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Welcome to the Spring Edition of Softball Ontario's Coaches Clipboard! The Softball Ontario Coaches Committee is always looking for new topics to keep softball coaches in Ontario informed. If you would like to send topics that you would like to see in the next E-Newsletter, or have any questions for the Coaches Committee, please feel to contact them directly. Softball Ontario Coaches Committee's contact information:
Chairman: Joe Benedetti, jgbenedetti84@gmail.com Â
Committee Members:
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 Softball Canada and NFCA to host Coaching Seminar @ 2013 Junior Women's World Championships
Softball Canada and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) will co-host National Fastpitch Coaches College Course 408: Coaching & Game Observation at the 2013 Junior Women’s World Championship in Brampton, ON from June 29 –July 1, 2013. Why should you attend?Want to learn to be a better game coach? Want to know what to look for before and during the game to help your team have success? Want to know what factors to consider to make the best decisions about what strategies and tactics to use during a game?  In this seminar, coaches will take part in classroom sessions and live game observations. Coaches will have the opportunity to watch exhibition and round robin games at the Junior Women’s World Championship. Our trio of highly qualified instructors will sit with small groups of coaches during these games and discuss the game action. Coaches will analyze techniques, strategies, coaching styles and pre-game practices. In addition, coaches will:
- Make field observations
- Scout teams and develop a game plan
- Review and analyze game tapes
- Assess team and individual performances
- Practice personal game tracking, scoring and charting
Who are the Instructors?
John Tschida: Head Coach at University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minnesota) –winning two consecutive NCAA Division III national titles in 2004 and 2005
Lori Sippel: Associate Head Coach at the University of Nebraska and former Canadian Senior Women’s National Team Head Coach
Jay Miller: Volunteer Assistant Coach at the University of Louisville and former USA Senior Women’s National Team Head Coach and Junior Women’s National Team Head Coach
 To register: Complete and return the attached registration form with payment to Softball Canada.  For more information: Please contact Lise Jubinville at Softball Canada: (B) 613-523-3386, x-3108 or ljubinville@softball.ca or visit www.softball.ca  Note:    This seminar will count towards professional development credits for coaches to maintain their certification in the new NCCP and will be tracked on the NCCP Database.
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PWSA Coach Certification Requirements
All participating teams must have at least one (1) registered coach with the following minimum National Coaching Certification Program Requirements : U10 (Mite) Trained in Learn to Coach (Community Stream-Initiation) U12 (Squirt) Trained in Keep Coaching (Community Stream-On Going Participation) OR Fully Level 1 Certified in Softball  U14 (Novice) U16 (Bantam) U18 (Midget), U21 (Junior), Intermediate and Senior & Masters Trained in Competition - Introduction, Softball (What to Coach, How to Coach and Complete Make Ethical Decisions On-Line Test) or be fully certified Level 2 in Softball
PLEASE NOTE: Beginning in 2014, in the U14 through to the Masters Divisions, an On Field Evaluation will be an additional requirement in order to be fully Certified. Definitions of terms used for PWSA: In Training - This means that a coach has attended a portion of the requirements. For example - a coach has attended What To Coach but not How To Coach - their status is "In Training". Trained - This means that a coach has completed all of the requirements, except the On Field Evaluation. For example - a coach has attended What To Coach and How To Coach and completed the Make Ethical Decisions on line Test - their status is "Trained". Certified - This means that a coach has completed all of the requirements, including the On Field Evaluation. For example a coach has attended What To Coach and How To Coach, completed the Make Ethical Decisions On Line Test and has been Evaluated by a Softball Ontario Evaluator - their status is "Certified". It is the Coach's responsibility to provide proof of Certification if required to do so. This applies especially to new coaches, or if there is any upgrade in their Coaching Certification. Copy of Clinic Certificate or NCCP Transcript (for U10 and U12): NCCP Passport or NCCP Transcript (for all others.)
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New Coaches Resource - Triple Play Website
Softball Canada along with the Player Development Working Group is pleased to announce the launch of its new Triple Play website, targeting softball players aged 10 to 18 years old. The website can be accessed by visiting www.tripleplaysoftball.ca. Â 'Our Triple Play Program is now a reality and its excellent website is now launched' said Softball Canada President Kevin Quinn. 'This website is a very exciting tool which has sections for players, coaches and parents. This will eventually provide young athletes the opportunity to see how they match up against other athletes across Canada and will provide some very useful information for coaches and parents as well. Congratulations to Mary Cahill and her hard-working committee for an excellent job on this program and the website.' Â The Triple Play website aims to engage athletes in the Learning to Train, Training to Train and Training to Compete stages of Softball Canada's Long Term Player Development model, as well as their coaches and parents. The website contains information for each of these three user groups and softball fans in general. Players can read softball stories, access performance tips, play games and enter contests. Another major feature for players is the Profile and Rewards Program, which allows players to collect online reward badges and build an online softball resume. Â Coaches will have access to Softball Canada's new Skills Improvement Program. They will also be able to recognize their player's achievements throughout the season with the Triple Play Rewards program. The coaching section will offer resources including weekly drills and dynamic warm ups. The website also offers articles for softball parents.
For more information about the Triple Play program, please contact: Â Mary Cahill Manager - Domestic Programs Softball Canada (613) 523-3386 ext. 3107 mcahill@softball.ca
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MAKING HEAD WAY IN SPORT!
Concussions can occur while participating in any sport or recreational activity. Since the circumstances under which a concussion can be sustained are so varied, it’s important for all coaches, parents, and athletes to be aware of the signs, symptoms, and what to do if a concussion occurs. Check out the new “Making Head Way in Sport†eLearning series on the Coaching Association of Canada’s web site (www.coach.ca) to help you gain the knowledge and
skills required to ensure the safety of your athletes! Test your concussion IQ, find out what happens during a concussion, get concussion smart via our e-Learning module, or simply browse through real concussion stories.
Note: This concussion e-Learning series will apply towards the professional development credits required for maintenance of a coach’s NCCP certification.
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Softball Ontario Continues Provides Training for CANpitch Instructors
Softball Ontario hosted its annual CANpitch training in Simcoe, ON where ten (10) new Regional Pitching Instructors (RPI’s) were in attendance. Softball Ontario’s Master Pitching Instructors Mindy Wilson and Doug Charlton led the all day session. The agenda included the following topics: Â
- CANpitch Program Overview
- RPI Experiences
- CANpitch teaching Philosophy
- Review of Key Pitching Mechanics
- CANpitch Drill Review
  RPI’s were in attendance from different regions including Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 4 and Zone 7.  As a pitcher with a high level of experience, you may be qualified to join Softball Ontario’s RPI roster. Softball Ontario’s RPI’s train young pitchers in a 6-week CANpitch sessions and receive an honorarium of $35.00/per hour plus mileage to and from the sessions. If you would like to be considered as a Softball Ontario CANptich Instructor, please send your Softball resume to ssutton@softballontario.ca for consideration in the next round of RPI selections.  CANpitch is Softball Canada’s national pitching program created to provide a nationally standardize curriculum based on Softball Canada’s Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) framework for effective  teaching at each level. In the past, few Canadian softball players have been exposed to the pitching position, which is one of the reasons the CANpitch program was implemented. CANpitch will assist in producing more skilled pitchers in Ontario and increase the level of talent of and competition in the younger ages of Softball by identifying key drills that reinforce the proper mechanics and teach the fundamental skills of pitching.  In 2012, Softball Ontario’s CANpitch Program trained 246 pitchers in 15 different locations across Ontario and had learned the basic fundamentals to say “Hey Coach, I can pitch an inning or twoâ€.
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Quest for Gold Bursary Program  Attention: Softball Coaches who went to a clinic in April/May
Softball Ontario is pleased to share an exciting opportunity for Softball Coaches to have their Coach Education funded by the Quest for Gold (Q4G) Enhanced Coaching Program. The Quest for Gold Enhanced Coaching Program recognizes coaches have out-of-pocket expenses for many things. Coaches who wish to continue their training and education, or increase their knowledge and certification, can directly benefit from this bursary program.
The Quest for Gold program provides an education bursary for higher levels of professional development and training. Up to 70% of course registration fees will be reimbursed for Ontario resident coaches who pass and complete coursework.
Q4G Bursaries can be applied by softball Coaches in any of the following:
- National Coaching Certification Program- Competition-Introduction, Softball (What to Coach, How to Coach and the On Field Evaluation)
- National Coaching Certification Program- Level 3 Theory (Multi-sport)
- National Coaching Certification Program- Level 3 Technical Softball
- National Coaching Certification Program- Competition-Development (Multi-Sport)
- National Coaching Institute-National Coaching Certification Program Level 4 and Level 5)
- Enhanced Coaching Level (3/4/5)
Please note that there are different pre-requisites and application for NCCP courses, the NCI and the Enhanced Coaching.
Softball Coaches are also eligible for travel subsidy under the Quest for Gold Enhanced Funding. Softball Coaches can apply up to a maximum of $200.00 and must travel more than 100 km each way to attend the NCCP training.
The total allocation for Coach Bursaries for April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014 is $100,000. To qualify for this funding opportunity the NCCP clinic you attended must fall between these dates. Applications for course preceding these dates will not be considered.
For more information about each of the above programs or to download the bursary applications, travel subsidy, please visit the Coaching Association of Ontario website at www.coachesontario.ca.
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Softball Ontario
