Providing educational resources for coaches, parents, players, and umpires continues to be a priority for strengthening the game at the grassroots level by raising the standard of education. Online education courses, certification pathways, sample practice plans, a drill library, youth and high school baseball manuals, the American Development Model, Develops Blog, and more can all be found on the USA Baseball Develops website at USABDevelops.com.

American Development Model
The American Development Model (ADM) is a multi-stage training and recovery pathway that guides an individual’s experience in sport and physical activity through all developmental phases from infancy to adulthood. The ADM provides a framework for systematically developing sporting excellence and increasing active participation in local, regional, and national sport organizations.

Online Educational Resources
Education is one of the fundamental building blocks of the game. As such, USA Baseball's educational resources emphasize a culture of development, safety, and fun within the sport through online training courses and programs for players, parents, coaches, and umpires. Content is available in both English and Spanish.

Coach, Umpire, and Parent Certifications
The USA Baseball Certification Pathways are educational programs for all individuals who are currently in the sport of baseball or aspire to learn more. The program aims to create a higher standard of education and enhance the ability of coaches, umpires, and parents to better serve their athletes, their team, and the communities. The program aspires to create a culture of continuing education, professional development, and active mentorship among the baseball community. We are pleased to offer Coach, Umpire, and Parent Certification pathways to help you on your journey in our national pastime. All certification pathways are offered in English and Spanish.

Coaches Clinics
The Coaches Clinics program provides in-person and online training and educational sessions coupled with networking and professional growth opportunities. USA Baseball offers two types of clinics: community and regional.

Develops Blog
The USA Baseball Develops blog offers a variety of content, including baseball play breakdowns, medical information on elbow and shoulder injuries, nutrition insight, parent advice, umpire material, previously recorded virtual coaches’ clinics, and more. Content is offered in both English and Spanish.

Mobile Coach
The Mobile Coach is a revolutionary tool that aims to simplify practice planning for baseball coaches at all levels. These tools include a drill library with over 300 baseball-specific drills, prepopulated practice plans, the ability for coaches to create their own practice plans, Youth Baseball Skills Matrix, and more.

Pitch Smart
Pitch Smart is a joint initiative by Major League Baseball and USA Baseball that provides a series of practical, age-appropriate guidelines to help parents, players, and coaches avoid overuse injuries and foster long, healthy careers for youth pitchers.

Baseball Manuals
USA Baseball offers both a Youth Baseball Manual and a High School Baseball manual to help organizations and schools create successful programs through positive, development-based experiences for their athletes.

USA Baseball App
The USA Baseball App, free for all users, includes practice planning tools, a drill library, information on athlete safety, and all education resources.

BASE
In February of 2018, Senate Bill 534 was implemented. This bill amends the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to extend the duty to report suspected child abuse, including sexual abuse, to certain adults who are authorized to interact with minor or amateur athletes at a facility under the jurisdiction of a national governing body. This bill also amends the Amateur Sports Act of 1978 to authorize national governing bodies to develop training, practices, policies, and procedures to prevent the abuse of minor or amateur athletes.

In response to Senate Bill 534, USA Baseball has developed the BASE (Baseball Athlete Safety Education) initiative. BASE is USA Baseball's zero-tolerance policy for abuse of any kind in baseball. It is comprised of four areas - reporting, background checks, education and training, and minor athlete safety policies. This initiative ultimately seeks to eliminate all forms of abuse and misconduct in our sport.

All Adult Participants at USA Baseball events are required to undergo a background check, complete a U.S. Center for SafeSport course or an Abuse Awareness course, and sign the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPPs). Adult Participants and other event participants who fail to complete or pass any of these requirements will not be permitted the to participate in a USA Baseball event.

Athlete Safety Requirements 

• Background Check
• All coaches participating in USA Baseball events are required to complete a Comprehensive or Medical Professional background check through USA Baseball’s national service provider, JD Palatine.
• For more information regarding background checks, click here.
• Online Abuse Awareness Training
• All coaches participating in USA Baseball events are required by law to complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport Trained course, or one of the SafeSport Refresher courses if they have previously completed the SafeSport Trained course.
• To view parent and athlete U.S. Center for SafeSport resources and courses, click here.
• Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPPs)
• All coaches participating in USA Baseball events are required to read and sign the MAAPPs.
• The MAAPPs outline, in detail, acceptable and prohibited interactions between Adult Participants and Minor Athletes.
• All one-on-one interactions between an Adult Participant and Minor Athlete MUST be observable and interruptible.
• To read the MAAPPs, click here.

Ineligible List
In addition to background checks and training, USA Baseball publishes a list of banned and suspended individuals from USA Baseball sponsored or sanctioned activities based on being accused, indicted, arrested or convicted of any crimes sexual or violent in nature on our website. The Ineligible List can be found here.

Report Abuse
By law, everyone is a mandatory reporter. If you have experienced abuse or misconduct, or know of abuse or misconduct that has taken place at a USA Baseball event, please report the incident to any of the USA Baseball representatives listed below, or click here to report via USA Baseball’s Online Reporting Form (this can be done anonymously).

• Paul Seiler
  Executive Director/CEO
  [email protected]
  (919) 474-8721 x213

• Lauren Rhyne
  Senior Director, Athlete Safety & Education
  [email protected]
  (919) 474-8721 x242

• Lisa Braxton
  Director, Athlete Safety
  [email protected]
  (919)-474-8721 x243

Or any USA Baseball Staff member you feel comfortable with. For more information on BASE, please visit USABASE.org.