Being a manager or coach requires time, patience, and basic knowledge of the game of baseball. You will also need to communicate with the parents/guardians of your players, and may need to attend meetings, instructional sessions, or seminars. As a manager or coach, you have more interaction with young people than anyone else in Little League. Therefore, it is important that you understand the goals and virtues of the New Bethlehem Little League program in order to effectively communicate them to your players.
The following sections contain background information for several websites and national organizations that we believe will be a benefit to our volunteer managers and coaches. The Resources section contains links to each of the organizations providing quick and easy access to additional information. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer manager or coach for New Bethlehem Little League, scroll to the bottom of this page and register.
For additional information, descriptions and links to all forms and clearances required by Little League and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, please visit our VOLUNTEERING page.
Little League University
Launched in 2015, Little League University is the official online training and education platform of Little League. Local board members, umpires, coaches, parents and players will find value in the training and educational materials. Little League University connects volunteers to engaging training videos and informative how-to articles, designed to educate users on the best practices for operating and enjoying a successful local Little League. The content is updated continuously to ensure that all volunteers have the information they need on relevant topics. A link to Little League University is provided in the Resources section below.
USA Baseball
Since 1978, USA Baseball has been the national governing body for amateur baseball. It represents the sport in the United States as a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and internationally as a member federation of the World Baseball Softball Confederation. Nearly every major national amateur baseball organization in America, including Little League, is united as a USA Baseball national member organization. As a result, USA Baseball governs more than 12 million amateur players in ballparks and playgrounds across the country.
An important aspect of USA Baseball is the USA Baseball Education Center. The Education Center contains online courses for players, coaches, parents and umpires, as well as the USA Baseball Mobile Coach app - which has additional resources including practice plans and a drill library. All content on the USA Baseball Education Center is provided free of charge. A link to the USA Baseball Education Center is provided below.
In January 2018, USA Baseball and the American Baseball Coaches Association announced a new partnership in an effort to create a higher standard of coaching education and enhance the ability of coaches at all levels of the game to better serve their athletes, teams and communities. USA Baseball and the ABCA will work together to provide a comprehensive program that combines online and in-person learning opportunities for baseball coaches. The announcement also comes with a call to action for coaches to engage in and support the new Baseball ACE Community Clinic program. This joint initiative between USA Baseball and the ABCA aims to encourage active mentorship among the baseball coaching community. Further announcements about the partnership will be made later in 2018.
American Baseball Coaches Association
Founded in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its more than 9,000 members represent all 50 states and 25 countries. The ABCA hosts an annual Convention each January - the largest baseball convention in the world. There are approximately 25 clinic speakers at each year's convention, including some of the most knowledgeable and finest baseball coaches in the world. On Saturday of the convention, the Youth Coaches Breakout Session features clinics focused on topics specifically for youth teams up to age 14. The 2019 ABCA Convention will be held January 3-6 in Dallas, Texas.
The ABCA also sponsors Barnstormers Clinics each year. These one-day coaching clinics will be visiting approximately 20 cities in 2018.
A link to ABCA's Educational Resources page, which features videos, publications and podcasts, is provided below.
Baseball ACE
Baseball ACE is an educational program for any and all individuals who are currently coaching baseball or aspire to coach at any level of the game. Baseball ACE is driven by the need for baseball coaches to continue to develop and increase their own involvement in coaching development throughout their coaching careers. This program is for all members of the baseball coaching community, regardless of age, level, or experience. Baseball ACE already features four online coaching courses that are available on the USA Baseball Online Education Center. Course topics include Managing Players, Coaching Philosophy and Approach, Infield Development, and Outfield Development. The courses are free of charge.
A link to the Baseball ACE homepage is provided below.