Little League Baseball, Inc.

Overview Little League Baseball, Inc. is a nonprofit youth sports organization dedicated to assisting young people in developing discipline, teamwork, courage, loyalty, good character, and strong physical health. Its mission is to provide an environment where children can participate in baseball and softball while learning valuable life lessons.

History Little League was founded in 1938 by Carl Stotz in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Initially, it started as a small league involving three teams sponsored by local businesses for a total of $30. Over the years, Little League expanded rapidly across the United States and internationally. By 1947, it had its first national tournament, which later became known as the Little League World Series. The organization grew to include leagues in over 80 countries by the early 21st century.

Organization Structure Little League operates at several levels:

• Local Level: Each league is autonomous with its own board of directors and geographical boundaries. It is responsible for organizing local games and ensuring participation of all eligible children.
• District Level: Comprises 10-20 local leagues, each led by a District Administrator who oversees district tournaments.
• Regional Level: Serves as an intermediary between districts and the international headquarters, coordinating regional tournaments.
• International Level: Oversees global operations from its headquarters in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Programs Little League offers a range of programs for children aged 4 to 18, including:

• Tee Ball for ages 4-7
• Minor Leagues for ages 7-12
• Little League (Major League) for ages 9-12
• Junior League for ages 13-14
• Senior League for ages 14-16
• Big League for ages 16-18

In addition to baseball, Little League provides softball programs for girls and boys, including Little League Softball and Senior League Softball.

Philosophy The organization emphasizes that each child should play in every game, ensuring that no eligible candidate is turned away. This approach fosters community, teamwork, and fair play. Little League Baseball, Inc. is also known for its commitment to teaching life lessons beyond the game, promoting the development of character and community engagement.

[1] https://www.pgpedia.com/l/little-league [2] https://www.littleleague.org/play-little-league/baseball/about/ [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/who-we-are/