As the world’s largest youth sports organization, the safety and well-being of all Little League® players, volunteers, and fans is of upmost importance for Little League International and all its local leagues. And, as local league volunteers have continued to navigate through the Coronavirus pandemic, that focus on safety has never been more important. In 1995, the A Safety Awareness Program (ASAP) was established to encourage local Little League programs to create safety plans specific to their facilities and league that will help guide that league to a successful year.
Each year, with the support of Musco Sports Lighting and AIG Insurance, Little League recognizes the top two leagues from each of the five U.S. regions who take their ASAP plans to the next level to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all its members. In addition to honoring those local leagues, their respective Little League District Administrators are recognized for their work in helping local leagues create and execute their ASAP plans. Each of the 10 leagues that are recognized will receive a $500 cash award from Musco, and the first-place league in each region will join with the 2021 winners to be honored at the 2021 Little League Baseball World Series as Little League International celebrates ASAP’s 25th anniversary.
The 10 local Little League programs that were recognized as the 2020 ASAP Award winners in each United States region are:
Central Region
- First Place: St. Louis Park (Minn.) Little League
- Second Place: Decatur Baseball Little League (Camby, Indiana)
East Region
- First Place: Havre De Grace (Md.) Little League
- Second Place: Rutherford (N.J.) Little League
Southeast Region
- First Place: Central Springfield (Va.) Little League*
- Second Place: Bristol (Va.) Softball Little League
Southwest Region
- First Place: High Plains Little League (Falcon, Colo.)
- Second Place: Pearland (Texas) Little League
West Region
- First Place: Saint Helena (Calif.) Little League
- Second Place: South Tahoe (Calif.) National Little League
*Central Springfield Little League was named the National Little League ASAP Award Winner and will receive a Musco Light Structure Green™ lighting system for a 200-foot field for the honor.
On Sunday, August 30 at 6 p.m. ET, in coordination of what would have been the Championship day of the 2020 Little League Baseball® World Series, Little League International will be going “Lights On” with a compilation video on its official social media channels (@LittleLeague) to celebrate and recognize all the 2020 Regional and National ASAP Award Winners. All local leagues and districts are encouraged to join the celebration by sharing a picture of their turned on stadium lights on Facebook and Twitter by using #LightsOnLittleLeague, along with the league’s name, by August 26 for a chance to have their field’s lights featured along with the 2020 ASAP winners in the celebration video.
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 help provide possible solutions to safety concerns. 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.