How does it work?

You can give individuals with special needs the gift of friendship and baseball by volunteering as a Buddy. Working one-on-one with our players will warm your heart and spread joy all around! Our Buddy system pairs each player with a volunteer helper that remains with them the entire season.

Miracle League Buddies are assigned a player for each game. The buddy is there to protect the player from balls, assist the player in batting and running the bases (if needed), and to be a friend on and off the field. Buddies receive a Miracle League Buddy t-shirt for their participation.

Buddies need to be energetic, committed and enthusiastic for each game. We encourage buddies to keep a consistent schedule. This allows for Miracle players to grow more comfortable with their new friends. Buddies are responsible for their individual player from the time of introduction until the player is back in the care of their parent/guardian. This means that no matter where their player goes the buddy must go.

Please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinators with any volunteer specific questions at volunteers@miracleleaguewestma.com

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are Buddies and how do they help?

Buddies are volunteers who assist our athletes with the game of baseball. Miracle League players have a wide range of needs and abilities. Some of our players need very little assistance during the game and may just require some encouragement while others physically need assistance with hitting and fielding the ball, as well as moving around the bases. A Buddy’s number one priority is the safety of the player that they are working with during any particular game.

Does a volunteer need to be available every week of the season?

We appreciate any time that our Buddies can give us. As we have multiple games on any given day, it’s greatly appreciated if you can stay for more than one game per day (each game lasts about one hour). Our players sometimes become attached to their Buddy and some great friendships develop during the season if there is some consistency. We do ask that you show up for all games that you sign up for and that you arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of each game.

Who can volunteer?

We welcome volunteers ages 12 and older who are interested in making a difference in the lives of our players. There are many ways to get involved, both on and off the field. To ensure the best experience for our players and volunteers, our Volunteer Coordinator thoughtfully matches each volunteer with a role that best suits their age, experience, comfort level, and individual strengths. While some roles, such as serving as a Buddy, may require additional maturity or experience, there are many meaningful opportunities to be part of the Miracle League family.

Can a team or group volunteer together?

Certainly! Volunteering as group is a fantastic team building exercise. It’s a great way for high school teams or other groups to give back to their community. We can schedule you for a couple of hours on one day or for multiple days. We ask that all members be at least 12 years old.

Do I need to know much about baseball in order to become a Buddy?

Absolutely not. You do not need any particular athletic skills to become a Buddy. All you need is compassion, enthusiasm and energy.

Can I receive credit for community service hours?

Yes. We are happy to sign any forms or provide a letter for you to receive credit for required community service hours. Please let us know how we can help you to get the proper credit for your volunteerism.

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