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OSA PreK-5 Coaches Corner

THANK YOU COACHES!

This program relies heavily on your time, energy and commitment to create a very enjoyable and safe learning environment for our young girls. Please take some time to become a student of the game and complete your required certifications. These materials will help equip you for a successful season!

OSA PREK-5 TRAVEL-LITE OVERVIEW

Instructional Rec-Like Program

  • The PreK-5 Travel Lite program strives to provide a learning environment for the basic fundamentals of softball while also providing an enjoyable experience combining sportsmanship, teamwork and friendship. 
  • The Travel-Lite program is available to girls in grades PreK-5. The teams are made up of 12 girls or less with every player receiving equal playing time and playing different positions.
  • These teams play against other local west Metro teams in the PWYSA league. Pre-K through first grade girls play Coach Pitch/T-Ball softball (D1). Second and third graders play Machine Pitch softball (D2) and also participate in the End-of-Season tournament. Fourth and fifth graders play Kid Pitch softball (D3) and also participate in the End-of-Season tournament. 
  • Playing rules are established by the PWYSA and communicated by the PreK-5 Program Director (See pdf files).
  • The TeamSnap App will be used for all scheduling of games and practices. It's an excellent tool for team communication.
     
  • Schedule
    • D1 Practices/Home Games: Rainbow Fields in Maple Plain (Mondays/Wednesdays / 1 hr / typically 6-7pm / 6:30pm games)
    • D2 Practices/Home Games: Orono Discovery Center fields in Maple Plain (Mondays/Wednesdays / 1-2 hr / typically 6-7:30pm / 6:30pm games)
    • D3 Practices/Home Games: Orono Middle School in Orono (Tuesdays/Thursdays / 1-2 hr / typically 6-7:30pm / 6:30pm games) 
    Game locations vary within the PWYSA league

     

INSTRUCTIONS/DEMONSTRATIONS

From Orono High School Coaches:
Chris Johnson & Chad Christians

These helpful handouts were distributed at the Coaches Clinic conducted on Sunday, April 7 at the Orono High School gym. Orono Varsity Head Coach Chris Johnson and Asst. Coach Chad Christians provided the training that evening and also these materials in order to have consistency throughout all levels of the Orono softball program. Please adhere to the fundamental forms and language used in these documents.


Asst. Coach Chad Christians demonstrating with an athlete.


COACHES REQUIREMENTS


You will receive an ACE card like this in the mail soon after completion.

All Head Coaches are REQUIRED to complete the ACE Certification Course and the online CDC Heads Up Concussion Training. Assistant coaches are required to do the Background Check and CDC Heads Up Concussion Training. Team managers are excluded from these requirements.
 

OSA requires HEAD COACHES to complete:

--> ACE Certification Course – This online course is offered by USA Softball and includes a required Background Check & SafeSport Training. USA Softball requires all ACE educated coaches to first be SafeSport trained before they will have access to their ACE education exam. The SafeSport Training is FREE, takes approximately 3 hrs to complete and is good for 2 years. The ACE Exam takes about 45 minutes and must be completed annually. The cost for this is $25 – for reimbursement, please e-mail your receipt to John Ferril, OSA Treasurer.

--> CDC Heads Up Concussion Training – Complete the online course (approx 30 minutes). This course is FREE. Find the CDC Heads Up Concussion Action Plan below to download, print and keep on hand at practices and games. Find additional Heads Up resources here.

Send proof of completion for ACE Certification (screen shot of completion, receipt or image of ACE card) and CDC Heads Up Concussion Training Certificate to Kara Wheaton, OSA Interim PreK-5 Program Director. Head coaches should keep a copy of this confirmation in their coach's bag, as this may be required at summer and fall state tournaments.

OSA requires ASSISTANT COACHES to complete:

--> Online Background Check. This link will take you to the USA Softball site, you will need to register with USA to set up a personal account. Once you are complete with registration, on your personal landing page there will be a background tab at the bottom. Click this tab and then choose to only do the Background Check Purchase (not the ACE w/ background). The cost for this is $10.00. For reimbursement, please e-mail your receipt to John Ferril.

--> CDC Heads Up Concussion Training – Complete the online course (approx 30 minutes). This course is FREE. Find the CDC Heads Up Concussion Action Plan below to download, print and keep on hand at practices and games. Find additional Heads Up resources here.

Send proof of completion for Background Check and CDC Heads Up Concussion Training Certificate to Kara Wheaton, OSA Interim PreK-5 Program Director.

*Assistant coaches interested in the Coach's Certification will be reimbursed if they wish to take the course (see instructions above).


Certificate to download and send to Director

Having trouble?

Check out these helpful pdf files below to help you navigate through the required training materials.


WEATHER/CANCELLATIONS

  • Early cancellations received from the Orono Schools Facilities Coordinator will be announced by OSA HERE prior to 4:00pm (PreK-5 Program Director will also notify you via email). Coaches are responsible for decisions after 4pm.
  • In some cases the inclement weather may not arrive until much later (for example, practice is at 6 and it starts to downpour at 5:45), then it will be up to the coaches to decide if the fields are fit to play on; if the coaches feel the fields are not playable they must notify the players. If it is not raining and the infields do not have standing water, the games should be played.
  • In the case of games, it is the responsibility of the HOME team coach to contact the opposing team coach and our OSA Interim Facilities/Umpire Coordinator, Kara Wheaton (630-841-2061) and let them know the game will not be played.
  • Reasons for Cancellations:
    - If field conditions are so wet that it makes it unsafe for the players.
    - If Orono Schools Facilities Coordinator closes all athletic fields.
    - If thunder can be heard and/or lightening seen.
    - If a storm is within 10 miles.
  • Rescheduling: The first two cancelled games will not be made up. If your team or the opposing team has had more than two cancellations, an attempt must be made to reschedule. It is the responsibility of the coaches to contact the opposing team and Kara Wheaton (630-841-2061) for field availability.