Current Section
Coaching Requirements
Coach Selection Process
Background
The Prior Lake Fastpitch Softball program is only as good as our coaches. No other single factor has a greater impact on our young players. For that reason, we strive to recruit and select the best coaches we can.
Objectives
There is no perfect process for identifying coaches. However, the Softball Board strongly believes that the process should be open to all interested parents, not just a smaller set with “connections”. We also want to set up our program so that we not only bring in new coaches, but also distribute the best coaches across all the teams, not just within in one age group.
Head Coach Selection Process
The age level Coordinators will make coaching recommendations to the softball board for approval. See section on “Team Formation Process above”
Generally, the process follows the timeline listed below:
1. DEC – JAN: the Softball Board assigns Age Level Coordinators to each softball / softball age group.
2. JAN – FEB: parents express an interest in coaching by signing up thru the P.L.A.Y. online registration system at www.playinfo.org when they submit their child’s registration. This process consists of filling out the coaches’ application and background check. Interested head coaches should attend a pre-season coaches clinic. The softball committee members also recruit coaching candidates.
3. Early MARCH: Candidates are reviewed by the Age Level Coordinators, and the Softball committee. Feedback is captured and considered from multiple sources outlined below:
• Approved background check
• Coaches application completed
• Coaches clinic or other coaches training completed
• Participation in open gyms
• Any PLAY sports board member feedback
• Equipment manager feedback
• Participant feedback
• Parent feedback
• Candidates who have coached before are reviewed for feedback from previous seasons.
In our experience, almost every coach is the subject of a complaint by somebody. Therefore, the committee tries to understand both the overall pattern of feedback from multiple sources AND the coach’s suitability for the age level.
Those Head Coach candidates who have not previously coached for P.L.A.Y. are interviewed informally by one or more selection committee members. The selection committee considers both the interview and any other coaching experience or involvement in youth organizations.
In late MARCH, only after team formation is completed, each Age Level Coordinator reviews the coach volunteer list and drafts a proposed slate of Head Coaches (and alternates) for review by the Traveling Softball board.
Assistant Coach Selection Process
The specific process by which Assistant Coaches are identified and assigned varies by age group.
In general, Assistant-Coaching selections will be made by the Head Coaches, but only from the approved list of assistant coached as outlined by the previous listed process and are subject to board approval.
Methods and Procedure to Dismiss a Coach
1. A formal complaint in writing is made to the Traveling Softball Director with a time period of one week to remedy the complaint. An immediate suspension occurs for the accusation of sexual or physical abuse pending an investigation of the complaint.
2. Coach is given the opportunity to state his/her side of the complaint in person to the softball board. If a Board member’s daughter is on the coach’s team, then the Board member can only act as a witness and has no formal vote in the matter.
3. The Board may give a coach a time of probation during which he/she must work under the observation of another qualified head coach or another competent appointed person.
Coaching Qualifications
Purpose
In selecting coaches, the Prior Lake Fastpitch program is guided by its mission of creating an atmosphere where each player can learn the game, develop and improve her individual skills and have fun while participating in a team sport.
Head Coach Qualifications
(1) At least one year experience as an assistant coach in fastpitch.
(2) Completed one or more of the following Level 1 of ASA/JO National Coaching School, Mary Nutter’s National Coaching School, or recognized coaching clinic.
(3) Attend Prior Lake Fastpitch coach’s orientation.
(4) No prior record of dismissal from another youth association due to any form of abuse.
(5) Must participate in a background check which results in no discrepancies
(6) Pledges to keep the rules and regulations of Prior Lake Fastpitch.
(7) Attend seminar on prevention and care of injuries.
(8) Attend seminar on nutrition, including: pre-game meals, between meal food/drinks, during game eating/drinking, prevention of heat exhaustion.
Assistant Coach Qualifications
(1) Attend Prior Lake Fastpitch coach’s orientation.
(2) No prior record of dismissal from another youth association due to any form of abuse.
(3) Must participate in a background check which results in no discrepancies
(4) Pledges to keep the rules and regulations of Prior Lake Fastpitch.
(5) Assist Head Coach in practices and games.
(6) Try to attend coaching clinics put on by various schools
Reasons for Dismissal
(1) Failure to follow ASA/JO rules concerning conduct during games/tournaments that lead to the coach and/or team being disqualified.
(2) Sexual, physical or verbal abuse of any umpire, parent/spectator or player while conducting the duties of a coach in any capacity.
(3) Violating specific P.L.A.Y. and/or Board policies or rules.
(4) Inability to control players during a practice or games.
(5) Failure to teach skills and strategies of softball relative to the age and classification A,B,C level of play.
(6) Regular and consistent missing of games or tournaments.
(7) Not scheduling or conducting a reasonable amount of practices.
(8) Knowingly putting a player at risk in a game and/or practice.
(9) The Prior Lake Fastpitch Committee reserves the right to make changes at the coaching level, including dismissal, at its sole discretion for any violation of the Coaches Commitment
