Following an exciting Opening Ceremonies to kick things off on Friday evening, the 29th Little League® International Congress is well underway with a full day of educational and strategic sessions taking place on Saturday, along with a morning to recognize the hard work and dedication of all the volunteers in attendance.
Volunteer Recognition Breakfast
The morning opened with a quick recognition of all the D.A.s in attendance, including a special recognition for the District Administrators receiving the 2026 Little League International Meritorious Service Award, as well as the Assistant District Administrators receiving the A.D.A. Little League International Commendation.
Following a quick celebration of service for Janice Christensen, who recently retired after 50 years of volunteering with the LIttle League program, Patrick Wilson, Little League President and CEO, was joined on stage with eight members of the Little League International Board of Directors for a conversation series.
In his closing notes, Wilson left the group with a closing question:
“In your role as a District Administrator or Assistant District Administrator, what vision do you have for Little League that drives sustainable progress – what is the progress that will bring our mission and values to life in thousands of communities around the world?” asked Wilson. “As you think about it, I want you to hold onto those thoughts and share those with me either here this weekend or by email over the next few weeks, because the presentations over the next few days will challenge and expand how we think about turning that vision into action.”
With those thoughts in mind, there was one final surprise as Wilson presented the 2026 Little League President’s Award to Carlos Pagan, Little League Latin America Region Director.
Before rounding out the morning’s event, two volunteers were recognized with the presentation of the Peter J. McGovern Distinguished Service Award, recognizing the special efforts of an individual(s) who has embraced the ideals of Little League, and in turn, exemplifies the benefits of children learning life lessons through playing Little League Baseball and Softball.
Educational Sessions
After a morning of celebration, the attendees had the opportunity to enjoy one of four educational sessions to help provide guidance on how to support their leagues throughout the course of the 2026 season and beyond:
- Elevating the Tournament Experience: Best Practices for District Administrators
- Central Registration 2027: The Transition from Sports Connect to PlayMetrics
- League Voices: Insights and Actions from League and Community Visits Around the World
- Transitioning to SAFE: The Evolution of Safety Initiatives in Little League
Umpire Education Session
For those Umpires-in-Chief who were in attendance, a special session was held by Stu Hartenstein, Little League Director of Umpire Development and Education, and Gerry Davis, Little League Senior Umpire Consultant, to highlight program updates, building a Junior Umpire Program, and focused conversations on:
- Simplifying and strengthening the training process by focusing on the foundational skills and core competencies essential for success.
- Identifying what matters most, and how to effectively develop these fundamentals, local umpire leaders will gain practical strategies to provide clear, targeted instruction.
- Reducing the sense of being overwhelmed and equips umpire leaders to better support, encourage, and develop confident umpires at the grassroots level.
Strategic Planning: Racing Toward the Future
A key focus for the weekend’s activities, the attendees were given a sneak peak to learn more about the research that has been done to date, learnings from the interviews done with volunteers and parents, as well as the direction that the organization is working towards as it finalizes its next strategic plan. Following the marquis session, attendees also had the opportunity to attend their first of four strategic breakout sessions for the weekend, focused on:
- Recruiting New Little Leaguers and Keeping them in the Program
- Strengthening Softball
- Keeping Players in the Little League Ecosystem
- Enhancing Tee Ball and Player Development
The weekend will continue on Sunday with the final three strategic roundtable sessions, as well as Region-Specific Meetings for the volunteers to gather together, celebrate achievements, and discuss any needs with their respective Region staff members.
To learn more about the 2026 Little League International Congress, visit LittleLeague.org/Congress or download the free Congress app for attendees on site.