Coaches FAQ

Coaches will attend games (including warm up prior to the game) two days a week, as well as, the Opening Weekend Tournament and the weekend games for City Championships. It is also recommended that coaches schedule team practices, usually once per week. AGSA encourages teams to attend tournaments or Provincials which are held on weekends during the season, please visit the Softball Alberta website for a list of the 2023 Tournaments and Provincials.

Prior to the season coaches are asked to help run winter indoor practices and assist with clinics. Also, once your team has been formed, you will be asked run your team’s indoor practices.

**We cannot run our program without our amazing coaches – please sign up to help with the Winter Clinic and indoor practices once they are available.

Please follow this link to our coaches application form. Please complete it and send it to president@airdriegirlssoftball.com

Once AGSA contacts you they will request a criminal record check with Vulnerable Sector, you will be provided with more information about how to go about it. Record checks are free and are good for 3 years.  Please see the volunteer section of our policies and procedures document for more information.

You will be required (before you can begin to coach) to complete the Coaches version of the R.I.S. (Respect In Sport) online course, found here.  Information on this will be included in an email from AGSA once you are selected as a coach.

**If you have completed your RIS in another sport it is transferable. Log in, select “Import a Certificate” and follow the prompts to share it with Calgary Minor Softball.

Coaches will be required to attend the Coaches Category Meeting for the age division they will be coaching put on by Calgary Minor Softball prior to coaching for the 1st time. Coaches are also required to get their Community Softball Coaching Course (NCCP – level 1) or their Foundations of Coaching Softball, you’ll need the 1st part, a 60 minute online course found here.

All teams U11 and up require a coach with their Community Softball Clinic (formerly NCCP Level 1) in order to compete in Provincials. Coaches are encouraged to get this as early as possible as coaching skills taught in this clinic are vital for player development at all levels.

You can find a Coaches Handbook, the rules and some practice plans here.

AGSA has produced a technical manual for AGSA coaches. It can be found on the Coaches Handbook page. A rulebook will be provided to you with your equipment bag, the online version can be found here.

• Coaches are asked to let the association know as soon as possible if there is an injury (within 24 hours), incident or conflict. Forms are fillable online and can be found here. Also if your team is attending Provincials, picking up any players, whether it is within our association or from another, and if you are entering a team in Fall Ball, AGSA will require details and rosters emailed to president@airdriegirlssoftball.com.
• If you are running out of game balls at AGSA home diamonds, you need additional equipment, if there are any issues with diamonds or any other questions, please email our AGSA Equipment Managaer, Kelly Kot at pkkot@shaw.ca, as soon as possible.
• If you would like information/photos about your team’s accomplishments at tournaments, championships or Provincials posted to the AGSA Facebook page please contact Sarah Desveaux at president@airdriegirlssoftball.com.

Umpires are provided by CMSUA for the Division 1 and Highschool Division teams, if umps are available. Division 2 & 3 in U9, U11, U13 & U15 divisions require teams to provide a parent volunteer to umpire for each of their home games. Coaches please allow time to teach your volunteer umpires the rules of the game and how to umpire, to help with this AGSA has put together a Parent Umpire Reference Guide here, a copy can also be found in the equipment boxes at each AGSA diamond.

**CMSUA will hold Umpire Clinics for all levels, including coaches and parents. Visit their website for Clinic schedules here.

***AGSA requires that all our coaches, players and parents treat each umpire/official with respect and consideration. Please allow new/young umpires a chance to succeed. Coaches are responsible for players/parents/spectators conduct at all games.

Prior to the season (and preferrably as soon as possible once your team is formed) coaches are encouraged to meet with the parents of your team to touch on the points in the Parent Meeting template. 

AGSA will hold a coaches meeting prior to the start of the season where the points in the template are clarified. Equipment and any other information is also handed out.

AGSA will assign 1 head coach and 3 assistant coaches, per team. AGSA would like our coaches to focus on training and coaching our players. Upon registration we collect parent volunteer information to provide to our coaches. It is recommended that each head coach assign a team manager, a team jersey manager, a bull pen catcher for warming up pitchers and 1-2 bench moms. You can also set a schedule or ask your team manager to set a schedule for diamond set up and home game Umpires. All of these roles are explained in the AGSA Coaches Handbook.

*AGSA has put together an Umpire guide to help our Umpires. Find a copy here and in all our diamond equipment boxes.

Several coaches will be required to run indoor practices for each age group prior to the season, once teams are formed coaches will run their team’s indoor practices prior to the season. This is also a great way for new coaches to gain some experience from our veteran coaches, so if you are unsure about running a practice, please please let us know and we will send out an experienced coach to help.

Please email president@airdriegirlssoftball.com to book your weekly and extra practices or weekend make up games. Choose a few times and days that is convenient for you to present to your team at the parents meeting. Keep in mind practices will be held Friday, Saturday or Sundays, as all other weekday diamond times are reserved for scheduled games.

Team schedules can be found here. 

• Schedules are determined by Calgary Minor Softball and are subject to change, check back frequently, especially ahead of each game.
• Team schedules can be downloaded/subscribed to in your personal calendar for the entire season, find subscribe information under each schedule.
• In case of inclement weather please refer to the CMSA weather policy at http://calgaryminorsoftball.com/page.php?page_id=39185. AGSA will contact coaches if league games are cancelled.

Airdrie diamonds are listed here. For all CMSA district diamond locations, they are listed here. Diamond locations can also be found in your teams schedule.

AGSA does not require our teams to attend tournaments or Provincials but we definitely encourage it! Tournaments are a great way to add in more games to your season and can be a great team bonding experience!

Local tournaments are listed here. Other tournaments can be found listed on the Softball Alberta website here. Provincials for all B, C & D are found on the Softball Alberta website here.