
Time is Running Out on
Background Checks and ACE
Attention J.O. Managers/Coaches: Time is Running Out! Less than a month
until the first 2010 ASA Qualifier. Don't forget ... Background Checks and
ACE MUST BE COMPLETED FOR ANYONE ON THE FIELD WITH THEIR TEAM. If you
haven’t already, get checked and get certified.
If you are having problems, please contact
Katie Kay or Kim Townsend NOW to get
it taken care of ... DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE! As of April 2, there
would be a lot of teams without their complete coaching staffs on the field.
Also make sure to check your team invoice to make sure it has been approved
and there are no issues. If there are issues, please get them corrected.
ACE Certification and Background Checks REQUIRED For J.O.
in 2010
Effective January 1, 2010, every coach of teams playing in Championship play
MUST be ACE Certified with a background check. The background check will
automatically be included with the ACE Certification. Also, per ASA National
Office, ANY and EVERY ADULT in the dugout MUST have a background check. This
includes scorekeepers, trainers, etc. The background check must be done through
Georgia ASA and all adults in the dugout MUST wear the ID Card verifying the
background check was conducted. Everyone who takes the ACE Certification
Training will receive the required ID Card. The cost of the background check not
associated with ACE is not yet known. This information will be posted as soon as
it is finalized.
Any questions, please contact
Al Dattolo
(Georgia ASA Commissioner),
Katie Kay (Georgia Junior Olympic Commissioner) or
Kim Hamilton
(Georgia Junior Olympic Commissioner)
ACE Available Online
Coaches who had an active certification as of 2007 can access the online
system with their prior information and continue their certification
beginning with the next appropriate level. New coaches can begin certifying
online with Level 1. Coaches can watch the ACE Coaching Certification
instructional videos and complete their certification tests at
http://ace.usasoftball.com.
The ACE (Achieve, Certify, Educate) Coaching Certification Program is a
certification program, developed and designed to provide softball coaches of
all levels – from beginning coaches to experienced veterans – an opportunity
to certify as a coach with the ASA.
As the National Governing Body of Softball, it is the ASA’s responsibility
to ensure that coaches achieve a certain level of understanding of what
their duties are as coach of a youth softball team. The ACE certification
videos and the ACE Certification Manual are practical guides to the everyday
situations coaches will encounter as youth softball coaches. After obtaining
the ACE certification, coaches will be well prepared to coach a youth
softball team.
The ACE Coaching Certification Program consists of four levels of
certification. Coaches will begin with the ACE Level 1 certification. For
$25.00, in Level 1 coaches will learn the fundamentals of managing a team.
Once a coach has become certified at Level 1 he or she may then move on to
Level 2. In this level, coaches will be introduced to the fundamentals of
playing the game and will gain valuable instruction tips for players in all
positions from USA National Team Head Coach Mike Candrea, all for $20.00. As
a Level 2 certified coach, the coach can then work toward ACE Level 3
certification. In this level the coach will continue to gain valuable
knowledge of the game from Coach Candrea and other USA National Team
Coaches, again for only $20.00. Finally, any coach who has completed ACE
Level 3 Certification is eligible to move on to the Continuing Education
level of the ACE program. In this level coaches will be tested on their
knowledge of ASA Playing Rules and Regulations. ACE Continuing Education
costs $20.00. The Continuing Education tests will be updated every year to
reflect changes made to the ASA’s Playing Rules and Regulations.
Another feature that the new ACE Online Program will include is the ability
for coaches to review the content of the certification videos at any time
after they have completed the certification tests. Also, coaches will also
be able to view and print their ACE Coaching Certificate and Insurance Forms
at any time after completing their certification test. Along with these
features, coaches will be privileged to previous ACE benefits which include
liability insurance coverage when coaching an ASA registered team,
personalized membership card as an ASA/USA Softball ACE Coach, and take-home
copy of ACE Coaching Certification manual.
For more information, contact
Katie Kay or Kim Hamilton.