Why should you become a VBLL Volunteer
Little League Baseball and Softball is an organization designed to build good citizens. It is a program of leadership, preparing today’s youth to be tomorrow’s leaders. At the local level, Little League relies on a devoted legion of adult volunteers to help ensure that the organization remains structured and runs smoothly. Your local Little League program is always looking for responsible and enthusiastic individuals to support and coordinate Little League events and activities. As a volunteer, you should have a keen interest in the safety, well-being, and overall development of children. By reading further, you will discover that the benefits of volunteering are endless. You will also gain a better understanding of why you should become involved, who volunteers are, what you can do, and how you can sign up.
Who Can Volunteer?
Anyone can apply to become a volunteer. Whatever talents or skills you have, we can use them! Across the country, volunteers are grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, retirees, community leaders, former Little Leaguers, friends, neighbors, and more. Any community member who wishes to become a volunteer may apply.
All parents of children involved in Little League Baseball and Softball are strongly encouraged to volunteer. As a parent, volunteer, you have the opportunity to spend quality time with your child in a safe, fun-filled environment. Oftentimes, parent and child social lives parallel each other. Volunteering allows your life and your child’s life to intersect on common ground, with shared interests and goals.
On rare occasions, Little League, through District Administrators and your local Board of Directors, may deny individuals the privilege of volunteering for reasons, past or present, that may be detrimental to the positive development of young people, other volunteers, and/or Little League International. When you apply to become a volunteer, you give the local Little League organization the right to conduct necessary background checks.
How Do I Become A Volunteer?
Anyone wishing to volunteer on the fields, MUST have background check conducted through Little League International.
If you would like to volunteer please register as a volunteer via Sports Connect. Once that is completed, your background check will be submitted for the current calendar year.
What Can I Volunteer To Do?
No experience is required to become a volunteer. Most of the volunteer opportunities require little or no training. Your local league will provide you with any necessary training (as well as support and encouragement), as they deem necessary. The best volunteers are those who are able to bring added enjoyment to the game simply be being themselves. What you see during Little League games is a mere fraction of what you can do as a volunteer. You can volunteer to help in virtually any aspect of Little League Baseball or Softball.
Volunteer Opportunities
Listed below are some common volunteer opportunities within our league. In addition, there are many other positions available. Please consult with our league president or any league board member on how to best use your talents and skills to help provide your kids the best Little League experience possible.
Being a Team Manager or Coach
Being a manager or coach requires time, patience, and basic knowledge of the game of baseball. You may be required to attend meetings, instructional sessions, or seminars. You will communicate with the parents/guardians of your players to inform them of any schedule changes, rainouts, and Little League events and activities.
As a manager or coach, you have more interaction with young people than anyone else in Little League. Therefore, it is important that you understand the goals and virtues of the Little League program in order to effectively communicate them to your players.
Helping with Field Maintenance
In some cases, our local Little League is required to maintain the fields that your child plays on. As a part of the field maintenance crew, your skills and abilities may be used to mow grass, line fields, rake dirt, and execute minor repairs on fences, benches and bleachers.
Being an Umpire
Aside from calling ball or strike, safe or out, umpires are responsible for teaching players good sportsmanship and the rules of the game. Umpires are also called upon to interpret rules and help settle minor disputes that may occur during games.
Little League games require one home plate umpire and a minimum of one field umpire. Before becoming an umpire you may be required to participate in training session or seminar.
While home plate umpires are scheduled well in advance, field umpires are often determined minutes before the game begins. As you arrive at your child’s game, your coach or the home plate umpire may ask you to be the field umpire. When you agree, your main responsibilities are to call plays on the bases, determine if balls are fair or foul, and assist the home plate umpire with other calls.
Team Coordinators
As a Team Coordinator, you will assist the team manager with activities surround practice and games (snack lists, end of season party, etc).
Concession Stand
Our concession stand is dependent on the support of our volunteers. Each team will be responsible for running it once per season for about 3 hours, please do your part. This is a great opportunity for local high schoolers to earn volunteer hours.