Encinitas National Little League

Training Overview and Background Checks

Coaching is tremendously rewarding, but it also comes with some very important responsibilities. Both Little League International and California State Law require coaches to complete a variety of trainings. The information you learn in these courses will make you a better coach and give you the knowledge and skills to keep your players safe.

Little League International also requires coaches to submit to an annual background check through J.D. Palatine (JDP). A link to this background check will be sent to coaches after they have completed their volunteer application.

California Assembly Bill 506 requires all coaches to undergo a Live Scan fingerprint background check. Here is a list of Live Scan locations in San Diego county with the fee ($20 to $45) charged by each facility. You will need to complete a Request for Live Scan as part of the process. The document linked here has our league and district information pre-filled for you.

Little League University

Little League International requires all coaches to complete the Abuse Awareness Training Program offered through Little League University. This training is an essential component of our league's safety plan and provides coaches with the background they need to prevent, spot and mitigate any potential abuse of our players. Coaches need to create a Little League University account, enroll in the Abuse Awareness course and then complete it. The course takes 45 minutes to an hour to complete, and must be done each year.

Little League University has several other courses that can help coaches such as The Diamond Leader and First Aid Awareness. The Diamond Leader is an excellent resource to improve all aspects of coaching players on and off the field. First Aid Awareness provides a good overview of several health and safety concerns specifically related to baseball. While these courses are useful for all coaches, they are not required.

Concussion and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Training

CA Health and Safety Code §124235 requires coaches to complete both a concussion training program and a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) program one time. The Centers for Disease Control offers a free online course about concussions and head injuries called Heads Up that takes about 30 minutes to complete. After clicking on the link, coaches will need to create an account before beginning the course. A certificate of completion will be provided after completing the course, and this should be retained. This course trains our coaches to recognize potential head injuries and take appropriate action to protect the safety and well-being of our players.

The Eric Paredes Save-a-Life Foundation offers a free, 20 minute SCA Prevention Training. This course will provide essential information recognizing cardiac events and how to respond quickly and efficiently in order to save a player's life. Coaches will need to create an account to access this course and should retain the certification they receive after completing the course.

Mandated Reporter Training

Coaches are often a critical lifeline for vulnerable players. Given the nature of the player-to-coach relationship, it is essential that coaches learn how to spot signs of child abuse and know how to respond quickly in order to prevent or stop it. CA Assembly Bill 506 designates all coaches as Mandated Reporters and requires that all coaches complete Mandated Reporter Training one time. Information necessary to meet this essential duty will be updated in the near future.