Little League Announcement

Last Friday, April 30, the Little League International Board of Directors gathered virtually for its annual spring meeting, where the core topic of discussion and deliberation was our plans for the summer tournament season.
We will be sharing this information publicly at 2 p.m. Eastern Time today, but we wanted to share the announcement of the recommendations of the 2021 Little League International Pandemic Response Advisory Commission approved by the board with all of you in advance.

The Commission, with the support of National Jewish Health of Denver, Colorado, and our Operations staff, developed a COVID-19 Mitigation plan for organizing and holding Little League Region and World Series tournaments. National Jewish Health has successfully developed similar health safety plans for youth and young adult-focused organizations, summer camps, colleges, and universities.

Based on that comprehensive mitigation plan, which includes detailed testing protocols, vaccination requirements, contact tracing, and limiting the exposure of our participants to potential infection, the Commission issued a series of recommendations that were reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors.

With the careful consideration of all participants physical and mental well-being, the following actions were taken:

• The Little League Baseball and Softball World Series events will be held, as scheduled, this August in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and Greenville, North Carolina (respectively), featuring teams solely from the United States.
  
• With the significant additional responsibilities of fully implementing the many facets of our COVID-19 mitigation plans at our volunteer-operated Region and World Series tournaments for the teenage divisions, the Commission recommended that, out of the utmost respect for our volunteer organizers, the tournaments at these divisions (Intermediate (50/70) Baseball, Junior League Baseball, Junior League Softball, Senior League Baseball, and Senior League Softball) will conclude at the state level, with Region and World Series events canceled for a second year.
• The Little League Baseball® World Series will feature 16 teams with the top two teams advancing from each of its eight U.S. region tournaments. The Little League Softball® World Series will feature 10 teams, with the top two teams from each of its five U.S. region tournaments advancing. There will be no North Carolina Region as the host team at the Little League Softball World Series in 2021. With regard to international participation, after carefully monitoring international travel restrictions, quarantine requirements, testing and vaccine availability, along with updates from Little League officials from many countries within our program advising us on feasibility of tournaments in our international regions, the Commission recommended that the Little League Baseball and Softball World Series feature teams only from the United States. Where appropriate, international teams may continue to play based upon their country’s guidelines and restrictions. Little League International anticipates continuing with its plans to expand the Little League Baseball World Series to 20 teams and the Little League Softball World Series to 12 teams in 2022.
• Spectator attendance will be restricted at our Little League Baseball and Softball Region and World Series tournaments. Accommodations will be made for family members and a limited number of individuals associated with the participating teams. Those attending are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated and may be subject to additional screening measures to be announced at a later date.

As Hugh E. Tanner, Chairman of the Board, said during our meeting, this is our first step toward returning to normal Little League International activity. Certainly, we are disappointed that, in the face of these difficult times, that we must once again limit our tournament opportunities. But we are also encouraged that we are going to be able to provide that dream of participating in a Region and World Series tournament for so many of our baseball and softball players, especially those in that magical 12-year-old season after so many lost that opportunity last year.

We know that you will have many questions as you start, or change, your plans locally. We will communicate effectively with all of you, and your leagues, to support your efforts this summer. We will be emailing league and district officials in the coming days with information about Tournament Enrollment that will open on May 10, the Affidavit Process, and guidance on holding your District, Sectional, and State tournaments.
We have also developed a series of Frequently Asked Questions regarding this decision and its impact on our local leagues that will be available on LittleLeague.org. As will additional Tournament Resources and educational content throughout the coming weeks.

I encourage you to watch our Facebook Live presentation at 2 p.m. However, if you are not available, you can preview that video here.
As always, thank you for your selfless commitment and leadership to the Little League program.
Sincerely,


Stephen D. Keener
Little League President and CEO