Growing up in a baseball family, Michael Umpierre hoped his passion for the game would be passed down to his children. Fortunately, his dreams became a reality when both his son and daughter laced up their cleats and stepped onto Capitol City Little League’s field in Washington, D.C.
Thanks to encouragement from his wife, Mr. Umpierre stepped onto the diamond with them with his coach’s cap on.
“I will continue to coach as long as my kids want me to,” said Mr. Umpierre. “It’s really special to coach them, their friends, their peers, and to be able to do it as part of the Capitol City Little League community.”
Celebrating his efforts as a volunteer coach, Mr. Umpierre was recognized at the 2024 Little League Baseball® World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, as the recipient of the Little League Baseballl Lance Coach of the Year Award.
Also recognized as the October 2024 Little League® Diamond Leader of the Month, Mr. Umpierre shared his 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?
Just like our players, coaches need training, too. It is wonderful to have a training that’s not just about how you put a practice plan or baseball strategy together, but instead, one that focuses on youth development and supporting kids to do well both on and off the field. Those types of opportunities for a coach are amazing and I think our entire coaching community is privileged to have access to that because we all need it.
What does it mean to you to be a Diamond Leader and why should others strive to be the same?
When I think about the moments that we have experienced as a team, there are memories that stand out to me that I will never forget or that the kids will never forget, and they aren’t necessarily about a specific winning game or well executed practice, but, it is about the things they learned that can be used in their life beyond baseball… Those moments can’t happen without a coach who believes in the player, who shows they are there to elevate them and lift them up, and who identifies ways each player can grow and learn by identifying their individual ability and talent, which may not be baseball skills but instead how well they support their teammates.
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.