In 1995, Tina Madison ran out onto the field with her fellow East Region teammates to compete in that year’s Little League Softball® World Series (LLSWS) in Portland, Oregon. Nearly 30 years later, Madison returned to the World Series stage, this time trading in her jersey for a polo as she led her daughters – Jayelyn and Jocelyn Luft – and their Mid-Atlantic Region teammates from the coaches’ box for a chance to compete for a shot at the 2024 LLSWS Championship in Greenville, North Carolina.
While her West Point Little League (Greensburg, Pa.) team ended the tournament with a 3-2 record, eliminated by the eventual champions from North Carolina in the Purple Bracket Championship game, Madison left the tournament with lifelong memories, just like she did in 1995.
“Coaching my daughters is so rewarding and I love sharing those experiences and being a part of it with them,” said Madison. “It’s a whole different experience from when I played. From walking into the equipment room to getting their uniforms, and the Opening Ceremonies. It is something that was a once in a lifetime experience for us to have.”
For coaches like Madison, providing a positive experience on and off the field is one of the most important areas of focus each and every day. To help with the off-the-field training, all tournament coaches within the Little League program are required to complete the Little League® Diamond Leader, which helps provide education and guidance on the social and emotional learning of youth athletes.
Recognized as the March 2025 Little League Diamond Leader of the Month, as part of the Girls with Game® Month celebration, Madison shared her experience in a Diamond Leader Discussion:
From your experience with the Little League Diamond Leader Training Program, why do you think it is important for other coaches and volunteers to take it, as well?
It’s important for coaches to take the Diamond Leader training, whether they are first-time coaches or veterans. There are things in the training program that focuses on lifting players up and reminders that it is bigger than the game of softball. While you still need trainings about safety and how to run a practice, at the end of the day, Little League and coaching youth athletes is bigger than the game of softball and that’s a great message that you get from the Diamond Leader Training.
In coordination with Women’s History Month, Little League is celebrating its Girls with Game Month throughout March. What does it mean to you to be a female coach in the Little League program?
It is extremely important, and I think there need to be more women involved. I am extremely proud to coach young women and show them the skillset they are gaining from being on a team, working with different personalities, stepping up as a leader, and working together towards a common goal. That skillset for girls in sports are great lessons for them to learn at that age and carry with them for the rest of their lives. More and more women who have the skillset, whether it be in softball or coaching in general, should grasp at the opportunity to coach these young ladies and be their role models.
What does it mean to you to be a Diamond Leader and why should others strive to be the same?
I’m proud to be a Diamond Leader. It is something that is a good skillset to have for coaching. I have coached a lot of different softball teams, and with all my experience, I think a lot of people should strive to be a Diamond Leader because the training is different than your typical safety and procedural trainings. It really shows you how to interact with your team, which can lead to accomplishments like playing in the Little League Softball World Series, which we are very proud of.
The Little League Diamond Leader program, which was first piloted with nearly 1,000 Little League volunteers throughout the 2022 season, was created as part of the Susan Crown Exchange’s Million Coaches Challenge and developed in coordination with the Aspen Institute’s Project Play. Focused on ensuring children have a positive, well-rounded experience on and off the field, the Little League Diamond Leader Training Program is a FREE educational resource that provides coaches with an understanding of the impact that mental, social, and emotional well-being has in youth sports through detailed information, interactive scenarios, and a variety of additional resources. Learn more and become a Diamond Leader yourself by visiting LittleLeague.org/DiamondLeader.