Policy
Little League Baseball, Incorporated (“LLI”) aims to promote inclusive play for all participants through the uniform adherence to LLI’s Official Regulations, Rules and Operating Policies (the “Rules”) concerning performance and play. Accordingly, all local leagues chartered by LLI pledge to abide by the Rules, and all updates thereto.
LLI is committed to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to participate fully in its programs and recognizes that some participants may require a waiver of the Rules in order to participate in a manner consistent with their affirmed gender identity, or sex characteristics regardless of the gender listed on their birth certificate. In such instances, LLI will provide children who identify as transgender, non-binary, or intersex, who have variations in sex development the opportunity to request a waiver of the Rules. These requests will be considered with the goal of supporting inclusive, respectful, and affirming participation for every child.
This policy will be implemented in full compliance with all applicable local, state, federal and international laws. A waiver will not be granted where it conflicts with current law. Given that legal requirements may vary across jurisdictions, including from state to state and county to county, any waiver granted will apply solely within the jurisdiction in which it was requested and approved. Additionally, as laws may vary from state to state and country to country, any waiver granted is applicable only in the jurisdiction from which it was sought. If the child subsequently participates outside the jurisdiction in which the waiver was granted, the waiver may be rescinded if the waiver violates local, state, federal or international laws.
Definitions
For the purposes of this Policy, the following definitions apply:
- Transgender Person: refers to an individual who has an identity different from that typically associated with the sex assigned at birth. It is distinct from sexual orientation.
- Gender Identity: A person’s inner sense of being male or female, another gender, or no gender. It may or may not be consistent with the sex assigned at birth.
- Gender Expression: The way a person publicly expresses their gender to others through appearance and mannerisms (e.g., dress, speech, movement)
- Intersex (formally referred to as Disorder of Sexual Development or DSD): Intersex is a general term used to describe individual persons born with physical sex characteristics (such as chromosomes, gonads, or genitalia) that do not fit typically binary notation of male or female bodies. These variations may result from a range of natural biological conditions. While being intersex is distinct from being transgender, individuals in both groups may encounter similar difficulties when navigating gender designations in contexts such as athletic participation.
Procedure
Unless modified by this policy, the Process to Obtain Waivers of Rules and Regulations as outlined in the Operating Policy for Local League Administration shall be followed. Per the policy, the Charter and/or the Tournament Committee (the “Committee”) at LLI considers all waiver requests to the Rules. The Committee will consider requests for the waiver of the Rules for an individual whose gender identity does not match the gender listed on their birth certificate upon the written request of the individual, their parent, or his or her legal representative. LLI and its participating local leagues shall adhere to the Rules until a waiver for the participant is submitted and approved in accordance with this procedure.
A. Material Required for Committee’s Consideration
To initiate review by the Committee, the child, his or her parent, or his or her legal representative must provide a written request for waiver to the President of the local league. The waiver request should include, at a minimum:
- The child’s name and level of play in the local Little League program within which they wish to participate.
- The child’s current transcript and school registration information.
- A written statement from a parent or legal representative of the child affirming that the child lives consistently with their affirmed gender identity, including through their gender expression both at home and in public settings.
- Additional documentation is requested when submitting the waiver request which demonstrates that the child lives consistently with their affirmed gender identity, such as written confirmation from a licensed health care provider, revised birth certificate or passport evidencing gender, school photographs, etc.
- The league president may add additional facts concerning the request received to the record for consideration by the Committee.
- The President shall forward the assembled materials to the respective Region Director.
- The waiver request must be submitted in writing by the league president before the start of the league’s regular season or June 1, whichever occurs first.
- The Region Director will present the waiver materials to the Committee for action.
B. Review Process
The waiver request will be evaluated as follows:
- All communications, discussions and documentation submitted as part of the approval process shall be kept confidential, unless the child and family elect to make these records open and available.
- Any protected health information provided pursuant to this policy shall be treated as confidential by both the local league and the Committee, shared only with individuals identified as taking part in the review process and shall be appropriately protected from disclosure.
- The child’s request to participate in a manner consistent with his/her gender identity will be scheduled for review and eligibility before the Committee as expeditiously as reasonably possible.
- The Committee shall have the right to request additional information to support the waiver request.
- A waiver request is not considered submitted unless it contains the content outlined herein and any additional information requested by the Committee. The Committee will strive to render a decision on all waiver requests within a reasonable amount of time, and all such decisions should be rendered no later than three (3) weeks after the request is fully submitted with all required documentation received by the Committee.
- The Committee will inform the Region Director of its decision. The Region Director will thereafter inform the President of the local league for dissemination to the participant.
- The Committee shall properly and securely destroy all records received as part of the review process upon rendering a decision.
C. Length of Waiver
The Committee will consider a waiver request submitted on behalf of the child in the season in which the waiver was received by the Committee. Unless otherwise requested, the Committee will consider and grant a waiver of the Rules for only the season in which the waiver was received. If a waiver request is for longer than a single season, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may extend the waiver grant beyond the season in which the request was received, including for the duration of a participant’s LLI eligibility. If any waiver is approved by the Committee to extend beyond the season in which it is received, the Committee shall identify the length and terms of such approval in the letter resolving the waiver request.
D. Guidelines for Review
For waiver of the Rule to be approved, the Committee must determine that the participant is living consistently with his/her gender identity. Each waiver requested will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Committee.
The Committee must determine if the waiver is in full compliance with all applicable local, state, federal and international laws in the jurisdiction where the waiver is requested. The Committee will not grant any waiver that conflicts with current law.
The Committee may consult with the participant, his or her representatives and the individuals listed above as part of the review process. Should the Committee find that consultation with additional individuals (e.g., school officials, District Administrators, coaches), is necessary for the Committee to make an informed decision, the Committee will first seek a confidentiality waiver from the child’s legal guardian before any such consideration.
LLI recognizes that transgender athletes may be at different stages in their personal journeys including whether they have pursued hormonal treatments or gender-affirming surgeries.