handle themselves than some 11 and 12-year-olds. Attitude 1. An attitude of alertness, hustle and enthusiasm that has been recommended as a guideline for the administration of your safety program should be carried down to all players to spark them in the development of better skills 2. Good sportsmanship and courtesy, which are necessary for a harmonious and safe environment, can be taught best through the good example set by all adults on and off the field. 3. Your most effective tool to inspire an attitude of selfconfidence and a desire to excel is the use of much PRAISE and RECOGNITION. Of course, this must be given when deserved so as not to be cheapened by too much repetition. After all, a really good try rewarded by a word of encouragement may be a good play on the next attempt. 4. Guidance on the most constructive attitude or point of view for both adults and youngsters can be summarized by recommending a POSITIVE APPROACH to all training techniques. Again, it is emphasized that good training is most effective weapon against accidents caused by unsafe acts. Tryouts To reduce the chances of accidents to inexperienced beginners, tryouts should be guided by the following: 1. Players should be scheduled to report for tryouts by age groups. This will not only give the younger applicants more confidence but will reduce their exposure to the harder play of older participants. 2. Since a youngster s lack of ability to handle a ball is the most likely way for the players to get hurt, a test should be made first with some short underhand throws to 4.11

107 Play It Safe check skill in catching a ball before the player is exposed to normal throws or batted balls. 3. Running form and speed should be observed by checking time and form on a dash from home plate to first base. Group racing does not exhibit true potential as a runner and could result in a pile up. 4. It is better to single out a particularly awkward and inept candidate for extra attention and safe placement than to ignore flaws hoping the applicant will quit. What may be an unsafe situation is often made worse by not acknowledging it. 5. The same principle of taking precautions to protect untried beginners dictates the use of great care in delivering a pitched ball to a potential batter. It may be that player s first experience. Warm-Up Drills The subject of warming up before a practice session has been covered as a means of safeguarding youngsters, at least to a degree, from poor physical condition and lack of limbering up. Use of the term warming-up drills, in connection with unsafe acts, refers to ball handling practice rather than calisthenics. This involves a serious accident exposure to misdirected balls. The following will reduce the danger of being struck by a misdirected ball: 1. All unauthorized people should remain off the field during drills. 2. After the number of targets has been reduced to minimum, one of the best preventive measures is to stress that the eye must be kept on the ball. This safe practice should be drilled into both adults and youngsters so continuously that it becomes a reflex action. 3. Another danger from misdirected balls is the exposure of inexperienced batters to wild pitchers. The use of batter s helmets is a must. However, it does not justify permitting a potential pitcher throwing to an inexperienced batter until control is demonstrated. 4. The danger of being struck by a ball can be further minimized by the following plan: (a) Throwing and catching drills should be set up with players in two lines facing one another. (b) Random throwing should be permitted only to designated players. Safe Ball Handling 1. Misjudging the flight of a batted ball may be corrected by drilling with flys which begin easy and made more difficult as a player s judgment and skill improves. Everyone should eventually be able to handle balls that go overhead. 2. In addition to a player never losing sight of a ball from the time it leaves the bat, the player should keep the glove positioned and the body relaxed for a last splitsecond move. 3. An infielder can best be protected by an aggressive short-hop fielding play by always keeping the nose pointed at the ball and the eyes glued on it. Also, if moving forward, the player is in a better position to make a throw. 4. It is safer for the player to knock a ball down and rehandle it then to let the ball determine the play. Collisions Collisions result in more injuries than is the case with most other types of accidents. They are usually caused by errors of judgment or lack of teamwork between fielders. It is important to establish zones of defense to avoid collisions between players. It is particularly important when players are chasing high fly balls. Once the zones are established, play situation drills should be held until these zones and patterns become familiar to the players. The responsible player should call out the intentions in a loud voice to warn others away. Here are some general rules to follow: 1. The fielder at third base should catch all balls which are reachable and are hit between third and the catcher. 2. The fielder at first base should catch all balls reachable which are hit between second and the catcher. 3. The shortstop should call all balls reachable which are hit behind third base. 4. The fielder at second base should catch all balls reachable which are hit behind first base. 5. The shortstop has the responsibility for fly balls hit in the center of the diamond and in the area of second base. Since the glove is on the left hand it is easier for the shortstop than the fielder at second to catch fly balls over second base. 6. The centerfielder has the right of way in the outfield and should catch all balls which are reachable. Another player should take the ball if it is seen that it is not reachable by the centerfielder. 7. Outfielders should have priority over infielders for fly balls hit between them. 8. Priorities are not so easy to establish on ground balls, but most managers expect their base player to field all ground balls they can reach, cutting in front of the shortstop on slow hit grounders. 9. The catcher is expected to field all topped and bunted balls which can be reached except when there is a force play or squeeze play at home plate. Warning Track In addition to collisions between players, occasionally a player chasing a fly ball will crash into the fence. These accidents also can be controlled by suitable drill work. In this case it is simply a matter of giving the outfielders an 4.12 November

108 Play It Safe opportunity to practice getting the feel of the warning track under their feet. They must learn to judge their distance from the fence and the probable point where the ball will come down. It would be worse than futile to not only miss catching the ball by a wide margin but also be injured by a collision with the fence. Retrieving Balls Balls that go out of the park should be retrieved by persons who have been specifically assigned to that duty. Such persons should be youngsters who can be relied on not to endanger themselves by climbing fences or getting into a scramble for possession of a ball. Keep Grounds Clear Another duty that should be given in turn to alert substitute players is the picking up of bats and proper placement in the rack. The clearing up of other loose playing equipment should be included in this assignment. Sliding Safety As is the case with other baseball fundamentals, a correct slide is also a safe one. It is well, too, to guard against the accident of a collision and the possibility of a player being struck by a thrown ball as that player hits the dirt. It goes without saying that steel spikes are not being worn. The following can make the learning period safer: 1. Long grass has been found to be better than a sand or sawdust pit to teach sliding. 2. The base must not be anchored down. 3. Sliding pads are recommended. 4. The player should make approaches at half speed and November keep constantly in mind that hands and feet should be in the air. Once committed to slide, the player must not change strategy. Last minute hesitation causes most sliding injuries. 5. Tennis shoes are suggested for beginning sliding and tagging practice to avoid injury to the defensive player. 6. If the ground along the baselines becomes soft on a rainy day, such weather offers an excellent opportunity to have sliding drills. 7. It should be kept in mind that head-first sliding* is not recommended except when returning to a base. Batter Safety A batter s greatest accident exposure is from the unsafe acts of others, namely wild pitches, which account for a major portion of all accidents. Again, the best defense is an alert, confident concentration on the ball. This type of injury is more prevalent in Regular than in Minor League play. Since the danger is increased as pitchers learn to throw with greater force and as more games are played, it is doubly important to take whatever counter measures necessary to offset this exposure. 1. A well-fitted, NOCSAE approved helmet is the first requirement. 2. The development of the novice batter s ability to take evasive action can be improved by getting the player to relax and concentrate on the ball from the time the pitcher starts delivery until it lands in the catcher s mitt. Players with slow reflexes can also be helped by stimulated batting and ducking practice with a tennis ball. 3. The unsportsmanlike practice of crowding the plate or jumping around to rattle the pitcher must not be tolerated. This could endanger the batter if it causes the pitcher to lose control. Umpires should stop such actions. 4. Painful finger and hand injuries can be reduced by making sure the batter holds the bat correctly when bunting. Youngsters have a tendency to lean too far over the plate and not keep the ball well out toward the end of the bat. This should be corrected. 5. When the batter becomes a base runner, that player should be taught to run outside the foul lines when going from home plate to first and from third to home, to reduce the chance of being hit by a thrown ball. Safe Handling of Bats A review of the batter s potential for causing injuries to others points up the following: 1. The most easily prevented type of accident is the too frequent fault of beginners throwing the bat while running to first base. This unthinking act may be corrected * Head-first sliding has been eliminated for ages 12 and below, except for when returning to base. 4.13

109 Play It Safe through individual instruction to drop the bat safely by: (a) Having the player hand the bat to the coach will serve as a reminder before each ball is pitched. (b) Having the player drop the bat in a marked-off circle near where running starts. (c) Counting the player out in practice whenever the player fails to drop the bat correctly. (d) Providing bats with grips that are not slippery. 2. Coaches and umpires should be on the alert to correct batters that have a tendency to step into the catcher as they swing. A Dangerous Weapon We use this heading to note the seriousness of an accident exposure that may sound impossible but one which has caused several very serious accidents on several occasions. The preceding precautions apply to the actions of individuals who should have control over the bat they are using. A more serious injury is waiting for the absent-minded youngster who unconsciously walks into the swing of the coach s bat when the coach is hitting flies, or the equally unwary player who walks into the swing of a player in the on-deck circle*. These situations demonstrate the need for everyone to become safety-minded, not only for their own good but also for the safety of others. The following precautions are suggested: 1. The player, usually a catcher, assigned to catching balls for the coach hitting flies should be given the specific assignment of warning away anyone who comes too close. 2. All players and adults should be trained to walk around the on-deck circle* whether it is in use or not. The ingrained safety habit of keeping clear may save someone a painful injury. Catcher Safety 1. The catcher, as might be expected from the amount of action involved has more accidents than any other player. Statistics show that the severity of injuries is less in Regular than in Minor League play. Again, this bears out the fact that the more proficient the player, the less chance of injury. Assuming that the catcher is wearing the required protection the greatest exposure is to the ungloved hand. The catcher must learn to: * On-deck areas have been eliminated for ages 12 and below. (a) Keep it relaxed. (b) Always have the back of the throwing hand toward the pitcher when in position to catch. (c) Hold all fingers in a cupped position near the mitt, ready to trap the ball and throw it. 2. The catcher should also be taught to throw the mask and catcher s helmet in the direction opposite the approach in going for a high fly. 3. As the catcher learns to play this difficult position, a good habit is to keep a safe distance back from the swinging bat. Estimate this as one foot farther from the batter than the ends of the outstretched fingers. 4. To repeat, the best protection is keeping the eye on the ball. General Inattention Going one step back to the whys of most ball handling accidents, it appears that inattention due to inaction or boredom is an underlying accident cause with which we must deal. This situation can be partly offset by using idle time to practice basics of skillful and safe play, such as: 1. Otherwise idle fielders should be encouraged to talk it up. Plenty of chatter encourages hustle and enthusiasm. 2. Players waiting for a game or practice to start can pair off and play catch to improve their basic eye-on-the ball technique. 3. Practice should include plenty of variety in the drill work. 4. Put a time limit on each drill and do not hold the total practice for more than two hours, or less if interest begins to lag. 5. Idle players along the sidelines can be given the job of studying the form of other players to improve their own techniques. They may then report on what they have learned to improve their own form on running, ball handling, throwing, batting and sliding. Control of Horseplay No discussion of measures to control the human element in accident-prevention would be complete without going into the problem of horseplay. This includes any type of youthful highjinks that could even remotely be the cause of an accident. Even a mild form of such childish behavior could distract any player about to catch a ball or possibly when at bat, and result in an accident. After all team play requires 100% cooperation among all players, and good sportsmanship demands courtesy to opposing players. If show-offs and smart-alecks cannot find sufficient outlet for their high spirits in the game, quick and impartial disciplinary action must be taken November

110 Play It Safe HAZARDS IN TRAVEL TO AND FROM FIELD Little League is also concerned for the safety of players and team officials on the way directly to and from the field. Since these adults are mature people with a good sense responsibility, it is not surprising they have had very few mishaps while going to and from their volunteer baseball jobs. Youngsters however, are likely to take a more lighthearted view of these accident exposures. Upon examination, it is obvious that this hazard is no worse than the everyday exposure of going to and from school, the playground or elsewhere. However, this does not relieve us in the least from looking out for their safety while on Little League business. Accident Exposures A quick examination of our problem leads us to separate these exposures into two broad classifications; namely, traffic safety and the various temptations resulting from youthful curiosity and a desire for adventure. In the field of insurance law, the latter type are known as attractive nuisances. They range anywhere from an easy-to-climb tree to a boat that has been left without being chained and padlocked. Travel Hazards Although Little League traffic accidents involve only one or two cases for every hundred injuries from all accidents, the average severity of these accidents far exceeds those from other causes. The alarming country-wide increase in all traffic accident deaths has made the publicity on these losses a natural crusade. This staggering annual increase indicates the public conscience has become hardened, not only to these needless fatalities but also to the tragic probability that millions will be seriously injured as the result of traffic accidents in the years to come. Too often we assume that it cannot happen to us or our loved ones until it is too late to prevent a crippling or fatal injury. In Little League we have not only an opportunity but an obligation to take organized action for the protection of our own interests. Let s do something about it. General Accident Prevention First, let s look at what can be done to implant the basic principles of traffic safety in the thinking of our adults and particularly our players. 1. In any meeting or gathering where adults are brought together, they should be reminded repeatedly of their responsibility to: (a) See that all passengers use seat belts. Do not carry passengers in cargo areas of vans and pick-ups. (b) See that their vehicles are in safe operating condition. (c) Observe traffic regulations. (d) Drive defensively. November Youngsters who are walking to or from the field should be reminded by their parents, managers and coaches to: (a) Not hitch rides. (b) Use street or highway crossings protected by lights as much as possible. (c) Always walk in single file off the roadway, and on the side against the flow of traffic where there are no sidewalks. (d) Wear light-colored clothing and carry a flashlight when walking along a road after dark. (e) Be just as alert to the dangers of moving traffic when in a group as when alone. Do not depend on others. (f) Observe bicycle safety rules such as those listed in the next section. Bicycle Safety In spite of the nationwide increase in the popularity of bicycling, the number of accidents to riders has not increased as rapidly as is the case with other types of traffic accidents, thanks to the emphasis that has been placed on bike safety. It is estimated there are over 57 million bike riders in America. Still, our country is faced with hundreds of fatalities and thousands of disabling injuries each year from bicycle mishaps. We should be concerned that 4 out of 5 of these accidents are to young people in the 5 to 15 year age bracket. Since bike riding is generally the most popular way for Little Leaguers to travel to and from the playing field, place more emphasis on bicycle traffic safety. Bicycle Accident Prevention As in the case of discovering and correcting the causes of player accidents, let s examine the major causes of bike accidents and what can be done to offset them. 1. According to the National Safety Council, 15% of all fatal bike accidents nationwide did not involve motor vehicles. In general, they were spills caused by: (a) Slippery or rough riding surfaces. (b) Defective bicycles. (c) Collisions with pedestrians or fixed objects. A significant number of bicycle accidents that resulted in injuries could have been prevented by keeping the bikes in good mechanical condition, better rider skills and the observance of bike safety rules. 2. The remaining 85% of fatal accidents involving collisions between motor vehicles and bicycles were analyzed by the National Safety Council as follows: (a) One-half occurred at intersections. (b) Seven out of ten were during daylight hours. (c) Four-fifths of the cyclists killed or injured were violating a traffic law. 4.15

111 Play It Safe They were: (1) Failing to yield the right of way. (2) Riding in center of street. (3) Speed too fast for conditions. 12. Don t Weave In Or Out of Traffic Do not swerve from side to side. Suggested bike safety programs are: (a) Safety inspection of all bikes by a qualified service mechanic. (4) Disregard for traffic control devices. (b) Testing of individual youngsters for: balance, (5) Riding against traffic. changes in direction, traffic control, pedaling and (6) Improper turning. braking, maneuvering, mounting, obstacles, emergency (d) Additional responsibility by the car drivers is indicated by the fact that many accidents involve violations by the auto vehicle drivers. (e) In one of five cases, the bicycle had a mechanical defect that could have caused the accident. Since we can do very little to control violations by motor vehicle drivers it is doubly important to have some assurance that: (1) the bikes will be in good condition, including suitable lights and reflectors; (2) the riders will be safety-minded; and (3) they will ride defensively. 3. Having decided on these four objectives, what can be done to implement our bicycle safety program without over-burdening our volunteers? First, it should be noted that the best results have been obtained by safety promotion projects in which the youngsters take an active part. stops, turning, signaling and proper care of bike. (c) Rodeo, which is similar to the testing program except that the participants are scored on their knowledge of bike safety and execution of various maneuvers while competing for prizes. This could be made more exciting by having the various teams in each league compete against each other. 4. Another effective way to impress youngsters with the importance of observing traffic safety rules is to have a safety representative from your local law enforcement agency talk briefly to each Little League group, following a practice or game. Youngsters may be impressed by the importance of traffic safety rules which are explained by an officer, such as a state trooper, in uniform. This can be done by getting a local bike shop or a civicminded organization to sponsor a package program such as the ones offered without charge by the Bicycle Prevention of Other Going-and-Coming Institute of America. It is located at 122 E. 42nd Street, Accidents New York, NY They will provide not only welltested procedures but such incentives as colorful decals As mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, our Little Leaguers are exposed to other accidents while traveling to for the bikes and Safety League membership rule cards. and from the ball field. Part of the card is shown below. These accidents, which can be very serious, are a difficult 1. Observe all Traffic Regulations red and green type to prevent. The youngsters are usually out of touch with lights, one-way streets, stop signs. adult guidance when they get an impulse to climb a tree, 2. Keep to the Right ride in a straight line. Always ride in single file. 3. Have White Light on Front danger signal on rear for night riding. throw a stone, watch a construction job, try out someone s motor bike, play in the water or otherwise express their natural curiosity and spirit of adventure. Unfortunately, some of their impulsive actions have led to disastrous results. 4. Have Satisfactory Signaling Device to warn of approach. 5. Give Pedestrians the Right-Of-Way. Avoid sidewalks otherwise use extra care. Possible Preventative Measures 1. The most positive approach, and probably the most 6. Look Out for Cars Pulling Out Into Traffic. Keep effective, is appealing to their loyalty to the Little sharp lookout for sudden opening of auto doors. League uniform or cap. Parents, managers and coaches should impress upon them that their behavior along the 7. Never Hitch on Other Vehicles do not stunt or way will give other people a good or bad impression of race in traffic. Little League, depending on how they act. 8. Never Carry Other Riders carry no packages 2. Youngsters should also feel the restraining effect of that obstruct vision or prevent proper control of orders to go directly to the field and report to their manager or coach. The same order should apply to going cycle. 9. Be Sure Your Brakes Are Operating Efficiently straight home and checking-in with their parents. keep your bicycle in good running condition. 3. As an indirect precaution, parents should be encouraged 10. Slow Down At All Street Intersections look to to have their youngsters learn how to swim. This is particularly important if there are any bodies of water right and left before crossing Always Use Proper Hand Signals turning and stopping. within striking distance of their route. This knowledge November

112 Play It Safe may save their lives when temptation is stronger than the voice of authority. 4. A surprising number of accidents also occur when youngsters reach the vicinity of the field but it is not yet time for practice or a game. In this situation it is the direct responsibility of any adults who are nearby to stop such activities as climbing trees, chasing each other, running up and down the grandstands, etc. 5. Volunteers should make local authorities aware of potential risks in the area, ie. unfenced excavation or quarries and lakes with unsecured boats. MAKING USE OF ACCIDENT REPORTING In the effort to prevent accidents to Little Leaguers one must deal with the unpredictable actions of many small athletes. One of the most widely accepted ways to counteract the unsafe acts, which are so often a part of such uncertain behavior, is to inquire into the reasons behind such acts and take suitable counter measures. Since we cannot eliminate all of these disturbing and sometimes tragic mishaps, one must use them as tools to help control similar or related accidents. Also, alert operation makes it possible to get at the causes of near misses so that something can be done to prevent the occurrence of injury-producing accidents. Which Accidents to Analyze Good judgment must be used in deciding which accidents to analyze. The severity of an injury should not be the only basis of deciding to determine reasons for an accident and what can be done to reduce the chances of its reoccurrence. The possibility of a similar and more severe accident occurring should be our main reason for getting at the causes and taking suitable corrective action. Examples of cases that probably would not require detailed checking would be a strawberry from sliding or minor strains and bruises, not associated with serious unsafe acts or conditions. Examples of accidents requiring thorough study are: 1. A collision when two players go after the same fly ball, even though no one is hurt, has the possibility of resulting in a serious injury. Questioning players may reveal they had forgotten ball priority assignments in the excitement of trying to make the catch. The corrective measure might be to hold additional ball priority drills. A completed accident cause report passed on to the Safety Officer will serve as a warning to managers of other teams. 2. If a player should trip and fall over a bat left on the ground and suffer a small abrasion, the cause and November correction of this type of accident may be obvious. A report, however, would serve as a reminder, not only to this team, but to others in the league that equipment left on the field can cause falls, some of which can result in fractures. 3. Although it may be embarrassing to a manager, should a relief catcher have front teeth knocked out because of neglect to always wear a mask and catcher s helmet when warming up a pitcher, the report on such a violations should be passed along as a warning to others. 4. Let s assume a player turns an ankle chasing a fly ball. Upon checking, it is found there is a hole in the outfield. A copy of the accident report passed on to the grounds keeper would reduce the chances of that person forgetting to correct the hazard. Other Uses for Accident Reports 1. The need for corrective measures, of course, is most evident when an injury is severe enough to require professional services. In addition to the need for immediate preventative action, it is very important to have accurate information to complete the insurance claim report. This may be done by the Safety Officer. 2. As in any organized endeavor, communications among teams in a league and leagues in a district is important. The safety program can be effective for everyone if each adult, with some safety responsibility, is given a brief report on serious or unusual hazards and the corrective action that has been taken to counteract them. In order to accomplish this, the League Safety Officers and the District Safety Officer must be kept informed about all significant accident cases. Further Follow-Up on Accident Even after corrective measures have been put into effect, responsible adults should continue to check back to make sure that unsafe habits have not been resumed and conditions are not allowed to slip. We advise youngsters to keep their eye on the ball. Let s do the same with safety precautions. 4.17

113 Play It Safe FIRST AID First aid is an important part of any safety program. Like insurance coverage, it is a form of protection that must be available in case of an emergency involving any injury. Definition First aid is the immediate, necessary, temporary, emergency care given for injuries. Selection and Qualifications of First Aiders It is recognized as impractical to have a completely trained and experienced first aider on duty at all times. However, every effort should be made to have several alternate first aiders, preferably adults whose duties keep them at the field, trained in the basic requirements of first aid treatment. Ideally, this training should be from an accredited agency such as the American Red Cross. The alternative is to have them trained briefly and specifically for this purpose by a medical doctor or a registered nurse who is familiar with Little League operations. Minimum first aid training should include the handling of extreme emergencies such as the usage of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and external cardiac massage. First Aid Equipment Since this chapter of Play It Safe is not intended as a First Aid Manual, we have omitted information on treatment. Both this and the proper equipping of the first aid kit should be left to the advice of local medical authorities. It is suggested, however, that in addition to the stock of bandages and medication, the following be available: 1. A supply of clean water, soap and towels 2. A blanket 3. Arm and leg splints 4. Easily accessible phone with emergency phone numbers, such as doctor, hospital and ambulance service. If a public phone is to be used, small coins should also be readily available. Notification of Family It is extremely important that, as soon as provision has been made for the care of injured or ill people who require outside treatment their family be notified in as tactful a manner as possible. Follow-Up on First Aid Cases Care of an ill or injured individual must always be the first consideration. In concern for their welfare, however, do not neglect the following: 1. A thorough investigation should be made to find the cause(s) of an accident and action started to prevent reoccurance. 2. An insurance claim should be filed when outside medical attention is required. Do not wait for medical bills to arrive. They can be submitted as they become available. They must be identified by including the person s name, league name and number, date of injury, and city and state of residence. Bills should be itemized to show dates and type of treatments. 3. Any player under the care of a doctor should be required to bring a note from the doctor to the manager releasing the player to play ball before being allowed to return to the lineup. PUBLIC LIABILITY The responsibility of all organizations and their individual members for the safety of the general public has become an increasingly important factor in present-day society. Little League s Obligation As a non-profit organization supported by public funds and operated by volunteers we should have a deep interest in the safety of the general public as well as the protection of our Little League volunteers from lawsuits. Even though we cannot fully protect the public from all situations arising out of the operation of a league, we can safeguard them from our own unintentional negligence. Consequences of Being Sued No matter how unjustified a liability suit may be, we should be concerned about the effects of such legal action on Little League and particularly on the men and women who make the league possible. 1. The worst result of such a suit, if there is no liability insurance coverage, is the possibility of wrecking the financial position of the individual against whom the suit is directed. In cases where a large judgment is obtained against an individual, the Court may take over all of a person s assets and even attach future earnings for years to come November