Coaches for 8-14 year olds

        (Competitive League Coach Requirements)   


This will be your main resource page for managing a competitive baseball team. This page includes:

⚉  An outline of important coach requirements, including  a background check, and basic first aid and CPR training. 

⚉ A coach timeline resource to help you prepare for the season.

⚉ Information and links to other documents you may find helpful.

   Our volunteer coaches are a critical piece of a successful youth baseball program. If you haven't already, please consider coaching or encouraging others to help coach, as we work together in the development of youth baseball players. 

 

Competitive Coach Requirements - In a Nutshell

  1. A WJBB-approved Coaches Clinic (Dates and details will be provided year to year)   
    <> This requirement is to be met biannually.   
    <> This is a Head Coach requirement    .
    Attending a clinic must be completed your first year as a Head Coach and then must be met biannually. 
  2. A Concussion Education course consistent with Colorado State law   
    <> This requirement is to be met annually.   
    <> This is a Head Coach and Assistant Coach requirement.
    Complete the free, online concussion training annually. This course takes approx. 40 min.
    Either provide proof of attendance at a First Aid & Concussion Clinic on your own/or via other sports requirements each year; or take the online First Aid/CPR course found here: https://nfhslearn.com/courses?searchText=Concussion
    Tips: Create an account. Select the Concussion in Sports course.
    Complete the course and send proof of training to WJBB GM. 
  3. A First Aid/CPR Course   
    <> This requirement is to be met biannually.   
    <> This is a Head Coach and Assistant Coach requirement.
    Any new head coaches need to complete the online first aid/CPR training. Thereafter, it needs to be completed every other year. This course takes approx. 25 min. and has a $14.95 reimbursable fee. https://www.nationalcprfoundation.com/courses/standard-cpr-aed-first-aid/
    Email your proof of training and your receipt for reimbursement to the WJBB GM. (If you have been certified through this or other sports/community events/corporate trainings within the last 2 years, send a copy of that certificate; if you shared your certificate with WJBB last year, it will be on record, but please confirm.) 
  4. Background check   
    <> This requirement is to be met annually.   
    <> This is a Head Coach and Assistant Coach requirement.
    A free, confidential background check; this is done annually; create an account or sign in to get started. Results will be sent to you and to the WJBB GM and are kept confidential.
    https://west-jeff-baseball-association.sportngin.com/register/form/040798565 
  5. Coaches Code of Ethics   
    <> This requirement is to be met annually.  
    <> This is a Head Coach requirement. 
    Download the file here; complete, and return it to the WJBB GM.  
  6. Coaches Player Evaluations   
    <> This requirement is to be met annually during the season.  
    <> This is a Head Coach requirement. 
    Directions on this task will be provided by the WJBB Competitive Committee during the season. 

    Note:     Due to increasing state legal requirements being placed on youth sports, coaches will be suspended from coaching in the event all of the above items are not properly on file prior to March 1. Suspended coaches will not be allowed to participate at practices, games, or tournaments until the suspension is lifted. WJBB will notify all governing organizations (RMJBL, USSSA, CABA Colorado, and Triple Crown Sports) of your team’s suspension. EPRD will be notified that your practice field is to be closed for use during your scheduled time (or WJBB will give it to another team). Your team will not be able to play any games or practice until the suspension is lifted by WJBB. 

a Competitive Coach Timeline 

August/September

• New to coaching? Consider being a coach for your player's team. Previous coaches: please consider leading a team again this year. 

• When WJBB registration opens, choose "Volunteer Opportunity" to selecgt a coaching or team manager position. 

• Skill evaluations for players are in October. Please encourage all your previous years' players to attend this mandatory event for Competitive team placement Help spread the word at your school and in your friend groups and encourage others to join the WJBB spring program.



October

• Coach prospects will be notified by the WJBB Board in the weeks following skill evaluations as to their coaching status. Coaches are selected and ranked using a number of factors including coach evaluations, league record, record against other WJBB teams, and where the coach's child ranks in the skill evaluation results. 

• Team formations/draft night will be scheduled for the weeks following tryouts. If you are picked as a Head Coach, you will attend the draft and select your team.
• Once you've contacted and confirmed with each family, you will submit your official roster to the WJBB GM. Once you've been given the go-ahead by the WJBB GM, begin working on coach requirements.

November

• After the draft, make sure you've got good contact information (cell phones, home phones, emails) for all your parents. 

• Select a team name and have your players select jersey numbers. 

• Set up a team meeting between now and mid-January where you can introduce yourselves to the players and parents, set expectations, talk about possible tournaments to attend during the season and their costs, solicit for assistant coaches and parent helpers (scorekeepers, team parent, etc.), and discuss any other pre-season team business.  

• At your parent meeting, there are a few documents you should collect or get filled out at that time:
 1) You should email the Medical Form to your parents and then collect them at this meeting. The medical form can be found here. This form should be with you at all games, tournaments, and practices.
 2) Collect copies of each player's birth certificate (and current report card for players who are playing at League Grade Age). These should be with you at all tournaments in case there are questions about any of your players' eligibility to play.

• If you want to start doing some indoor practices, note this will be a team expense. There are some area batting cages, and you can rent elementary school gymnasiums for indoor practice for $17 per hour. Contact the school secretary to make your own arrangements. Tell them you're with WJBB and utilize our insurance, but schedule the billing to go directly to you or your team parent. Make sure this is not a hardship for some families. 

December/January

• By December 30, please provide a final list of your Assistant Coaches to the WJBB GM. Please make sure that each assistant has begun a coach application and background check. 

• Uniform try-on and ordering takes place in January-February. There will be several emails regarding uniform try-on dates and deadlines. You will need to decide what uniform style, colors, and pieces you want your players to order. Be diligent getting your parents to get their uniforms ordered. Make sure to plan accordingly and order by the early deadline if you will be in early-season tournaments or are a 14U team (their schedule starts earlier than others). 
• In early January, WJBB will be asking for blackout dates, division of play (AA American, AA National, AAA American, AAA National), and preferred practice times. Email your parents and ask them for dates that cause conflicts such as choir and band nights, outdoor labs, Spring Break, field trips etc. RMJBL will allow you to block a few days, meaning they won't schedule a league game on that day.
• Plan on a mandatory coach meeting in January-February with the WJBB Scheduler and GM to go over protocols, practice allocations, scheduling, etc. Start working on your coach requirements before you start practicing. Check your Coach Resource book for other practice ideas.

• If you have families who may need scholarship assistance, please refer them confidentially to the West Jeff GM. WJBB also has some used equipment, cleats, etc., for families who may need some extra support.

• Continue with coach requirements.

February

• Practice field allocations will be released as soon as we can. Fields will not typically be groomed until March, but you can get on your field as soon as it is assigned and open. 
• In mid February or early March we will have an equipment checkout date. You will be informed of the exact date and time via email. You will pick up your equipment at our storage unit at Evergreen Self Storage, 30705 Bryant Drive, Evergreen. If the head coach can not attend, please make arrangements for an assistant or parent to pick up at the assigned time.

March

• Coach Requirements are due March 1 or before a team's first practice. 

• If you haven't already, it's time to register for tournaments. WJBB highly encourages you to play tournaments each season! Find more information about tournaments in the Coach Resource book 

• To access the RMJBL site as a Coach, use your prior year access info. New coaches will have access generated for them from the league. Make sure you get this and that you sign up for text alerts!
• Check that your contact information is accurate in your WJBB account so other coaches can reach you.
• Note: 14U teams begin play in mid-March and end in mid-May.

April

• On or about April 1 of each year, we will send an email to your parents informing them of the approved Coaches for your team for the season. Only coaches that have fulfilled all of the requirements will be allowed at practices, games, and tournaments. 

• League games generally start mid April and go through June. Our 14-year-old teams start earlier in the season (typically mid-March) to accommodate high school/Level III/summer ball.
• In addition to having each player's Medical Form with you at all games and practices, you should have your team proof of insurance and players' birth certificates (or current report card if playing by league grade age), with you at all tournaments. The insurance certificate can be found here. 

May/June

PLAY BALL!

HAVE FUN! 

KNOW THE RULES! 

The RMJBL, USSSA and CABA sites all have various rules that all Coaches should be familiar with. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your age group coordinator, the GM, or a WJBB board member.