Thank you for volunteering your time to serve as a coach in our program. Below is a checklist to help ensure you have all the information available to be a successful coach. We do have requirements that MUST be completed. All the required items must be completed before your first practice. If you have any questions, please contact us at 701-232-9225 or by email at [email protected]

1. 2023 Coaching Application (Required Each Year)

When filling out the 2023 summer player registration, please select the volunteer role to show you're interested in coaching. 

In order to complete the volunteer role you will need to be logged into your account, from there you will need to go to view account and on the left hand side of the page you will see 'volunteer role', after selecting volunteer role you will see an option to select 'find volunteer roles', once selected please follow the steps provided. If you have already completed the summer player registration, you can still go back into your account and select this option. 

This MUST be completed as ALL communication will come from the volunteer contact list.

2. Register through USA Softball

Coaches will need to register through USA Softball and complete a background check and SafeSport Training.  Please click the following link that provides step by step instructions on how to complete the SafeSport Training. Each year volunteers will need to complete SafeSport Training and take refresher courses. SafeSport (registerusasoftball.com)

3. USA Softball Coaching Clinic Certificate (Recommended Every Two Years)

For coaches who completed this requirement in 2022, you will not be required to complete this again in 2023 as this will last for 2 years. If you have not completed, please see below.  

The ACE (Aspire, Challenge, Encourage) Coaching Program is a coaching education program, developed and designed to provide softball coaches of all levels – from beginning coaches to experienced veterans – an opportunity to be educated as a coach with a national softball organization.

There are now more ways to become an ACE Certified Coach. Certifying as an ACE Coach is a simple, straightforward process. You can attend an ACE Coach Certification Clinic, if your local association is hosting one, or you can now complete your ACE Coaching Certification online at ACE Coach Education Program (teamusa.org). In each setting you will watch the ACE video that corresponds to your certification level and then be tested on the material in the video. The videos cover such topics as Principles of Coaching, Legal Issues in Sports, First Aid, Practice Organization, Coach/Umpire Relations, and Sport Specific Skills. Once you have passed the ACE Certification test you are an ACE Coach and receive full ACE Benefits. It is that easy!

All non-players in a dugout MUST complete a USA Softball background check.  Additionally, at least one coach must be ACE certified. Failure in either case will result in the team being prohibited from playing in a state tournament. Please allow 2 weeks for processing.

For more information about ACE Coaching Certification please ACE Coach Education Program (teamusa.org)

Coaches are allowed to form their own team as long as the player chooses to play for them.  Teams are allowed to stay together year after year. If submitting a roster, the roster deadline is March 1. 

New this year: Fargo Area Fastpitch will separate players and teams by which competitive level said player has registered for. When submitting a roster you must have a minimum of 6 players and a max of 12 players. Fargo Area Fastpitch has the right to add players to your team to ensure ALL kids have a place to play.

To submit your roster please fill out the Roster Submission Form by clicking this link: Roster Submission Form 

5. Parent Meeting

It is mandatory that each team schedules a parent meeting to discuss the coaches plan for the upcoming season. Suggested topics to cover are coaching philosophy and goals, practices and schedule, player and parent expectations, 24-hour rule, communication, additional tournaments, GameChanger Team Manager, etc...

Practice Policy: 
Fastpitch is a game of repetition and therefore practice is a key component in the development of every player. For this reason, FAF asks that each coach hold a minimum of 1 practice a week. Practice days and times are determined by the coaches. Fargo Area Fastpitch encourages coaches to speak with the players' parents to determine which day and time works best for their team. Please keep in mind that practice fields are based on a first come, first serve basis. This is the policy of the Fargo Park District that we must abide by.  No team or individual will have exclusive rights to a field. If more than one team is at the same site at the same time, we ask that the coaches work together to share the field and space available. 

6. Attend Coaches Meeting 

Coaches Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 3 at the Metro Rec Center (3110 Main Ave)

• 8 & Under - 5:30 Meeting; 6:00 Equipment Pick UP
• 10 & Under - 6:00 Meeting; 6:30 Equipment Pick Up
• 12 & Under - 6:30 Meeting; 7:00 Equipment Pick Up
• 14 - 18U - 7:00 Meeting; 7:30 Equipment Pick Up.

7. Review the League Rules

USA Softball Rule Book (2023)

8. Reserving the ATTIC 

When reserving the ATTIC, please reach out to Fargo Youth Baseball at [email protected] if you do not already have an account with the booking software (Skedda). 

Each team is allowed to reserve 2 cages/week no more than 2 weeks in advance. You are able to reserve additional time within 48 hours of the scheduled date. If a time is available, book it. 

Inside the two cages you will be able to split the cage in half. The ATTIC has a 10'x10' fungo screen in each cage along with an additional L screen to allow players to hit back to back (east & west) if need be. 

For more information on reserving time in the ATTIC please contact our office at [email protected] or by phone at 701-232-9225.

Additional Opportunities & Info

For more information regarding practice plans and training tips please visit our drop down menu under the coaches tab.