The safety of all Little League® players, volunteers, and fans is of upmost importance for Little League International. In 1995, Little League established the A Safety Awareness Program (ASAP), to encourage local Little League programs to create safety plans specific to their facilities and league. This plan would be used to help guide that league to a successful year.
With the support of sponsor Musco Sports Lighting and league insurance partner AIG Insurance, Little League recognizes those leagues who go above and beyond with their ASAP plans each year. At an annual luncheon during the Little League Baseball® World Series, two leagues from each of the five United States regions are recognized for their participation in the ASAP program. Little League District Administrators are also recognized for their work in helping local leagues create their ASAP plans.
This year, the 10 leagues receiving recognition are:
Central Region
- Grant County Little League (Crittenden, Ky.)
- Gull Lake Little League (Richland, Mich.)
East Region
- Glenburn (Maine) Little League
- Plains (Pa.) Little League
Southeast Region
- Central Springfield (Va.) Little League
- Greater West Melbourne (Fla.) Little League
Southwest Region
- High Plains Little League (Falcon, Colo.)
- Three Rivers Little League (Eagle, Colo.)
West Region
- Chino (Calif.) American Little League
- Cupertino (Calif.) Little League
Chino (Calif.) American Little League, was named the National ASAP Award Winner and received a Musco Light Structure Green™ lighting system for a 200-foot field for the honor.
ASAP encourages Little League volunteers to submit details of successful safety programs that have been adopted in their league so ideas can be shared nationwide. The program enables local leagues to share concepts and methods of addressing safety issues and help provide possible solutions to safety concerns. Since the inception of the ASAP program, the number of injuries reported has been reduced by 79 percent, and 91 percent of all Little League programs submit ASAP plans each year.
For more on ASAP and how your league can get involved and have a chance to win an ASAP Award and a new Musco Light Structure Green lighting system, visit LittleLeague.org/ASAP.