OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF
COMPTON LITTLE LEAGUE
SAFETY
Protecting Every Player. Building a Safe Place to Play.
SAFETY STARTS WITH ALL OF US
Every Child. Every Game. Safety First.
Coaches, volunteers, parents and players each have a role in making sure practices, games and league activities are conducted with care, preparation and respect.
Safety means more than preventing injuries. It includes proper equipment, safe playing conditions, responsible adult supervision, appropriate conduct, awareness of heat and weather conditions, and protecting children from abuse, harassment and other inappropriate behavior.
Compton Little League follows Little League® safety requirements and applicable youth-sports standards as part of our commitment to providing an environment where players can learn, compete and enjoy the game with confidence.
If something does not look or feel safe, speak up. Parents, players, coaches and volunteers should raise safety concerns promptly rather than assume someone else will address them.
KNOW WHAT KEEPS PLAYERS SAFE
PLAYER & EQUIPMENT SAFETY
Safe Equipment. Safe Field. Safer Play.
Before practices and games, coaches and volunteers should make sure the playing area is reasonably safe and that players are using appropriate, properly fitted equipment. Players should never be encouraged to continue participating with damaged equipment or when conditions create an unnecessary risk.
Helmets, bats, catcher’s equipment and other regulated playing equipment must meet applicable Little League® safety and equipment requirements. Players should use equipment appropriate for their age, division and activity, and protective equipment should be worn whenever required.
Safety also begins with the field itself. Playing surfaces, bases, fences, dugouts and surrounding areas should be checked for hazards before activity begins. Equipment, bags and other objects should be kept away from areas where players run or play.
Players should also be taught everyday habits that help prevent injuries: paying attention during practices and games, following coaches’ instructions, warming up appropriately, staying hydrated, and immediately telling an adult when equipment is damaged or something on the field appears unsafe.
When in doubt, stop and check. A few moments spent correcting an equipment or field-safety problem are always preferable to putting a player at unnecessary risk.
LITTLE LEAGUE® EQUIPMENT & SAFETY RESOURCES
LITTLE LEAGUE® SAFETY CODE →
LITTLE LEAGUE® BAT RULES →
USA BASEBALL BAT STANDARD FAQs →
BATTING HELMET & CATCHER’S GEAR INSPECTION →
BASEBALL & SOFTBALL BAT INSPECTION →
CHILD PROTECTION
Safe. Respected. Protected.
Protecting players extends beyond physical safety on the field. Coaches, volunteers, parents and league officials share responsibility for maintaining appropriate boundaries and creating an environment in which children feel safe, respected and able to speak up.
Adults working with players must follow Little League® child-protection policies and standards of conduct. One-on-one adult-player interactions must remain observable and interruptible by another adult. Coaches, volunteers and league officials must maintain appropriate boundaries, provide responsible supervision, and protect individuals who report suspected abuse in good faith from retaliation.
Parents and players should never feel that they must remain silent about behavior that makes them uncomfortable. Concerns involving inappropriate conduct, suspected abuse or threats to a child's safety should be taken seriously and reported promptly through the appropriate channels.
Compton Little League requires applicable volunteers and league personnel to complete Little League® International's mandatory annual background checks and Abuse Awareness Training. Background checks must be conducted through Little League®'s approved J.D. Palatine (JDP) system. Detailed application, screening and training requirements are provided on our Volunteer & Coach Requirements page.
Protecting children is everyone's responsibility. When there is a concern about a player's safety or an adult's conduct, speak up rather than assume someone else will.
CHILD PROTECTION RESOURCES
LITTLE LEAGUE® CHILD PROTECTION PROGRAM →
LITTLE LEAGUE® ABUSE AWARENESS TRAINING →
CONCUSSIONS & INJURIES
Recognize It. Respond Early. Protect the Player.
Baseball and softball involve running, throwing, sliding and contact with balls, bats and other players. Even with proper preparation and equipment, injuries can occur. Coaches, volunteers, parents and players should take injuries seriously and never pressure a player to continue simply because a game or practice is underway.
A player who is injured should be removed from activity when appropriate and evaluated before returning to play. Particular care must be taken with a possible concussion or other head injury. Signs may not always appear immediately, and a player does not have to lose consciousness to have sustained a concussion.
If a concussion is suspected, the player should be removed from play immediately and should not return simply because they say they feel better. Little League® requires leagues to comply with applicable concussion laws and return-to-play requirements.
Parents should inform coaches about injuries or medical restrictions that could affect participation, while players should be encouraged to tell an adult whenever they are hurt, dizzy, confused, experiencing unusual pain or simply do not feel right.
When there is uncertainty about an injury, protecting the player comes first.
CONCUSSION & INJURY RESOURCES
LITTLE LEAGUE® — CONCUSSIONS IN YOUTH ATHLETES →
LITTLE LEAGUE® — HANDLING AN INJURED PLAYER & RETURNING TO PLAY →
HEAT & WEATHER SAFETY
When Conditions Change, Safety Comes First.
Baseball and softball place players outdoors for extended periods, often during warm weather. Coaches, volunteers and families should pay attention to temperature, sun exposure, hydration, air quality, lightning and changing field conditions before and during league activities.
Players should arrive properly hydrated and have water readily available throughout practices and games. During hot conditions, additional water breaks, rest periods and access to shade may be necessary. Players showing signs of heat-related illness — including weakness, dizziness, confusion, cramping or unusual fatigue — should be removed from activity and evaluated. Little League specifically identifies water and rest as the primary protections against heat illness.
Thunder and lightning require immediate attention. Little League® guidance states that there is no safe place outdoors during or near a thunderstorm. Dugouts, sheds, pavilions and similar structures should not be treated as lightning shelters. Activities should not resume until at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder or observation of lightning. If additional thunder or lightning occurs, the 30-minute waiting period must begin again.
Games and practices should also be postponed or stopped whenever weather, visibility or field conditions make continued play unsafe.
No game or practice is important enough to take an unnecessary weather-related risk.
HEAT & WEATHER SAFETY RESOURCES
LITTLE LEAGUE® — HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION & PROTECTION POLICY →
LITTLE LEAGUE® — LIGHTNING SAFETY GUIDELINES →
LITTLE LEAGUE® — STAYING SAFER IN UNSAFE WEATHER →
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Be Prepared Before It Matters.
Every practice and game should take place with basic emergency preparations in place. Coaches and responsible volunteers should know how to summon emergency assistance, where first-aid supplies are located and how emergency responders can access the playing area.
A properly stocked first-aid kit should be available during league activities. Emergency contact and relevant medical information for players should also be accessible to authorized personnel when needed. Little League recommends that leagues establish emergency procedures as part of their overall safety planning.
When a serious injury or medical emergency occurs, play should stop and the area around the injured player should be kept clear. Call 911 for potentially life-threatening emergencies. A seriously injured player should not be unnecessarily moved unless remaining in place presents an immediate danger.
Coaches and volunteers should operate within their level of training. First aid may help stabilize a situation, but it is not a substitute for professional medical care when that care is needed.
Emergency preparedness also means knowing the location of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) when one is available and ensuring that emergency access routes, gates and entrances are not obstructed.
Preparation should happen before the first pitch — not after an emergency begins.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS RESOURCES
LITTLE LEAGUE® — SAFETY CODE →
LITTLE LEAGUE® — FIRST AID KITS: WHAT LOCAL LEAGUES NEED TO KNOW →
REPORT A SAFETY CONCERN
See Something Unsafe? Speak Up.
Parents, players, coaches and volunteers are encouraged to raise safety concerns promptly. A concern might involve unsafe equipment, field conditions, inappropriate conduct, inadequate supervision, bullying, suspected abuse or another situation that could place a child at risk.
Routine safety concerns should be brought to the attention of the appropriate coach, league official or designated safety representative so the issue can be addressed. No player or parent should feel that raising a legitimate safety concern will negatively affect a child's participation in the program.
Suspected child abuse, including sexual abuse involving a minor, must be reported to the appropriate authorities within 24 hours, in accordance with Little League® International's Child Protection Program and applicable law. Reports involving suspected abuse within the league must also be communicated to the League President and District Administrator. League officials and volunteers must not attempt to investigate suspected abuse themselves; investigations belong to law enforcement and child-protection authorities.
If a child appears to be in immediate danger or there is a medical or other life-threatening emergency, call 911.
As Compton Little League's administrative structure is completed, league-specific safety contacts and reporting information will be posted here so families always know whom to contact.
When it comes to player safety, it is better to raise a concern than to remain silent.
SAFETY & REPORTING RESOURCES
LITTLE LEAGUE® — CHILD PROTECTION PROGRAM →
LITTLE LEAGUE® — GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING ABUSE →