Guide to Coaching Girls Youth Softball an Easy Guide for New and Returning Coaches
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Guide to Coaching Girls Youth Softball An easy guide for new and returning coaches Welcome to Coaching with Imperial Beach Girls Softball! Thank you for deciding to coach as Volunteer coaches are a vital aspect to the Imperial Beach Girls Softball league. The season would be incomplete without the help from you and other volunteer coaches. It is the coaches, who teach players the fundamentals of the game, the value of teamwork, and discipline to play the game. We at IBGSB League understand that most girls’ youth softball coaches are parents volunteering to coach their child’s team. We also understand that not all parents that are decide to coach their child’s team may know the rules, regulations, and fundamentals of the game. IBGSB is dedicated to making girls youth softball coaching an easy and painless process for you. Through intensive research, we here at IBGSBL have created a softball manual that will assist you in coaching your team. First time coaches will find this manual to be helpful in learning the rules and fundamentals of the game. Returning coaches will perhaps find new drills or ideas to incorporate in their coaching technique. Within this manual, you will find information on becoming a softball coach, diagrams of the softball field and player positions, ideas for practices and games, detailed descriptions of first aid procedures, and a section for miscellaneous items. The softball material covered in this manual pertains to the basics of the game. This manual is intended to give ideas on how to coach a youth softball team from the perspective of a first time coach. Thank you again for taking time to coach with the Imperial Girls Softball League. Good luck with the upcoming season! Imperial Beach Girls Softball Board of Directors Imperial Beach Girls Softball League 1 IB GIRLS SOFTBALL BOARD MEMBERS Many questions and situation arise about the sport as the softball season progresses. Some of you may know the answer to certain situations and will be able to handle them, while others may require a board member response. President Chuck Thurman 619-245-3255 [email protected] Vice President Gregg Bruce 619-598-2301 [email protected] Secretary April Cosio 619-587-1865 [email protected] Treasurer Juan Rodriguez 858-967-0561 [email protected] Chief Umpire Rebecca Webb 619-646-2152 [email protected] Player Agent Rebecca D’Leon 619-618-6742 [email protected] Risk Manager Leslie Thurman 619-808-8255 [email protected] Special Events Coordinator Mercedes Schmitte 619-261-5391 [email protected] Equipment/Field Manager Steve Streeter 619-793--8525 Concessionaire Manager Lupe Moreno 619-674-0831 [email protected] Concessionaire Asst Manager April Cosio 619-587-1865 [email protected] League Administrator Newt Copeland 619-701-4882 [email protected] Webmaster Anthony Morales 619-240-9775 [email protected] Imperial Beach Girls Softball League 2 BEING A SOFTBALL COACH There is more to being a softball coach than just showing up for practices and games. Being a softball coach means becoming a role model and friend to all players on your team. Coaching a youth softball team requires commitment, dedication, and an overall enjoyment of athletics. All of the coaches for IBGSB’s softball teams are parents that have volunteered or been asked to coach their child’s team. There are coaches who know the rules of the game and have coached for a season or two; and there are coaches that are new to softball and need assistance in learning about the game. We are more than willing to assist in any way we can to help our coaches be the best they can be. WHAT IS INVOLVED IN COACHING In order to become a coach for one of the youth softball teams, there are a few requirements that are required. Each potential coach must fill out a Coach’s Code of Ethics and have a Background Check completed by the ASA Softball Organization . The background check is a procedure the IBGSB Board completes to ensure the safety and well-being of all players in relation to the individuals assigned to coach a given team. It is done free of charge to the potential coach and all results are confidential. FINDING AN ASSISTANT COACH Most coaches opt to have an assistant coach to aide them during practices and games. Since many coaches are working parents, having an assistant coach is beneficial on days that work would prevent you from making it to practices or games on time. Assistant coaches must also pass a background check. Each team is allowed a maximum of 3 coaches and 1 team Mom. An adult female must be present in the dug-out for each game. Team Parents are also required to complete a background check. CONDUCT 1. No parents or spectators are allowed on the field or in the dugout. 2. Use or display of alcohol, tobacco products, or illicit drugs is prohibited during games or practices. 3. Profanity of any kind is prohibited. 4. Unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of the player, coaches, or spectators will not be tolerated. Coaches are responsible for the behavior of his/her team’s fans. If a coach cannot control a fan, a Board Member should be notified immediately. 5. Coaches that are ejected from a game are subject to the following disciplinary actions: First Offense – Suspension for the next game. Second Offense – Suspension for the remainder the season. 6. If a coach is ejected two times during the season, he or she will not be eligible to coach with IBGSB. Ejected coaches must leave the dugout and the field area immediately upon ejection. They may continue to watch the game as a spectator, however, they may not interact whatsoever with the umpires. This will result in a forfeit. Any suspension may be appealed to the IBGSB board for review. Imperial Beach Girls Softball League 3 COACH SELECTION Each year Imperial Beach Girls Softball solicits coaching staffs for each of its Recreational teams. The job descriptions are as follows: MANAGER: Head of Softball Operations for the Team In charge of developing practice plans, practice schedules game lineups and strategies. Primary contact with the Imperial Beach Girls Softball League Provides guidance to athletes on the fundamentals of softball and being a member of a team. COACH: Supports Manager’s practice plans and game strategies Accomplishes tasks of Manager when Manager is not available Secondary contact with Imperial Beach Girls Softball League Provides guidance to athletes on the fundamentals of softball and being a member of a team ASSISTANT COACH: Announces Lineup and keeps batting order prepared Primarily keeps control and organization of the dugout Provides guidance to athletes on the fundamentals of softball and being a member of a team Assists Manager and Coach TEAM PARENT: Helps tend to minor First Aid issues during practices and games Is sometimes chosen to communicate changes in schedule Keeper of the Team Phone Tree Organizes parents and collects completed Code of Conduct forms In most cases, returning Managers and Assistant Coaches are approached first, followed by a search of new candidates that expressed interest via their child’s registration fo rm. In rare cases, a Manager or Assistant Coach may be chosen that does not have any children in the program. This will be done after an interview process conducted by Imperial Beach Girls Softball Board members. Imperial Beach Girls Softball League 4 COACHING STAFF CONTRACT Team Manager Coach/Assistant Coach Team Parent IBGSB is committed to creating opportunities and experiences that will foster the development of positive moral and ethical values, and we strive to promote good sportsmanship among all participants. As a volunteer coach, I hereby pledge to live up to the following code of conduct: 1. I will abstain from using any tobacco or alcohol products in or around the playing field, or the sports complex in which the field is located. I will also refrain from participating in any practice or game activity when it is apparent that I have consumed alcohol prior to arriving. ____ Initials 2. I will refrain from using abusive or profane language in or around the playing field or the sports complex in which the field is located. ____ Initials 3. I will refrain from permitting a player to participate in a practice or game when in doubt as to the player's health or physical condition, and I will abide by a doctor's decision in all matters relating to a player's health or physical condition. ____ Initials 4. I will provide equal opportunities for all players regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, or otherwise qualified characteristic. ____ Initials 5. I will refrain from accepting any gift, gratuity, or favor that might influence my judgment. I will refrain from offering any gift, gratuity, or favor with the intent of obtaining special privileges, and will not exploit any relationship with a player for personal gain or other advantage. ____ Initials 6. I will strive to promote good mental and physical health in all aspects of participation and refrain from any type of verbal or physical abuse of any players. I will make any criticism "constructive" in nature and reserve it for private moments. ____ Initials 7. I will consistently display and demand good sportsmanship in practice and in games, including but not limited to accepting decisions of the officials in a professional manner; refraining from criticizing opposing coaches, players, and spectators; refraining from "r unning up the score" and congratulating opposing teams following a game. ____ Initials 8. I will conduct myself in accordance with all rules, regulations, and determinations of the particular league or program in which I am volunteering.