Challenger Little League

Georgia State Little League ConferenceSaturday, January 8, 2011

Today’s Program Starting New Leagues

What Do We Need to Start? Getting Information Recruiting Players Recruiting Managers and Coaches Recruiting Buddies Rules of Play

Enhancing Your League Getting the Word Out Social Media Presentation Making it Fun Goals to Shoot For Fundraising

Round Table Discussion GA State Jamboree Planning Session

What Do We Need to Start?

Forget worrying about special fields and special equipment. Prepare for a Little League game and let the players be kids!

What Do We Need to Start?

The Only Things you MUST have to start: A League Charter 10 players and 2 managers Accessible Dugouts Batting Helmets A Batting Tee Several Tee Balls A Few Dedicated Volunteers

Other Helpful Items to have are: Extra Fielding Gloves An Assortment of Bats of All Sizes

Spring Season Time Line

January till end of the season – Registrations. Start today!

February –Establish Your Team to Handle League Needs Uniforms / Registrations / Sponsors / Game Day

Organization / Pictures / Social Media March – Secure Team Sponsors and Host the

“Draft” or “Fun” Day Schedule in time to get team uniforms for opening

day parades – at least 3 weeks March / April / May – Play Ball! May 14th & 15th – GA State Jamboree May / June – End of Season Party

Getting Information

GA State Challenger Consultant: Julie Haley. JulieHaley@charter.net. 706-201-7363.

Little League Website: www.LittleLeagueChallenger.org

Coaches Website: Talk to your Little League District Administrator for Coaches / Managers log on information: www.LittleLeague.org

Little League International Director of the Challenger Division: Sam Ranck. sranck@littleleague.org. 570-326-1921 ext. 254

Recruiting Players

District Teams vs Local League Teams You’ll need a minimum of 10 players to

create two teams to play. But, it would be best to have at least 40 players to start, as you will have enough players for 4 teams. District teams expand the pool of potential

players to create more teams. Local leagues are permitted to roster players

from surrounding areas which are not currently hosting a Little League Challenger division.

Recruiting New Players

Prove to the parents this is an organized True Little League team! When marketing the Little League

Challenger program, promote Little League as the leader in recreational safety.

Take Little League flyers, brochures, manuals, registration forms, medical information forms, and volunteer applications.

Recruiting New Players

Schools – Special Needs Teachers are great resources and promoters of the program.

Market with Brochures @ Physical Therapists’ & other businesses that serve children with special needs (Bayada Nurses)

Make contact with existing organizations for Special Needs Children such as the Special Olympics.

The more people you contact about Challenger, the faster the word spreads!

Recruiting Managers & Coaches

USE PARENTS AS MANAGERS!!!! Active parents who want to participate are reliable

managers. Putting reliable managers in place, allows the team to succeed.

Allow the Managers to pick 1 or 2 coaches. Typically, the parent / managers have ties to other

adults active with children with special needs to choose as coaches.

Pick 1 experienced Little League person to assist with coaching. This is a Little League Team with players who want

to increase their skills! An experienced Little League coach should teach & enhance baseball skills.

Recruiting Managers & Coaches

Don’t Forget: All Adults with significant contact with Little

League Players MUST submit the standard Little League Volunteer Application. Including: Managers, Coaches, Buddies, and other Challenger Game Day Volunteers.

Local & District Leagues will have a system in place for background checks and volunteer applications. Speak with your local league president to discover the procedure.

Recruiting Buddies

The Buddy System is an amazing tool of the Challenger Program. Parents of children with special needs often

feel they must assist with everything their child does – this can be restrictive on both.

Buddies allow the parents and children to spend quality time with their own peers.

The Buddy System allows the players to interact on a social level with other peers and community members they might not normally come into contact with during their daily lives.

Recruiting Buddies

There are many places to secure buddies: Other Little League Teams Middle and High School Athletic Teams Police Department Fire Department Local Civic Organizations

Recruiting Buddies

Sometimes using other kids is the best option!

Secure your buddies at least two days before the game.

Introduce the Player and Buddy before warm-ups, so they are comfortable together by game time.

Make Sure the Buddies Know to Let the Player Play Their Own Game!

Rules of Play

Little League has a rule book for Challenger, but most leagues have the freedom to adjust their local Challenger team rules. The following slides give ideas for basic

game day rules, but don’t be afraid to adjust them to work for your league structure.

Divisions are based on ability and not on age.

Rules of Play

Minors Division Players 4 to 22 as long as they are still in

school – or 18 if no longer in school Players can choose coach’s pitch or a tee.

Give ~5 good pitches from a coach before suggesting they try the tee this time

No strike outs. Players bat until they hit. No outs on bases. Every player scores, though no score is kept. Bat entirely through the line ups twice. Game length is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.

Rules of Play

Majors Division (buddy free) Players 4 to 22 as long as they are still in

school – or 18 if no longer in school Coaches pitch. No tee. Players can strike out.

Umpires call balls and strikes, but are encouraged to have a wide strike zone!

Players called out on the bases using traditional Little League rules of play.

Three outs per side. Up to 6 innings, but start no new innings after

1.5 hours.

Rules of Play

Seniors Division (buddy free) Players 4 to 22 as long as they are still

in school – or 18 if no longer in school Players pitch to the players. No tee or

coaches pitch. Players can strike out! Players called out on the bases using

traditional Little League rules of play. Three outs per side. 6 inning games.

Getting the Word Out

To Players and Parents: Team Moms are crucial!

Well informed parents = good participation. Emails are Nice, but Weekly Calls Work.

Check with your League President or DA regarding procedures for rain outs.

Keep your game day volunteers informed to assure they are there to assist.

Communication is Key.

Getting the Word Out

To The Community: Make A Believer of a Local Paper Sports

Writer Radio or Pod Casts of the Games Local Civic Organizations

Lions / Pilot / Chambers / etc . . . Use of Social Media

Using Social Media in Your Local League

Often referred to as social media or social networking

Interactive Exchange with CommunityPushing InformationPulling InformationHonest and Open Exchange of

Ideas

Using Social Media in Your Local League

Examples:FacebookMyspaceTwitterYoutubeFlickr

Using Social Media in Your Local League

What’s In It For Me Give a “Face” to Your Organization

Share GoalsGet to Know Your BOD

Real-Time Exchange of Information and Ideas

Smartphone AccessNew Sources of IdeasBuilding on the Best of Others /

Collaboration

Using Social Media in Your Local League

What’s In It For Me (cont)Greater Sense of Community

Additional VolunteersDistribution of Work

Reach Those Outside Your LeagueFollowing FriendsLink Friendly

Using Social Media in Your Local League

What To Watch Out For: Be Ready To Respond

Be Open to Constructive Feedback Be Ready to Take Corrective Action With

Your Community Watch For Marketers How “Open” Will You Be

Photos Conversation Outside the Scope of the

League Etc.

Using Social Media in Your Local League

Building Your CommunityStart With Those You KnowFriends of FriendsWebsite Links Include In Registration MaterialPut “Important” Information There

First

Making It Fun!

Coach the Players to Play LL Baseball! Warm Up Practice and Help Players Increase Skills The Dugout Belongs to Players & Coaches Safety Equipment Rules of Play / Baseball Knowledge

Every Game Is A Big Game Line Up / Player Announcements National Anthem Little League Pledge Spectators Energetic Play by Play Announcers Stay In The Game Enthusiastically

Making it Fun!

Participate in Opening Day Parades Pictures & Trading Cards Create Majors & Seniors Divisions

before Skilled Players Get Bored

Goals to Shoot For

Local Area Jamboree Georgia State Jamboree Little League Annual Jamboree in VA Little League World Series Field of Hope

Fundraising

Team Sponsors Local Businesses Player Parents’ Businesses Physical Therapist, Businesses Which

Cater to the Players, etc. Local Sponsors Are Primarily for Uniforms

Charge Player Registration Fees or Not?

Pass the Hat for Year End Team Party

Fundraising

Larger Scale Promote a Fundraising Event

Adult Softball Tournament Cookie Dough Sales

Larger Retailers Such As Walmart will often donate supplies or money for the league

Little League offers a one time $5,000 grant Discussion with Special Guests during

Jamboree Planning Section Later Today

Round Table

Ways to use the GA State Challenger Jamboree to promote Challenger to leagues in the state that don’t offer the program, and to promote Challenger registrations in areas where we do have leagues.

Round Table

What additional tools / resources can Little League provide to leagues to assist in offering Challenger?

Round Table

If Little League were to offer a Challenger Training program for coaches and buddies, what are the essential areas that would need to be covered?

Round Table

What were the biggest challenges that your league faced when starting a Challenger division?

Round Table

What are the biggest challengers that leagues face with operating a Challenger Division?

Round Table

Would members of your league attend a regional or national Challenger Summit that combined training and networking opportunities with Challenger volunteers from across the country or region?

Jamboree Planning

Proposed Date: May 14th & 15th Proposed Location: Peachtree City Little

League – Field of Hope complex Proposed Committees

Team Recruitment & Registration Facilities / Hosting / Concessions Fundraising / Player Gifts / Events Advertising / Guest Speakers / Broadcasting Scheduling / Team Rosters / Information

Distribution

Jamboree Planning

Team Recruitment DA’s / League Presidents Local Involved Volunteers One involved volunteer from each

district to be a committee member and serve as contact for teams.

Jamboree Planning

Fundraising / Player Gifts / Events Considering pin bags and pin sets for teams

Tie to Pin Trading Tent? Team uniform vests and hats? Opening day & closing day ceremonies? Programs? Discussion with Special Guests

Wil James, Grandparents/Kin Raising Children Ray Nelson & Louise, Guitars Not Guns David Bruno & Danny Umali, Financial

Planners Tom Hannon, Pins

Jamboree Planning

Time Line for the Next 17 weeks Establish Primary Contacts by January 15th

Committee Status Reports every 2 weeks Goals

One new registered team per week Social Media Promoting by February 19th Budgets for Each Committee by February 19th

Fundraising Plans by March 5th based on budgets

Next Committee Meeting ~March 5th in Peachtree City