Little League Baseball Inc.

Little League Baseball Inc., often referred to as Little League, is a prominent US nonprofit organization focused on providing organized youth baseball and softball programs. It is not directly associated with the website nllalbany.org, which may pertain to a specific local league. Little League Baseball, as a whole, is headquartered in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and is known globally for its contributions to youth sports.

History

Little League was founded in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 1939 by Carl E. Stotz. Initially, it included boys aged 8 to 12, but it expanded to include girls in 1974. The organization began as a three-team league, with Stotz convincing local businesses to sponsor the teams for $30 each[1][2].

Structure

Little League is structured into several levels:

• Local League: Each local league organizes its own operations, including volunteer recruitment and training, within specific community boundaries.
• District: A group of local leagues form a district, overseen by a District Administrator who ensures compliance with Little League rules.
• Region and International: The organization is supported by various region centers worldwide, which provide resources and support for local programs[3][4].

Programs and Services

Little League offers a range of programs:

• Baseball and Softball Divisions: Catering to different age groups, from 4 to 16 years old.
• Challenger Division: Established in 1990 for physically and mentally disabled children[2].
• Little League University: Offers online resources for parents, coaches, umpires, and league officials[1].

Impact

Today, Little League is the world's largest organized youth sports program, operating in over 80 countries and engaging millions of young players annually[5]. It not only promotes sportsmanship and athletic skills but also teaches life lessons through teamwork and discipline[4].

[1] https://www.littleleague.org/play-little-league/baseball/about/ [2] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Little-League [3] https://www.littleleague.org/who-we-are/structure-llb-llsb/ [4] https://www.littleleague.org/who-we-are/about/ [5] https://www.littleleague.org