Thank you for the gift of your time, talent and energy. Coaching can be fun, exciting and rewarding. Nevertheless, it’s a big responsibility. The fact is, the quality of the player experience and successes of the season are in your hands.

Coaching is an important role, but should not be a daunting one. Please keep in mind the following:

No Experience Necessary – As a parent, you already have the basic skill sets you need to be a good coach.
You’re not alone – Your Division Coordinator, Player Agent and many other people are ready and willing to assist you.

You’ve made the commitment to coach. You’ve made it this far. Please read on. And to get the most out of this workbook, don’t forget to do the “Drills” (exercises).

Mission of NSGSL

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The Mission of the North Shore Girls Softball League (NSGSL) is to provide the community with organized recreational girls' softball. The essence of the Mission is:

Our league is committed to being player-centered
The primary purpose is to enhance the self-image of each and every player.

We work to empower our volunteer managers and coaches to create positive athletic experiences for each player with the expressed purpose of enhancing her overall physical, emotional, and social development. As a community resource, we encourage families and the community at large to join together in support of our players as they develop skills and learn how to work toward a goal in cooperation with others.

About Your League

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NSGSL is an affiliate of the Amateur Softball Association (ASA). North Shore Girls Softball League is a non-profit, all volunteer organization providing recreational softball to girls age 5 to 14 from the communities of Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, and Solana Beach.

A volunteer Executive Board and Board of Directors govern the League. The League membership (parents of players) elects the Executive Board. The Executive Board selects the Board of Directors. See the League website for a list of the current Officers and Board Members.

Using This Workbook

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The purpose of this workbook is to help you get the most out of your coaching experience, and to accomplish the Mission of the League. No single source can cover all the things a coach will need to know, including this workbook. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive guide to coaching youth softball. Please use this as a supplement to the other resources at your disposal, as well as your own knowledge and experience. A partial list of helpful resources is available on the League website.

Also, keep in mind that this workbook is an evolving work in progress. Your feedback is welcome and will be appreciated. Send feedback to the league via email to: Coach@NorthShoreGirlsSoftball.com

This remainder of this booklet is organized into these main parts:

Approach to Coaching
Your Role as Coach
Coaching Your Team: Team Selection, Getting Started, Practices, Games, and Other Things You Should Know.

Part 1. Approach to Coaching

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“You win not only because you win games but because you build character in the players you coach.” – Phil Jackson, NBA Coach

You probably have many questions such as, “What should I expect?” as well as, “What is expected of me?” As you approach the beginning of the season and your role as a Manager or Coach, please keep in mind the Mission of the League (see page 1).

If you’ve ever heard the “Story of Shay,” it embodies the spirit of the League. A copy of the story is included at the back of this booklet. You may want to take a moment to read the story and refresh your memory.

The father’s touching story illustrates the duality of the coaching role:

To develop the players as athletes
To develop the character of each player as a person.

Here’s how coaching is viewed in the Arizona Sports Summit Accord:

(source: http://www.charactercounts.org/sports/accord.htm)

The profession of coaching is a profession of teaching. In addition to teaching the mental and physical dimensions of their sport, coaches, through words and example, must also strive to build the character of their athletes by teaching them to be trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair, caring and good citizens.

Drill 1. Review of League Mission

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Please take a moment now for this exercise:

1. Re-read the League Mission Statement on page 1 of this workbook

2. Write in the space below the key words and phrases that stand out to you:

_____________________________________________________

Part 2. Your Role as Coach

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What should you expect from the coaching experience? It will be challenging. And it will take time to prepare and execute properly. However, the rewards can be many and great. In the end, the quality of the coaching experience is up to you.

Drill 2. Rewards of Coaching

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Here are some of the possible rewards from your Coaching experience. Check those that are important to you, and perhaps add a few of your own to the list.

__More time spent with your own daughter

__Positive impact on children

__Passing on your knowledge and skills to others

__Meeting people with common interests

__Developing your skills as a teacher, communicator and motivator

__Enhancing the community through your involvement in the League

_____________________________________________________

What’s expected of you as a coach? Take a look at it from various perspectives of the people you will touch this season.

The players: You are a leader and teacher. Set the tone, goals, expectations and standards. Provide order and structure. Help them learn and improve.

The parents: You are the responsible person. Provide a safe, enjoyable learning experience for the players. Keep the parents informed and lines of communication open.

The league: You are the “face of the league” and link to the players and parents. Stay informed. Be responsive to requests from the Division Coordinator or Player agent. Communicate issues and concerns to the League. Conform to the Code of Conduct, and hold all others to the same standards.

Part 3. Team Selection

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Divisions

Your team is part of an “age-based” Division. Players are placed in a Division according to the player’s calendar year of birth. The Executive Board makes some limited exceptions (see Play Ups). The League has the following Divisions:

Six and Under (6U) – generally kindergarten and first grade
Eight and Under (8U) – generally second and third grade
Ten and Under (10U) – generally fourth and fifth grade
Twelve and Under (12U) – generally sixth and seventh grade
Fourteen and Under (14U) – generally eighth and ninth grade

Selecting the Coaches

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The Executive Board approves the selection of Coaches from among the volunteers. Previous experience is not a requirement. If you’ve coached in the League before, the confidential evaluations by the parents are considered among other factors. All coaches must submit to a “background” check for the safety and integrity of the League.

Team Selection

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6U and 8U – players are placed on a team by the Division Coordinator. Player and Parent requests are considered and accommodated if at all possible.
10U, 12U, and 14U – players are drafted by the team Manager. Player requests cannot be accommodated.

If you’re coaching a team in the 6U or 8U Division, you may wish to skip the next several sections about the Player Previews, Play Ups, and Draft as they do not yet apply to you.

Player Previews

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Player Previews (formerly known as “Evaluations”) are held for all players in the 10U Division and higher. Experienced coaches from the league, often with help from the staff of a local High School Softball program, will conduct standardized drills to observe and evaluate each player in the following areas:

Hitting
Fielding grounders
Fielding fly balls
Throwing
Running

Pitching and Catching Previews : Any player may also be evaluated for pitching and/or catching if she is interested.

This method of assessment isn’t perfect. No method is. Plus it does seem to make many of the players anxious and nervous. Keep in mind that it’s not a “try-out.” Every player will be drafted onto a team. It’s only an effort to achieve parity among the teams.

Play Ups

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