1. Player Safety
  2. Child Protection Program

SafeSport Resources for Leagues

New for 2024: Important Updates to Little League’s Child Protection Program

Learn about two key enhancements to our Child Protection Program to help in our continued evolution and commitment to player safety.

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In 2018, the “Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and SafeSport Authorization Act of 2017” became Federal law. The mission of the U.S. Center for Safesport is to make the athlete well-being the centerpiece of our nation’s sports culture. All athletes deserve to participate in sports free from bullying, hazing, sexual misconduct, or any form of emotional or physical abuse. Education and awareness are the most critical components to creating safe and respectful sporting environments, free of abuse and harassment.

Little League Baseball and Softball have always strived to create a safe and healthy environment for all Little Leaguers and their families. There are certain requirements from the SafeSport Act that Little League International and all local little league programs must adhere to.

  • Reporting of Sexual Abuse involving a minor to the proper authorities
    • All volunteers of a local league are now mandated reporters and could face criminal charges if the league chooses to ignore, or not report to the proper authorities, any witnessed act of child abuse, including sexual abuse, within 24 hours.
    • Local leagues must be aware of the proper procedures to report sexual abuse in their state. Please reference LittleLeague.org/ChildAbuse
  • Leagues must adopt a policy that prohibits retaliation on “good faith” reports of child abuse
  • Leagues must adopt a policy that limits one-one-one contact with minors
  • Leagues are highly encouraged to complete the below Abuse Awareness training provided by USA Baseball and SafeSport

BASE Abuse Awareness training is SafeSport approved and Little League® preferred.

BASE Abuse Awareness Trainings

SafeSport Adult Course

Hosted by former Major Leaguer, David Ross, the Abuse Awareness for Adults course provides resources to create a positive and safe environment for all athletes, coaches, parents, umpires, and spectators by understanding how to recognize misconduct and abuse of all types. Topics covered include how to identify and report incidents and what abuse awareness policies should be in place. A free USA Baseball account is required to access the courses.

Take the free online course
SafeSport Minors Course

Hosted by former Major Leaguer, David Ross, the Abuse Awareness for Minors course provides resources to identify what abuse is and what to do if someone is being abused. Topics covered include knowing who and what to tell, and what is and isn’t appropriate behavior within baseball activities. A free USA Baseball account is required to access the courses.

Take the free online course

SafeSport Resources

The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 codified the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, as the nation’s safe sport organization. It gave SafeSport the scope and authority to resolve abuse and misconduct reports for more than 11 million individuals throughout the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement—who are fully independent.

The Act also charged the U.S. Center for SafeSport with developing and enforcing policies, procedures, and training to prevent abuse and misconduct. The Center’s SafeSport Code governs all participants in the Movement, and is the oversight authority that helps ensure all Olympic & Paralympic national governing bodies (NGBs) adhere to Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP) that support athlete safety.