Little League Football Officers' Manual

03   CONTACT WITH YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL / AUTHORITY

Refer to

Introduction
Establishing contact and maintaining close liaison with your local authority will benefit your league in a number of ways. These can include help in securing suitable pitches to play on, using to your best advantage local information networks and contacts, and assist in securing possible financial and practical assistance.

Establishing a Contact
Every local authority organises their departments and areas of responsibility in different ways, The department is likely to be called Recreation, Leisure or Amenity Services.
(Most Authorities employ Sports Development Officers - these are always a good bet initially). If not ring the relevant department and ask for the name (and title) of the person responsible for sports provision. If this proves to be difficult contact the Community Safety Officer (every Authority has one - statutory obligation under the Crime and Disorder Act) they will know who the correct person to talk to, plus they have access and know sources of grants for 'Promoting Safety Initiatives'

When contact is made you should specify what it is you want. You will need to explain the concept of Little League Football, and clarify the support you are looking for. The officer will gain a better understanding of how the authority can help by attending your meetings, so extend an invitation to your next one and ensure that the officer is kept informed of developments.

Information Networks
The officer will have experience of arranging local events (or know somebody who has). To do this the officer will have tried and tested means of linking local people to promote sports development. This network can prove to be very beneficial when recruiting committee members, volunteers and publicising your league and the trials.

Finding a Pitch
Requirements are detailed in Section 5. Your requirements must be known to the officer (but again make them realistic) including any preferred locations, parks or open space, bearing in mind the boundaries, and the need for easy access / travelling for the children. The officer will be able to negotiate your requirements with the parks department, or will be able to advise you on the best person for you to approach.

Financial Assistance
The local authority may be able to offer you a grant towards the cost (see Establishing a Contact) and will be able and even assist in making an application to the relevant department. There may be an opportunity to obtain help from the local sports council and again your local contact should be able to advise you.  Grants for setting up new children’s soccer are frequently available from various bodies and you may wish to contact the NEC Treasurer for further advice, and a copy of the booklet “101 Fundraisers”.  The NEC may also be able to assist financially – see section 34.

Schools and Youth Clubs
Local Education Authorities may be a useful contact network for access to school playing fields, and may be able to put you in touch with a local school who already have junior pitches available for hire (most schools are looking for extra income) and at the same time save on setting up costs initially or until such times that your league outgrows the facilities.