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> Little League Online > Media > News Archive > 2006 > Participation in Little League Reaches 3-Year High
Participation in Little League Reaches 3-Year HighWILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Participation in Little League Baseball and Softball, which had been declining in recent years, rose by more than 28,000 participants in 2006, it was announced by Stephen D. Keener, president and chief executive officer of Little League International.
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Print“We’re obviously very pleased with the participation numbers we
have seen this year, and we are pleased that so many more children
and families are receiving the benefits of participation in Little
League” Mr. Keener said. “This underscores Little League’s position
as the largest and most respected organized youth sports program in
the world.”
Last year, a total of 2,634,900 children played in the various
divisions of Little League Baseball and Softball. That total for
2006 is above 2,664,000, topping the 2004 figures as well.
“It’s not possible to
pinpoint one or two reasons for the upsurge in participation", Mr.
Keener said. "Instead, it is probably a combination of factors.”
Those factors, Mr. Keener said, include the following:
Through various means, Little League International has been able to
directly reach more volunteers and parents than ever. Initiatives
have included electronic newsletters that reach more than 400,000
people each month, on-line question-and-answer sessions with
volunteers worldwide, and expanded use of the Little League Internet
web site.
Outreach programs in which Little League International personnel
make visits to conduct clinics and seminars have also proved
popular. By the end of 2007, these “Little League Road Show” clinics
will have been conducted in every U.S. state, plus Canada and
Poland, with thousands of volunteers attending.
A new League Development Department was created in 2005 with two
full-time staffers to handle inquiries regarding chartering new
leagues. Little League also has worked more closely with
international organizations, the Congress of European Baseball in
particular, to bring more leagues under the Little League umbrella.
More than 290 new Little League programs have been
chartered this year – 135 of them outside the U.S.
The Little League Urban Initiative also has resulted in more
players. The program that brings the benefits of Little League to
urban areas, where interest in baseball has waned in the last two
decades, now boasts more than 2,700 teams in more than 170 leagues
in the U.S. Recently, significant support has come from Major League
Baseball, the Torii Hunter Project, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation,
American Honda, and Bank of America.
As a result of extensive research, Little League International has
offered more options to its local leagues, allowing for more
flexibility at the local level (i.e., continuous batting order, more
opportunities for games outside of the traditional regular season
and tournament play, etc.). Little League International, as a result
of information gleaned from research, has enhanced its focus on
education of managers coaches as the primary factor in whether or
not a child is pleased with his/her Little League experience.
Expanded awareness of Little League has resulted from events such as
the Little League International Opening Day, and President George W.
Bush’s Tee Ball on the South Lawn program. The first International
Opening Day was held in New York City this past spring, and the 14th
Tee Ball on the South Lawn game since President Bush took office in
2001 was held last month. President Bush launched the program in
2001 as a way to boost interest in baseball among young families.
Little League’s new league age determination date may also have some
effect on this year’s participation numbers. With the average age of
every Little Leaguer now three months older, the change may have
resulted in more children remaining in the program longer.
While the baseball ranks in Little League have swelled by nearly
18,000, softball is not far behind. Little League added more than
11,000 girls softball players in 2006.
Below are links to extended resources regarding this information:
Annual figures for participation in Little League, 1939-2006:
http://www.littleleague.org/about/aroundtheworld.asp
A recent issue of the electronic newsletter for managers and
coaches:
http://www.littleleague.org/newsletter/06aug/index.htm
Recent issues of the electronic newsletter for all Little League
volunteers:
http://www.littleleague.org/coaches/index.asp
Information on the new age determination date:
http://www.littleleague.org/media/age_change_Oct05.asp
Information on the Little League International Opening Day event:
http://www.littleleague.org/media/OpeningDay2006.asp
Information on the Tee Ball on the South Lawn program:
http://www.littleleague.org/media/06teeballgame15.asp
Little League Manager/Coach Education Program:
http://www.littleleague.org/coaches/coachmanagereducation.asp
Recent stories regarding the Little League Urban Initiative:
http://www.littleleague.org/media/toriihunter.asp
http://www.littleleague.org/media/2006jamboreecloses.asp
http://www.littleleague.org/media/erichiltonfield.asp
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