Information for Coaches | 2026 Spring Van Buren Area Little League 

Thank you for your dedication to the Van Buren Area Little League. Through proper guidance and leadership, we will develop the qualities of citizenship, teamwork, and sportsmanship in all our youth in a safe manner. Please review the details below to ensure you are fully prepared to support our players this year.

Key Season Dates

Please mark your calendars with these important upcoming events. If a scheduled event changes, we will notify you immediately.

• Thursday, March 26 at 7:30 PM: Coaches Meeting (Online). You will use the Google Meet link sent to your email.
• Thursday, April 2 at 1:00 PM: Umpire Clinic at Belleville High School. Anyone interested in a paid umpire position should attend.
• Friday, April 3 at 1:00 PM: Free Baseball Clinic at Belleville High School. This event is open to all players, so please share this opportunity with your teams.
• Thursday, April 9 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM: Meet the Coach Night at Wayne County Community College. You will have a designated space so players and families can easily locate your team. If you cannot attend, please contact us as soon as possible.
• Saturday, April 11 at 10:00 AM: Field Clean-Up at Beck Fields.
• Thursday, April 16 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM: Field Clean-Up at Beck Field.
• Thursday, April 23 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM: Field Clean-Up at Beck Field.
• Thursday, April 30 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM: Field Clean-Up at Beck Field.
• Week of April 13: Practices May Begin. We encourage you to start practicing this week. We will distribute a SignUpGenius for field scheduling. Please reserve one primary practice slot per week on your designated field. You can schedule additional practice times on extra fields as noted in the sign-up.
• Saturday, May 2: Opening Day. The parade lineup begins at 8:30 AM at McBride, and the parade starts at 9:00 AM. We will share more event details soon.

Required Trainings

To provide a secure environment where safety and growth combine, all coaches must complete the following mandatory training programs. You can create an account or log in to the Little League training portal here.

• Abuse Awareness Training (Mandatory, Annual): This replaces previous third-party programs. You must complete this training every year. Explore Abuse Training 
• Diamond Leader Training (Mandatory): Required for all managers and coaches. This program focuses on character development and coaching best practices. You only need to complete this once. Access the program at Little League Diamond Leader.
  
• Little League SAFE Program (New for 2026): This modernized safety framework replaces the traditional ASAP program, supporting improved risk management and a safe environment for all participants. All coaches are required to complete the following SAFE training courses:
  • Little League Safety Awareness Course: Provides a broad overview of key safety concepts and best practices for safe league operations. Explore Training Course
  • Little League First Aid Awareness Course: Introduces common injuries, basic first aid principles, and response guidelines for Little League environments. First Aid Awareness Course
• Concussion & Safety Training (Required):
  Michigan State Law requires all coaches to complete Concussion Awareness Training every three years. 
  Important requirements:
  • To become certified, you must watch a 30-minute training video, enter your name, and print your certificate upon completion.
  • Your certificate must be dated within 2024, 2025, or 2026 to be valid for the 2026 season; certificates from 2023 or earlier will not be accepted.
  • You are required to bring your certificate to every game and be prepared to show it to umpires or, for non-umpired games, the opposing manager.
  • For more information on the law, visit the Michigan State Concussion Law resource.

Rules & Resources

We want to equip you with the best tools to lead your team. Please utilize the following resources throughout the season:

• Rulebook App: Access your division-specific rules directly on your device. Download the Little League Rulebook App.
• Coaching Resources: The main Little League website serves as an excellent resource for drills, practice plans, and coaching tips.
• Background Checks: All coaches must complete their mandatory background check through the Little League website before taking the field.
• Mobile App: We highly recommend downloading the official Little League mobile app for quick reference to rules and league updates during games and practices.