Coaches’ Corner

NGSoftball depends upon the dedication and effort of its volunteer coaches who devote many hours each season to support this program. Well-planned practices, run by caring and trained coaches, with well-played games by girls learning and enjoying softball will define our success. Women are particularly encouraged to volunteer. Experience and knowledge of the game is preferred for coaches, but not required.  NGSoftball can provide numerous resources (clinics, books, videos, etc.) to help you improve your coaching skills.

Coaches should place a priority on teaching the game of softball (skills, rules and strategy). Coaches should take the game seriously, but not at the expense of fair playing time for all players or running up the score, which is poor sportsmanship. The final score will be forgotten 30 minutes after the game is played. Poor sportsmanship on the part of a coach or a teammate(s) will be remembered much longer.

Most girls will enjoy improving their skills, spending time with their teammates, and yes, winning. Achieving two out of the three should be considered a successful and fun event.

For more information please contact Doug Clott
For more details regarding the policies that guide the operation of our league click Policies & Guidelines

2012 Coach Clinics & Meeting

2012 Coach Roster, Rules and Equipment Meeting

• Grades 1/2: Thursday, March 22, 2012
• Grade 3/4: Tuesday, March 27, 2012
• Grade 5/7: Thursday, March 29, 2012
• Time: 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Meeting begins promptly
• Location: MacKenzie Community Center, 1337 Centre Street Newton Center 02459. Plenty of parking in the rear lot.

ALL coaches are excepted to attend BOTH the coaches skills clinic and their Grade roster meeting. At the roster meeting you will receive your team roster and equipment. We will review the 2011 rules and share practice ideas.

2012 Coach Skills Clinic

• Grade 1/2 Tuesday April 10, 2012
• Grade 3/4 Wednesday, April 11, 2012
• Grade 5/7 Thursday, April 12, 2012
• Time: 7:00 - 9:00 pm
• Location: Oak Hill Middle School Gym, 130 Wheeler Road, 02459.
• All coaches are expected to attend

2012 Mid-Season Coaches Meeting

• Date: 8:00 pm Wednesday, May 23
• Location: Emerson Community Center

We will breakout by grade division and with your commissioner review what is working well, what could be improved, and suggested improvements for next year. The Emerson Community Center is located next to the Emerson Softball Field.

We will hold a Players Skills Clinics Saturday April 7, 2012 and a Pitching Clinic Saturday April 28, 2012.  Coaches are excepted to attend. You will be exposed to many productive and fun softball drills. And your team will be together as they move from station to station.

for more details please click Clinics and Camps

NGSoftball with Planet Fastpitch runs pitching clinics every Sunday evening from mid-September to April at the Newton YMCA. Coaches are encouraged to drop by and monitor as many classes as your schedule allows. You will learn so much from attending a couple of Sunday classes.

for more details please click Clinics and Camps

Drills & Skills Handouts as presented at the April Player Skills Clinics
Team Field Positions Template
Roster Template

Click Forms and Handouts to download these handouts (and more).

Team Photo Templates

To help our players remember their softball season, we are providing you a few sample Team Photo Certificate Templates which you can complete and print out for your players at the end of the season. There are 3 styles if using a PC computer and 2 styles if using a Mac. All utilize Microsoft Word. Feel free to use these templates as is or to create one of your own. Thanks to Andrea Roman for her help in creating the Mac versions.

Lloyd MacLean, Team Trophies and Photos Committee

To download one or more templates please click Forms & Handouts

Instructions for the PC version:
To add a photo to the designated graphic picture boxes:
-double click on the graphic box
-hit Ctrl+A to select the words inside the box
-click on the Insert Tab in the Menu bar
-select Picture -select From File
-go to the location you have your pictures stored
-click on the picture you want
-click Insert

Coaches are welcome to contact Lloyd MacLean if you encounter problems with the PC templates.
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Instructions for the Mac version:
The mac template1.doc and mac template2.doc documents will work with Word 2004 for the Mac and Word 2007 for Windows.
- replace the current photos with your own
- just select and cut the current photo
- then select Insert -> Picture -> From File

You can resize or crop the photo by selecting:
- Format-> Picture.

Coaches are welcome to contact Andrea Roman if you encounter problems with the Mac templates.

C.O.R.I.

The NGSoftball board has voted to require all coaches and board members to complete the CORI (criminal history) form.

The CORI process is administered by the Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board and provides information to youth leagues and other organizations to help ensure a safe environment for our children. Your completed form will be submitted to the Criminal History Systems Board and they will provide information directly and confidentially to the NGSoftball CORI committee (comprised of two NGS board members). All information will be kept strictly confidential.

1. To download the CORI form click Forms and Handouts
2. Complete the form and mail to:
   NGSoftball CORI Administrator
   22 Oakwood Road
   Newton, MA 02460

Any individual who has a criminal record of an open case which the NGSoftball CORI committee determines to disqualify that individual will not be permitted to be a coach or a board member in NGSoftball. Examples include a violent or sexual crime, abuse, assault, drugs or any other similar crime.

Any individual who has been informed that they may not participate as a coach or board member can appeal the decision by contacting the President or any current member of the NGSoftball Executive Board. At that time the President will appoint a subcommittee of board members to hear an appeal.

Thank you for your prompt response on this important safety issue.

ASA Coach Certification

The American Softball Association (ASA) has established the ACE Coaching Certification Program. ALL NGSoftball coaches (and interested parents) are encouraged to complete Level 1. It takes approximately 60-80 minutes and costs $25. It is done on-line and does not need to be completed in one "sitting". A few days after completing the on-line "test" you will receive the ACE Coaching Certification Manual. This manual is our primary tool for assisting coaches to provide consistent and quality instruction to our players.

To begin the process please click here. Thank you!