LOS ANGELES (April 8, 2025) ¨C On Saturday, April 12, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) will host its first Coaches Training of the 2025 season in partnership with Nike at Dodger Stadium. The Foundation¡¯s Coaches Training series equips mentors with the tools to teach baseball and softball fundamentals, implement trauma-informed coaching, foster positive youth development, and use sport as a vehicle for social change. The series enhances the quality of LADF¡¯s Sports Based Youth Development (SBYD) work in collaboration with the Center for Healing and Justice through Sport, Positive Coaching Alliance, and Dodgers Training Academy.
Throughout the morning, coaches, including those from the Dodgers Dreamteam program, will participate in three educational sessions focused on best practices for skill development and youth engagement. The training will conclude with a fireside chat with first-base coach, Chris Woodward.
With Jackie Robinson Day approaching on April 15, this training carries added significance, offering a moment to recognize his contributions. In honor of Robinson¡¯s impact, LADF introduced the Living Jackie¡¯s Nine Playbook in 2024, providing coaches with a resource to integrate his core values, such as teamwork, integrity, and leadership, into their coaching. This year, the playbook will launch in Spanish for the first time, expanding its accessibility to a broader community of coaches.
¡°Jackie¡¯s nine values are a guiding light when we look at the importance of trusted mentors and leaders and their roles in inspiring social change and creating future leaders across Los Angeles,¡± said Nichol Whiteman, CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. ¡°We¡¯re proud to welcome our coaches to Dodger Stadium as they prepare to inspire the next generation.¡±
The special event will include exclusive giveaways and photo opportunities with the 2024 World Series trophy. LADF will enter all participating coaches into a raffle, and 100 winners will receive a set of tickets to the Jackie Robinson Day game on April 15. Coaches will also receive custom ¡°Coach for Change¡± shirts, Living Jackie¡¯s Nine Playbook, coaching certificates, and more.
To learn more about becoming a Dodgers Dreamteam coach and impacting the lives of youth, click here.