Little League SAFE FAQs

Little League SAFE is Little League’s updated approach to safety. It provides leagues with clear guidance, training, and tools to help keep players safe and support volunteers throughout the season.

SAFE keeps the spirit of ASAP but modernizes it. Instead of focusing mainly on submitting a safety plan, SAFE focuses on practical steps, resources, and tools that help leagues utilize safety practices throughout the year.

SAFE is organized around four areas of safety:

• Child Protection: Completing background checks, Abuse Awareness Training, and following policies that protect children.
• Physical safety: Preventing injuries through safe fields, safe equipment, and prepared volunteers.
• Mental Well-Being: Creating a positive environment where every child is respected and supported.
• Risk Management: Strengthening policies, planning, and leadership to help leagues operate safely and responsibly.

SAFE Summary Builder: A guided tool that helps leagues confirm key safety actions for the season and automatically creates a SAFE Summary – a simple, shareable document that shows what safety steps the league has completed.

New Trainings: Two NEW online courses, Safety Awareness and First Aid Awareness, that help prepare coaches and volunteers with practical, easy-to-understand safety information.

Updated Annual Facility Survey: A refreshed survey that helps leagues identify facility risks, track improvements, and better understand what safety equipment they may need. Once completed, a report is automatically created and attached to the league’s SAFE Summary.

SAFE to Play is the annual participation, compliance, and recognition program that outlines what leagues should be doing to meet core safety expectations. As a baseline, leagues participate by completing the SAFE Summary Builder and the Annual Facility Survey. Leagues that meet the SAFE to Play baseline requirements (completing the SAFE Summary Builder and the Annual Facility Survey) will receive the annual AIG accident insurance credit and become eligible for Musco-funded grant opportunities.

Participation in SAFE to Play is voluntary but strongly encouraged. By participating, leagues show they are actively working toward building a safer program for players, volunteers, and families. Participation also makes leagues eligible for recognition, awards, and grant opportunities connected to SAFE to Play.

Child protection requirements are always mandatory, whether or not a league participates in SAFE. Every league must complete required background checks, ensure Abuse Awareness Training is completed, follow applicable reporting laws and Little League policies if concerns arise, and comply with any additional state child protection requirements. SAFE helps clarify and support these expectations, but every league is responsible for meeting them.