For pre-season information and updates, see the Coaches Countdown to Season for information weekly starting six weeks before Opening Day.
We want this page to be a great resource for you. Please feel free to send us your ideas and resources.
The main Little League resource for coaches is Little League University. At the site, you'll have access to articles and videos on topics from managing your team to teaching players proper form for throwing and catching to more advanced topics like strategy.
Training
Heads Up! Concussion Training - required by Michigan state law; supply a copy of your completion certificate to the league
Diamond Leader Training Program - Introduced in 2023, this is
required for all managers and coaches of All Star teams, recommended for all managers and coaches, and suggested for all volunteers
Westwood Coach Training and Quiz - help us to have the best prepared Little League coaches in Kalamazoo
Coaching Resources - some FAQs and places you can look for information on coaching
Safety at Westwood - review the Safety Manual and appendices that are linked on the page for safety and player well-being tips
First Aid Training - copy of handout from the 2017 Coaches Meeting
Rules
Local Rules - 2024 rules will be posted soon
Significant Rule Changes for 2024 - summary of changes in the 2023 rule book
District 2 Interleague Rules - Posted 4/29/23 after D2 approval; updated 4/30 to include Minor Softball and Little Major pitching rules
Regular Season Pitching Rules - includes pitch (and, for softball, inning) count thresholds and rest days
Coaching Philosophy
Coach's Role
Positive Coaching Alliance Resources and PCA website
10 Things Every New Youth Baseball and Softball Coach Should Know
Reflections from the Field: How Do You Want To Be Remembered?
What's More Important - Winning or Development?
Managers and Coaches, Don't Forget the Fun!
How to Re-Imagine the Player-Coach Dynamic
3 Ways to Motivate, Educate, and Inspire Your Team
Prepping for the Season: Selecting Coaches and Support Staff
3 Tips to Run a Fun, Effective Practice
How to Handle an Umpire's Questionable Call as a Manager or Coach
Training Equipment
These are items available to you for your practices while at the Westwood fields:
- Popup nets
- Pitching machines
- Dimpled pitching machine balls
- Whiffle balls
- Tees
- Sliding mats
Contact your Vice President or another Board member to obtain access to them.
Drill Ideas and Practice Plans
Practice plans set 1 - Includes drill descriptions and plans for a number of 90 minute practice sessions
USA Baseball Mobile Coach app - practice planning, drill library, and Pitch Smart
Beginning softball pitching - basics and building blocks of the pitching motion plus drills
Tee Ball The Complete Little League Tee Ball Program Minors The Complete Little League Coach Pitch Program - We use pitching machines rather than coach pitch but this is a useful training guide
Finishing the Swing Softball - Throwing Mechanics Little Majors Coaching the Bases The Mental Side of Hitting Baseball - Pitching Mechanics Softball Pitching - Starting the Motion Majors Multi-Color Soft Toss (
Baseball) (
Softball)
Softball Hitting - The Approach Softball Pitching - Fixing Common ProblemsForms
Please see the great repository of forms and publications from Little League Online.
Pitching Log
Pitcher Eligibility Tracking Form
Easy Scorecard (game sample)
Lineup Planner - spreadsheet to plan batting order and defense for a game; includes open/continuous batting and closed/tournament batting plus lineup cards for scorekeepers