The issue of safety of all Little League® players, volunteers, and fans is paramount for Little League International. In 1995, Little League established the A Safety Awareness Program (ASAP), to encourage local Little League programs to formulate a safety plan specific to their facilities and league to be used to help guide the league to a successful year.
Through the support of Musco Sports Lighting and AIG Insurance, each year, Little League recognizes those leagues who go above and beyond to ensure their ASAP plans provide the greatest benefit to their league, with the ASAP Awards. At an annual luncheon during the Little League Baseball World Series, two leagues from each of the five United States regions are recognized for their participation in the ASAP program. Little League District Administrators are also recognized during the luncheon for working with local leagues on ASAP plans.
This year, the ten leagues receiving recognition are: Eastern Region: Watervliet (N.Y.) Little League and Swansea (Mass.) Little League; Central Region: Gull Lake Little League (Richland, Mich.) and Elgin (Ill.) Little League, Southeastern Region: Capital-Midwestern Little League (Charleston, W.V.) and Delray Beach (Fla.) Little League, Southwestern Region: High Plains Little League (Falcon, Colo.) and Rose Capital Little League (Tyler, Texas); Western Region: Mill Creek (Wash.) Little League and North Natomas Little League (Sacramento, Calif).
Mill Creek Little League from Washington was named the National ASAP Award Winner, receiving a Musco Light Structure Green™ lighting system for a 200-foot field.
ASAP encourages Little League volunteers to submit details of successful safety programs that have been adopted in their league so ideas can be shared nationwide. The program enables local leagues to share concepts and methods of addressing safety issues and providing possible solutions to safety concerns. Since the inception of the ASAP program, the number of injuries reported has been reduced by 75 percent, and 86 percent of all Little League programs submit ASAP plans annually.
For more on ASAP and how your league can get involved and have a chance to win an ASAP Award and a new Musco Light Structure Green lighting system, visit LittleLeague.org/ASAP.
Over the course of 10 days, 32 games will be played in the 69th Little League Baseball World Series, concluding with the Little League Baseball World Series Championship Game, which is scheduled for 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 30. For more information on the 2015 Little League Baseball World Series, visit LLBWS.org.