April 2023: the OASA and Softball Canada requires NCCP coach certification to be eligible to coach in qualifying tournaments. Ensuring a quality and safe sport experience for our athletes is a critical component for us at the OASA. One of the benchmarks to accomplishing this is ensuring our athletes have trained and certified coaches on their bench and aware of current practices and expectations for coach behaviours with today’s athletes.
Together with Softball Ontario, we have been delivering the relevant NCCP clinics since November and continue to do so for the next month. Registration and clinic listing is available here: https://softballontario.ca/coach/
It is our STRONG recommendation for any coach requiring this certification to plan for one of the remaining clinics listed in the above link.
All coaches will be required to meet the requirements laid out in the OASA and Softball Canada by-laws. Any coach who does not meet the necessary requirements will be required to complete an application for a one year extension of this requirement along with a $225 fee (etransfer to oasa1923@outlook.com). This fee will be returned to the coach when successful completion of the appropriate certification has been completed by the 2024 season. Failure to complete the necessary certification by May 1, 2024 will result in a forfeiture of this penalty fee.
Please note, applications for this extension will be sent to the discipline committee chair of the OASA for review (Mike Mulvey mikemulvey70@hotmail.com). ONLY extenuating circumstances will be reviewed by the committee where family, health, travel requirements, and other similar rationale will be considered.
Application Information to include in your email (Subject Line – 2023 OASA Coaching Exception Request – your name):
1. Name
2. Organization
3. Team
4. How long have you been involved with this team?
5. What is your rationale for not completing the required certification?
6. What is your plan to ensure you can complete this training in 2023-2024?
November 2022: At the Softball Canada AGM in November 2022 a motion was passed that revised the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) requirements for U23, Masters and Men’s teams attending Canadian Championships. Effective in 2023 these teams will only require the Head Coach to be Competition Introduction – Certified. All teams from U15 to U20 will still require all teams to have Head Coaches to be Competition Introduction – Certified and all Assistant Coaches to be Competition Introduction – Trained. The requirements for Competition Introduction – Trained or Certified are shown on the Softball Canada website.
At OASA’s AGM in February a motion passed to align our coaching requirements with Softball Canada in addition to our requirements for U9, U11 and U13 coaches that only play in our provincial events. Please note the OASA coaching certification requirements for 2023: 2023 Coaching Certification Requirements
OASA is looking for all coaches and team managers to have an NCCP # for the upcoming season. There is no cost to create your profile with the Coaching Association of Canada, which can be set up by going to this link Coaches Association of Canada – The Locker. At a minimum we are looking for all coaches to take the online modules of Foundations of Coaching Softball Part I and II and Make Ethical Decisions depending on the age group that you are coaching.
Softball Ontario has published a listing of Competition Introduction clinics from December through to the end of April in multiple locations across the province. Some additional ones are being planned that will be published soon. Please be sure to register for the clinics that you will need for OASA or if you think that your team may qualify for a Canadian championship. Here is the link to the clinics: Softball Ontario Coaching Info and Clinics.
Please note the OASA coaching certification requirements for 2023: 2023 Coaching Certification Requirements
Our partners at Softball Ontario are offering the Competition – Introduction courses as follows in 2023:
Mississauga
Weekend #2: April 15-16
Wallaceburg
Weekend #1: April 15-16
Weekend #2: April 22-23
Oshawa
Weekend #1: April 22-23
Weekend #2: April 29-30
Softball Ontario Coaching Information and Registration –
https://softballontario.ca/coach/
Softball Canada Coaching Information –
https://softball.ca/programs/coaching
Coaches Association of Ontario – Funding for Coaches –
https://www.coachesontario.ca/programs-resources/funding-for-coaches/
