BACKGROUND

You may have been spending the past couple of weeks hearing lots of rumors and sensing confusion and angst about what’s been going on among the adult culture of Springfield Little League. 

 An email sent by SLL on May 27th referenced an “incident” and said that an investigation into the incident is pending. For clarity’s sake: the incident referenced was an airplane flyover that, by name, targeted a parent who had called the Little League to inquire about why the in-house season was, for the second year in a row, being cut short in favor of beginning summer travel ball. No one has admitted to hiring the airplane advertisement but many parents perceive this act as completely inappropriate, toxic, and bullying.

 Many of us are concerned about the risk to the integrity and reputation of our little league program AND the terrible example this sort of behavior sets for our kids. Everywhere we go fellow parents are talking about it. 

Concerned Parents of SLL Statement

The airplane flyover that targeted a Little League family and other forms of adult bullying should have no place in SLL. While no one has taken accountability for that egregious action taken against a fellow parent, it's especially concerning that the act seems to be in retaliation against a parent who rightly questioned the league’s initial decision to shorten the in-house season in favor of travel teams beginning their tournament play for the second year in a row. Little League is supposed to be a fun, nurturing, inclusive place for all the children in our town to have the chance to learn and love the game of baseball. 

The leaders of the board should fulfill their commitment to report back to parents with the outcome of their investigation of the airplane flyover on May 18th.  If any Board Leaders were responsible for the flyover or involved with it in any way, they should be held accountable and removed from board leadership, commissioner, and/or coaching positions in the Little League. Bullying like this cannot be tolerated among people who are supposed to be role models for our children.