Player safety is a top priority for FLLAA. FLLAA has a dedicated safety officer on the board who is charged with updating our safety plan and ensuring all safety requirements are met. Click here to view safety plan.
Our Safety Program begins with the following Little League tenants:
- Arrangements should be made in advance of all games and practices for emergency medical services.
- Managers, coaches and umpires should have training in first-aid.
- First-aid kits are issued to each team manager.
- No games or practices should be held when weather or field conditions are bad, particularly with lightning.
- Play area should be inspected frequently for holes, damage, stones, glass and other foreign objects.
- All team equipment should be stored within the team dugout, or behind screens, and not within the area defined by the umpires as “in play”. Only players, managers, coaches, and umpires are permitted on the playing field or in the dugout during games and practice sessions. Responsibility for keeping bats and loose equipment off the field of play should be that of a player assigned for this purpose or the team’s manager and coaches.
- During practice and games, all players should be alert and watching the batter on each pitch. During warm-up drills players should be spaced so that no one is endangered by wild throws or missed catches. All pre-game warm-ups should be performed within the confines of the playing field and not within areas that are frequented by, and thus endanger spectators (i.e., playing catch, pepper, swinging bats, etc.)
- Equipment should be inspected regularly for the condition of the equipment as well as for proper fit.
- Batters must wear Little League approved protective helmets during batting practice and games. Catcher must wear catcher’s helmet, mask, throat guard, long model chest protector, shin guards and protective cup with athletic supporter at all times (males) for all practices and games. NO EXCEPTIONS
- Managers should encourage all male players to wear protective cups and supporters for practices and games. Except when runner is returning to a base, head-first slides are not permitted.
- During sliding practice, bases should not be strapped down or anchored.
- At no time should “horse play” be permitted on the playing field.
- Parents of players who wear glasses should be encouraged to provide “safety glasses.”
- Player must not wear watches, rings, pins or metallic items during games and practices.
- The Catcher must wear catcher’s helmet and mask with a throat guard in warming up pitchers. This applies between innings and in the bullpen during a game and also during practices.
- On-deck batters are not permitted (except in Junior/Senior/Big League Divisions).
- All managers are required to attend Little League-sponsored managers clinic and all coaches are invited as well.
- Our Freeport Little League runs background checks on all of the managers, coaches and other applicable volunteer applicants.
Accident Reporting
If an accident occurs, then Little League requires accident forms completed by the safety officer within 24-48 hours of an accident. FLLAA tracks "near-misses" as a proactive tool to evaluate practices and avoid future injuries. FLLAA will share information on accidents and "near-misses" with District staff.
Insurance, Medical and Claims forms: