This is a pilot program in 2026, and we hope it lays the foundation for a rewarding experience as players grow out of playing in our league.

The Junior Coach Program aims to engage youth ages 14-17 as volunteers for Minor League teams. They will assist in coaching practices and games under the direction of the adult coach. Junior Coaches are expected to demonstrate excellent sportsmanship to younger players as they develop leadership, mentorship, and coaching skills. In addition to registering, we ask applicants the following.

Please share this recommendation form with an adult who can speak to the Junior Coach applicant’s baseball knowledge, sportsmanship, maturity, and leadership potential. The form will take no more than 5 minutes to complete. The form should ideally be completed by a former Little League coach who is not the applicant's parent or guardian. 

While we will seek to find opportunities for each applicant, there may be cases where applicants outnumber the number of teams available. In these cases, we will select players based on the recommendations received.

Because Junior Coaches will work with younger players as volunteers, they will be required to take USA Baseball’s Abuse Awareness for Minors training course, or an equivalent. Participants are asked to complete the first three units, and the conclusion (the fourth unit has some information specific to USA Baseball policies that isn’t directly relevant, so participants can skip that unit). The self-paced online course takes about 30-45 minutes, and covers content that will be familiar to participants from their health classes. Taking an abuse awareness course such as this is a requirement of Little League International, and consistent with Red Hook Rhinebeck Little League’s Safety Plan. A parent or guardian will have to authorize the participant to take the course, and we recommend that, and we recommend taking the course together so youc an discuss its content. 

Junior Coaches play important roles as mentors to younger players. The Code of Conduct identifies behaviors important for promoting safety, assisting adult coaches, and being positive role models. By certifying that you and a parent or guardian have read the Code of Conduct, Junior Coaches commit to adhering to it. Participants who do not meet these expectations may be removed from the program.

Additional optional training courses from Little League University include Safety Awareness, First Aid Awareness, and Diamond Leader. 

Email [email protected] with any questions.

Signing Up

Create an account for the Junior Coach candidate on this site, and then use the link below to register as a volunteer. Boys should volunteer for baseball, and girls for softball.