NOLL/SOLL is concerned that your child plays baseball in a safe environment. If you have a safety issue, please contact your coach or division coordinator.

« Review our league Safety Plan here »

PARENTS’ DUTIES

NOLL/SOLL Safety Plan

Preseason Duties

Familiarize yourself with the Emergency First Aid Kit. It will be your job to regularly check the Kit and replenish used materials. Have ice available at all practices and games and/or purchase ice packs (available at Sport Mart, Rite Aid, and other pharmacies).

Inspect the following items of equipment:

• Batting Helmets: Be certain the batting helmets are not broken and that you have the correct sizes for all players. Helmets may not be painted or altered except to add protective face guards. Protective face guards may be purchased from a sport store and are either plastic or metal. These face guards may be used by individual players (your own child) or your entire team. Discuss with your coach about the use of these protective face guards. Little League has no official policy about the use of face guards. They are optional.
• Catcher’s Helmet: Inspect the catcher’s helmet. Be certain it is not broken and that the throat protector is securely attached. Catchers may not use their mask unless the throat protector is attached.
• Other Catcher’s Equipment: Check that the buckles on the shin guards and the snaps on the chest protector are working. Boy catchers are required to have a protective cup.
• Shoes: Remind all parents/guardians that only rubber cleated baseball shoes are permitted. Metal cleats are not allowed.
  Fields

Become familiar with the location and directions to both practice and game fields. Be certain each parent has directions to all fields so players can be transported safely. At each field inspect the playing field, dugouts, and adjacent areas. Inspect the field for holes, glass, and foreign objects. Make sure chain link fence wire is safe. Keep dugouts clean, and free of debris. Are younger children playing adjacent to the field in harms way? Work with both your coach and umpire to identify any problems so hazards can be corrected.

Emergency Telephone

A reminder that public telephones have a distinct advantage over cellular telephones. That advantage is that when you dial 911, the emergency operator knows the location of the telephone you are using. That is not the case with the cellular telephone. Because the 911 call goes to the California Highway Patrol, you must be able to explain to the emergency operator the location of your field. In addition, cellular telephone users claim the response time can be delayed. As the safety parent, you will want to know the location of the nearest public telephone. Despite the possible drawbacks to cellular telephone use, you may want to know which parent has a cellular telephone and have one available at each practice and game. To report a broken public telephone, call (510) 238-7700.

Practice and Game Conduct

Serious injury can occur while practicing or playing baseball. If there is an injury, two adults are needed: one to stay with the victim and the other to call or go for help. Therefore, when a parent drops off a player for a practice or game be sure that two adults are present before you leave. This is especially true for Reservoir and Montera fields. Both are isolated from street traffic. Work with your coach to insure that practices and pre-game drills are being conducted safely. For example:

• Are players who are playing catch of comparable ability?
• Are the players “testing” each other’s ability to determine how hard to throw the ball?
• Are the players lined up so that an overthrown ball will not injure another player?
• Are players swinging the bat adequately distanced from other players?
• Remind your coach to give extra attention and training to players whose lack of coordination or experience might make them susceptible to injury.
• At the end of a practice or game, remind the last remaining adult that no child may be left alone. Every child must be picked up by a parent/guardian.
• Remind children of “Stranger Danger”, i.e. children should not accept a ride from a stranger.

Accidents

Any accident that is a serious injury or that requires medical attention must be reported by filling out an Accident Report. The report forms are available from your coach. Become familiar with this report before an accident occurs, so you will know what information is necessary to complete the form.

 

DENTAL INJURIES

Custom-made mouthguards greatly reduce the risk and severity of mouth injuries. Mouthguards are recommended injury prevention for all at-risk sports. Custom-made mouthguards can only be made by your dentist. Because your child’s teeth are changing so much, it is necessary to have a new mouthguard made yearly. Custom mouthguards are much more comfortable to wear than a mouthguard purchased at a sports store. They fit the teeth and mouth snugly, and do not interfere with breathing; therefore, your child is more motivated to wear it. The cost of a custom made mouthguard is $50–$75, but this amount pales when compared to the thousands of dollars that may be necessary to treat a damaged or lost tooth. Mouthguards are indicated when your child’s permanent front teeth are beginning to come into the mouth, at about 8 years old.

A mouthguard also helps prevent injury to the gums, lips, and joint by absorbing the impact. Some believe a mouthguard can minimize head concussions.

In baseball, an injury to the mouth and teeth is most likely to occur while the player is catching a ball, at bat, running the bases (and being hit by a errant throw) and fielding a ball either on the ground or a fly ball. However, because a dental injury can occur at any time, it is suggested your child wear the Mouthguard at all times, including practices and games.

Injuries to the teeth are classified into three types:

• Luxation (tooth in socket, but wrong position)
• Avulsion (entire tooth knocked out)
• Fracture (broken tooth).

In each of these injuries, your first concern is the injured player. First, calm the player. Secondly, apply pressure to the area of the mouth that may be bleeding. Then follow the instructions below for the particular type of injury.

Emergency Treatment of Luxated Tooth (Tooth in Socket, but Wrong Position)

• Do nothing – avoid any repositioning of tooth
• Transport immediately to dentist.

Emergency Treatment of Avulsion (Entire Tooth Knocked Out) and Fracture (Broken Tooth)

• Find and save the tooth but avoid additional trauma to the tooth.
• Do not brush, scrub or sterilize the tooth. If debris is on tooth, gently rinse it with water.
• If tooth is broken, save all portions, and follow instructions below.
• Place the tooth and/or fractured pieces in solution.
• The best solution is “Save-a-Tooth”. Some of the Noll/Poll emergency first aid kits have a “Save-a-Tooth” (see below for ordering information).
• 2nd best: Place tooth in milk. Cold milk is best.
• 3rd best: Wrap tooth in saline soaked gauze.
• 4th best: Place tooth under athlete’s tongue. Do this only if athlete is conscious and alert.
• 5th best: Place tooth in cup of water.
• Transport immediately to dentist. Time is very important. Treatment within 30 minutes has the highest degree of success.

How to order “Save-a-Tooth”: Call Save-A-Tooth at 888-788-6684.

NOLL/SOLL BACKGROUND CHECK POLICY

All local Little Leagues are required to conduct background checks on Managers, Coaches, Board of Directors members and any other persons, volunteers or hired workers, who provide regular service to the league and/or have repetitive access to, or contact with, players and teams. Individuals are also required to complete and submit a Little League Volunteer Application to their local league.

North Oakland/South Oakland Little League conducts their background checks through the First Advantage service. The First Advantage National Criminal File database contains more than 350 million records which include criminal records and sex offender registry records across 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Click here for more information on the First Advantage background check.

Additional information is available directly from Little League.