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LLSBWS
Housing
What to Expect for Player Accommodations
Every year we get asked why the local
committee managing the Softball World Series in Portland wants so fervently
to house the players with local families. Many coming here for the first
time have participated in other tournaments where players stayed in hotels,
or a common facility. In fact, some
of the other Little League Tournaments automatically make hotel arrangements
for players. We believe differently, even though it is more work for us.
This decision gets reviewed every year,
and the local management team keeps coming back to the same conclusion: housing
with local families fosters more goodwill. Players appreciate being welcomed
into the home of a local family, and their hosts enjoy the role of
ambassador to our terrific corner of the United States.
When you and your players arrive, the
whole sequence of events starts with introductions of players and host
families, insuring all are comfortable with each other. No player will be
asked to stay where they do not feel at ease.
Local families will have had background
checks done on them, and will have been personally screened by our staff. No player will be with a
family that does not foster the values of Little League integrity and
sportsmanship.
For the record, should one player or
her parents, insist that the player stay with them in a hotel, all players
on that team will be ineligible for local housing, and the hotel costs must
be borne by the team. For more information, please contact Robin at
housing@softballworldseries.com.
We have seen many host families and
players staying in touch long after the tournament is over. Here’s what some
of our families and players have written:
“The housing experience was one of most rewarding
experiences for our players. Without question, everyone of
our players was well taken care of and really enjoyed
getting to know the families they stayed with and learning a
little more about Portland, Oregon and the Pacific
Northwest.
Many of our players still keep in close contact with their
host families and some of the children of the host families
have come and stayed in McLean with our families. The
commitment those families made in taking care of our
children for ten days was simply remarkable!”
Jamie stayed with the same
family twice.
I have a 4-year-old that will begin tee ball next year, so
hopefully I will see you in about 7 years!"
"The family was just AWESOME!!!!
They not only opened their home to our children, but they opened their
HEARTS. And what big hearts each and every member of that family has. We
were so lucky to have the opportunity to put our trust into such a
fantastic, warm and loving family!!
The Brashear's made this experience, for our children, one they will NEVER
forget.
Warmest regards,"
Donna
"It was my first time in the World
Series. Meeting you people from different countries was fun! Not to mention
being far away from home I missed my family... But when we were sent to our
foster parents they treated us as their own child and made us feel at
home... I am happy that I had that experience and I will never forget it."
Zhel"
"Being housed at the World Series
just added to the once in a lifetime experience. Total strangers day one,
friends for life by the end of the week. Lynn & Phil's generosity will
never be forgotten."
The LaManna Family
"I think
we were a little hesitant in letting our children go with families that we
did not know, but again I can’t tell you enough about the host families that
cared for our girls. In Kalamazoo we host the Big League World Series and
some Mattawan people have hosted kids from around the world. Their parents
had no idea what it was like trying to make sure the kids have fun and get
them to the games, practices etc....
Again many thanks to all that helped make it one of the most memorable
time's in our lives. We hope to see you again in the near future."
"Hey,
You asked me what the best part of coming to Oregon was, and it definitely
had to be all the new friends we met!!! We even learned words in different
languages...thank you, it was so awesome!!
Yes, we went to the beach and Multnomah Falls!! We never made it to the top,
but we came close.
My host family were the Trauch's they were awesome!!! So nice. We all loved
the ice-cream, the limo ride, and the whole trip!!!!
see ya later"
bye!!!
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