If you’ve ever coached youth sports, you might be familiar with this situation.

Your team is suddenly trailing by five runs, and it feels like just moments have passed. Your son is in tears, while other players are beginning to lose hope.

Whether Michael Umpierre’s team, the Waterdogs, managed to turn the game around in the Little League championship in Washington, D.C., didn’t factor into the selection of the national baseball coach of the year.

What held significance was how Umpierre addressed the challenges of the game, which perfectly exemplified the spirit the award represented.

“The whole talk lasted just a minute or two, but you could really see how it affected the kids,” says Jeff Skinner, an assistant coach on the team.

In that moment, winning became a distant goal. It was time to EAT.

Umpierre has been honored as the 2024 Little League Coach of the Year for baseball, an award that celebrates the dedication of countless volunteers in youth sports and represents what it means to be a positive coach.

“I never saw him get upset in the dugout, even when things went wildly wrong during the game,” Skinner shares with YSL News Sports. “Mike was always there to give a high five and encourage kids, assuring them he believed they could succeed next time.”

This narrative revolves around a coach from Capitol City Little League, his team of 9 to 11-year-olds, and how they faced challenges, ultimately bonding through the mantra “Let’s EAT!”

Umpierre (often called “Coach Mike”) is the son of Cuban immigrants and has dedicated his career to supporting children. Here’s what other youth sports coaches and parents can take away from his insights.

As a coach, you’re not just forming a team; you’re fostering a community.

Paul and Maritza Umpierre came to Los Angeles from Cuba, with Paul arriving in 1959 and Maritza in the 1960s. They had little English proficiency or resources.

“They understood that a supportive community is essential,” shares Umpierre, the middle child with an older brother, Chris, and a younger brother, Justin.

The idea of community became central when they began their family and when Paul took on coaching youth baseball. Baseball represented more than just a game to him; it was a vital way to help his sons learn about teamwork and looking past personal achievements.

The collective power of the community surpassed that of any single individual, creating a nurturing and friendly space.

“It wasn’t only about winning; it was about the team coming together and doing their best, concentrating on effort, attitude, and their contributions,” reflects Michael Umpierre, now 45. “The most cherished memories I have are from those teams where everyone supported each other and enjoyed the experience together.”

Some coaches approach Little League, a fundamentally community-oriented sport, as if it were travel baseball. They prioritize their best players while other kids barely get a chance to play.

This leads to many children sitting on the bench, watching their teammates excel and losing faith in their own abilities.

Umpierre believes every child deserves an opportunity. This philosophy guided him into a successful legal career and his role as director of the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University. It has also shaped his coaching after marrying Rachael Overcash and welcoming two children, Alexander, 11, and Josephine, 7.

“No matter what skill level your child has—whether they are an outstanding player, new to baseball, or struggling yet passionate about the game—Mike is there to help them grow,” explains Luke Hartig, whose son Jed played for Umpierre’s Waterdogs. “He teaches skills, instills fundamentals, and encourages focus on individual growth instead of comparing to others. That’s really important. He fosters a culture of fairness.”

Umpierre utilizes a detailed spreadsheet to ensure every player gets equal opportunities throughout the lineup. He also guarantees they each spend adequate time in various positions, allowing everyone a chance to shine.

“Many kids find encouragement in this coach’s spirit,” Hartig notes. “This is the team member who uplifts their teammates from the dugout and motivates them during tough moments. Mike excels at identifying the unique contributions each child can make that enhance the team’s success.

“I’ve witnessed talented players elevate their game and inspire their teammates. I’ve also seen children who struggled in baseball suddenly excel, exceeding their own expectations because Mike believed in them and fostered a culture of confidence within the team.”

‘Let’s EAT!’ Three

Ways to Characterize Your Team

Last season, Umpierre took on the role of manager in Triple A, which is just a notch below the major leagues, similar to what you see at the Little League World Series. Games at the Triple A level often feature a notable amount of walks and pauses before reaching the six-inning limit typical for a game.

In one notable incident last year, Skinner, the assistant coach, observed a player willingly give up his prized spot at third base to a teammate who had only seen one inning in the infield.

“Let’s EAT, coach!” yelled the boy as he sprinted out to right field.

Umpierre created this phrase in hopes that his players would be recognized not only for their baseball skills but also for their Effort, Attitude, and Teamwork.

“Let’s EAT” was a call for players to give their all on the field without the fear of making mistakes.

“I’m not convinced that fear of being benched after a mistake motivates players,” Umpierre states.

When a mistake happened, the idea was that everyone would “brush it off.” Umpierre demonstrated this by putting his hand on his shoulder, a gesture the kids started to imitate during matches.

This also translated to awarding a game ball to the standout player and handing out a pack of baseball cards to a player exhibiting a good attitude.

Team spirit extended beyond game day. It involved supporting player Silviu Bugg during his school musical, which sometimes interfered with practice times.

Bugg’s face brightened when he spotted his coach and teammates, who had become like family, in the audience.

“The kids adored Mike,” Skinner shares. “He would kick off postgame huddles with a smile and a nod, and soon, the kids would join in cheering without any prompts — a truly organic approach to team building. The players often turned to Mike for comfort after tough innings; he was always ready with words of encouragement or a listening ear. This kindness reached even players from opposing teams! In the playoffs, a downcast kid from the other side approached Mike after we won. Mike reassured him about his effort and predicted a bright future for him next year, which visibly lifted the boy’s spirits.”

Effort is Separate from Winning

Amanda Visek’s popular research on what makes sports enjoyable for kids highlighted 81 factors linked to fun for young athletes, parents, and coaches.

The top three enjoyable aspects for kids were effort, positive teamwork, and supportive coaching. This suggests that kids push themselves for their teammates and respond positively to coaches because they genuinely enjoy it, not merely aiming for victory.

“When you concentrate on the process, the pressure on the kids diminishes,” Umpierre notes. “They feel freer to try their best without the fear of disappointing their coach or their team.

“Once I understood that focusing on the process was key, an interesting thing occurred — the results started to come.”

Judges from Little League, alongside partners like Lance sandwich crackers and the Positive Coaching Alliance, evaluated over 3,500 nominations — a record for the six years of this competition across Little League’s baseball, softball, and challenger divisions.

Umpierre’s motto of “Let’s EAT” and its underlying teaching methodology shone through.

“This guiding principle not only encourages hard work and positive sportsmanship during games but also inspires players to apply it in other aspects of their lives, such as schoolwork and community service,” states Victoria Strang, marketing director at Lance. “We closely assess how well a coach aligns with desired traits—being a reliable and positive role model, demonstrating excellent leadership, and showing respect towards other teams, officials, and leagues.”

“Nominations for Coach Michael came from parents, colleagues, and previous players, with common themes emerging — he isn’t merely a coach; he remains a positive role model for his athletes, both on and off the field.”

But had he truly prepared his team for this challenge?

Lowering the Pressure Eliminates the Pressure to Win. But Victory Might Still Follow.

As Umpierre received recognition this past weekend by throwing the first pitch at a Little League World Series game in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, his players were attentively watching him.

Now, let’s revisit the Waterdogs’ situation during their championship match when they faced a 5-0 deficit. Skinner’s son, David, the team’s star pitcher, was having an off day. Umpierre entrusted the ball to his son, Alexander, with two outs and the bases loaded at the top of the first inning.

Alexander was overwhelmed with tears.

“Dad,” he exclaimed, “this game is over. We’ve lost the championship.”

“Just go out there and give it your all,” Mike assured him. “I believe in you.”

Alexander secured the out and delivered two more scoreless innings, leading the team to a comeback victory.

“That’s a moment he can hold onto throughout his life, in any situation,” his father reflects. “Whenever he feels uncertain, he can recall this instance and realize that when things seemed dire, he found an inner strength he wasn’t aware he possessed.”

Skinner reminisces about the enormous grin on Mike’s face when the team arrived in the dugout after the first inning.

“He provided a pep talk on the significance of brushing off challenging innings, especially since we had six more at-bats to recover,” Skinner recalls. “As we gradually chipped away at the lead during the following innings, Mike never showed a hint of concern about the score.”

What stands out in your memories of your favorite coach?

Was it solely the wins you celebrated, or was it also the way your coach interacted with you during those games? Was it the encouraging words after a key performance, or how they seemed to recognize exactly what you needed?

Do you remember how you felt after a difficult defeat?

Perhaps it was something he mentioned that brought a smile to your face, like a funny team motto.

The children who have played under Coach Mike are sure to cherish these moments.