2021 LLWS General FAQs

The Little League® Baseball and Softball World Series events will be held at these two divisions of play, as scheduled, this August in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and Greenville, North Carolina (respectively), featuring teams solely from the United States. Based on the recommendation of the 2021 Little League International Pandemic Response Advisory Commission, the Little League International Board of Directors approved an implementation plan that incorporates a series of COVID-19 mitigation measures to hold these tournaments in a healthy, responsible environment.

With the significant additional responsibilities of fully implementing the many facets of our COVID-19 mitigation plans at our volunteer-run Region and World Series tournaments at the teenage divisions, the Commission recommended that, out of the utmost respect to 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 2021 Little League International Pandemic Response Advisory Commission was formed in February 2021 to focus on examining the effect and impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic on the seven divisions of the 2021 Little League World Series Tournament Season and provide recommendations for all relevant aspects of tournament operation. In addition to the expertise shared from the Commission Members, Little League International engaged National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado, on developing a health safety implementation plan for organizing and holding the Little League Region and World Series events. National Jewish Health has worked on similar health safety plans with other youth and young adult-focused organizations, colleges and universities, and events.

Little League International has always held the safety and well-being of all its participants as a top priority. It is our organization’s responsibility to do everything in our ability to provide a tournament experience this summer following that same level of care and concern, as we continue to navigate this pandemic.

The full implementation plan that Little League International collaborated on with National Jewish Health from Denver, Colorado, will not be available publicly. The commission worked together to provide its key recommendations to the Little League International Board of Directors to hold our events in a healthy, responsible environment. The Board ultimately approved the following recommendations:  

TESTING:

All players and coaches will undergo COVID-19 testing prior to and upon arrival at their tournament location and will have significantly limited contact from other individuals until negative tests can be confirmed. Unvaccinated participants will also receive regular COVID-19 tests throughout the tournament. Little League International, through its partnership with Major League Baseball, will work with Spectrum Solutions, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, to provide tests at no-cost to participants and coordinate testing logistics for each event location to help ensure consistency in results and efficient turnarounds in receiving results.

VACCINATIONS:

Coaches and managers are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated, and, should a vaccine be available for age-appropriate players, vaccination would be also recommended for players, but not required. All other adults on-site at the events (Little League International-appointed staff, volunteer umpires, officials, etc.), with the exception of team coaches and managers, will be required to provide proof of receiving their final dose of their vaccine two weeks prior to the start of their tournament event.

OFF-FIELD ACTIVITIES:

Participants will be limited in their off-field activities to mitigate the risk of exposure during the tournament.

TEENAGE DIVISIONS:

With the significant additional responsibilities of fully implementing the many facets of our COVID-19 mitigation plans at our volunteer-run Region and World Series tournaments at the teenage divisions, the Commission recommended that, out of the utmost respect to 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.

PARTICIPATING TEAMS:

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 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:

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.

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 on feasibility of tournaments in our international regions, the Little League Baseball and Softball World Series tournaments will only feature Little League teams from the United States. Where appropriate, international teams may continue to play based upon their country’s guidelines and restrictions.

With the significant additional responsibilities of fully implementing the many facets of our COVID-19 mitigation plans at our volunteer-run Region and World Series tournaments at the teenage divisions, the Commission recommended that, out of the utmost respect to 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.

“We are so fortunate to have these safe and very effective COVID-19 vaccines available, widely accessible and free-of-charge in the United States, which unfortunately is not the case in many parts of the world. COVID-19 has caused serious infections and deaths in all age groups, and there is no way to predict how COVID will affect you or if you will have long lasting consequences from infection, as many have experienced. The available COVID vaccines have been shown to substantially reduce the likelihood infection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19; so getting vaccinated will not only keep you safe, but will also keep your family and others around you safe. High rates of vaccination in our communities is one of the most powerful tools we have to finally bring an end to this pandemic, and allow all of us to get back to doing the things we want to do.”
—
Angela Hewlett M.D., M.S.
Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases
George W. Orr MD and Linda Orr Chair in Health Security
Medical Director, Nebraska Biocontainment Unit
Director, Orthopedic Infectious Diseases Service
2021 Little League International Pandemic Response Advisory Commission Member