BHGS Coaches Corner

Coaches are integral members on any BHGS team. They understand that success isn’t just about winning, but about the journey taken to get there. Through their guidance, influence, and determination, coaches are able to help push their players to be their very best. And in turn, create a strong, unified, and successful team.

Coaches | Managers | Chaperones | Umpires

Coaches' Corner

Coaches Managers Chaperones Umpires

Coaches

Role & Responsibilities

Be a role model for your team and are responsible for advocating good sportsmanship. Branham Hills expects coaches to teach our players to not only learn softball but also learn to be a good person. Fair play and positive reinforcements should be part of your coaching style.
Work with Assistant Coaches and Managers
- Assistant Coaches can help with anything needed for practices/games and also fill in as head coach if you are not available. Also listen to your Assistant Coach for input on practices and game strategies.
- Managers will be the main source of communication for league and team updates. (See the Manager tab for more information)
Attend coaching clinics. Coaching skill building clinics will be scheduled throughout the season. Some will be required and paid by BHGS.
Conduct practices with the help of assistant coaches and parents.
- Set up practice field. Home team (listed first) will start with the infield and need to bring out bases and pitching rubber (8U & 10U). Halfway through switch to practicing in the outfield. Away team (listed second) will put away equipment.
- Break out girls into small groups and have them work in different stations (example hitting, catching, etc)
Have games run smoothly
- Arrive with ample time for warm up. Warm up are allowed in the middle of field if a game is still being played.
- Home Team must prep field. See field prep. Away team will clean up if they are the last team to play.
- Set up team lineup. Plan your line up before the game. 10U and older will require a lineup to give to 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 an equal amount of time.
- Make sure all girls are picked up before you leave a game or practice.
Get ACE certification. All Coaches and Managers are required to be ACE certified prior to the first practice. This is a mandatory insurance requirement for the league.
Help your team at the Hit A Thon - 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 at the field to help as needed.

Managers

BHGS Team Manager Information & Responsibilities

Become a Manager
As team manager you have an important role to communicate with your team families. You will let them know of league events, coordinate volunteers for the banner, visors, snack shack, team snacks, and opening day. Not only are you the main communication for your team, but you will be a role model and fun adult in the dug out to the girls on your team. This can be a very rewarding experience. You are in the dugout to take sure the girls are ready to bat when it is their turn, make sure they know where they are playing on the field, make sure they drink water when it's hot, encourage them to cheer when their team is up to bat, and make sure the girls have FUN!

DONUT SOCIAL (6U and 8U only) CHECKLIST/TEAM MEETING

This is a fun event for the younger players to meet their team and come up with a team name.

Confirm names (nick names), phone number, and email address
Come up with team name
Assign a parent to make or order banner
Assign a parent to decorate visors - no pins, buttons, or player names on visors
Fill all staff positions if some are still open- recruit field set up helpers
Share key dates – Opening Day, Hit A Thon, Pictures, Closing Ceremonies, etc
Discuss volunteer commitments (eg: snack shack)
Discuss fundraising
Girls eat donuts (6u and 8u only)

VOLUNTEER COMMITMENT OF EACH FAMILY
Each family is required to volunteer time either on a team staff or working in the snack shack. The team manager needs to assign (do not let them pick a day, it won't happen) the shifts to each family to cover. If they cannot make the shift you have assigned to them, they can either switch with another family, or opt to buy out. A buyout form must be filled out and left in the snack shack at least one week prior to the buyout shift. Forms are available online at https://www.bhgs.net/information/forms-info/

TEAM SPONSOR
Each team is asked to obtain a $300 sponsor to offset costs and keep registration fees as low as possible. 6U teams are asked to bring in $170 due to the smaller number of girls on each team. Please have all families ask businesses they frequent if they would be a sponsor, or if they own a small business and want to support our league. BHGS is a registered nonprofit. Donations can be tax deductible.

COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILIES CHECKLIST

Check your team box, located in the snack shack, every time you have a practice or game. Hard copy forms and league information will be distributed using the team box. Communicate the practice and game schedule with your team, along with arrival time each week.
Distribute picture day envelopes and help corral the team at your assigned time for pictures. One team and one individual picture is paid for by Silicon Valley Photographers. Additional pictures can be purchased. Each player must fill out a form to receive their picture. Picture pick up is at Alta Vista Field. If a player can not pick up their picture, the pictures will be left in your box in the snack shack to distribute.
Assign snack shack duty to families. Each home team is required to have one parent work in the snack shack. Games will not start without the home team's snack shack shift covered. *Do not ask parents to volunteer for a spot, assign each family one or two shifts. Some families
Determine if you are assigning families to bring snacks or snack shack tickets for the girls for each game. If so, assign it on the same sheet as the snack shack schedule.
Distribute trophies and yearbooks at the end of the season. If a player cannot make a closing ceremony, or team party, the manager must arrange for the player to receive these items.
Arrange for the end of the season party. It's a fun get together for the team, either out for pizza or at a family's house, if desired.
Collect for coach gift, if desired.

PRACTICES AND GAMES

An ACE certified adult female must be present at all games and practices.
Help the girls with their equipment and stay organized in the dugout.
Help girls get ready when they are up to bat. Helmets on, ready to go. This will speed the play of the game. No bats in the dugout for safety reasons. The girls must wear their helmet until they are back off the field and behind the fence.
Positive cheering only. Cheer for your team, not against the other team.
After the game or practice, make sure the girls have all their equipment and the dugout is clean.
Treat each girl like your own.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

ACE Certification - All Managers are required to be USA Softball certified prior to the first practice. Managers must complete the background check, Safe Sport and Concussion Protocol. ACE Coaching certificate is not required for managers. This is a mandatory insurance requirement for the league. Additional information on the ACE certification can be found on the Coach/Manager Corner on BHGS.net.
Managers Clinics - Attend all coaching clinics (required). These are paid for by BHGS at no cost to you. Dates and times of the clinics will be communicated by the league.
Hit A Thon - Help your team with the Hit A Thon. 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 at the field to help as needed.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Rain Status – available on the BHGS.net homepage under Tweets. Updated 1 hour prior to week night practices and games and Saturdays 8am and 11:30am.
Coaching links, forms, and information for coaches and managers can be found on the site under the coach/manager corner.
League contacts can be found under the Board section.

Become a Manager

Chaperones

BHGS requires that at all BHGS sanctioned events, including practices, games, and team events, at least one registered adult female, that is at least 18 years of age, must be present prior to the start and remain throughout the entire team event. Every team should have several adult females registered to be a chaperone. Chaperones are needed to:

accompany the girls to the bathroom
be at a game, practice and team events.

Umpires

Required:

USA Softball Registration and Background Check
- USA Softball Registration and a background check is required for all adults affiliated with the league including executive and seasonal board members, head and assistant coaches, team managers, and any adult on the fields or in the dugouts.
  - Chaperones are not required to complete these steps.
- Registration and background checks must be renewed every year after January 1.
  - Please begin the process early to ensure there is no delay for your team to begin playing at season start.
- This is a two-step process.
  - First, adults need to register with USA Softball.
  - Then after registration is complete, they need to log into the website and follow the prompts to complete a background check. After your background check is complete, please send a copy of the email to the Umpire-in-chief at uic@bhgs.net.
ACE Certification
- ACE Certification is a mandatory insurance requirement for the league. After completing the background check above you will then need to continue ACE certification.
Heads up Concussion Training
- Concussion training is required by USA Softball and must be completed every 2 years.