Training & Development

The Little League Training and Development Program (TAD) Guidelines provide structured learning opportunities for children within a local league’s boundaries.

One-Time TAD Clinic Concept

The one-time clinic concept is perfect for those leagues that want to offer some type of programming but are limited by space and/or volunteers. The concept is as follows:

  • Select a date that is after the conclusion of your regular season, but before the start of other sport seasons.
  • Find a number of volunteers that can commit time for that date.
  • Send home flyers to all players during the regular season and use the league’s social media page(s) to inform families of this clinic date.
  • Find a site, a field, a local gymnasium or batting cage.
  • Organize the agenda which should have instructional components as well as a game or contest component to create some fun.
  • Determine if participation awards are needed.
  • Identify players who are “natural leaders” and utilize them as mentors for younger/more inexperienced players.

Regular TAD Clinics Concept

The regular TAD clinic concept is arranged around a number of set dates throughout the late summer and/or fall. It is designed to provide numerous opportunities for instruction through a specified time frame. The concept is as follows:

  • Select the dates to operate the concept. (For Example – Every Tuesday Evening from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. – during the month of September)
  • Find a number of volunteers to assist in the training.
  • Send home flyers during the regular season announcing the Fall program and promote regularly using the league’s social media page(s).
  • Organize your instruction. (For example – create instructional stations and fun skills competitions for the players to rotate through and institute game atmosphere sparingly). For younger children utilize the Little League Tee Ball and Coach Pitch lessons available on Little League University (LittleLeagueU.org).
  • Interleague play could possibly be arranged with surrounding leagues.
  • Determine if participation awards are needed.
  • Introduce baseball- or softball- related skill game (i.e. – “pepper,” long toss, base running relay race)
  • Identify players who are “natural leaders” and utilize them as mentors for younger, more inexperienced players.

Informal League Play TAD Concept

The informal league play TAD concept is designed for those leagues that strictly want to play extra games with little additional structured instruction. The concept is as follows:

  • Determine the number of volunteers needed
  • Determine number of players needed to form teams
  • Inform players during the regular season of the Fall Ball availability
  • Determine length of Fall schedule
  • If more than one team and not interleague playing, determine draft method. ( Re-draft method preferred )
  • Determine if participation awards are needed.
  • Alternate managers and coaches between teams so players are exposed to varying leadership/teaching methods.
  • Identify players who are “natural leaders” and utilize them as mentors for younger/more inexperienced players.

Did you know…

  • There is no additional charter fee to operate a Training and Development season.
  • There is no additional general liability or accident insurance fee to operate a Training and Development season  (as long as coverage was already acquired for the same divisions under the group plans available through Little League International in South Williamsport, Pa.)
  • there is no minimum number of players needed to operate a Training and Development season.
  • League age 12-year-olds may move up to the Junior/Senior Division or stay in the major division for the Training and Development season.

NOTE: There are no additional insurance fees to operate a TAD program provided the league has enrolled in the insurance program for local Little Leagues previously in the offered divisions of play. Example: The league chooses to offer the Intermediate (50/70) Baseball division during TAD for the first time. Since they were not chartered/insured for this division in the spring, they must do so before offering the program in TAD. If the league has two TAD 50/70 teams and they had two 50/70 teams chartered in the spring, no additional requirements are needed.