ACE Coaching Certification Goes
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.
ALONE AT THE PLATE
She pulls on the helmet, picks up the bat and walks to the plate, "gotta hit and that's that".
The crowd starts to yell, the game's on the line, last inning, two outs, the
score's nine to nine.
Dad yells, "go get it," Mom wrings her hands, coach hollers,
"hit it" but alone there she stands.
Heroes are made in seconds such as this, but she's just a little girl, what if
she should miss?
Years after this game's ended and she's little no more, will she remember the
outcome or even the score?
No she'll have forgotten if she was out, hit, or a run, she'll only look back
on her friends and the fun.
So cheer this girl on, alone with her fate; help her remember with fondness,
this stand at the plate.
Spend your time wisely and help in her quest to be a hitter with confidence and
always her best.
And when the game's over, this girl can stand tall, for you helped her prepare
to give it her all!
COACH'S CREED 1997
All Of US NEED To
Remember (Just a Little Girl)
She stands at home plate with her heart pounding fast. The bases are loaded,
the die has been cast.
Mom and Dad cannot help her, she stands all alone, a
hit at this moment would send her team home. The ball nears the plate, she
swings and misses, there's a groan from the crowd with some boos and hisses. A
thoughtless voice cries, "Strike out the bum!" Tears fill her eyes, the game's no longer fun.
Remember, she is just a little girl who stands all alone. So open your heart
and give her a break, for it's moments like this a woman you can make. Keep
this in mind when you hear someone forget, she's just a little girl and not a
woman yet.
By Hillary, Lady Vipers
Here are a few tips for Pitching, Hitting, and Throwing
the ball.
I would really like some input from coaches and players.
If you will email me with your ideas, tips and advice, I will post
it for anyone looking for help with Fastpitch
Softball.
Thanks: Coach Don
mailto:info@midlandfastpitch.com
The secret to an
effective softball career is muscle memory, which is obtained with the constant
repetition of proper mechanics used in playing the game. Good muscle memory is
gained by drills, drills and more drills.
To become a successful
pitcher you must practice at least every other day. This means, after warm-up,
pitching 75-150 balls, hitting locations and working on rotations and if at all
possible, throwing long toss.
"20 X 4"
Pitching Drill
Teaches control & Concentration
This drill is a pitching drill in which the
young pitcher works at a smooth, rather fast pace, but only throw 50-60%. She
should not be allowed to throw full speed. The objective of the drill is to
teach concentration and develop great control. The pitcher has to throw 20
strikes before she throws 4 balls. She should be allowed to perform the drill
at a shorter distance at first but she should be able to move to her regular
pitching distance within a couple of weeks. If she throws 4 balls, she must
start over. Be careful to not overwork her. However, keeping the distance
short, emphasizing accuracy not speed, and making sure she properly stretches
and warms up should prevent any chance of arm injury. With very young players
you may want to make the drill a 10-3 drill. She must throw 10 strikes before
she throw 3 balls or she must start over.
This is a dual-purpose drill. It teaches proper mechanics, increase’s pitch
control, and helps the pitcher learn to perform under pressure.
EYE ON THE BALL
If your players batting mechanics are good, and they're still not
hitting the ball, they are probably not seeing it correctly, or perhaps not
following it right to the bat. Here are a few drills that are designed to
really keep your eye on the ball
BALLS AND STRIKES DRILL:
Have the pitchers throw pitches and the batters just watch the ball into the
glove and call balls and strikes. You'll be amazed at what batters think are
balls. The best thing for good eyes are just seeing live pitching...lots of it,
even if it is just being a batter while your pitcher is doing a workout. You
can learn to read different pitches, and the pitcher gets better practice when
there is a batter in the box.
HITTING DIFFERENT OBJECT:
Try golf whiffle balls, small coffee can lids (thrown
like frisbees), pinto beans, etc, anything that has
them concentrating on a smaller than usual target and hitting something that
moves, rather than moving in a straight line. This will improve their concentration
and teach them to follow the ball all the way in.
MISS/MISS/HIT:
Use a series of three pitches to teach them to watch the ball. The first pitch,
the batter swings over the ball. The second pitch, swings under the ball. The
third pitch the batter hits the ball. Repeat this drill until they can do it
every time. After that, you can really fine tune this: Pitch 1- just nick the top of the ball. Pitch 2-Just nick the bottom of
the ball. Pitch 3- Hit it right in the middle of the ball.
TWO-BALL SOFT TOSS:
Get two different color whiffle balls (say red & white) or mark half of the
balls with a different color dot. Works better with whiffle
softballs or even golf whiffle
balls. Its easier to toss smaller balls plus helps
hitters in focus and coordination. Toss the two balls at the same time (from
same hand) and ask the player to hit one of them, either red or white. This
helps players to coordinate, focus and react ti=o hit the correct color ball.
PICK A NUMBER:
Take 3 or 4 balls write a number on each ball. The player’s job is to see the
ball well enough to tell you which number is on the
pitched ball.
BATTING BEAM
Here's a drill you may find useful. Construct a batting beam with
pieces of 2" x 4"s. The main piece should be about 4' long. Two cross
pieces about 18" should be nailed about 16" from each end of main
piece. Have player stand on this during soft toss. The player should remain on
beam throughout swing.
The beam encourages the batter to be on the balls of the her
feet and to maintain a balanced swing. It also helps the batter to take their
timing step straight to the pitcher. The players don't like this beam at first,
but it does help.
HANDS TO THE BALL DRILL
I know this drill is old as the hills but I've found it to be rather effective
when teaching younger hitters to hit.
Have the batter set up approximately 3ft. from a fence in her batting stance
just as she would at the plate. With one exception, have her bat resting on her
shoulder. The coach then tosses a ball up to her, the
batter must then attempt to hit the ball with only the butt (End cap on the
handle) of the bat. Since I work with fairly young girls I have to remind them
on a daily basis NO SWINGING ALLOWED! The coach can toss the ball in various
locations (High, Low, Inside, Outside, etc.,...).
This drills teaches the girls to move there head/eyes (Or as I like to say keep
there nose on the ball; Because if you can point your nose at something you
have to keep both eyes on it.) to and with the ball and take there hands to the
ball as opposed to just swinging and hoping for the best.
THROWING FORM
In
watching warm ups and in particular, throwing warm ups,
the main problem I spotted in players trying to make the team was their
throwing motion. Granted, some of the players had been taught the correct form
for throwing the ball, but a lot had absolutely horrid form. Here are a few
drills to fine tune your throwing form.
The bringing back of the throwing hand is done is a graceful, arching movement.
The hand swings back and up, with the ball facing backward at the top of the
arch. This can be practiced by having someone standing about 5 feet directly
behind you. Take a ball and from the hand in glove position (as if the ball
were just fielded) separate the hands with the ball hand swinging first down,
then back and up until you throwing arm bicep is parallel with the ground and
you have a 90 degree angle with you forearm pointing up and the ball facing
backwards. Looking at this motion from the third base side (right handed thrower)
the ball hand starts at
If you need additional work on this motion, try the load and go drill. Stand
with your weight evenly distributed between both feet and in the position of
already haven taken your stride, with hips facing towards third base(right handed thrower)Transfer your weight to the rear
foot and lift the front foot off the ground. As you come forward with the ball
in the throwing motion, transfer your weight back to your lead foot and make a
throw.