As the world’s largest and most trusted youth sports organization, with more than one million dedicated volunteers spanning 80+ countries, Little League® understands the tremendous responsibility we share in safeguarding the well-being of our players. As we recognize National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, Little League is proud to showcase the various resources available for both parents and volunteers to help provide a safe and memorable experience for Little Leaguers® in communities all over.
“Each year, our organization continues to find new ways to enhance the support and service we provide to our volunteers and families, especially when it comes to their safety and well-being,” said Joy Reynolds McCoy, Little League Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. “As an industry leader, we are committed to helping raise awareness around the impact that child abuse has and more importantly educate and equip our parents and volunteers to be able to recognize, respond, and ultimately prevent abuse from happening within their own communities.”
Below are just some of the key resources provided by Little League International in an effort to support the safety and well-being of all participants:
Child Protection Program
The Little League Child Protection Program offers local leagues a comprehensive approach to educate, prevent, and respond to abuse. From defining key terms and outlining local league requirements to providing the important steps for the mandatory reporting of child abuse, the Little League Child Protection Program provides the necessary tools for local leagues to create an environment that is as safe as possible for its players.
Every local Little League program must adhere to the requirements of the Child Protection Program and utilize the additional resources provided to customize its own program to protect its participants which meets the unique needs of the league. To help educate parents, Little League also has the Parents’ Guide to the Child Protection Program, providing a snapshot of the program along with tips on how to report suspected abuse.
Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation
In an effort to provide additional education and support, Little League has also proudly partnered with the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation to help end the cycle of domestic violence and to empower victims to live healthy lives. Check out this inspiring video featuring Joe Torre himself and learn what you can do to help by visiting JoeTorre.org.
Abuse Awareness Training
Launched in 2024 as a replacement for the programs previously available through third-party organizations like USA Baseball, the Little League Abuse Awareness Training Course provides local league volunteers a customized training course at no cost to satisfy the annual training requirement necessary in order to be a Little League volunteer. Learn more, and take the training today, by visiting LittleLeague.org/AbuseAwareness.
Mental Well-Being Resources
As part of the Little League program, all our leagues are focused on providing high-impact learning and developmental activities that shape the most formative years of a child’s life. One of the most important aspects that we must always consider is the mental health and well-being of the Little Leaguers in our leagues and communities, and what we can do to support them. To assist our leagues, LittleLeague.org/MentalWellBeing has a variety of resources, guidance, and tools to help support the mental health and well-being of parents, volunteers, and most importantly, our players.
ESPN Public Service Announcement
In addition to all the resources above, Little League also teamed up with ESPN to put together a public service announcement (PSA) that aired throughout the course of the summer in 2024, showcasing the importance of the Little League Child Protection Program throughout the tournament season with more than 340 games broadcast across the ESPN Platforms.
To learn more about the Little League Child Protection Program, including additional resources such as State-by-State Laws regarding Background Checks, Child Abuse, Concussions, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest, visit LittleLeague.org/ChildProtection.