Structure of Little League Baseball, Incorporated
Little League Baseball is a Federal Incorporation granted under a Bill signed
into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 17, 1964, and amended December
24, 1974, to admit girls.
The legislation, which received unanimous approval of both the U.S. Senate and
the House of Representatives, is Public Law 88-378. It is the highest recognition
that the Federal Government can accord. It provides for incorporation of Little
League Baseball in all 50 states and endows the program with protective integrity
by the U.S. Government.
Action of the President and Congress places Little League Baseball in the same
category as Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Boys Clubs of America and a select group of
other agencies similarly chartered.
"LITTLE LEAGUE," "LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL," "LITTLE LEAGUER," "LL," "DUGOUT,"
"CHALLENGER DIVISION" and the OFFICIAL LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL EMBLEM are the principal
registered trademarks and service marks of Little League Baseball, Incorporated.
These marks are protected both by a special Act of Congress and registrations
with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. All rights in and to any and
all marks of Little League Baseball, Incorporated are reserved.
Note: Little League Baseball is listed in the current issue of the "Associated
Press Stylebook and Libel Manual." The words "Little League," "Little Leaguer,"
etc., should only be used in conjunction with programs associated with Little
League Baseball, Incorporated.
The First Level: The Local Little League
Each Little League program is organized with a community. The league establishes its own boundaries, with certain restrictions (explained later in this section). It is only from within this territory that the league may register its players. All league personnel, including the officers, managers, coaches, umpires, auxiliary,
field workers, etc., should be volunteers interested in providing the benefits
of a Little League program to the youth of their community. Each league is guided
by a Board of Directors, usually five to 25 adult volunteers from the community.
There are now more than 7,400 Little League programs in more than 100 countries
around the globe.
Although Little League regulations do not prohibit payments to umpires or other
personnel, such employment is strongly discouraged. Those who work with children
at the local league level should be interested only in volunteering their time
to make their community a better place. The local league Board of Directors, elected
from and by the adult members of the league, is responsible for the day-to-day
operations of the league within the rules, regulations and policies of Little
League. The local league is encouraged to become incorporated, but it is not required.
Local Little Leagues are also provided with a suggested formula for organization,
elections, etc., known as the league's "Constitution." Each league's Constitution
must be reviewed and approved at the Regional Headquarters level.
To accomplish its goals, the Little League organization protects the integrity
of each player, each team, and each community. Little League programs operate
within specific boundaries for each league's territory, to permit participation
by all eligible youngsters within the boundaries. Adults in communities where
no chartered Little League programs/divisions exist, can organize a program, with
help from Little League Headquarters.
Each local league in the Little League program establishes its own boundaries,
with the total population not to exceed 20,000 within the boundaries. There are
some exceptions to this as determined by the Charter Committee in Williamsport.
A league's boundaries must not overlap or encroach on another chartered Little
League's boundaries.
Although leagues may assess a registration fee, used to purchase uniforms and
equipment, maintain fields, etc., the fee cannot be a prerequisite for playing.
The Little League philosophy does not permit any eligible candidate to be turned
away. Emphasizing the spirit of Little League, rules require that every child
plays in every game.
The Second Level: The District
For administrative and tournament purposes, roughly 10 to 20 leagues in a given area usually comprise a district. The District Administrator is an experienced volunteer elected by the constituent leagues to counsel, direct, and provide leadership in the policies and rules of the Little League program and to serve as liaison between the leagues and the Regional Director. The District Administrator organizes the district tournament and attends the
periodic International Congress, where Little League rules and regulations are
democratically reviewed and revised for the betterment of the program. There are
more than 450 District Administrators worldwide, each with a staff of appointed
and/or elected assistants to help more effectively serve his or her leagues. It
is recommended, but not required, that the District become incorporated.
The Third Level: The Region The District Administrators report to the Regional Director, of which there
are five in the United States. As part of the staff of Little League Baseball,
In corporated, the Regional Directors work out of Regional Centers at St. Petersburg,
Florida; San Bernardino, California; Indianapolis, Indiana, Bristol, Connecticut,
and Waco, Texas. Representatives for the International regions of Little League maintain offices
in Puerto Rico, Canada, Japan and Poland.
The Fourth Level: International Headquarters
Little League operations are led by Stephen D. Keener, President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League Baseball. Mr. Keener responds to the Little League Board of Directors, which includes eight field District Administrators elected to rotating terms by fellow District Administrators at the Congresses. The full-time staff members of Little League Baseball, Incorporated, work with
District Administrators, their assistants, and local league officials in developing
new leagues, coordinating tournaments, and assisting in the overall operation
of a local league program. Worldwide, there are about 110 full-time Little League
employees (about one for every 40,000 children and adult volunteers).
Little League Headquarters, in agreement with its insurance carrier, offers various
services including the processing and payment of accident claims under the programs
offered by Little League Baseball. The service speeds up the necessary processing
and provides a valuable service to affiliate leagues. The staff of Little League
is available to provide a full range of services to more than 2.8 million participants
registered in new and established leagues throughout the year.
The headquarters building is the focal point of the Little League complex of
66 acres in the Borough of South Williamsport, located south of the city of Williamsport
on U.S. Route 15, a main north-south highway connecting Buffalo, New York and
Washington, D.C. The plot contains five diamonds, including two regulation diamonds
for Senior and Big League play, practice facilities, housing, dining and recreation
areas, Howard J. Lamade Stadium (site of the annual World Series in August), a
new World Series stadium, the John W. Lundy Conference Center, and the Peter J.
McGovern Little League Museum.
The headquarters building houses all administrative and business offices of Little
League, as well as facilities for storage and mailing of large quantities of materials
distributed annually to local leagues. Its operation is geared to five-day-a-week
service throughout the year.
More than 300 games are played on Little League Headquarters diamonds from June
to mid-August. Under scrutiny of headquarters personnel, these games offer opportunity
for research in many areas of playing situations. As a result, new techniques
in safety, training, equipment, etc., are constantly in view.
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