About Little League®
Disclaimer: I created this backgrounder in August 2021 during a master’s-level public relations writing course at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, as part of a series of assignments that tasked me to write press materials from the perspective of the senior communications leader for an organization of my choice.
Little League Baseball, Inc. is a nonprofit organization and the world’s first organized youth sport program. More than three million children ages 4 to 16 participate in Little League Baseball and Softball in nearly 6,500 communities throughout 80 countries on six continents.
Little League was founded in 1939 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, when Carl E. Stotz and other volunteers from his neighborhood formed a 30-player, three-team youth baseball league. Little League’s administrative office and the Little League International Complex–which hosts the Little League Baseball World Series–are located in South Williamsport.
There are approximately 110 full-time Little League Baseball and Softball employees worldwide. The organization is led by Little League President and CEO Stephen D. Keener, who celebrated his 40th year with the organization in 2020, and the Little League Board of Directors, which includes nine field district administrators elected to rotating terms by fellow district administrators. Little League’s full-time employees work with district administrators, their assistants and local league officials to develop new leagues, coordinate tournaments and assist in the overall operation of local league programs.
The district administrators report to the regional directors, and there are five regional directors in the United States (Warner Robins, Georgia; San Bernardino, California; Whitestown, Indiana; Bristol, Connecticut; and Waco, Texas). The international regional directors are located in Puerto Rico, Canada, South Korea and Poland.
The three divisions of Little League International are Little League Baseball®, Little League Softball® and the Little League Challenger Division®. Introduced in 1989, the Challenger Division® is Little League’s adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges. The program accommodates players ages 4 to 18 or up to age 22 for players still enrolled in school. The Senior League Challenger Division accommodates players ages 15 and above, with no maximum age. During Challenger Division competitions, Little Leaguers assist Challenger participants in batting, running and fielding.
All local Little League programs are organized within a community. As part of its annual charter, each league establishes its own boundaries to provide children who reside or attend school within those boundaries the opportunity to participate within the league.
The elected board members and officers, managers, coaches, umpires, field workers and all other personnel within local Little League programs serve on a volunteer basis. Each volunteer must complete an annual volunteer application and submit to a national criminal background check.
At the end of each Little League season, the Little League Baseball World Series and Little League Softball World Series occur every August, with the LLBWS held in Williamsport and the LLSWS held in Greenville, North Carolina. Both events physically bring together people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and communities into one setting and are broadcast on ESPN and ABC to audiences throughout the world.
Due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Little League announced in April 2020 its decision to cancel the remainder of the 2020 Little League baseball and softball seasons, including the Little League Baseball and Softball World Series tournaments.
However, as outlined in a recent news release, Little League announced admission policies for the 2021 Little League World Series. The dates of the tournament are Thursday, August 19 to Sunday, August 29. The tournament will feature two teams from each of the eight United States regions for a total of 16 teams. All games will take place at Volunteer Stadium and Howard J. Lamade Stadium within the Little League Complex.
Under the counsel of the 2021 Little League International Pandemic Response Advisory Commission, approximately 3,000 daily Complex Access Tickets will be available to the public for each day of the tournament. Spectators may request Complex Access tickets at 9 a.m. (ET) two days before each day through an online request system at LittleLeague.org/Tickets (e.g., Tickets for Saturday, August 21 will be available at 9 a.m. on Thursday, August 19). Each individual can request up to a maximum of four Complex Access Tickets per day.
Complex Access tickets grant entry to the entire Little League Complex and provide non- stadium access for spectators to watch the games from beyond the outfield fence at Volunteer Stadium and from the hill overlooking Howard J. Lamade Stadium.
In addition, Little League will provide 250 Stadium Access passes for the friends and family of each of the 16 participating teams. Stadium seating and access is limited to essential Little League employees and tournament personnel. Limited accessible seating for people with physical limitations will be available in the stadiums.
COVID-19 mitigation efforts will be in effect throughout the 2021 Little League World Series to ensure the comprehensive health and well-being of the players, coaches, umpires, volunteers, fans and all other people associated with the tournament. Unlike previous years, players and coaches will not have any face-to-face interaction with spectators.
There is no cost of attendance associated with the Little League World Series. Although international teams will not participate in this year’s tournament in Williamsport, Little League is determined to host 20 total international and United States teams in 2022 at the 75th anniversary of the Little League World Series, which will take place from August 17–28.
About Little League
Little League® Baseball and Softball is played in approximately 6,500 communities across more than 80 countries around the world, but regardless of where they are played, each of them share the same core mission. Little League believes in the power of youth baseball and softball to teach life lessons that build stronger individuals and communities. Joined together by one common goal, every local league is part of One Team. One Little League. For more information about Little League Inc. please visit the company’s website at https://www.littleleague.org.
Little League Baseball, Inc.
539 US Route 15 Hwy, P.O. Box 3485 Williamsport, PA 17701–0485
(570) 326–1921
