Local Little Leagues are entirely volunteer organizations. Each league depends on adults like you to organize and conduct every aspect.

Not only do adults serve as administrators, volunteer coaches, and umpires they also help with field maintenance, fund-raising, concessions, and numerous other special projects.

Your willingness to exchange time and effort for your child's benefit and enjoyment is very important to the functioning of your local Little League. Cheering your daughter or son on from the stands is one important way to be involved, but we invite you to do even more by volunteering to help run your local Little League program.

Without a doubt, Little League is a family affair that gives parents and children a common ground for spending time together. Whether you are coaching the players, selling popcorn to the fans, or bringing soda for the team after the game, your family will enjoy being a part of Little League in your community. Most of all, your will appreciate the benefits of your enthusiasm and involvement in his or her activities.

When wining is kept in perspective, there is room for fun in the pursuit of victory or more accurately, the pursuit of victory is fun. With your leadership Little League can help your child learn to accept responsibilities, accept others and most of all, accept her - or himself.


Keeping Winning in Perspective

Are you able to keep winning in perspective? You might answer with a confident yes, but will you be able to do so when it is your child who is winning or losing, when your child is treated a bit roughly by someone on the other team, or when the umpire makes a judgment against your child? Parents are sometimes unprepared for the powerful emotions they experience when watching their sons and daughters compete.

One reason that parents' emotions run to high is that they want their children to do well; it reflects on them. They also may believe that their children's failures are their own. Parents need to realize that dreams of glory they have for their youngsters are not completely unselfish, but they are completely human. Parents who are aware of their own pride, who are even capable of being amused by their imperfections, can keep themselves well under control.


Being a Model of Good Sportsmanship

Flying off the handle at games or straining relations with the coach or other parents creates a difficult situation for your child. Just as you don't want your daughter or son to embarrass you, don't embarrass your Little Leaguer.

It's no secret that kids imitate their parents. In addition, they absorb the attitudes they think lie behind their parents' actions. As you go through the Little League season with your child, be a positive role model. How can you expect your child to develop a healthy perspective about competing and winning if you display an unhealthy one? Remember Little league is supposed to be a fun experience for your child, and one in which he or she will learn some sport skills. Winning will take care of itself.

Some parents seem to abandon good principles of child rearing when their child is participating in sports. However, just as your child's home, school, and religious environment affect the type of person he or she will be, so does the sport environment especially when your child is young. Remember this:

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with praise, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they have to have a goal.
If children live with honesty, they learn what trust is.


Parents Responsibilities

1. Let your child choose to play Little League and to quit if he or she dose not enjoy baseball. Encourage participation, but don't pressure.

2. Understand what your child wants from participating in Little League and provide a supportive atmosphere for achieving these goals.

3. Set limits on your child's participation in baseball. You need to determine when she or he is physically and emotionally ready to play and to insure that the

    conditions for playing are safe.

4. Make certain your child's coach is qualified to guide your child through the Little League experience.

5. Keep winning in perspective by remembering Athletes First, Winning Second. Instill this perspective in your child.

6. Help your child set realistic goals about his or her own performance so success is guaranteed.

7. Help your child understand the experiences associated with competitive sports so she or he can learn the valuable lessons sports can teach.

8. Discipline your when he or she misbehaves, breaks the rules, or is uncooperative or uncontrollable.

9. Turn your child over to the coach at practices and games, and avoid meddling or becoming a nuisance.