Volunteer Frequently Answered Questions
Please take a moment to review this page. We hope that most questions parents have can be answered here.
1. Why does Pleasanton Little League require parent volunteers?
Our league is 100% volunteer-run – we simply can’t operate without parent support. When more families get involved, it prevents burnout on a few people, strengthens our community, and creates a smoother, more enjoyable season for everyone.
Volunteering also helps keep registration costs low. Rather than raising fees to pay for staff or city services, we ask for your time. Each team needs a minimum of 5 volunteers to run safely and effectively, so this program ensures every family has a chance to contribute. Ultimately, your involvement directly improves your child’s experience in Little League by fostering a fun, well-supported season.
2. How many volunteer hours are required per family?
Each family is required to contribute at least 10 hours of volunteer service during the season. This is a per-family requirement (not per player), so if you have multiple children in the league, you still only need to fulfill one 10-hour commitment. Many Little League organizations use a similar 10-hour benchmark to encourage parent participation. Ten hours over an entire season is manageable – that’s roughly one hour per week – and there will be plenty of opportunities to complete these hours in ways that fit your schedule.
3. What is the $250 volunteer fee, and how does it work?
The $250 volunteer fee is fully refundable and is collected at registration as a deposit. Think of it as an assurance that each family will either volunteer or support the league financially. If your family completes the 10-hour volunteer requirement, the $250 is returned to you at the end of the season. We will process refunds directly back to your credit card via the SportsConnect registration system once your hours are verified. Pleasanton Little League does not want to keep this money – our goal is to have your volunteer support, not your deposit. The fee simply provides a tangible incentive to fulfill the volunteer commitment.
4. Is there a volunteer “buyout” option if I cannot commit to 10 hours?
Yes. We understand some families have extremely busy schedules or special circumstances. If volunteering isn’t feasible, you may opt out by paying the volunteer fee instead of completing hours. In other words, you would forfeit the $250 deposit and no volunteer duty would be required. This buyout option can be selected during registration. The funds from buyouts go directly toward the league’s operating costs (field maintenance, equipment, etc.), which helps offset the work volunteers would have contributed. The choice is yours. We sincerely encourage volunteering if at all possible, because your time and involvement have a huge positive impact on the players and the league.
5. What volunteer opportunities count toward the 10 hours?
There are many ways to help, so you can choose tasks that suit your skills and schedule. For example, you can volunteer in team-level roles, game day roles, or for league and community roles.
Volunteer opportunities are grouped into three main categories:
🧢 Team Roles
These positions directly support your child’s team throughout the season.
Team Manager (also called Head Coach) – Leads practices and games, manages lineups, ensures sportsmanship and player development.
Assistant Coach – Supports the Head Coach with practices, drills, and player growth.
Team Administrator – Keeps the team organized, manages communication, schedules, and coordinates team-level volunteering. (Earns 10 volunteer hours.)
Managers and Assistant Coaches automatically fulfill their volunteer requirement due to their significant seasonal time commitment.
⚾ Game Day Roles
These volunteers help ensure smooth, safe, and fair play during games.
Scorekeeper – Uses the GameChanger app to record official game stats, including runs, outs, and pitches. (2 hours per game)
Game Coordinator – Required for games with youth umpires; ensures safe play and positive sportsmanship, and has authority to pause or end games for weather or field conditions. (2 hours per game)
⚙️ League & Community Roles
These opportunities support league-wide events, city partnerships, and ongoing field operations — perfect for those who like helping beyond a single team.
Player Development Volunteer – Supports league events such as Evaluations, Skills Clinics, and Training Days.
League Event Volunteer – Helps organize and staff Opening Day, Family Fun Day, Picture Day, and other league events.
Community Event Volunteer – Represents PLL at city and community events such as the Hometown Holiday Parade, helping decorate floats, walk in parades, and promote league pride.
Tournament Volunteer – Assists during Pleasanton-hosted tournaments with scheduling, coordination, field prep, and logistics.
Sweat Equity Volunteer – Provides hands-on help with field and facility maintenance, game-day setup, equipment repair, and general upkeep. Ideal for those who enjoy outdoor, project-based work.
Hours earned in these roles vary by event or task.
💼 Additional Volunteering Opportunities
Fulfilling volunteer hours can also be accomplished by joining the Board of Directors. There are currently open Board positions for parents interested in contributing in a leadership or administrative capacity. This is a great way to help shape the future of Pleasanton Little League while meeting volunteer requirements.
We can find a volunteer role for everyone – whether you’re comfortable leading a team or prefer helping behind the scenes, every bit of help is valuable.
6. How do I sign up for volunteer jobs?
Pleasanton LL will provide easy ways to sign up for volunteer roles throughout the season. During player registration, you’ll be able to indicate areas you’re interested in helping and you can sign up for specific tasks as they arise. We will post volunteer opportunities and send out emails when help is needed for things like league events and field work days. Most sign-ups will be online and we will rely on SignUpGenius so that parents can browse open volunteer opportunities. We’ll provide the links or app info and instructions before the season starts. Of course, you can also coordinate directly with your team’s leader for team-level duties. Volunteer opportunities are filled on a first-come basis, so we encourage you to sign up early and often! And don’t worry – we will remind everyone throughout the season about upcoming needs, so you won’t miss chances to volunteer.
7. How do I track my hours and get the $250 refunded?
Tracking your volunteer hours will be simple. The Team Administrator will help record the hours that families work. We’ll likely provide a volunteer tracking form for you to log your activities and hours. At the end of the season, you will submit a volunteer hours log or refund request form to the league – this is how we know you completed your 10 hours and can trigger your refund. The team volunteer coordinator and PLL Board Volunteer Coordinator will verify the hours. Once verified, your volunteer deposit will be refunded to your credit card through the SportsConnect system. Please make sure to turn in your completed hours form by the deadline so that we can process your refund promptly. We will send out instructions for submitting hours and the refund form well in advance. No refund requests for Spring 2026 will be accepted after September 1, 2026.
8. What if I don’t complete all 10 hours?
The expectation is that each family will fulfill the full 10-hour commitment. There are no partial refunds for partial hours – at least 10 hours are required to get the $250 back. If you end the season short of the requirement, the volunteer deposit will be retained by the league until the commitment is fulfilled. We have opportunities year round to support the league, so the hours can be committed at a time of year that works best for you. We truly want you to earn your refund by volunteering, so we will work with every family to provide plenty of chances to help. Our goal is not to keep anyone’s money, but to get everyone involved. So, while technically your deposit is forfeit if hours aren’t met, we will do everything we can to help you find opportunities to complete your commitment. (Families facing genuine hardships should contact us to discuss alternatives rather than simply missing the requirement.)
9. Do volunteers need to undergo a background check?
Yes! For any volunteer role that involves regular interaction with players, Little League requires an annual background screening for the safety of all children. This means all managers/head coaches, assistant coaches, dugout/helpers, and any other volunteers who have repetitive contact with players must complete a background check each year. The background check process is conducted online at no cost to you – after you sign up to volunteer, Pleasanton LL will send you an email link to a secure background check system (through the national Little League provider). You’ll need to provide some basic info (like your name and photo ID) and submit the form; results are usually returned quickly and kept confidential. Passing the background check is mandatory before you begin volunteering with the kids. (If a volunteer does not pass or complete the background check, they cannot be placed in roles with children.) This policy is in line with Little League International’s Child Protection Program, which helps ensure all our kids are safe. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in this important process.
Little League International® has long been committed to the safety of its players, families, and volunteers, both on and off the field. To that end, all local Little League programs in the United States are required to conduct national criminal background checks, in addition to a search of the Department of Justice National Sex Offender Registry, for each volunteer with regular service to the league or repetitive access to children. Beginning with the 2018 season, Little League® changed its provider to J.D. Palatine (JDP), which has access to more than 450 million records, which include criminal records and sex offender registry records across 50 states and the District of Columbia.
This is an online only procedure with a secure site that eliminates the need for completing, turning in and storing paper forms and private information. Volunteer candidates simply provide their full name and email address to the league’s board officer, the officer enters this information into the JDP system, and the candidate receives an email link with instructions to complete the background check. Once complete, the board officer receives approval (or denial) notification and the volunteer is ready to go.
The reports available to the board officer only show volunteer name, date ordered, and date completed. All social security or other private information is unavailable to the local board. Visit the JDP website if you would like additional information.
If you have questions about the background check process, please email [email protected].
10. I’m very busy or I have no experience – how can I manage to volunteer?
We know parents today are busy, and many have never volunteered in youth sports before. The good news is that Little League volunteering is flexible and very family-friendly. You do not need any special expertise – many of our first-time volunteers start with no baseball knowledge at all. For example, lots of first-time coaches and team administrators join every season, and we provide training, resources, and support to help them succeed. There are also plenty of simple tasks that don’t require experience, like supporting league and community events or helping with equipment and fields. If your schedule is tight, you can choose opportunities that fit – many volunteer jobs occur on game days or weekends when you’re already at the field, and some tasks take just an hour or two at a time. We also encourage families to tag-team their hours: a grandparent, aunt/uncle, or older sibling (16+ for certain tasks) can help fulfill your hours on your behalf. And remember, you won’t be alone. Each team has multiple volunteers, so responsibilities are shared – if you can’t make a specific shift or need to miss a practice duty, other parents can step in, and you can catch up at another time. In our experience, even the busiest parents find that volunteering a few hours is doable and actually fun. You’ll get to know other families and coaches, and your child will be proud to see you involved. Volunteering often ends up being one of the most rewarding parts of the Little League season for both you and your player. We truly appreciate whatever time you can give – every little bit helps!
If you have any other questions or concerns about the volunteer requirement, please reach out to us at [email protected]. We’re here to help make volunteering a positive experience for your family!
11. Do I need to know much about baseball to help?
Don't let the lack of experience stop you from getting involved. You don't have to be a coach to be a volunteer with the league, but consider this, almost every T-Ball coach is a first time coach, and many Single A and Double AA coaches are as well. We have practice plans already prepared for you, and our site is full of videos showing different skill building drills. And best of all, we have a Managers Rep and Training Coordinator who will make sure our coaches have all of the tools necessary to succeed. And if that isn't enough, we offer coach training to actually show you how to run some of the drills that will improve your players the most! But if you are still worried that you won't have time...team up with a friend, be an assistant coach, or volunteer in some other way.