Child Protection Program
Protecting our children
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. The goal is to ensure that our parents, guardians, caretakers, and all volunteers in our league understand the obligation and requirements regarding the protection of its players.
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.
All volunteers must complete Abuse Awareness Training provided by Little League International. Once the training program has been completed, all volunteers must email a copy of their certificate of completion to the league's Safety Officer at safety@eastlake.ll.com.
Child Protection Requirements
- Complete Background Checks
Utilize the Little League volunteer application form to conduct annual background checks on volunteers and prohibit anyone with any offenses that would disqualify them as a participant in any Little League activity. - Mandatory Training & Continuing Education
Annually require all volunteers to complete an Abuse Awareness Training provided by USA Baseball or a comparable training. - Mandatory Reporting Requirements
Report Chile Abuse, including sexual abuse involving a minor, to the proper authorities with 24 hours. - Non-Retaliation for Reporting
Adopt a policy that prohibits retaliation against “good faith” reports of child abuse. - Prohibit One-on-One Interactions
Adopt a policy that limits one-on-one contact with minors without being in an observable and interruptible distance from another adult.
Mandatory reporters
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.
- Little League has a policy that prohibits retaliation on “good faith” reports of child abuse.
- Little League has a policy that limits one-one-one contact with minors.
- League volunteers are required to complete Abuse Awareness training provided by USA Baseball and SafeSport.
