WHAT IS CHALLENGER BASEBALL?
San Francisco Little League's Challenger Division provides an opportunity for any boy or girl over six years old (as of April 30, 2010) with a disability, physical or cognitive, to join a baseball team, get some exercise, and learn some baseball skills with other kids in an informal, supportive environment. Now entering our eighth season in San Francisco, we invite your child or children you know to join our team.
The Little League baseball season runs from mid- March to mid-June, and includes about ten games on Sunday afternoons. San Francisco’s team (called the Giants, of course) begins its season with a motorcade parade for all the City’s Little League teams from the Presidio through the Marina District, followed by an Opening Day ceremony and barbecue. Home games are played at either China Basin Park, across "McCovey Cove" from AT&T Park, or at Little League’s fields on Treasure Island. Home games are interspersed with away games with Challenger teams on the Peninsula. (I can provide you contact information for these other teams in South San Francisco, Foster City, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto and San Jose.)
Kids learn the basics of baseball, and how to play as part of a team. However, games are non-competitive, with full participation by all. Every player takes a turn at bat every inning, and always gets on base and gets to advance around the bases. There are no outs, no one keeps score, and everyone has a great time for one to two hours, once a week. Parents and coaches and occasionally players from Little League’s other programs provide support and as much (or little) assistance as each player wants or needs to participate to the best of their ability and enjoy the game. San Francisco Little League provides each player a uniform identical to those of other Little League teams. Most importantly—everyone has a great time!
We also offer a number of supplemental events, such as group attendance at Giants and A’s games, and an end-of-season June "Jamboree" with the other Bay Area teams we play. The past six years, the San Francisco Giants have graciously also invited our kids to attend a "clinic" hosted by members of the Giants team, always a highlight.
Little League’s Challenger Division was founded in 1989 and includes over 22,000 players nationally. Little League is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization. While fees are requested to defray costs, waivers are offered and no children will be denied the opportunity to play.
Here's what else you need to know:
- Little League is an all-volunteer organization that depends on fees and contributions to cover expenses. The fee for Challenger Division registration is $100 (less than for other Little League divisions). The final date for Challenger registration is March1, 2010, however, to help us plan for the Spring, we ask parents and caregivers to please register as early as possible.
- We want you to play ball with us regardless of economic circumstances. The SFLL application form includes a menu option under "Spring Season Fees" to request "a fee waiver due to economic hardship," and asks that you include a note with your application. If you cannot afford any payments, we’d suggest a simple statement such as "Please waive my registration fees as they would be a hardship." If you cannot pay the entire fee but are able to make a smaller contribution to defray expenses, we’d suggest a note such as "Please waive my registration fees, but I would like to make a donation of $___ to defray expenses."
If you know additional families who may be interested in Challenger baseball in the Spring, please send me their names or have them contact me. You can also forward this e-mail if you want.