(Updated: 11/8/23) 4
Little League provides every chartered league up to 125 free background checks through JD Palatine (JDP).
JDP offers a quick and easy option for potential volunteers to complete their volunteer application and a
background check in the same process – the JDP QuickApp. To use this tool, the League Official needs the
potential volunteer's full name and email address. The League Official will input the potential participant’s
information into the JDP platform, which automatically sends an email to the potential participant with a
secure link to the Little League Official Volunteer Application for the potential volunteer to submit their own
information for a background check.
For leagues that utilize Sports Connect, there is an opportunity for potential volunteers to complete the Official
Little League Volunteer Application and background check in one platform. As the Preferred League
Technology Platform Provider of Little League, Sports Connect is integrated together with JDP to provide a
process for the league officer to review and approve a potential volunteer directly in the Sports Connect
platform. For more information on how a league can utilize the Sports Connect/JDP Integration, visit
LittleLeague.org/JDPSC.
Each October, the background check system will reset for the upcoming season. The background check
must, at a minimum, meet the standard of a nationwide criminal search, a national sex offender registry
search, a review of the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Centralized Disciplinary Database, and the Little League
International Ineligible/Suspended List. Background checks conducted by JDP for local Little League
programs include all of the required database searches. Background checks completed through JDP include
a National Criminal File, plus Developed Names search and social security ID search. Local leagues may
utilize other background check providers but will need to confirm the provider’s ability to satisfy all of the
above requirements for a complete search, which may require contacting Little League International for a
review of the Little League International Ineligible/Suspended List.
NOTE: Some states have enacted laws that require additional background check requirements that are
different from or supplement those mandated by Little League. For additional information on state
requirements, visit LittleLeague.org/StateLaws. Local leagues are required to satisfy both the state-specific
requirements and the Little League requirements.
C. OFFENSES THAT PROHIBIT PARTICIPATION
Local Leagues shall not permit any person to participate in any manner whose background check reveals a
pending charge, conviction for, guilty plea, no contest plea, or admission to any crime involving or against a
minor. An individual is also prohibited from participating as a volunteer if he/she appears on the U.S. Center
for SafeSport’s Centralized Disciplinary Database and/or Little League International Ineligible/Suspended List.
A local league may impose stricter guidelines and prohibit any individual from participating as a volunteer if
the league deems the individual unfit or inappropriate to work or volunteer in the league. If a potential
volunteer appears on the National Sex Offender Registry, the league must contact Little League International
at SecuritySpecialist@LittleLeague.org before appointing the volunteer to participate in any capacity in the
league. Little League International will advise of the next steps and aid the decision-maker in the process.
NOTE: If an individual involved with a league, or any activity of the Little League program, is under
investigation for any type of child abuse, or has a pending charge against, or involving, a minor, that individual
must be suspended until the outcome of the investigation or pending charges are complete and the
allegations are resolved.
If a local league becomes aware of information at any time, by any means whatsoever, that an
individual, including, but not limited to, volunteers, or players has been charged with, convicted of,
pled guilty, pled no contest, or admitted to any crime involving or against a minor, the local league
must immediately contact the applicable governmental agency to confirm the accuracy of the
information before allowing the volunteer to participate in their position or per their Little League