The Fight for Integrity in American Legion Baseball: When Profit Overshadows Service, Communities Pay the Price.
- Stop the Take!
- Mar 30
- 4 min read
The ongoing upheaval within NE American Legion Baseball reveals a profoundly entrenched and urgent crisis: regulations designed to safeguard transparency and fairness are being deliberately undermined by the prioritization of adult financial interests and unchecked autonomy under the American Legion's banner. This is not a mere dispute—it stands as a stark illustration of the pervasive failures in accountability and oversight crippling non-profit youth sports organizations.
At its heart, this issue highlights the structural roadblocks that prevent community-driven progress and growth within these programs. Rather than championing collaboration and aligning with the core mission of serving youth, these obstacles lay bare a fractured system where the needs of the community are cast aside for self-serving ambitions. To achieve transformative change, this imbalance demands immediate confrontation and correction, reigniting the true purpose and integrity of NE American Legion Baseball.
The communication in the attached public records highlights a clear resistance to accountability and responsibility within a National Non-Profit Program. It underscores the ongoing tension between coaches seeking operational independence without compliance oversight and the enforcement of program requirements by American Legion Posts, which bear legal responsibility for ensuring adherence to established standards and protections to the participants. This dynamic sheds light on the broader challenges of governance and transparency within the program.
Key Points
American Legion Baseball Program Compliance Requirements:
American Legion Posts must enforce "Four Rules" from national and state-level authorities.
Monitoring procedures will be implemented to ensure compliance without adding unnecessary burdens on the teams.
American Legion Post Support/Stance
American Legion Posts offer assistance with fundraising and community involvement as the legal sponsor of the team but has limited financial means to provide direct aid so funding for teams will depend on fundraising and community support. [It takes a community to minimize direct costs to families and to continue to build the program].
Post Leadership remains committed to enforcing compliance while supporting the legacy and quality. [Why was NE Post 1919 in Lincoln retaliated against by the NE Department of the American Legion Baseball Committee, when they actually enacted in 2024 the very thing Post 3 was also promoting needed to be enacted in 2024 and 2025?]
The American Legion Posts are emphasizing that as the legal sponsor of the American Legion Baseball Program, teams that come under their sponsorship must have oversight of the operations but does not necessarily have to control the day-to-day operations of a specific team; just requires clear understanding of the financials and ensuring all American Legion, Local, State and Federal laws are adhered too to ensure properly run programs.
A strong Legion Post's emphasis is on maintaining tradition and attracting players despite external competition and pressures.
The concerns directly expressed by coaches highlights a feeling of profound impact on their livelihoods because of the mandates issued by the American Legion Baseball Program. Their worries are rooted in the following areas:
Financial Strains:
Coaches feel that mandates will threaten the financial backing from sponsors, which directly supports players and sustains the teams. Without adequate sponsorship, coaches fear they may struggle to keep their programs running. [WHY would a sponsor be hesitant to donate to a legitimately run program?]
Coaches are feeling increased costs for essential operations like field rentals, equipment, and travel, potentially affecting their ability to earn a stable income. [WHY are coaches more concerned about earning a paycheck when this is a program that should be putting service before profit.] Veterans have been pushing the NE Department of American Legion to work as a collective so we can raise money to reduce the burden of cost on the Operations of the League (Field Costs, Umpires, Insurance, Uniforms); but a disconnected system which lacks oversight and the prioritizes profit over service will continue to put undue hardship on the players the program is meant to serve].
Hiring and Pay Disparities:
Coaches are concerned about inconsistent salaries and uncertainties in the hiring process. These issues directly impact their financial stability and professional satisfaction. [Firstly, American Legion Baseball Program is not a for-profit endeavor. Furthermore, no evidence exists of 1099's being issued for any payments to coaches, why all the questions about salaries. Salaries would imply the coaches are employees of the respective Posts that sponsor their coached team. Is a salary or 1099 being issued by another entity if not being issued by the American Legion Post].
Operational Autonomy:
Restrictions on scheduling tournaments and managing budgets could hinder their ability to operate effectively, putting their job security at risk. [Point of Emphasis to think about: If a team is raising money under the banner of the American Legion; that money and the use of that money is now the responsibility of the American Legion and the Post sponsoring the team. What tournament and what expenses do they fear will be denied if the program is run appropriately?]
Unequal Team Resources:
Disparities in player numbers, sponsorship levels, and talent among teams make it challenging to apply uniform rules, further complicating the coaches' roles and livelihoods. [This is an excuse, there are uniform rules for everything in our life. In a youth non-profit program, when the rules are enforced only to protect the “livelihood” of adults, this is no longer a public benefit program for the youth. It is now a for-profit enterprise and should be treated as one].
Future Recruitment and Program Viability:
Coaches worry that the mandates could deter player interest in American Legion Baseball. A decrease in player participation may lead to fewer opportunities for coaches, jeopardizing the sustainability of their careers. [The rising player fees and implication of exclusion unless payment is made are the main factors discouraging player interest in a program that should be empowering our youth, not burdening them].
Lack of Collaboration and Support:
Frustration with American Legions perceived lack of assistance in areas like tournament organization and logistical tasks adds to the coaches' struggles, amplifying their concerns about job security and long-term prospects. [This perception is misplaced; Veterans since 2018 have offered to get involved and grow the program in Lincon, NE for the community BUT Veterans were not wanted by the “syndicate” behind the scenes and now are being retaliated against for wanting to run and grow a transparent and vibrant integrated community program that reduces player financial burdens and generate revenue for the community not for profiteers]
