Why is it necessary for Lathrop Little League to have a volunteering requirement?

For the first two years of operation since we came back into being, LLL relied on an informal program for getting the broader community to assist in the running of the league. Unfortunately, that is not sustainable for the long-term health and success of the league, as almost all of the work necessary to prepare, organize, and run the league has fallen on a limited number of shoulders – to the detriment of all. The purpose of the volunteering requirement is to secure help from all families in the LLL community to cover league operations, coaching, umpiring duties, field maintenance, events etc – or pay a small fee to buy-out said requirement.

How will the volunteering requirement be enforced?

LLL will be levying an initial $50 volunteer fee on every family signing up for the Spring 2025 season. This fee is 100% refundable, once the family has met their volunteering obligations during the season (see points chart table below for more information). This is a very common requirement among Little League’s nationwide, and LLL has striven to keep it as low as possible in 2025.

What if I really, really don’t want to volunteer?

If you are absolutely certain you don’t want (or will not be able to) volunteer during the season, there is the option during player registration to opt-out entirely for an additional $25 fee. If you choose that option LLL will not require or request you to do any volunteering at all during the season.

How does the new volunteering program work?

The volunteering program is a points-based system, with each registered family required to complete a certain number of points for each season in which their child/children play in LLL.  At present this is applicable only to the Spring season, but may change for the Fall 2025 season should we move from clinics to a formal league. Families have the option to participate in the volunteering points program or take advantage of the buy-out option discussed above (and to which there is greater information further down in this FAQ)

How many points per season are required?

Families are required to earn up to 10 volunteering points in the Spring season.

What if I have more than one child in the league?

We only have one volunteering points requirement per family per season. There is no additional cost or requirement if you register more than one child.

What is the time frame during which volunteering hours must be completed?

For the Spring Season volunteer hours must be completed between December 14th and August 1st.

How is the Volunteering program tied to registration?

During registration, you will be prompted to select a volunteering role (if you have multiple children participating you only need to select a volunteer role for one child, though you are obviously encouraged to select one per participating child!).

If you select no volunteering role, you will then be prompted to either agree that you will not be volunteering at all and pay an additional opt-out fee of $25, or return to the volunteer page to select an option.

How do I earn points to fulfill my volunteering requirement?

Points are earned through participation in a wide variety of activities required to successfully run the league. This includes taking on Team Roles (Manager, Coaches, Team Parent, Scorekeeper, Pitch Counter), participating in scheduled activities and events such as field clean up days, Opening Day, Closing Ceremonies etc or through other activities that help support the general running of the league. LLL has created a set of activities for which points can be earned. Click Here To View Points System 

Please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, Maricela Huerta, at volunteer@lathroplittleleague.org for more information.

How will LLL keep track of points earned by families?

Hours will be tracked by the relevant board member in charge, and transmitted weekly to the Volunteer Coordinator who will maintain a publicly available master list.

What if I was told I had earned points for an activity but am not seeing them in the master list?

While we will do our best to keep things updated in real time, please understand there may sometimes be a delay in hours being logged, or an error accidentally made. If you have any concerns about your hours please reach out to volunteer@lathroplittleleague.org. 

Will there be other opportunities added to the volunteer activity list in the future?

This is a living list and our program is intended to be flexible as needs arise. We created an initial list of activities as a means of addressing the most pressing issues we’ve identified over the past two years. This list may be updated to present more opportunities for volunteering as needs arise throughout the year. Please reach out to Maricela Huerta at volunteer@lathroplittleleague.org if you have any questions or ideas.

Where can I see a list of events or activities for which I can sign up?

Events and activities are posted both in this FAQ and on the LLL Website here. We will regularly update these pages and send out sign-up requests for major events as needed via website, email, and social media

Can I recommend projects or share skills and resources I have that might benefit LLL for which I could receive points?

Yes, we are always interested in feedback on potential ways to leverage the skills and talent of our LLL community to address critical needs. If you believe you have a skill or resource that would benefit the league, please contact Maricela Huerta at volunteer@lathroplittleleague.org. You can also send recommendations for projects you feel may be of use to the league to Carlos Ferreira at president@lathroplittleleague.org. 

Is there a background check requirement?

Little League® regulations require any volunteer with repetitive access to children to consent to a national criminal background check, which includes a check of the National Sex Offender Registry database. JDP National Criminal File Database contains more than 450 million records which include criminal records and sex offender registry records across 50 states and the District of Columbia. For more information contact Chris Alanis, LLL Safety Officer, at safety@lathroplittleleague.org. Not every volunteer activity will require an initial background check.

Lathrop Little League Volunteer Buy-Out FAQ

How does the volunteering program buy-out work?

 LLLs buy-out program is proactive, meaning that it is charged to every family at the point of registration, and refunded as points are accumulated through volunteer activities. The volunteer fee for LLL is $50 per family. An additional $25 is levied on those who, during the registration process, make clear they have no interest or ability to volunteer throughout the season, and want to be kept off the list for any and all activities from day one. 

Why is there a volunteer buy-out?

A volunteer buy-out is a highly common requirement among Little Leagues these days, and LLL has endeavored to keep it as low as possible in order to cover only needed expenses.

What does the buyout actually cover?

There are two main sets of volunteering activities in LLL. First there are league/team roles; specific roles we need filled every season (Managers, Coaches, Team Parents, and Board Members). Then there are game day activities, which include concessions shifts, umpiring, score keeping, pitch counting and field maintenance and upkeep. LLL also requires volunteers for special events throughout the season, and will keep all volunteers up to date on those as they arise.

What happens if I do not fulfill my volunteering obligation for a given season?

Partial refunds are not given out at this time.

How will I know I have been credited for my buyout?

Your activities will be tracked, and your points tallied, within a master list maintained by the Volunteer Coordinator. If there are any discrepancies please contact Maricela Huerta at volunteer@lathroplittleleague.org. 

How will LLL use the money it receives either through the buyout process or through fees collected as a result of non-fulfilled volunteering requirements?

 All funds collected through the registration buyout will be earmarked specifically to cover replacement for volunteer hours (ex: additional resources for field maintenance or staffing for Opening Day shifts for instance), and tracked in the LLL annual budget as such. The Volunteer Coordinator will be responsible for the identification of organizations with whom LLL may want to partner to cover staffing needs, including Umpiring shifts – which were a significant bone of contention during the 2024 season. These organizations will be vetted and proposed to the board for approval. All funds received during the registration buy-out will be maintained in our financial records separately, and not treated as general funds – with the exception of payment needed to cover replacements for volunteer hours.

What if I am unable to fulfill the volunteering requirement, either through participation or a buyout?

LLL will try our best to work with families who have hardships because of unique situations. Requests for a hardship exemption should be emailed to president@lathroplittleleague.org for consideration by the LLL Board.

Volunteering Opportunities

At Lathrop Little League, we’re all unpaid volunteers, working together to provide a positive and enriching baseball experience for our children. Every volunteer role, big or small, is crucial to the success of our league. By giving your time and skills, you’re not just helping your child, you’re contributing to the entire community and fostering a love for the game in the next generation.

We need everyone’s help to make this season a success. click the button below to sign up to volunteer.