As a coach you should be a role model for your team and are responsible for advocating good sportsmanship. Branham Hills expects coaches to teach our players not only to learn softball but also to be good people. Fair play and positive reinforcement should be part of your coaching style.

Assistant Coaches can help with anything needed for practices/games and fill in as head coaches if you are unavailable. Listen to your Assistant Coach for input on practices and game strategies. Supply all your coaches with your practice plan.

Managers will be the primary source of communication for league and team updates. (See the Manager tab for more information)

Coaching skill-building clinics will be scheduled throughout the season. Some will be required and paid by BHGS. Coaches clinic page

Have a formal plan for your practices. “Winging it” is not an appropriate practice plan.

With the help of assistant coaches and parents.

Set up practice field. The home team (listed first) will start with the infield and must bring out bases and pitching rubber (8U & 10U). Halfway through, switch to practicing in the outfield. The away team (listed second) will put away equipment.

Break out girls into small groups and have them work at different stations (for example, hitting, catching, etc.)

You must have a registered adult female before you start warm-ups, and they must remain present until the last player leaves at the end of the game.

Arrive with ample warm-up time—generally 45 minutes before game time for 8u divisions and above. Warm-ups are allowed in the middle of the field if a game is still being played. Have a standard routine for warm-up, including stretching, Throwing/catching, hitting – wiffle balls and soft toss, and infield ground balls. Pitchers and catchers should hit first and warm up pitching and catching, while the remaining team finishes hitting and doing infield drills.

The Home Team must prepare the field (see field prep). They will clean up if the Away team is the last team to play.

Set up team lineup. Plan your line-up before the game. 10U and older will require a lineup card for the scorekeeper and umpire.

Be a fair coach and let girls rotate positions. If you have girls sitting out, rotate them in so all girls play equally.

Ensure all girls are picked up before you leave a game or practice.

A certified coach/manager must be present at all practices and games.

All Coaches and Managers must be ACE-certified, Soft Sport and Concussion protocol training before the first practice. This is a mandatory insurance requirement for the league. It is recommended that assistant coaches complete the training.

Each team staff member is asked to help line the girls up, ensure every girl hits, and measure the distance their players hit. The division reps will also be on the field to assist as needed.