CONROE LITTLE LEAGUE
ASAP
SAFETY PROGRAM MANUAL
CONROE, TEXAS
SPRING 2024
SAFETY ACTION
PLAN
LEAGUE ID # 343-28-03
Conroe Little League – ASAP 2020
Table of Contents
2024 Qualified Safety Program Registration Form ........................................... I – iv
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 2
2. Conroe Little League and Emergency Contact Numbers .................................. 3
3. Code of Conduct ................................................................................................ 4
4. Volunteers & Child Protection........................................................................... 4
5. Little League & General Safety Rules ................................................................ 4
6. Coach / Manager Guidelines ............................................................................. 7
a. Fundamentals Training & First Aid Training
b. Team Safety Officer
c. First Aid
d. Concussion Training
e. Pre-Game / Post-Game actions
7. Equipment Management & Inspection ............................................................. 9
8. Facilities Review & Protection .......................................................................... 9
9. Concession Stand ............................................................................................ 11
10. Accident Reporting .......................................................................................... 13
11. League Management & Coach/Player Registration ........................................ 13
12. APPENDICES .................................................................................................... 14
a. Volunteer Form
b. Facilities Survey
c. Accident Form / Claims
d. Little League Incident/Injury Tracking Report
e. Medical Release Form
1. Introduction
The Conroe Little League (CLL) is committed to providing a safe environment for its players, coaches, umpires, other volunteers, families, and spectators.
This document constitutes CLL’s Safety Plan for 2024. The Plan is designed to address the aspects needed to provide a safe atmosphere for youth baseball as outlined by Little League International and other site-specific requirements. The Plan has been reviewed by CLL’s Safety Officer to ensure it meets the Qualified Safety Plan Requirements and was reviewed by the Texas District 28 Safety Officer.
The Plan document is provided to Little League International under cover of the 2024 qualified Safety Program Registration Form and to the Texas District 28 Safety Officer. Copies of the plan are printed and provided to each member of CLL’s Board and to Team Managers and Coaches. Relevant portions of the Plan are provided to the concerned Concession Stand Manager, Facilities Manager, etc. Relevant information from the ASAP plan will be posted on Conroe Little League Facebook page.
2. CLL – Board Members & Emergency Phone Numbers
Board Members Name Phone Number
President ......................................... Roosevelt Lasker ......................... (936) 203-4816
Vice President ............................... Vernon Emmert ............................ (936) 537-3118
Treasurer ........................................ Holly Parish .................................... (281) 536-7444
Secretary ......................................... Donna Lasker ................................ (936) 827-3937
Player Agent .................................. Emanuel Reagan........................... (832) 495-9199
Safety Officer ................................. David Parish.................................... (281) 536-7444
Concession Manager .................. Donna Lasker ................................ (936) 827-3937
Information Officer .................... Mary Emmert...…………………… (727) 483-2375
Fundraiser/Opening Day……...Holly Parish….……………………. (281) 536-7444
Courtney Holland……………………………………………………………… (832) 797-2498
Tia Perez…………………………………………………………………………… (936) 689-5215
Minnesha Scott…………………………………………………………………. (832) 235-8571
Conroe Little League Safety Officer
CLL’s Safety Officer, David Parish is a Board Member and is registered online with Little League International. He can be reached at (281) 536-7444.
Emergency Numbers
Fire, Ambulance, Police ............................................................................ 911
Non-emergency Police ............................................................................. (936) 522-3200
3. CODE OF CONDUCT
o Alcohol is not allowed in any parking lot, ball field or common area within the CLL Complex
o Smoking is not allowed anywhere in park
o No playing in parking lot at any time
o After each game, each team must clean up trash in dugouts and around the stands
o All gates to the field must always remain close. After players have entered or left the field, the gates should be closed and secured
o No children under the age of 16 years of age are permitted in the concession stand
o Managers/coaches will be instructed to practice safety habits before, during and after games, practices and any other league event.
4.
Volunteers & Child Protection
CLL is committed to the protection of its youth and to providing a safe environment for them to play baseball. Each Board Member, Manager, Coach, umpire and volunteer providing service to the CLL must complete the 2024. Little League Volunteer Application form as provided in Appendix (a) along with a copy of their valid Driver’s License or photo ID.
Background checks are performed on all board members, managers, coaches, and volunteers through
https://www.littleleague.org/player-safety/child-protection-program/local-league-background-check-information/ .
No one is allowed inside the fenced area of the ball fields without a Conroe Little League Identification Badge which shows proof of an approved background check.
5.
Little League & General Safety Rules
All Managers and Coaches shall be familiar with Little League’s Rules & Regulations, many of which have some basis in safety. Managers, Coaches and Umpires shall enforce these rules during games. Furthermore, Managers and Coaches shall enforce the rules during practices. Notwithstanding the specific Little League Rules and Regulations, always find below key LL rules and site-specific rules to be followed.
o Managers and coaches should have training in first aid.
o First-aid kits are issued to each team manager and are located at each concession stand. Managers and coaches must have ice, first aid kit and cell phone at all games and practices.
o All managers and coaches will be provided with training on the basic fundamentals of baseball.
o No games or practices should be held when weather or field conditions are not good, particularly when lightening is visible and near.
o Home team Manager and/or Coach shall inspect the field before each use for holes, damage, stones, glass and other hazards. Any problems shall be reported to the LSO. Umpires shall walk the field before each game to inspect for hazards or other issues that might affect play.
o All team equipment should be stored within the team dugout, or behind screens and not with the area defined by umpires as “in play”.
o Only players, managers, coaches and umpires are permitted on the playing field or in the dugout during games and practices.
o Responsibility for keeping bats and loose equipment off the field of play should be that of an assigned player or the team’s manager and coaches.
o Procedures should be established for retrieving foul balls batted out of playing area.
o
Managers/Coachers shall inspect equipment prior to each practice or game to ensure they are safe and fit properly. Umpires shall inspect equipment before each game. Any equipment not in proper condition will be removed from use or from the game and destroyed or made unusable to stop children from attempting to save it from waste. Coaches should report any equipment rendered unusable to the Equipment Manager (see Section 7 of this document).
o Batters must wear Little League approved protective helmets during batting practice and games.
o Catchers must wear catcher’s helmet, mask, throat guard, long or short-model chest protector, shin guards and protective cup with athletic supporter at all times (male) for all practices and games, NO EXCEPTIONS. Managers should encourage all male players to wear protective cups and supporters for practice and games.
o At no time should “horse play” be allowed on the playing field.
o Parents of players who wear glasses should be encouraged to provide “safety glasses”.
o Players must not wear watches, rings, pins, or metallic items during a game and also during practices. Note: Hard items used to control hair are permitted as well as Jewelry or other items worn by players that alert medical personnel to a specific condition are permissible.
o When warming up a pitcher, a player must wear catcher’s helmet and mask with throat guard. This applies between innings and in the bull pen during a game, also during practices and pre-game infield practice.
o On-deck batters are not permitted (except in 50-70/Juniors/Seniors leagues).
o During the practices and games, all players should be alert and watching the batter on each pitch.
o Team safety officers will assist with enforcement of rules during practices.
o Board members on field duty and all umpires will follow-up to ensure all rules are followed correctly.
o All pre-game warm-ups should be performed with the confines or the playing field and not within open areas that can be accessed by the public, therefore endangering spectators (i.e. playing catch, swinging bats, etc.).
o No skateboards or scooters are permitted in the park.
SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S JOB.
PREPARATION IS THE KEY TO MINIMIZING THE OCCURRENCE OF ACCIDENTS.
REPORT ALL HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS TO THE SAFETY OFFICER
OR ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER IMMEDIATELY.
DON’T PLAY ON A FIELD THAT IS NOT SAFE.
PLAY WITH SAFE EQUIPMENT.
BE SURE YOUR PLAYERS ARE FULLY EQUIPPED AT ALL TIMES,
ESPECIALLY CATCHERS AND BATTERS.
REMEMBER TO ALWAYS CHECK YOUR TEAM’S EQUIPMENT.
6.
CLL Manager/Coach Guidelines
CLL will conduct a managers and coaches meeting on March 20, 2023 to address fundamentals training and first aid training. The fundamentals shall address safety procedures (for bat, helmet, and catchers’ equipment), rules, and include hitting, sliding, fielding, pitching, etc. First aid training will address common sports injuries, stabilization and basic instruction capable to be performed by non-medical or EMS personnel. For new Managers and/or Coaches attendance is required. Managers or coaches who have not attended in three years’ time must also attend. Regardless a representative from each team must attend annually. The LSO will hand out Safety Manuals and each manager will be instructed to carry this manual with them during all league events including practices and during league meeting.
a. Team Safety Officer
Each manager must have a (TSO) team safety officer appointed who must know basic first aid and always have water available for players. In the absence of a TSO, the Manager or Coach shall assume the TSO’s responsibilities. The TSO’s role is to be:
o a role model for younger players
o a defender of safety
o a liaison between the team and the LSO
o a Hero when injuries are prevented by taking safety seriously
The TSO must:
o Obtain and read the League Safety Manual
o Obtain a Medical Release for each player – see Appendix (e)
o
Constantly inspect equipment to determine playability and contact the LSO if a replacement is needed
o Check players’ personal equipment to ensure they are Little League approved and to ensure bats and helmets are in good condition, (no cracks or visible damage)
o Keep track of a First Aid inventory and request replacement when needed
o Help manager and coaches give first aid when needed
o Act as a conduit between parents, managers, LSO, and the player
o Fill out accident report if any injury occurs
o Report any injuries to the LSO within 12 hours of an accident for non-serious injuries an ASAP in case of serious injury
o Communicate any safety infractions to the LSO
o Keep a line of communication open with LSO even if nothing is wrong
o Walk the fields with managers and umpires prior to each game to inspect for safety issues
o Watch to make sure players and fans are alert while games are in play
o Make sure ALL safety and equipment rules are followed
o Assist parents if a player/child must go to the hospital
o Find a Board Member on duty for insurance information if needed or go to the concession stand to see the information located there
o Be aware of if any players have a unique medical condition (heart condition, asthma, past injuries, or special medications are being taken)
b. First Aid
Managers/Coaches should:
o Carry first aid kit to all games and practices
o Know your limitations
o Reassure and aid children who are injured, frighten, or lost
o Provide or assist in obtaining medical attention for those who require it
o Assist those who require medical attention and when administering aid remember to….
§ Look for signs of injury, (blood, black/blue deformity of joint, etc.)
§ Feel gently and carefully the injured for signs of swelling or broken bones
§ Have medical release forms with you at all times
Managers/Coaches should NOT:
o Hesitate to give aid when needed
o Be afraid to ask for help if you are not sure of the proper procedures
o Provide any food or beverage other than water
o Administer any medication
o Transport injured individuals except in extreme emergency
o Leave an unattended child at a practice or game
o Hesitate to report any present or potential safety hazard to the Director of Safety immediately
When treating any injury, remember: PRICES –
Protection,
Rest,
Ice,
Compression,
Elevation, and
Support
c. Concussion Training
Each Manager/Coach will;
o Know how to recognize a concussion
§ Observed signs (dazed, stunned, confuse, movement, answering question slowly, etc.)
§ Symptoms reported by athlete (headache, nausea, vomiting, blurry vision, confusion, etc.)
o In 2020 each team will have a Manager or Coach take the Concussion Training Course from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention. This can be found at WWW.cdc.gov/ConcussionInYouthSports
d. Pre/Post Game Action
o
Inspect equipment and fields
o
Make sure first aid kit is available
o Make sure working telephone is available
o Held a warm-up drill
o Clean dugout and stands
7.
Equipment Management & Inspection
As indicated elsewhere in this document the Manager/Coach, TSO, and LSO have various roles to ensure equipment is in proper working order and is being used safely. The CLL Equipment Manager has the overall responsibility to procure new equipment that meets Little League requirements, advise teams of equipment that no longer meets Little League standards, ensure re-use of used equipment, disposal of damaged equipment, and inspection and training Managers to properly inspect CLL player and League equipment.
8.
CLL Facilities Review & Protection
All CLL fields have break-away bases. The CLL LSO and Equipment Manager conduct an annual survey of its facilities to identify hazards that need fixing. CLL completes this survey online at
http://facilitysurvey.musco.com. In addition, an Excel spreadsheet of the survey is attached as exhibit (b). CLL’s facilities are described below.
a. Field #1 – Red Field T/Ball
This field has:
Two fence-enclosed dugouts
Extended 15ft. backstops extending from dugout to dugout
Metal bleachers with safety railings
Foul ball fencing or netting above the backstops to restrict foul balls
Field is fully enclosed by cyclone fencing.
b. Field #2 – Green Field
This field has:
Two fence-enclosed dugouts
Extended 20ft. backstops extending from dugout to dugout
Metal bleachers with safety railings
Foul ball fencing or netting above the backstops to restrict foul balls
Field is fully enclosed by cyclone fencing
c. Field #3 – Blue Field (Minors)
This field has:
Extended 20ft. backstops extending from dugout to dugout.
Metal bleachers with safety railings.
Foul ball fencing or netting above the backstops to restrict foul balls.
Field is fully enclosed by cyclone fencing
d. Field #4 – Black Field (50/70)
This field has:
Two fence-enclosed dugouts
Extended 20 ft. backstops extending from dugout to dugout.
Metal bleachers with safety railings
Foul ball fencing or netting above the backstops to restrict foul balls.
Field is fully enclosed by cyclone fencing
e. Field #5 – Zak Kahn (Juniors/Seniors)
This field has:
Two fence-enclosed dugouts
Backstops extending from dugout to dugout
Metal bleachers with safety railings.
Foul ball fencing or netting above the backstops to restrict foul balls.
Field is fully enclosed by cyclone fencing
9.
Concession Stand
CLL has a Concession Stand at the center of its ball field facilities. It is manned by Volunteers with its Manager being one of CLL’s Board Members. The Concession workers are trained in appropriate safety routines and follow these guidelines.
Menu
Keep the menu simple, and keep potentially hazardous foods (meats, eggs, dairy products, protein salads, cut fruits and vegetables, etc.) to a minimum. Avoid using precooked foods or leftovers. Use only foods from approved sources, and avoid foods that have been prepared at home. Complete control over the food, from source to service, is the key to safe, sanitary food service.
Cooking
Use a food thermometer to check on cooking and holding temperatures of potentially hazardous foods. All potentially hazardous foods should be kept at 41º F or below (if cold) or 140º F or above (if hot). Ground beef and ground pork products should be cooked to an internal temperature of 155º F, and poultry parts should be cooked to 165º F. Most food borne illnesses from temporary events can be traced back to lapses in temperature control.
Reheating
Rapidly reheat potentially hazardous foods to 165º F. Do not attempt to reheat foods in crock pots, steam tables, over sterno units or other holding devices. Slow-cooking mechanisms may activate bacteria and never reach killing temperatures.
Cooling and cold storage
Foods that require refrigeration must be cooled to 41º F as quickly as possible and held at that temperature until ready to serve. To cool foods down quickly, use an ice water bath (60% ice to 40% water), stirring the product frequently, or place the food in shallow pans no more than 4 inches in depth and refrigerate. Pans should not be stored one atop the other and lids should be off or ajar until the food is completely cooled. Check the temperature periodically to see if the food is cooling properly. Allowing hazardous foods to remain un-refrigerated for too long has been the number one cause of food borne illness.
Hand washing
Frequent and thorough hand washing remains the first line of defense in preventing food borne disease. The use of disposable gloves can provide an additional barrier to contamination, but they are no substitute for hand washing.
Health and hygiene
Only healthy workers should prepare and serve food. Anyone who shows symptoms of disease (cramps, nausea, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, etc.) or who has open sores or infected cuts on the hands should not be allowed in the food concession area. Workers should wear clean outer garments and should not smoke in the concession area. The use of hair restraints is recommended to prevent hair ending up in food products.
Food handling
Avoid hand contact with raw, ready-to-eat foods and food contact surfaces. Use an acceptable dispensing utensil to serve food. Touching food with bare hands can transfer germs to food.
Dishwashing
Use disposable utensils for food service. Keep your hands away from food contact surfaces, and never reuse disposable dishware. Ideally, dishes and utensils should be washed in a four-step process:
§ Washing in hot soapy water;
§ Rinsing in clean water;
§ Chemical or heat sanitizing; and
§ Air drying.
Ice
Ice used to cool cans/bottles should not be used in cup beverages and should be stored separately. Use a scoop to dispense ice; never use the hands. Ice can become contaminated with bacteria and viruses and cause food borne illness.
Wiping cloths
Rinse and store wiping cloths in a bucket of sanitizer (example: 1 gallon of water and 1/2 teaspoon of chlorine bleach). Change the solution every two hours. Well-sanitized work surfaces prevent cross contamination and discourage flies.
Insect control and waste
Keep foods covered to protect them from insects. Pesticides should be stored away from foods. Place garbage and paper wastes in a refuse container with a tight-fitting lid. Dispose of wastewater in an approved method (do not dump it outside). All water used should be potable water from an approved source.
Food storage and cleanliness
Keep foods stored at least six inches off the floor. After the event is finished, clean the concession area and discard unusable food.
10.
Accident Reporting Procedures
In the event of an injury, a Manager/Coach or TSO must report said injury to the LSO within 48 hours of the incident using the Little League Baseball Incident/Injury Tracking Form – see Appendix (d).
The Conroe Little League Safety Officer is David Parish and she can be reached at phone number (281) 536-7444 and by E-mail [email protected]
The Manager/Coach or TSO and the LSO will review the incident and provide the injured party with a copy of the Little League Baseball Accident Notification Form, should there be a need to file an insurance claim with Little League International – see Appendix (c). The LSO will verify all information and will obtain additional information if needed to ensure that forms are completed correctly.
11.
League Management
The Conroe Little League conducts evaluations and player registration in February followed by draft and team formation. Player roster data and coach and manager data will be submitted to the Little League data center at www.LittleLeague.org by March 20, 2024.
APPENDICES
| a. Little League Volunteer Form | |
| b. Little League Facilities Survey | |
| c. Accident Form/Claims | |
| d. Little League Baseball Injury Tracking Report | |
| e. Medical Release Form | |