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Do you want your kids to start playing little league baseball? Read our article about the various baseball safety tips that you should take into consideration.

Little League Baseball isn't so little any longer.

What started in 1939 as a way for young boys to play baseball has evolved to include all genders (girls have been included since 1974) and up to age 18, depending on where you live.

While Little League can be a great experience for children, it also has its dangers. As a parent or coach, you should be aware of possible injuries to your child or players and take appropriate precautions. Remember, even if you're working on your child's swing casually in the park, you still need to be aware of safety rules and measures.

Make Sure Your Equipment Is Sound

Don't work with old equipment or equipment that doesn't seem like it is in working condition. Sure, it's nice to use your old Little League equipment with your child, but that doesn't mean it is up to par with today's standards.

Equipment should be replaced often and always in a condition to protect players.

Batters Must Wear a Helmet

Batters should wear a helmet that meets National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) specifications when on the pitch and running the bases. That probably means that if you have an old one hanging out in your garage that's 30 years old, it's probably not going to cut it.

It is also recommended that your child wear a face mask with the helmet to reduce the occurrence of facial injures or concussions. A helmet and mask should be worn, even if you're playing for fun. While casual games are not as intense, there's nothing casual about a concussion or broken nose.

If the helmet has a chin strap, make sure it is on securely. Coaches and parents should ensure the helmet is being worn properly before allowing a child to go to bat.

Little League Baseball Pin

Cleats Must Be Molded Plastic

Most youth clubs don't allow metal cleats any longer, and molded plastic cleats are much safer. When two players collide and get kicked, metal cleats versus plastic cleats mean the difference between a tiny scratch and a more serious cut.

Protective Cups

It can be a bit embarrassing to talk to your child about it, but most male players should have protective cups. These cups will protect the child from being hit in the crotch. Male players should also wear athletic supporters.

Catcher Gear

A catcher should be in their full gear, whether they're practicing or playing. As they're at a higher risk of being hit with the ball or a bat, you cannot take a chance and allow a child to practice catching without it.

They should always wear a face mask, a throat guard, a helmet, a chest protector, shin guards, and an athletic supporter. To catch the ball, they should always be using a catcher's mitt.

Bats

We recommend using a wide aluminum bat that complies with Little League regulations whether playing a game or practicing. When practicing batting at home, we recommend you do not use a metal bat, as it can be more dangerous. While wooden and plastic bats break more easily and are not as effective, they are much safer.

Sliding

Sliding head-first is banned in Little League because it often results in injuries to the hands and arms. Do not allow head-first sliding in practices, and encourage learning how to slide safely. In fact, a 2003 study found that while it may feel like sliding head-first is faster, in actuality, it isn't. Add the risk factors that come with it, and there's no reason even to attempt it. If you're a coach, you should also make sure that your players know how to slide properly.

Little League Trading Pin

Have a Defibrillator on Hand at Practices and Games

In New York City, defibrillators are required at all practices and games, but they aren't required universally. They can literally be lifesavers, especially if a player gets hit over the heart and passes out. It can not only save players but also spectators and family members should they have a cardiac event.

Have a First Aid Kit

This goes without saying, as any time you're caring for kids doing physical activity, a first aid kit is necessary. You should be able to do a minimal amount of first aid to major injuries to keep the player comfortable until help arrives. You should also be able to care for injured and scraped legs, knees, elbows, etc., with ease.

Limit Pitches

Pitchers, even younger ones, can suffer from overuse injuries. That's why you should limit pitches as much as possible and now allow a child to pitch and pitch and pitch. A child under the age of 14 should not pitch more than 1,000 pitches per season and 3,000 per year. This should be adhered to, even in practice, to prevent overuse injuries.

USA Little League has limits per age range, so you will need to adhere to this.

Little League Baseball Is a Learning and Growing Experience

Little League Baseball is a fun learning experience and can be a great way for children to build skills. Even if your child isn't the next Babe Ruth, they can still have fun developing their hand-eye coordination, working as a team, and learning valuable social skills.

Baseball trading pins can help enhance the feeling of camaraderie between players and a fun hobby to go alongside their playing.

If you want to make custom pins for your team, click here to get a quote.

Pin trading in sports first started in the 1890s as a way to promote companies to baseball fans. Today, pin trading is a worldwide phenomenon in all sports. 

You can find pin trading at trade shows for many industries. Pin trading is a popular activity at Disney theme parks. Athletes participate in pin trading at the Olympic Village during the Summer and Winter Games, a tradition that began at the first modern Olympic games in 1896.

For children just getting started in pin trading, sporting events provide a great opportunity to get involved. There is an avid pin trading world for collecting sports pins. 

But before you have your child slide into the world of pin trading, there are a few key tips your child should know. Read on for tips to make the pin trading experience an enjoyable one for your child.

1. How to Decide What to Trade and Collect

Even with unlimited time and money, it would be impossible for someone to collect every type of pin out there. When your child starts collecting pins, it is a good idea to set some limits.

Deciding how big a collection should be can involve discussions about how much space you have for the pins. For instance, some pin collectors use a corkboard to show their pins. When the board is full, they have to decide what to keep and what to trade or give away.

Tips to Teach Children About Pin Trading
Tips to Teach Children About Pin Trading

Another factor to consider is the cost of pins. Whether your child will purchase pins to add to their collection or purchasing pins that they can trade, setting a budget will be helpful. 

Once you've got the ground rules established with your child, now the fun can begin. Talk about what types of pins they find most appealing. It could be for a particular sport, a geographic area, or even a particular color.

Determine whether the pins that your child trades for are ones they plan to keep trading away or if they will have some that end up in a permanent collection. Some children enjoy the act of trading pins more than the collecting of pins.

Some pins may have significant monetary value. While it is unlikely someone would trade a 1911 Philadelphia Athletics Press Pin to your child, if your child is told that a pin is particularly valuable from a collectible standpoint, take a look on ebay to get a general idea of its market value.

2. How to Ask Politely and Handle Rejection

In addition to the fun aspect of pin trading, the act of pin trading itself provides valuable life skills. In order to trade, your child will need to engage in social interaction with another person, sometimes an adult.

Explain that to start asking about a trade, be polite. Don't interrupt if the person is speaking with someone else. Make eye contact and speak in a clear voice. Don't grab for a pin without permission.

Once they have the attention of the pin trader, your child can introduce themselves, and propose a trade. 

This is also a great opportunity to learn more about the pin they are looking at. Let your child ask questions that they are curious about. Is the pin old or new? Is the pin about a team or does it commemorate an event?

Sometimes pins can have a fascinating story behind them.

Although most pin trades are one pin for one pin, some collectors may want to trade a couple more common pins for a rarer pin. You can teach your child the art of negotiation. 

In some cases, a pin trader may have a particular pin that they don't want to trade, but just bring to show. Teaching your child how to handle rejection if a trade isn't successful is an important life skill. 

3. How to Care For and Display a Pin Collection

Once your child has a collection of pins, this provides a great opportunity to teach responsibility in caring for the collection. 

There are a variety of different pins created for trading, including soft enamel pins and molded pins. Some pins come with a safety back pin, and others are a pin that is covered by a rubber or metal clutch.

Pins that have a pin covered by a clutch backing are easily displayed on a corkboard or decorated foam board that can be mounted into a frame. For example, a foam board designed to look like a softball is great for displaying a softball pin collection.

You can wear pins on jackets or vests, and there are collectible pin booklets with padded pages for portability when trading.

The two main factors your child will need to know is to protect the pin front from scratches and protect the pin back from bending. Most modern pins are made from materials that are resistant to rust. 

Tips to Teach Children About Pin Trading
Tips to Teach Children About Pin Trading

For pins that are worn on a jacket, hat, or vest, special locking pinbacks provide an added layer of security. These special backs are tightened in place with a small hex key, ensuring that a pin will not fall off of an article of clothing.

To keep pins clean, simply use a slightly damp cloth. Harsh cleaners can cause damage to pin surfaces and should be avoided. Aside from that, pins require minimal regular care, making them a perfect collectible for children of all ages.

Pin Trading: A Hobby That Can Last a Lifetime

Pin trading is a fun hobby that reinforces the values of camaraderie and good sportsmanship between pin traders. It gives a great way for kids to connect with different teams, players, and fans, along with valuable life skills. With a variety of unique designs, there will be something for every child to take an interest in when they start collecting pins.

Considering creating pins for your own softball team? Contact us today for a quote to help your fans or players start collecting softball pins. 

Baseball trading pins are an affordable and easy way to show your team spirit. When you are looking to show your team spirit and support, baseball trading pins are a great way to celebrate your team and the ultimate sports collectible. They are fun and affordable, with a wide variety of designs that can be personalized for the wearer. With so many sizes, it's difficult to know which one you might need when you're looking for a particular size. Here is a guide on what baseball trading pin sizes teams order most often.

1.25 Inches

The small 1.25-inch size is the most affordable trading pin size. It's great for people that like to trade with others or give them as gifts. It's also the smallest size, which makes it harder to fit a large amount of detail on this small of a pin. You wouldn’t be able to fit player names or numbers on this size of pin. However, you could have a pin with the team mascot or with baseball iconography on it. This size makes a cute and versatile pin for players. However, if you are looking for something bigger than a basic pin design, you may want to consider another size. This baseball trading pin size is great because it’s simple but still looks amazing.

1.5 Inches

A good medium sized pin is 1.5 inches and makes a great addition to the baseball pin trading collection of any player. Medium pins are popular for school teams and community teams and can be worn on a shirt, pants, or jacket. They make a great stocking stuffer or end of year present. Medium pins are popular for schools and clubs as they offer versatility and can feature more detail than smaller pins, including the addition of player jersey numbers. You can show off your team's logo and maybe even the number of players or coaches on the team. This is one of the most popular sizes for teams who want to show their team’s pride on a larger scale than 1 inch pins.

1.75 Inches

This is the size most often ordered by parents and coaches that want to balance detail against cost. It’s a large enough surface to start to really add detail to. This includes player numbers, the team name, and the city where the team comes from. Many of the available upgrades look amazing on a pin of this size. It provides plenty of space on which to fit a large amount of detail and information on your pin. You can work in some flair and your team logo as well. 

2 Inches

Extra large pins are about 2 inches long or bigger and are the most popular among teams for having the largest amount of detail. They come in a variety of colors and styles that can be personalized, with a variety of raised metal designs, including player names. This size is perfect for those that want to show their team spirit at school, work, or at home. The pins are durable and can feature much more detail than a one inch pin. 

All Baseball Trading Pins are Custom

Trading pins are a great way to show your team spirit and support for your team. You can get your team logo, colors, mascot, player names, and more. Every pin made by Baseball Trading Pins is 100% custom. This means that you get to decide what it looks like and what information is included. Common elements most pins have are: team name, team logo, age group, year, tournament, state and the names or numbers of players.  

Cooperstown Custom Baseball Pin

Our art department can help you come up with the right design that reflects your unique team. You do not need to have any art skills or hire a designer on your own to be able to order the customized baseball trading pins you want for your team or school. Our team of designers has the experience designing baseball trading pins and is available to help. We will send you a proof of the final design to approve before we continue with the order.

The Larger the Pin, The More Customizations and Details are Possible

The number of customizable options available for baseball trading pins is a result of the size. The more that is able to be personalized, the larger the pin. As the size of a pin gets larger, so will the number of options for customization. Size is the only determining factor when it comes to making more or less customizable sports pins. The more space on a pin, the more customizations are possible. These customized options include team names, player names or numbers, emblems, and/or sports logos. 

American Legends Custom Baseball Pin

Even on small pins, there are a number of options for customization like custom colors, a select number of team or player names, and text. Design plays an important part in determining what information and details can fit on any pin. If you want more text on a one inch pin, it might be possible with the right design. Our designers can work with you to find the perfect pin design for your needs. 

Contact Our Design Team to Get Started Today

Baseball trading pins are a great way to promote your team, school, or business. But before you order a batch of your new baseball trading pins, consider the size of the pin. You'll want to make sure you have the right size pin for your needs. The size of the pin will largely determine the level of customization possible. If you're unsure, don't hesitate to contact a representative from Baseball Trading Pins for assistance. We’re here to answer any questions that you might have.

Youth baseball trading pins provide lots of opportunities for fun and memory making. It’s not a surprise that it’s become a tradition for many teams across the United States. For more inquiries, please be sure to reach out and complete our online form and we will be happy to assist you further.

 

As a coach, it's your job to boost your team's morale to start the season off strong. Here's how to do it for your little league baseball team.

 

Little League is not so little. Over 25 million children played baseball in 2018. That's roughly one-third of all children in the United States.

Little League baseball can provide some great memories, but it can also be disappointing. At some point, you will encounter flagging morale on your team, including before the season has begun. You need to keep things upbeat.

What should you do during outings and practice drills? What kind of language should you use to stimulate positive feelings? How can you help players cope with losing?

Answer these questions and you can get your season started with good vibes. Here is your quick guide.

Do Some Group Building Exercises

A Little League team is about more than playing youth baseball. It's about trusting each other and forming relationships that will last for years.

Try to engage in some team-building activities that have nothing to do with baseball. You can take your youth baseball team camping, or you can go to the movies.

Send the contact information for each player out to everyone on the team. Everyone should know each other's names and favorite things before the season starts.

Do a few icebreakers during your first practice for the year. Start with name games, then select something like "show and tell" that allows children to talk about themselves in detail.

Host a Number of Drills

Many coaches focus on batting practice. It is important to teach players how to hit a ball, but that is just one component of baseball.

Make sure the players know how to pick up a ground ball. Line your players up and put some distance between yourself and them. Roll a ball toward them so they have to pick it up and toss it to you.

Teach them about catching a ball that is falling toward them and being thrown at them. They should learn to place their gloves in front of themselves and close the ball as it reaches the palm. Toss balls gently so they don't get hit too hard.

Many players feel discouraged because they can't perform one skill. Performing a bunch of drills will let them show off their various skills and encourage them.

Commemorate Funny Achievements

You can encourage friendly competition amongst your players. An easy way to do this is to have an award ceremony where you give out fun prizes like baseball trading pins. Give an award for the best dancer and singer on your team.

You can also create a competition for fundraising. Whoever raises the most money for your team wins a special prize. You can give awards to the person with the most creative fundraising pitch.

You can get serious as well. Give a prize to the player you think showed the best sportsmanship.

Little League Baseball Pins

But try to keep things as light as possible. If you are doing an award ceremony, give all the players on your team a fun prize. Then give out the serious ones toward the end.

Employ Positive Language

You should praise your players as much as possible. Whenever they do something right, acknowledge it.

Be specific when you talk. "Great job" is okay, but "great job making that catch" encourages them to pursue a particular action.

You can give a child a reassuring pat on the shoulder or ruffling their hair. Some children do not like to be touched, or they prefer a high-five. Figure out if that would work for the child before doing it.

Other children do not like elaborate praise. A smile or a thumbs-up may be enough to give them encouragement. Be as personalized as you can be when you offer praise.

If you need to give critiques, keep them as soft as possible. Give the child some praise, then slip in your critique. Before they walk away, give them another word of praise or advice.

If someone is causing trouble, pull them aside and talk to them individually. Scolding them in front of the entire team can make them feel isolated.

Involve Everyone in Decisions

The more you involve the players in your decisions, the more empowered they will feel. There are certain choices you should make on your own or with adults.

But you can consult the players on rules of conduct. You can ask them questions about what is and is not acceptable behavior. This teaches them how to handle responsibility and deal with ethical questions.

On a lighter note, you can ask them where they want to go to eat or sleep for overnight stays. They can also decide what drills they want to do on a given day.

If you want to give them more choice, you can set up a few different drills. You can then let the players go to the ones they want to go to. This lets everyone do what they want when they want to do it.

Make It Okay to Lose

The single biggest detractor of morale in youth baseball is losing a game. It will happen sooner rather than later, and it may happen very often. Adopt a number of strategies to prevent your children from becoming sore losers.

Demonstrate good sportsmanship in front of your players. Play a few practice games with other teams, and walk up to the opposing coach and shake their hand. Tell your players to do the same thing with the other team.

Make it clear that games are a group effort. No one player can lose a game for their team, and several mistakes result in a defeat.

Do give your players an opportunity to deal with their emotions. They may feel very sad, and they may want to cry or talk to someone. This is okay, and it helps them come to terms with the loss sooner.

How to Help Your Little League Team Feel Happy

Little League can be an emotional rollercoaster. Create a unified atmosphere on your team through group-building exercises and drills. Have your players practice many different skills.

Give out fun awards and prizes throughout the season, and praise your team whenever possible. Allow your players to exercise some power in group decisions.

Little League Team Morale Pins

Tell your team it is okay to lose. Encourage good sportsmanship and promote a group mentality. But do not scold players for showing emotion, even negative ones.

Little things can help create a positive environment. Baseball Trading Pins offers premium trading pins. Get a quote today.

 

The Benefits of Having Your Child Join a Little League Team

 

Youth sports are a great way to help your child learn about dedication and teamwork. Check out these benefits of having your child join a little league team.

American kids have been playing baseball since the game first swept the nation, but it wasn't until Carl Stotz organized an actual league of pre-teen players in 1938 that little league was born.

If your child is interested in sports and looking for a way to get involved, joining a little league team may be the perfect solution! There are tons of great reasons to sign your kids up for little league, and we're here to talk about them.

Believe it or not, joining a little league team isn't just about learning how to play baseball--although that is one of the great perks! (Plus, some of the greats did start on a little league team!)

There's so much to be gained from playing this fun, youth-oriented team sport. Read on for eight reasons why joining a little league team can be a huge benefit for your child!

1. Playing a Sport Promotes Good Health

Kids tend to have a ton of energy, but it's becoming increasingly easy to get that energy out without working up a sweat. When you sign your child up for a sport that meets regularly, you can help improve their health and get them in the habit of exercising.

Benefits of Having Your Child Join a Little League Team

Whether they're infield or outfield, little league players are almost always in motion! Baseball is a great way to increase your heart rate, build muscle, and increase flexibility.

2. Little League Teaches the Value of Teamwork

Learning how to work with a team is beneficial for people of all ages. When you're a good team player, you typically have strong communication skills, understand the importance of putting your best foot forward, and feel greater pride in your achievements.

Encouraging your kids to exercise is always a positive thing to do. However, when you encourage exercise through team sports, you also help teach your child the value of teamwork.

3. Playing Baseball Improves Coordination

Pre-teens are still developing cognitive and physical skills. Hand-eye coordination is an important part of this development, and it doesn't come naturally.

When kids play baseball, they're sharpening their hand-eye coordination constantly. Whether they're lining up the swing of their bat with the trajectory of the ball or chasing down a home run, they're always exercising those cognitive and physical skills.

4. Joining a Sports Team Decreases Screen Time

Kids growing up today are inundated with screens. They've got phones, tablets, computers, and televisions to stare at all day long. Most of the time, they even have to stare at a screen for hours on end to complete their schoolwork.

By signing your kids up for a little league team, you create designated times when screens are nowhere in sight. By decreasing screen time, you can help improve their sleep, lower their potential for mental health issues, increase their attention spans, and more.

5. Little League Is a Great Place to Make Friends

Some kids are natural social butterflies and seem to make friends wherever they go. Others are on the quiet side and may not find it so easy to strike up a conversation with just anyone.

When pre-teens are placed on sports teams, they gain an opportunity to bond with others. Sports teams help kids to create an identity, whether they're wearing their uniform on the field or sporting their team pin off the field. Little League gets kids together and gives them a common ground upon which strong friendships can be forged.

6. Playing Baseball Teaches Good Sportsmanship

While winning is fun, it's a fact of life that we don't always win. Knowing how to accept a loss and even feel happy for others who do win when we lose is an important life skill.

Benefits of Little League Baseball

Little league creates an environment in which the game matters more than the outcome. In the end, whether your child wins or loses, they still get to have fun. Learning how to lose gracefully in a more low-stakes environment can help kids learn how to accept losses later in life without feeling angry, dejected, or overwhelmed.

7. Joining a Little League Team Boosts Confidence

Confidence is another trait that seems to come naturally to some kids and not to others. At the end of the day, confidence is something that we all have to learn. When we learn how to feel confident from a young age, we can bring that trait into adulthood.

Almost everything we've listed here boils down to building confidence. On a neurological level, exercising can help release feel-good neurochemicals that help us stay positive and regulate negative emotions. On an emotional level, being part of a team can boost our sense of self-esteem and the pride we feel in the things we set our minds to.

8. Playing on a Little League Team Is A Lot of Fun

At the end of the day, playing on a little league team is a ton of fun. Joining a team sport is a great way for kids to let loose and have a good time. Plus, playing little league leaves our kids with lasting, happy memories that they'll cherish for years to come!

Ready for Some Team Boosting? Make Baseball Trading Pins for Your Little Leaguers

If you and your kids have been looking for a fun extracurricular activity, joining a little league team may be just what the doctor ordered! There are countless benefits to playing sports and being part of a team. Little league baseball just so happens to be one of the most widespread and enjoyable sports a kid can play!

Is your child part of a little league team already? Are you looking for ways to boost the team and get them excited? Contact us to find out how you can make custom baseball pins that your little leaguers will love to show off.

 

How Little League Baseball Inspires Confidence in Children

Having confidence improves your quality of life, which is why it's so important to build up your child's self-esteem when they're young.

And this might not be as hard as you think. We've put together this guide to show you how little league baseball can give your child's confidence a major boost (that will stick with them for the long run).

So let's get started!

Builds and Strengthens Relationships

Baseball doesn't look like a lot of other team sports. Instead of working together in close proximity, such as football or soccer, baseball team members are spread out over a giant field.

But that doesn't mean baseball doesn't require strong teamwork.

Okay, so the field might not be as large when it comes to the little league, but it might seem that way to the kids. Because of this, your child will learn to create and build relationships during practice and game time, and they'll do this in two different ways.

Team

Your child will have to interact with the other kids on their team. They'll need to work together with each other to complete plays and win the game.

How Little League Inspires Confidence

To do this, they'll need to talk and communicate with those kids, which will improve their relationship-building skills. They can then take what they've learned on the field to create friendships in school and other aspects of life.

This might seem like a small thing, but having good friends will boost your child's self-esteem and confidence. As they continue to grow, they can take this confidence with them and use it for things like school, work, family, etc.

Family

Your child won't just develop better relationships with their teammates during the little league season, they can also strengthen their bond with you (parents, siblings, grandparents, etc.). If you take them to practice and attend their games, you're spending time doing something your child enjoys.

baseball inspires confidence in children,little league baseball

This shows your child that they're important to you—that they matter.

Because of this, you'll be making a positive impact on how they view themselves and their value, which can lead to more confidence.

Teaches New Skills

Your child doesn't know how to play baseball yet. During their very first practice, they have to step out of their comfort zone and try something they've never done before. No matter how excited your child is to join the little league baseball team, they still have to learn new skills to do so.

This can be a challenge for them.

They might not pick up on things right away. They'll have to practice with the team (and maybe at home alone) before they can throw the ball properly or manage to hit it with their bat.

But over time, they'll get the hang of it.

This will show them that, if they try, they can do things they maybe thought they weren't able to do before, which won't only apply to baseball. Seeing themselves get better at the sport can give them the confidence to try other new activities, such as playing other sports or studying a new subject (or recreational topic).

Not being instantly good at something when they start might not discourage them anymore. Your child will be more willing to stick with something longer to figure out if they truly enjoy it.

And if they don't like it, that's okay, too. What's important is the confidence and the lesson that comes with it. Your child may be more willing to take risks and try new things through their life because of baseball, even carrying this habit into adulthood.

Develops Perseverance

No matter how strong your child's little league team is, they won't win every baseball game (as much as you may want them to!). While it's okay to be disappointed by the loss, this can teach kids a few important lessons.

First of all, it will teach your child that it's okay to fail. It's normal. They won't hold themselves to impossibly high standards because they know failing is a part of the game (or, as they get older, life) and it's natural.

They also will learn how to grow from their failure. Did something go wrong during the game? Did they mess up a play?

That's okay. Knowing where they went wrong will help them figure out what to do and avoid during the next game. Failing will turn them into better players, which can give them more enjoyment during the season.

Finally, losing a few games will show your child they don't have to be afraid of failure. It shouldn't be a fear that holds them back from trying new things. After all, failing is a normal and important part of life.

Your child might not even realize they're learning these things, but building the confidence to push through failure will help them succeed in many other areas as they get older.

How Little League Baseball Inspires Confidence in Children

Little league baseball is more than just a game. Enrolling your child in this sport can teach them a lot of life lessons and help them build their confidence—and have fun at the same time!

But don't make these lessons more important than the game.

Your child is still young. They might not realize the importance of the skills they're learning in practice, but that doesn't matter. Whether they recognize them or not, the lessons will still benefit them throughout their life.

Want to support your child during their next baseball game? Take a look at some of our pin specials!

Did you know that Little League has existed since 1939? Read more to find out about the history of the Little League.

Little League baseball has been around since 1939. Since that time, it's evolved into the main outlet for young boys and girls to play organized baseball with other members of the community. 

Today, Little League is the largest organized youth sports program on the planet. In 2017, nearly 2.5 million children in more than eighty countries played in the divisions of Little League sports. 

The children who participate in Little League don't just learn how to hit a ball or steal a base. They learn valuable lessons about teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership. 

Did you grow up playing Little League sports? Or are you playing them now? Either way, keep on reading and you'll learn the fascinating history behind Little League Baseball.

Leading Up to Little League

USSSA World Series Little League Pin
USSSA World Series Trading Pins

Baseball is a sport that's intertwined with the history and culture of America. There are even records of soldiers of the Continental Army playing ball games at Valley Forge during the American Revolution. 

Through the early part of the 1800s, American citizens played more modern versions of the British games of rounders and cricket. They usually referred to these games as "town ball." 

In the 1840s, Alexander Joy Cartwright of New York played a game called "base ball" with his friends. It was very similar to the game that we all know and love today. While some people claim that Abner Doubleday invented the sport, historians generally regard that assertion as a myth.

On June 19, 1846, the very first scheduled baseball game took place.

A few years later, during the American Civil War, soldiers on both sides of the war would play baseball to pass the time.

By the end of the 1800s, baseball was so popular that it was already considered "America’s Pastime.”

Starting in the 1880s, leagues were created for pre-teen children in New York. However, most kids played "pickup" baseball games on their own in the streets. Children-sized equipment was hard to come by during this time. 

In the 1920s, a baseball program for teen boys was formed by the American Legion. Schools in America also started their own baseball programs. Many pre-teen children were still left out of organized baseball, however. 

The Creation of Little League

A man by the name of Carl Stotz came up with the idea of an organized baseball league for boys in 1938. He didn't have any sons of his own but he had some nephews that he would often play baseball with. He wanted to give them a way to play organized baseball of their own. 

Carl gathered several of the kids in his hometown of Williamsport, Pennsylvania and experimented with different kinds of equipment. During that summer, he also messed around with different field dimensions. 

That first year, no games were played and the program still didn't have a name. 

In 1939, Carl and his wife enlisted the help of some of their friends. Carl and his two friends, brothers Bert and George Bebble, became the managers of the first three teams. These teams were called Jumbo Pretzel, Lundy Lumber, and Lycoming Dairy. 

After some more people joined the program, the league had its first board of directors.  

After talking it over with some people in the community, Carl finally settled on the name "Little League." His goal was to have a wholesome baseball program for the children of Williamsport as a way to teach them about the values of teamwork and fair play.  

Sponsorships for the league cost $30 at the time and the money was used to pay for the uniforms and equipment for the league's thirty players. Since that time, sponsorships of Little League, both at the Headquarters level and the local league level, have helped to keep costs to parents at a minimum. 

There are also plenty of fun fundraising ideas that parents can utilize in order to support their local teams. 

The First Game 

In 1939, on June 6, the very first Little League game ever was played. At the end of the game, Lundy Lumber beat Lycoming Dairy, 23-8. Lycoming Dairy managed to come back later, however, and won the first-half title of the season. 

Lycoming then faced off against second-half champ Lundy Lumber in a best-of-three series. In the final game of the series, Lycoming Dairy beat Lundy Lumber 3-2. 

The Following Years

In the years following that first season, other programs emulating the first Little League started to spring up. Boundaries for each Little League program were created in order to make sure that each league could flourish without worrying that neighboring programs would steal their players. 

Little League Baseball Trading Pin
Little League Baseball Trading Pin

From its humble beginnings, Little League Baseball is now the largest organized youth sports program on the planet. Starting with just three teams, the league now has more than 200,000 teams and millions of alumni. 

The Importance of Knowing About the History of Little League

Hopefully, after reading the above article, you should now have a much better understanding of the history of Little League. As you can probably see, what started as a smalltown youth sports program has grown into an international phenomenon that children are enjoying nearly a century later. 

Little League has thrived for all these years partly thanks to the fact that it manages to bring people together and teach children the value of teamwork and sportsmanship.

One way to establish a sense of community and camaraderie among your players is with baseball trading pins. These are intricately designed and expertly produced enamel pins that are unique to your child's team. They make for great collectibles and end-of-season gifts. 

If you'd like to learn more, then contact us today and see what we can do for you!

Team building is an important part of any sport and little league is no exception. Here are four little league team building activities

Kids are full of energy: and Little League is a great way to get that energy out in a healthy, fun, and productive way. 

However, channeling that energy into a cohesive functioning team can be a challenge. 

Luckily, we have compiled a list of the four best Little League team building activities. With these, you are well on your way to helping the kids interact and becoming a close-knit and winning team! 

1. Get in Shape: Competition Style 

If your child is passionate about participating in Little League, they probably have a zest for competition as well. 

Little League Team Pins
Little League Team Pins

A great way to promote team building and simultaneously get the kids in great shape for the season is to host a fitness competition. It's simple and effective. 

We'd suggest holding this competition during the first two weeks of the season. Here are some ideas for the challenge 

 2. Human Knot

Human Knot: it's a classic. Plus, the instructions are simple, as not to confuse young children. This activity requires team building to solve a puzzle. 

To conduct this activity, have the children form a circle. From there, have each child grab a hand across from them in the circle.

Once everyone has grabbed a hand, and everyone is connected, the kids have to undo themselves without letting go of each other's hands. 

After spinning, stepping over arms, and ducking, the children should unravel to resemble the original circle. 

At the end of the activity, the players should feel a sense of pride in solving their human knot puzzle. Be sure to tell the children the importance of being a cohesive team unit when playing baseball. 

This is a great game that solely focuses on team building, rather than competition. Each child has to work together if they are to solve the puzzle successfully. 

3. Name Games 

Ice breakers are great for both kids and adults, and Little League players are not an exception. At the beginning of a Little league season, learning names can be difficult for coaches, parents, and players. 

For this name game, grab a baseball. Have the children sit crisis cross applesauce on the ground.  Have the kids take turns passing the ball to each other. When a child has the ball, have them say their name and a fun fact. 

For example, little Tommy catches the ball. He says "Hi my name is Tommy and my favorite subject in school is lunch!" After he's finished he will pass the ball to another child to again repeat this process. 

Hopefully, by the end of the game, the team should be more familiar with each other.

4. Play Bolf 

The game of Bolf is a fantastic team building activity for any sport, but it works great for Little league because it incorporates ball-tossing as well as fundamental team-building skills. 

Little League Team Pins
Cooperstown Team Pin

To set up to play Bolf with your team, first grab two large buckets. If you don't have any buckets, save money and grab a couple of garbage cans. 

To start, split your group into two even teams. Set the buckets or trash cans apart fifteen feet. If you think this is too far for young children, try moving the buckets closer together. Each team will be given two soccer balls, ping pong balls, volleyballs, baseballs, basketballs, footballs, and golf balls. 

The overall objective of the game is to throw and sink each type of ball into the bucket. Have the children line up and let the first one attempt to throw one of the balls into the opposite bucket. If the child makes it, the ball they threw is set to the side. 

If they don't, the ball is handed off to the next child in line. The child that didn't make the ball into the bucket should retreat to the end of their team's line.  

As the game goes on, the children should continue tossing the balls one at a time. The first team to score a bucket of one of each kind of ball should be deemed the winner of the game. 

This game is great for healthy competition, as well as the children should cheer one another on when they are up to toss the ball. 

Little League Team Building Activities Matter

Young children are impressionable, and having a cohesive team unit is incredibly important for Little league teams. They will have to go through their season together-- so it's a good idea to have the kids start to bond early. 

Not only are these team building activities important to having a cohesive team, but they are also a great way to help children developmentally.  If you use these Little league team building activities it will help the children develop socially. 

For more information on tips for having a great Little League season, feel free to look through our other blog posts

Are you planning on becoming a little league baseball team coach for your local community? Here are the 5 key benefits of coaching you should be aware of.

Do you want to coach a Little League baseball team?

Little League baseball started as a great way for kids to learn more about the former national pastime. Most people didn’t know how the game worked, and Little League baseball was the perfect way for the children to learn about the mechanics of the game. This allowed the internalization of these rules as they grew up to be better players.

With the Little League taking part in various media nowadays, there’s even more incentive to coach a Little League team in your neighborhood. The benefits of coaching will make you like the task even more.

Read on to learn about the perks of being a Little League coach. These will make you love the job even if it becomes tedious along the line.

1. You Make Important Decisions Regarding the Team

The best perk of being a coach is being in charge of the decisions surrounding the team. This means you have the power to assign roles to the players. This is important, as most people want to become the star player on the team.

They often only focus on being the best pitcher in the team. This means they leave many areas untrained. Your power as a coach can help them become a more well-rounded player.

Decision making also extends to other team elements. This includes every part of the team’s uniform. Most parents only want the uniform to look cool or have a great design.

As a coach, though, you must craft a uniform that has purpose and functionality. You can cover for both these elements by getting the right cleats for your team. Doing this will make it easier for them to run around the baseball diamond.

You can also include small details that add some personality to their uniform. Baseball trading pins are a great way to do this.

You can use these pins to motivate your players to improve. You can do this by giving certain rewards to the pin and whoever holds it.

2. You Become a Part of the Growth of Your Young Athletes

One of the main reasons that make Little League baseball important is that it builds a child’s character. This applies to their characters as athletes and as people. Being their coach means you have a hand at their growth in both regards.

As mentioned above, most kids want to be the star player on their team. It’s your job to help them accomplish this and bring out the best in them. This only happens sometimes, though, because of the differences in each child.

Some children will aspire to have this goal, too, but cannot deliver. It’s then your job to make them realize that they lack the skills to become the star player. You can then help them achieve this, or you can direct them to another area where they will shine.

Under your direction, the children can also grow to be healthier individuals. Little League baseball is a great way to keep kids in shape. The activities help them steer clear of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Seeing the impact you have on their lives will leave a sense of pride in you. This is because you’ve become a part of shaping their futures for the better.

3. Improves Your Leadership Skills

Being a coach of a Little League baseball team is a great way to improve your leadership skills. You will manage a team of children, often undisciplined at the start. Shaping them into a team that can win games will take a lot of effort and guidance.

This means you need to understand your athlete’s personalities first. Knowing what they respond to will make it easier for you to coach them. It also makes it easier for you to appear as a leading figure in the team if you know how to approach each athlete.

You must also bring out the best in them no matter what. The point of being a coach is to make the athlete better in any way possible. This often means that you have tough decisions coming your way.

Some children don’t react well to not getting the treatment they want in the team. This can also apply to you since you’ll make most of the decisions on how the team will function. Doing what’s right for the team may make you an unpopular coach in their eyes.

Learning to persist through this will pay off, though. The decisions you make will bring out the best in each player. They will soon appreciate the decisions you made even if it wasn’t what they wanted.

4. Improves Your Relationship with Other Community Members

Another benefit of coaching a Little League baseball team is having improved relations with the community. Being an adult often means that you don’t have enough time to get to know people to make them your friend. If you’re the coach of a little league team, though, you can make friends with the parents of your players with ease.

This is because kids often talk about their coaches if they’re doing a great job. An impression on a child can go a long way in building your reputation. With most Little League teams having members from different families in the community, your reputation can grow with ease.

5. Allows You to Share Your Sports Passion with Young Athletes

With how popular electronic devices are nowadays, it’s hard to find young athletes to impart your knowledge and share your knowledge with. When you coach a Little League team, though, it will be easy to relay information to aspiring athletes.

Most of them look for a mentor to impart knowledge and advice to them. Doing this fulfills your role as a coach and can make you a mentor for them. It’s a great way to leave some sports wisdom to the younger generation.

Reap the Benefits of Coaching a Little League Team Today

Little League baseball can be the starting point in the road to greatness for young athletes. Help them in their journey by being their coach! With these benefits of coaching a Little League baseball team, it will be more tempting to take up the task, so start now and impart your wisdom to the younger generation!

Looking for ways to motivate your team? Contact us here and check out our collection of trading pins! These are great at giving your team something to work hard for!

Takeaways from Little League US World Series Champions Louisiana 2019

Louisiana was crowned the US champion in the 2019 Little League World Series on Saturday. Here's what you can learn from this champion team and their coaches.

While the Yankees and Dodgers battled away the second to last weekend of August, the Little League World Series (LLWS) surged in viewership becoming one of the most-watched baseball telecasts of 2019.

An impressive 3.02 million viewers tuned in to ABC to watch the showdown between River Ridge (Louisiana) and Curacao. In the process, the broadcast of the Little League US World Series Champions 2019 garnered a 1.9 rating.

To put this in context, no Major League Baseball (MLB) game this season has topped a 1.8 rating or 2.91 million viewers. This begs the obvious question. What do a bunch of 11 and 12-year olds have over the MLB?

From sportsmanship to teamwork and love of the game, let's dive into what made the LLWS Series 2019 such compelling viewing.

The LLWS Dominates Ratings

Not only did the LLWS River Ridge-Curacao game beat out all MLB games this season. It also toppled the College World Series, which boasted a mere 2 million viewers and 1.3 rating at its height during Game 3.

Even more surprising, the Louisiana team Little League 2019 game enjoyed a less-than-stellar spot at 3 pm EST (12 pm PST) on Sunday.

That's right about the time many West Coasters were sitting midway through a church service or making their first batch of coffee. Not raptly watching a LLWS baseball game.

Perhaps because of this, the ratings marked the third-lowest for the LLWS title game series since 1997. Nonetheless, they matched 2012's viewing stats and pulled in ahead of 2016 and 2017.

Had the game been given the primetime slot it deserved? We can only imagine what ratings would've looked like.

That said, even with one of its worst showings, the LLWS soundly defeated the MLB and College World Series on their best days.

Buried beneath all of these numbers and stats is a bigger lesson about the state of baseball in America.

What Makes the LLWS World Series Unique

When it comes to College baseball or the MLB, we've all got our favorite teams. As a result, most fans tune in primarily when it involves their team.

But the Little League World Series plays by different rules. Sure, most people have favorites based on geography, but what drives people to tune into the series? Nostalgia, memories, and a fundamental love of the game.

Kids also drive some of this viewership. After all, kids love watching other kids play. By extension, their extended family members and friends end up watching with them.

But what accounts for the older fans? The LLWS captures the innocence of baseball. Far removed from the professional league's commercialism and drug-related scandals, it's a breath of fresh air. And it takes many back to memories of their youth and dreams of baseball fame.

Unlike the College series or the MLB, the games aren't about money. And players aren't crumbling under the stress of Herculean expectations. For two weeks, people can simply tune in and enjoy the game for what it used to be.

Good old-fashioned American fun.

The Genuine Nature of LLWS Players

Watching sixteen teams, eight from the US and eight from the rest of the world, battle it out during a double-elimination tournament makes for exciting entertainment. And the authentic nature of the kids makes it heartwarming, too.

Players sleep, eat, swim, and play ping-pong together at "The Grove," just a home run away from the Lamade Stadium.

As the tournament narrows to two American teams and two international teams in two separate semifinals, interesting friendships and rivalries emerge.

But more than that, the kids prove sincere, skilled, and funny. More importantly, they exude a genuine joy that's hard to find in professional sports.

No wonder viewers across the US and the globe willingly trade in egotistical, embittered, tobacco-chewing MLB players for a bunch of kids whose sports "doping" consists of diving into a bag of Skittles or taking a long swill from their Gatorade.

What Lousiana Can Teach All of Us

Besides the fact the LLWS makes for great entertainment, there's also plenty that we can learn from Louisiana and its coaches. The River Ridge 13 represent some of the finest examples of teammates in modern baseball.

And a collective example that would put a lump in Babe Ruth's throat.

Sure, some players stood out from the pack like Reece Roussel whose total hits smashed the tournament record. There was also the standout pitching of Marshall Louque and Egan Prather as well as some powerful hitting by each of them.

But when it's all said and done. there were no egos or celebrities among the Little League team 2019 winner. They all played for each other and because they love baseball. Period.

And throughout the tournament, their coaches and team manager consistently reminded them to get out there and have fun. This, in turn, made it fun for all of us. Isn't that what baseball's supposed to be about?

Lousiana's Great Coaching Staff

At the center of all of this enthusiasm and team spirit are the team's coaches, Don Abadie and Kevin Johnson, as well as the team manager Scott Frazier. What makes their approach to the team unique?

First of all, none of them has a kid on the team. Second, each is a volunteer. At times, they even take unpaid leave to participate.

What's more, they see baseball for what it is, something much bigger than winners and losers. Baseball, they wholeheartedly believe, can teach kids important lessons about the game of life.

From learning how to work hard to fostering persistence and a can-do spirit, they all believe baseball can produce better, more productive boys. Boys who'll grow into great adults, husbands, and fathers.

In other words, they see baseball as a microcosm of some of the best aspects of American culture. The Little League 2019 champions' perspective and its implications could teach professional baseball a thing or two.

Congrats to the Little League US World Series Champions 2019

What viewers tuned into on August 25th was akin to magic. The Little League US World Series Champions 2019 warmed our hearts and reminded us of what's great about baseball and American culture.

Are you coaching a Little League team this year? Would you like to take some of the lessons from Louisiana onto the field with your team? If so, read on for our nine tips to becoming a better coach.

 

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