Wanting to give young female athletes more than what she was offered at their age, Kenidi White joined the Centex Little League program in Little River-Academy, Texas, as a volunteer softball coach.
“I love to coach kids, whether it’s basketball or softball, and to be a part of making them better both on and off the field,” said Ms. White. “Having a coach that wants to establish a connection and shows you believe in them is sometimes all a young female athlete needs to be able to go out onto the field and be their best, not only for their benefit but for their teammates, too.”
In 2024, Ms. White traveled to Kirkland, Washington, with her team of softball players to compete as the Southwest Region representative in the Junior League Softball World Series. The Southwest girls made it to the semifinals and while they lost, they left the fields with lifelong memories.
“A favorite memory would probably have to be just being around people from all over the world. From seeing the different coaching styles to watching all of the athletes pick each other up during games, and just the pure joy on the girls’ faces knowing they were getting the chance to show off their talent at such a young age,” said Ms. White. “They are young kids taking advantage of this opportunity and making the most of it, and I loved being a part of it.”
Recognized as the November 2024 Little League Diamond Leader of the Month, as part of the Girls with Game 50 Celebration, Ms. White recently shared her experience with the program and the training in a Diamond Leader Discussion:
From your experience with the Little League Diamond Leader Training Program, why do you think it is important for not just coaches, but for all volunteers to take the training?
The Diamond Leader training taught me how to build a relationship with each of the players, how to find trust within each other, and how to push them to be better than what they think their best is both on and off the field. The training does a great job of showing through examples how to help each player understand the game without belittling them because it is a learning process that takes both time and practice.
As Little League celebrates Girls with Game 50 (#GWG50) in 2024, what does it mean to you to be a female volunteer in the program, coaching the next generation of female athletes?
It feels incredible. My coaches were all females growing up and they distilled most of the qualities that I now try to implement with my players today. It’s an honor because these girls have taught me a lot, as well. Female players NEED their female coaches to be there for them whether it’s as a listener, a big sister, or a role model. I am thankful for the opportunity to be there for these young women and to have been a part of such amazing, unforgettable experiences like the Junior League Softball World Series and I hope there are more to come!
What does it mean to you to be a Diamond Leader and why should others strive to be the same?
Being a Diamond Leader means a lot to me because it goes to show that I can be myself as their coach with the sole purpose of making them better teammates on the field and better human beings off the field and it works. I want to be a reason that these kids want to achieve the highest goals in life because of the confidence I am instilling in them. I don’t want my athletes to feel like they can’t do something because they can accomplish anything they set their mind to if they display three things: class, pride, and character. Other coaches should strive to be the same because being a good communicator, a listener, a role model, a positive person, and someone who shows they understand can go a long way when working with young athletes.
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.
NOTE: The Little League Diamond Leader Discussions is a piece of the #GWG50 Celebration in 2024, with interviews of select Girls with Game who have completed the Little League Diamond Leader training program and exemplify their learnings at their local fields. To learn more about this initiative, visit LittleLeague.org/GWG50. The #GWG50 celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committed to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating around key events and milestones this year.