Richmond Little League

2022 Safety Manual

 RLL Phone Numbers

Richmond Police - Emergency   911

Richmond Police - Non-emergency  780-5100

Richmond Ambulance Auth.  254-1150

www.richmondll.com

2022 RLL Officers Contact Info

INTRODUCTION

SAFETY CODE

Dedicated to Injury Prevention

• Safety should be the responsibility of every adult member of Richmond Little League.

• Managers, Coaches and Umpires should have training in first aid. RLL will hold a mandatory first aid training clinic annually and require that at least one manager/coach per team to attend. Every coach/manager must attend this training at least once every 3 years. However, RLL strongly encourages all managers/coaches to attend annually.   The date for the 2022 First Aid training is March 1^st, 2022 at the Byrd Fields. Additional sessions will be held if needed. On field volunteers: including Managers, Assistant Coaches and scorekeepers should complete online concussion training as part of their first aid training.

• First·aid kits are maintained at storage boxes at each field of play/practice. Additional kits are located in the front equipment rooms at Byrd Park and Maymont. Field. Managers should utilize them playing away games.

• At least one manager/coach from each team must attend the annual Manager/Coach's Training Clinic. Every manager/coach will attend this training at least once every 3 years. However, RLL strongly encourages all managers/coaches to attend annually.

 The date for the 2022 Manager's/Coach's Fundamentals Training is March 1^st, 2022 at the Byrd Fields. Additional  sessions will be held if necessary.

-Coaches and managers will take online concussion training.

• At least two manager/coaches must be present at each practice or game.

• Managers/coaches should have a cellular phone available or identify the closest available phone (public or private).

-Arrangements should be made in advance of all games and practices for emergency medical services.

• No games or practices should be held when weather or field conditions are not good, particularly when lighting is inadequate.

• All playing fields will be inspected by managers/coaches before each game or practice for hazards like holes, damage,stones, glass or other foreign objects. The UIC will also perform the same inspection prior to games. The annual Field and Facility Survey is attached at the end of this Safety Manual.

• All team equipment should be kept within the dugout, or behind screens and not within the area defined by the umpires as "in play". It should be inspected by a coach and the UIC prior to use.

-Dugouts and bat racks should be positioned behind screens

• Only players, manager, coaches and umpires are permitted on the playing field or in the dugout during games and practice sessions.

• Responsibility for keeping bats and loose equipment off the field of play is shared by the umpire, managers and coaches.

• Only adults are allowed to enter/cross surrounding public streets to retrieve foul balls hit out of the playing area.

• During practice and games, all players should be alert and watching the batter on each pitch.

• During warm-up drills, players should be spaced so that no one is endangered by wild throws or missed catches.

• All pre-game warmups should be performed within the confines of the playing fields and not in areas that are frequented by, and thus endanger, spectators

-Playing Equipment will be inspected in the pre-season by the RLL Safety Officer and other members of the RLL Board and will be replaced as necessary.

• Equipment should be inspected regularly for the condition, as well as the proper fit. Any equipment deemed to be unsafe or not in compliance with LLI playing rules and guidelines will be removed from the game/practice. Pitching machines must be in good operating condition and only be operated by adult managers or coaches.

• The responsibility for ensuring  all bats, balls or other equipment used during games and practices are compliant with Little League rules is shared  by the umpires, managers and coaches.  To be specifically reviewed during each game/practice are the following:  (1) Bats must comply with Little League rules/restrictions during batting practice and games; (2) Batters must wear protective NOCSAE helmets during batting practice and games; and (3) Catcher must wear catcher's helmet (with mask and throat guard), chest protector, shin guards. Male catchers must wear a protective supporter and cup at all times. Managers should encourage male players to wear a protective supporter and cup for practices and games.

-Batting Helmets and Catcher’s Helmets should not be painted unless approved by the manufacturer.

• Except when runner is returning to a base, head first slides are not permitted. This rule does not apply to the Little League 50/70 intermediate, Junior or Senior divisions.

-Bases should be of the brake away type and will not be strapped down or anchored.

• At no time should "horseplay” be permitted on the playing field.

• Parents of players who wear glasses should be encouraged to provide 'safety glasses'.

• Players must not wear watches, rings, pins or metallic items during games and practices.

-Players who are ejected, ill or injured should remain under supervision until released to the parent or guardian.

• On-deck batters are not permitted. This means no player should handle a bat, even while in an enclosure, until his/her time at bat. This applies only to Little league Majors, Minors (player pitch & coach/machine pitch) & T-ball.

-Catchers must wear catcher’s helmet, face mask, and throat guard while warming up pitchers. Skull caps are not permitted. This applies between innings and in the bullpen during games and practices.

-Managers and coaches may NOT warm up pitchers before or during a game.

• Mangers, coaches, board members, umpires and all other league volunteers are required annually to complete the Little League Volunteer Application and background check using the JDP system. In addition, this will include background checks for child sexual abuse and other crimes against a minor prior to being approved for any volunteer position in the League. RLL requires all these individuals to provide a copy of their driver’s license or another valid ID. 

-Copies of the RLL Safety Plan will be provided at the RLL Manger/Coach’s Fundamental Training. Additional copies will be kept at all fields in storage boxes and the front equipment rooms at Byrd and Maymont. It will also be posted on the RLL website. Managers and coaches should download a copy of the 2022 Little League Little League Rulebook App.

• RLL does not maintain a concession stand at any field of play.

 If you see a topic that needs to be added or changed, contact:

Jay Kuemmerle, Director of Safety, 804-241-9365

ASAP

(A Safety Awareness Program)

In 1995, ASAP was introduced with the goal of re-emphasizing the position of Safety Officer "to create awareness through education and information of the opportunities to provide a safer environment for kids and all participants of Little League Baseball". This document is offered as a tool to place some important information at managers' and coaches' fingertips.

Do...

Some Important Do's and Don'ts

o    Reassure and aid children who are injured, frightened or lost.

o    Provide, or assist in obtaining, medical attention for those who require it. o        Know your limitations.

o  Know where the first-aid kit is located at each field prior to games and practices.

o   Assist those who require medical attention - and when administering aid, remember to:

          LOOK for signs of injury (blood, black-and-blue deformity of joint, etc).

               LISTEN to the injured describe what happened and what hurts, if conscious.  Before questioning, you may have to calm and soothe an excited child.

             FEEL gently and carefully the injured area for signs of swelling or grating of broken bone.

o   Have your players' Medical Clearance Forms with you at all games and practices.

·      Make arrangements to have a cellular phone available when your game or practice is at a facility that does not have any public phones.

·      Document incidents/accidents/injuries on an ASAP Incident/Injury Tracking Report and contact Jay Kuemmerle, RLL Director of Safety within 24-48 hours.

·      A player that has an injury that requires medical treatment (ER, Hospital, Dr.’s office, etc.) must provide a note of written clearance from a physician or another accredited medical professional before returning to activities. This note should be provided to the RLL Safety Officer before the player resumes RLL activities.

Don't...

o   Administer any medications

o    Hesitate in giving aid when needed

o   Be afraid to ask for help if you're not sure of the proper procedures (i.e., CPR, etc.)

o  Transport injured individuals except in extreme emergencies

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

For additional ASAP information see: www.littleleague.org

Communicable Disease Procedures:

1.  Bleeding must be stopped, the open wound covered, and the uniform changed if there is blood on it before the athlete may continue.

2. Routinely use gloves to prevent mucous membrane exposure when contact with blood or other body fluids is anticipated (provided in first-aid kit).

3. Immediately wash hands and other skin surface if contaminated with blood.

4. Clean all blood contaminated surfaces and equipment.

5. Managers, coaches, and volunteers with open wounds should refrain from all direct contact until the condition is resolved.

6.  Follow accepted guidelines in the immediate control of bleeding and disposal when handling bloody dressings, mouth guards and other articles containing body fluids.

7. Follow the most updated version of the 2022 Richmond Little League     Return to Play Guidelines and Covid Response Plan. All managers will receive a copy and the most updated version will be posted on the RLL website.   www.richmondll.com

Lightning Evacuation Procedures:

A ‘lightening monitor’ should be designated at each practice or game and should not be a manager, coach or umpire. Upon the report of lightning or hearing thunder, the League official on duty (includes coaches or managers) will notify all UICs and teams that a lightning evacuation is being implemented. All ongoing games or practices on RLL fields is immediately suspended for at least 30 minutes.  The games or practices may only resume when no lightning has been seen or thunder heard for 30 minutes. Upon implementation of the lightning evacuation procedures, all players, volunteers and spectators are to evacuate the area and follow the procedures listed below:

1.       Stop game/practice.

2.        Stay away from metal fencing (including dugouts)!!

3.       Do not hold metal bats.

4.        Walk, don't run, to car and wait for a decision on whether or not to continue the game or practice.

5.       A player, coach, umpire or spectator is struck by lightning they should receive immediate emergency attention include BLS and attended until EMS arrives.

Accident Reporting Procedures:

What to report -

An incident that causes any player, manager, coach, umpire, or volunteer to receive medical treatment and/or first aid must be reported to the Director of Safety.  This includes even passive treatments such as the evaluation and diagnosis of the extent of the injury or periods of rest.

When to report-

All such incidents described above must be reported to the Director of Safety within

24-48 hours of the incident.  The Director of Safety for 2021 is Jay Kuemmerle, and he can be reached at the following:

Day and Evening Phone:                                           804-241-9365

Email: [email protected]

How to make the report-

Managers should report incidents requiring first aid to the Director of Safety, providing as much information as possible using the ASAP Incident/Injury Tracking Report. At a minimum, the following information must be provided:

1.        The name/phone number of the individual involved.

2.        The date, time and location of the incident.

3.        A description of the incident, as detailed as possible.

4.        A preliminary estimation of the extent of any injuries.

5.        The name/phone number of the individual reporting the incident.

Director of Safety’s Responsibilities -

Within 48 hours of receiving the incident report, the Director of Safety will contact the injured party or the party's parent/guardian to verify the information received; obtain any other information deemed necessary; and check on the status of the injured party.  In the event that the injured party required other medical treatment (i.e., ER visit, doctor's visit, etc.), the Director of Safety or another designated RLL Board member should advise the parent or guardian of RLL's AIG Accident Coverage and how to make a claim. If the extent of the injury is more than minor in nature, the Director of Safety shall periodically check on the status of the child to see if any other assistance is necessary until the incident is considered "closed".