Youth Baseball Little Leagues Organizations

Youth Baseball-Little Leagues Organizations

Abstract

The following research paper examines the various aspects of the little League a non Profit organization that is charged with the responsibility of running baseball junior league across several regions. In this study I wish to describe the operations and composition of the Little League and generally how it runs its operations. Besides this the research paper entails the benefits of being part of the Little League and the contributions it has brought about to the regions it has been involved in. Finally I examine the modalities or method of enrollment for individuals who may want to join the Little League.

Little League baseball is played in Europe, Japan, and Latin America as well as in Canada and United States. Little League Baseball is chartered by the congress of the United States and is the only sports organization t o be federally incorporated .It is administered by a Board of Directors and responsibility for carrying out the service functions is that of Little League Headquarters. Located on a 55 acre complex in South Williamsport Pennsylvania, The head quarters is a full time operation, year –round.

The Little League is founded as a three layer management structure with each of the layers having distinct roles to play but all of which is harnessed by the topmost tire which is essentially the regulatory and policy formulation management layer. The three layers are the Administrative and service (Topmost layer of management), District and finally the Local League which is the last tire of management. These are essential to the running and provision of Baseball services and at the end of the day their target is simple and singular to foster development of Baseball among the young adolescents. (Macintosh 2008).

The organization is headed by a direct or, President and the chairman of the Board. As a

Youth Baseball-Little Leagues Organizations

service arm of Little League, it provides direction and help to every league by means of personal contact, correspondence, field meetings an d and a training program for volunteer leaders in many fields. League presidents, managers, coaches, umpires, etc; come to William sport for Leadership Training Seminars, as do elected field administrators who, likewise, serve on a volunteer basis. Expect for the staff at Headquarters, there are no paid employees.

The accelerated growth of Little League over recent years has dictated some decentralization and the creation of Regional centers in Florida, California, Canada, Illinois and Oregon.

These centers are staffed by experienced; provide ore intimate service to the bulk of the leagues which surround these centers. Under the little league pattern local leagues applying for charter are restricted to a population area of about 15000 and must describe fixed geographical limits to this area. This successful formula makes it possible to absorb the average number of boys of Little League age into the program. Leagues range from four to eight teams and each normally has a minor league to train and accommodate the younger players of nine and under.

Little league is supported locally by merchants, businessmen and industry meeting the cost of uniforms, and equipment. Thousands of boys have come out of the ranks of Little League Baseball to distinguish themselves in many fields and Little League has also contributed strongly to the pool of talent currently coming into Organized Baseball. Outstanding graduates include many of the top stars of the Major League. (Hall and Panettieri 2008).

Another very important component of the Little League as mentioned earlier is the Local League. This League is involved in provision of services at the community level. Among its duties is to furnish physical facilities, involvement in voluntary services and resource provision which is mainly a children’s program. Through strong leadership values and sound policies of the topmost level together with a strong insistence of compliance for the lower levels the organization ensures that training extensions and adherence to rule are generated properly. These training extensions and adherence are monitored at both thee District and local level. . (Macintosh 2008).

Youth Baseball-Little Leagues Organizations

Benefits of the little league

1. Little league reduces delinquency

A baseball analyst once said that Little League baseball would be the greatest deterrent to c rime in American history. Though this observation was not taken seriously by most people and actually just dismissed the whole idea as a crusaders speech the Williamsport, Pennsylvania police found that the expansion of Little League in their community occurred simultaneously with a drop in the juvenile crime rate. And though crime data have not been systematically analyzed coaches of the game agree in this assessment and point to the fact that Little League provides the boys with a constructive activity to feel their free time. Recent research shows that athletes are less likely to be delinquent than the non athletes. (Kreidler 2009).

2. Little League increases Tolerance

Once a congressman told the House of Representatives that there would be no better way to improve the race relations in the United States and foster international relations through the world than through the great sport which is baseball, played as it is under the ideal conditions prescribed by Little League baseball.

Despite the lack of ethnic contact else where, Winoque Indian boys on the Maine-New Brunswick border played Little League harmoniously. Even in the South, Little League could overcome some crucial racial boundaries-as in Harlingen, Texas. Harlinghen like all Texas during the 1950’s, was segregated along racial lines. At one Little League practice in 1953 a black youngster appeared, wishing to play on the first Methodist Church team. The Church not willing to t o make this moral decision referred the matter to the Little League which decreed that the black youngster could play with the league. With an emphasis on team cooperation, shared goals of team members, status based largely on ability and institutional support from the league organization, Little League baseball meets the conditions postulated atlest in theory.

Youth Baseball-Little Leagues Organizations

3. Little League has psychological Benefits for players.

There are more propositions that the league has positive psychological effects than for the counter assertion that Little League injures children psychologically, and so include this topic as a proposed benefit of Little League. The major studies on this issue are inconclusive about long-term effects of Little League baseball on Preadolescents. (Kreidler 2009).

4. Little League Provides Athletic skills and provides exercise

It is hard to argue that Little League- teaching the mechanics of baseball – does not pro vide youngsters wit h regular exercise. The main criticism comes from those who argue that preadolescence is too young to learn specific baseball skills, but even them accept the legitimacy of some athletic training at this age .Even the a casual observer can recognize that Little Leaguers are better bal players by the end of the season that they have been when the season began, and this improvement is not only a result of physical maturation.

5. Little League has social benefits for children

When these children intermingle in the course of practice they learn how to appreciate others and realize social awareness. This helps them in their growing up and acceptance of the diverse qualities and characters that maybe exhibited by people these children encounter. It also promotes the social dignity and growth of these preadolescents.

Joining the Little League

Youth Baseball-Little Leagues Organizations

Mostly joining the Little League is mainly run by the main teams that already part of the League, these teams include the Phillies, Red sox, A’s, Yankees, Cubs, Cardinals, Indians, Rangers to name but a few. The board supervises and ensures that these teams follow the stipulated guidelines which are stipulated by the Little League.

These teams run seasonal enrollment programs that showcases or tryouts for potential players this is conducted by instructors and qualified coaches chosen by the teams. All local l8ittle leagues are required to conduct thorough background checks on their personnel to ensure only legible individuals are included in the process.

Parents on the other hand are required to gather information on these teams and ensure they are aware of the best teams before filling forms for their kid’s enrollment. (Euchner 2006).

References

Euchner P (2006).Little League: Big Dreams 1st edition, Source books, Inc.;

Hall and Panettieri G (2008).The single mothers guide to raising remarkable boys, Adams media.

Kreidler M (2009).Six good Innings: How one town became a Little League giant, It books:

Reprint edition

McIntosh N (2008).Managing Little League (Little League Baseball) 3rd edition, McGraw-Hill

www.littleleague.org/series/2009divisions/llb/series.htm

Youth Baseball-Little Leagues Organizations

www.britannica.com/nes/…/littleleaguebaseballcs/index.html

www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/sports/baseball/31littleleague.html