As of 11/14, all available kits have been applied for. We were glad to see such an enthusiastic response from our leagues. We understand this is a pressing need for many leagues, so we encourage you to look into these additional resources, should your league still be in need of equipment this year:
The following is a list of questions a league official might ask when considering The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation Sports Matter Equipment Grant.
League Board Members/Officials can apply for this program on behalf of their league beginning November 4, 2022. Applications will be open while supplies last. Please read the application process instructions carefully before applying.
Please note that parents or guardians should NOT apply for this program on behalf of an individual player. League officials will be responsible for filling out the application and for distributing kits to individual players.
Submitting an application does not guarantee that a league will be selected to receive equipment kits.
While there are no specific requirements to be eligible for this program, we kindly ask that while you are applying to please consider that these kits are intended for the children most in need. Applications will be carefully reviewed by Pitch In For Baseball & Softball. The review will take several factors into consideration and will include, but not be limited to, historical number of scholarship players for your league, area census data and your league’s statement on why you should receive this grant. There will be a limited number of kits available, and priority will be given to leagues that apply first.
- Please ensure that you include all relevant background information when submitting your application.
- Please note that supplies are limited for this program and we will therefore be unable to fulfill all applications, even if there is a demonstrated need. You will be notified of whether or not your league has been selected in early 2023.
We understand that many leagues will have needs that exceed the amount we are able to award through this program. However, implementing a 10-kit maximum is necessary to ensure that we can impact as many leagues across the U.S. as possible. This program is designed to help begin to address your league’s overall need by taking care of the players most in need in your league.
If your league is in need of additional equipment or funding, we encourage you to look into these resources:
No. Leagues should utilize area knowledge and player information (e.g. number of scholarship players) to determine whether to request the full 10 kits for your league. The identification of individual players can take place closer to the start of registration or the beginning of the playing season.
No. While we understand that you may want to help as many players in your league as possible, we ask that you please do not break up the kits and distribute individual items. This program is designed to impact the families most in need and ease financial strain on parents and guardians. We want to ensure that we can provide as much equipment to each child as possible in order to alleviate significant financial burdens on parents and guardians.
No. This program is designed to impact the families most in need and ease financial strain on parents and guardians. We want to ensure that we can provide as much equipment to each child as possible in order to alleviate significant financial burdens on parents and guardians.
Above all, be sensitive and caring about the families you are trying to help. Exercise confidentiality in making requests and understand that families asking for help is a humbling experience.
Get ahead of registration for the year. Provide a scholarship survey on your website; email your membership and encourage deserving families to complete the survey. Use the survey to assess how many scholarship players you’ll have this year. You will need this information regardless to assist your planning in other regards.
Email your coaches from last year to help identify any families that may be in need; contact the families and ask if there may be assistance needed this year.
While we would love to be able to support families at all levels of play, in order to ensure that we can make a timely impact for players most in need, it was necessary for this program to design equipment kits that fit into one specific age group. We encourage you to help out families in those other age groups with league resources.
If your league is in need of additional equipment or funding, we encourage you to look into these resources:
The items in these kits were designed to be an essentials-only starter kit that will give deserving, underprivileged children the chance to play ball. The kit will include (specific to baseball or softball):
- One pair of Batting Gloves
- One Fielding Glove (Baseball or Softball, based on application request. Limited sizing ranges available)
- One Baseball or Softball (based on application request)
- One Cinch Bag
A letter addressed to the parent or guardian of the kit recipient will also be included.
No. The items in these kits were designed to be an essentials-only starter kit that will give deserving, underprivileged children the chance to play ball. The kit will include:
- One pair of Batting Gloves
- One Fielding Glove (Baseball or Softball, based on application request. Limited sizing ranges available)
- One Baseball or Softball (based on application request)
- One Cinch Bag
A letter addressed to the parent or guardian of the kit recipient will also be included.
While we understand players may be looking for additional equipment, such as bats or catcher’s equipment, this program is designed to provide essential equipment that can impact the families most in need and ease financial strain on parents and guardians.
If your league is in need of additional equipment or funding, we encourage you to look into these resources:
During the application process, you will be asked to designate how many kits you would like for each of the following groups:
- 7-9 year-old baseball,
- 7-9 -year-old softball,
- 10-11-year-old baseball,
- 10-11-year-old softball.
- Your selections here will dictate the sizes we send.
Please note that you will only be able to receive 5 total or 10 total kits, and the kits may not be used as shared team equipment and/or disassembled and redistributed to multiple families.
If your league is selected to receive equipment kits, there will be an additional left-handed glove included with your kits. This glove may be used to accommodate a specific player as necessary.
No. Items cannot be returned or exchanged once they have been delivered.
Please do not attempt to contact DICK’S Sporting Goods online or in-store regarding exchanges, as they will be unable to assist.
All kits will arrive to their designated shipping addresses by mid-February 2023.
All equipment kits should be distributed directly to the parent or guardian of the player selected. Kits will be shipped to the designated league official (you will be required to designate this individual in your application) and include all equipment items for the players as well as a letter addressed to the parent or guardian of the recipient.
We encourage you to be discreet when distributing these kits, so as not to single out families who may be experiencing financial hardships and to ensure that families who may also have equipment needs, but were not selected for this program, do not react negatively.
While we want to make an impact on the parents’ decision to register and understand that lack on equipment may be a deciding factor, we encourage you to hold off on distributing equipment until the player has fully committed that they will participate in your league and has registered for the 2022-23 season. Distribution should be done discreetly and directly to the parent/guardian of the player, both to ensure the player does not feel singled out for their lack of equipment, and that other families, who may not receive a kit but still have some need, do not react negatively to this player’s opportunity.
If your league is in need of additional equipment or funding, we encourage you to look into these resources:
Every effort should be made to ensure that a player is fully committed and registered for the season before a kit is given, however, once the kit has been given out and used, the kit belongs to the player and cannot be taken back. This includes a player leaving mid-season or choosing not to return the following season.
Yes. During the application process, you will be asked to designate how many baseball and/or softball kits you will need for your league.
If your season is delayed or canceled prior to the distribution of kits, we recommend holding the kits until play can safely resume.
If your season is delayed or canceled after kits have been distributed and/or play has begun, the kits should remain with the player to whom they were given and may not be taken back.
No. Each league can submit only one application. Should your league attempt to submit multiple applications, your league’s eligibility for the program will be impacted.
We encourage leagues to be discreet when communicating this opportunity to families, given the sensitivities around financial hardships. However, if you are aware that a family is experiencing hardships, and you believe that this program will impact their decision to participate in your league this year, then the opportunity could be shared.
We encourage leagues to work with their coaches and managers, who may have a better sense of family needs, when making these assessments.
Please do NOT share the application link directly with any parents. Applications must be completed by league officials only.
The application will be open from November 4, 2022, until all available kits have been fulfilled.
Please contact [email protected] with any additional questions.
Items should be shipped to a safe location where they can be stored until distribution. Please remember that all kits for a league will be shipped to one location. The league will be responsible for distributing to the individual families receiving the kits.
Unfortunately, this program is only open to leagues in the U.S. at this time.
If you have additional questions or concerns, please reach out to [email protected]