Coaches
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VGSA COACHING REQUIREMENTS
We would like to thank you for volunteering to head coach or assistant coach for Voorhees Girls Softball Association. We are excited about the upcoming season and appreciate your willingness to work with the girls. In selecting head coaches, we look at past coaching experience, safety training, and overall rapport with the girls, other coaches and umpires. Whether you are a head coach or an assistant, your help with your daughter's team is vital role to VGSA and her team. We can't call every volunteer assistant coach so your willingness to assist on the team your daughter is on is greatly appreciated.
We require every coach, whether head, assistant, or just helping on the field, to take a coaches training/safety course. BECAUSE OF INSURANCE PURPOSES, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE FIELD IF YOU HAVE NOT TAKEN EITHER THE RUTGERS SAFETY COURSE OR THE NYSCA COURSE. VGSA has made as part of their Bylaws the following regulation:
NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE FIELD WITHOUT A MINIMUM OF THE RUTGERS SAFETY COURSE. THIS INCLUDES ASSISTANT COACHES, PARENTS, ETC. ANY COACH WHO IS NOT CERTIFIED BY 1-1-01 MUST TAKE THE NYSCA OVER THE RUTGERS COURSE. NYSCA CERTIFICATION IS MANDATORY FOR ALL NEW COACHES AND ASSISTANT COACHES WHO DO NOT HAVE ANY PRIOR CERTIFICATION AS OF 1-1-01.
If you took Rutgers Safety after Jan. 2001, you need to take NYSCA. VGSA feels that the NYSCA certification course offers so much more than Rutgers - besides safety, it also covers the specifics of softball and coaching drills.
S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic
Coaches are required to have the National Youth Sports Coaches Association (N.Y.S.C.A.) certification. These certifications will bring the coach into compliance with the New Jersey Little League Law and add to the coaches’ protection from liability lawsuits. ANY coach or parent that helps out at a game or participates at practice must have this certification.
Go to http://www.nays.org/nyscaonline/preview/ sign up and take the softball specific course.
Heads up concussion training for coaches
Here is a link to online concussion training for Coaches. All coaches and Board members have to complete this training. Save the certificate to a file location on your computer and email the President a copy of the certificate. The training is free and will take about 40 minutes to complete. On the right side of the screen you will see a box titled “Launch the course”. Click the link at the bottom of the box to start the course. There is also a free app available called Heads Up Concussion that is a useful on field guide for concussion basics. It also gives tips on the proper sizing for helmets. http://www.cdc.gov/headsup/youthsports/training/index.html
Effective immediately: Any player that is suspected of having a concussion is not permitted to return until they have submitted a Doctor’s note saying they can return.
This is to protect the children as well as our liability.
First aid kits
Every coach is responsible to have access to a first aid kit whenever they are placed in a direct or indirect supervisory role with children. A first aid kit is in each storage shed located in the park/complex.
Injuries
Make notes of all injuries and be sure to fill out an injury form for any serious injuries. Turn this form into you commissioner and keep a copy for yourself. Notify parents of any suspected or observed injuries.
Health problems
You need to inform every parent that it is their responsibility to keep you informed of any medical, physical or other problem their child may be experiencing. Keep records of all problems with you for quick access in the event of an injury.
Warning
At your first meeting with the children, make sure that the players and parents understand the inherent dangers of this sport.
