2025 VOLUNTEER CHECKLIST: TEN STEPS TO SUCCESS
☐ Register as a volunteer at www.millvalleyll.org (annually)
☐ Complete the JD Palatine (JDP) background check (annually)
☐ Complete Little League International’s required Abuse Awareness Training (online; annually)
☐ Complete First Aid Training (biannually; odd-numbered years)
☐ Complete Field Maintenance Training (annually)
☐ Attend Positive Coaching Alliance workshop (annually; double-goal coaching on the odds, DEI on the evens)
☐ Participate in the appropriate volunteer Field Maintenance Day (Edna, Boyle, Friends, or Alto) (dates TBD)
☐ Sign the Coach’s Code of Conduct (annually)
☐ Complete Livescan fingerprinting (one and done; Opening Day for new volunteers)
☐ Pick Up and Return Equipment (dates TBD)
WHEN YOU REGISTER YOUR KID:
1. Register as a Volunteer: Go to https://www.millvalleyll.org/, click on “Register” in the top right hand corner, and login to your account. Once you’ve logged in, click “Volunteer” on the left side of the screen, and then “Find Volunteer Roles”. Then, under “2025 Spring Mill Valley Little League”, click “View Divisions”, select the appropriate division, click “View Selected Opportunities” at the lower left, and then “Head Coach/Manager” or “Assistant Coach”. From there,provide the requested information. Be aware that this step does not replace direct contact with the Commissioner of the division for which you’d like to volunteer. Please do both! Check Contact Info by Division to find your commissioner.
2. Complete the JD Palatine (JDP) Background Check: This is a requirement of Little League International. When you register as a volunteer, you’ll also complete the information needed for the JD Palatine background check. Be aware that this is not the actual background check - you’re just providing the information needed to generate it! We upload the data you’ve provided to JD Palatine, and they will send you a link - you must follow the steps in this link to complete the background check process. This is required annually, so even if you did it last year, you have to do it again this year. No background check = no volunteering.
BEFORE PRACTICE BEGINS:
3. Complete Abuse Awareness Training. In late 2018, USA Baseball launched BASE (Baseball Athlete Safety Education) as its zero-tolerance campaign for any type of abuse within the sport of baseball. Under the auspices of US Senate Bill 534, and the governance of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, there are many policies now in place to ensure minor athlete well-being is at the forefront of every sport. Effective in 2024, Little League International now requires abuse awareness training for all volunteers. The 30-minute online training program is called “Adult Awareness for Adults” and it can be accessed here: https://www.littleleague.org/university/articles/abuse-awareness-training-course/. Our league ID number is 4050306. This training is required annually.
4. Complete Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Training. This is a State of California requirement. Assembly Bill 379 (January 1, 2020) requires that “all Coaches and Referees associated with youth sports programs must complete Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) training.” This 20-minute online training program is available at this link: https://epsavealife.org/sca-prevention-training/. We ask volunteers to complete this training every other year (even-numbered years); it is not required in 2025.
5. Complete Concussion Training. California Health and Safety Code §124235 requires all coaches, administrators, and (adult) umpires to offer concussion and head injury education annually. Further, all must successfully complete training (either online or in person) before supervising an athlete in an MVLL activity. This 30-minute online training program is available at this link: https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/training/youth-sports.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/youthsports/training/index.html. We ask volunteers to complete this training every other year (even-numbered years); it is not required in 2025.
6. Complete First Aid Training: First Aid training is required by Little League International. MVLL provides in-person training by a licensed professional every other year (odd-numbered years). At least one manager or coach from each team must attend a session, but we encourage all volunteers to participate. Licensed paramedics, doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners are exempt. In 2025, first aid training is scheduled for Saturday, March 8, 9 AM - 10 AM and Sunday, March 9, 9 AM - 10 AM; choose either one of these sessions; both will be held at Boyle Minors.
7. Complete Field Maintenance Training: Annually, MVLL requires managers and coaches to learn or refresh themselves on daily field maintenance tasks such as raking, watering, and tarping. Veteran managers and coaches may be excused at the discretion of the Fields & Facilities Coordinator. In 2025, Field Maintenance training is scheduled for Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, immediately following First Aid Training (approximately 10 AM - 11 AM). Choose either one of these sessions; both will be held at Boyle Minors.
8. Attend Positive Coaching Alliance workshop:
Even Numbered Years - DEI Training: Beginning in 2024, the City of Mill Valley, as a condition of MVLL’s use of City of Mill Valley fields, is requiring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Training, as follows:
“Effective January 1, 2024, all youth sporting organizations are expected to provide DEI training to their staff, coaches and volunteers through PCA. Leagues will be required to submit a coach list with training completion date prior to opening day games or active game play.” (City of Mill Valley, Athletic Field Use and Allocation Policy for Youth Sports Organizations, October 26, 2023)
If you have previously completed this DEI training with MVLL, MVSC, Southern Marin LAX, or any other youth sports organization locally or elsewhere, you do not need to repeat it. We do not have DEI training in 2025.
Odd Numbered Years - Double Goal Coaching: The PCA’s Double-Goal coaching workshop equips managers and coaches to positively pursue the goals of athletic success and (more importantly) teaching life lessons and developing character through sports. Coaches learn to value effort, positive attitude and learning from mistakes; the importance of creating a positive and encouraging environment on their teams; and playing the game with honor and integrity - respecting themselves and their opponents, winning and losing with grace, and achieving the ultimate goal of youth sports: the children have fun and want to play again next year. We require all managers and coaches to attend this training once every two years, regardless of which organization you took it with (e.g., if a manager or coach attended a PCA double-goal coaching workshop with MVSC in the previous fall, we do not require that manager or coach to attend it again with MVLL in the subsequent spring). The PCA workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, February 26th at 6:00 PM at the Mill Valley Community Center.
9. Participate in Field Maintenance Day: After a long winter, the baseball diamonds are in need of care. Prior to the beginning of the season, MVLL organizes Field Maintenance Days at the diamonds we use. Anyone can participate - parents, children, managers, coaches - many hands make light work. We ask Rookie and Star teams to participate at Edna; Farm, AAA, Minors and Majors at Boyle and Friends; and Juniors at Alto. Dates will be announced.
10. Sign the Coach’s Code of Conduct: Managers and coaches are required to review and sign the Coach's Code of Conduct.
ON OR BEFORE OPENING DAY:
11. Effective, January 1, 2022, California Assembly Bill 506 AB 506 requires all Employees, Registered Adult Volunteers, and Regular Volunteers (age 18 or older) who have more than 16 hours a month (or 32 hours per year) of contact with a youth to complete a Live Scan background check (the digital version of inked fingerprinting). This is a one-time requirement per organization. MVLL will provide Live Scan at Opening Day, on March 15, 2025.
· If you have previously completed Live Scan for MVLL, you do not need to repeat it.
· If you have previously completed Live Scan for another organization, but not MVLL, you will need to repeat it.
If a volunteer is unable to complete Live Scan at Opening Day, there are many places in Marin County to complete it for a small fee prior to Opening Day - see your list of options here. MVLL will reimburse you; please submit your receipt to our Treasurer, Jon Schick ([email protected]).