ASA ACE Certification/ background check

[NumeroUno]

How many of you have taken the ASA ACE Certification test?

If you have taken it what did you think about the test?

Are you planning to take the test if you have not done so?

At least one coach in every dugout is required to take the test for the 2009 season.

Here is the Ace link but as of right now the site is being updated

http://ace.usasoftball.com/ace/home.asp


Here is the link for the mandatory background check
http://www.socal-asa.com/documents/ASAB ... dCheck.pdf

[NumeroUno]

When this all came up I sent an e-mail to ASA and they told me that is was mandatory.

[Sam]

You don't have to do it if you compete in any other organization. Just play AFA...its the ONLY way that the idiots at ASA will ever change to actually try to satisfy their customers. The sole reason they do all this crap is because they know they can get away with it....the lemmings will follow them directly over the cliff every time.

The ACE class wouldn't teach me a thing...it would be a $25 donation to ASA. Annual background checks...They are certifiying coaches....they are saying that if they certify a coach, they will stand behind that coach....until they get into some situations with older players and younger coaches....and they get sued...because, after all, they certified that the coach was A-OK. Idiots.

[Pridefpsb17]

From the Illinois ASA site:
http://www.illinoisasa.org/

2009 JO Changes

ACE/Background Checks
Each 2009 JO Championship Play team (includes all points and state tournaments) must have one coach within the field of play/dugout be ACE Certified, which includes a background check, in order to participate in Championship Play. It is highly recommended that all coaches associated with JO Teams complete the ACE Certification program, which includes a background check, in 2009.

ASA Insurance
Teams playing in J.O. Championship Play (includes all points and state tournaments) are required to purchase ASA Accident and Liability Insurance on either a team or individual basis through Bollinger Insurance Company.

ACE Coaching Material
News from the National ASA Office: Due to additional programming enhancements that we felt needed to be made to the system, compounded by the hectic holiday schedule, the ACE Coaching Certification Program will not be online until after the first of the year. The date we are shooting for to open the website to all users is January 5th, 2009. Also, the fulfillment of ACE Materials will not begin until the full release in January. We are excited about the changes that we are making to the system and feel that they will benefit everyone involved with the ACE Coaching Certification Program in 2009. Thank you for your patience and we will keep you informed of any changes to the current schedule.
Last Updated ( Friday, 05 December 2008 )

[Iluvblue]

The ace training and test itself are a joke. You are assured of passing even if you miss the answers to the "Test." But the real positive of this thing is that you get a 1 million dollar insurance policy attached to you if you are sued.

By the way, I have never seen this policy, I think I am going to ask for some documentation at our next meeting.

In our association ALL COACHES, SCOREKEEPERS, MANAGERS need to do the ace stuff and get a background check. Isnt it rather foolish to only require 1 background check of a coaching staff? So do you think the sex offender coach would be the guy volunteering to be the coach that gets it done?

Anyways, there are some major flaws in this entire system, but they are at least attempting to take some steps in the right direction. remember that all coaches are volunteers and if they come up with too many things that make coaching difficult, you will have less people wanting to do it.

The insurance alone is a reason to do the silly thing.

[Sam]

Insurance.....for what?

Anybody ever heard of a softball coach being maliciously sued for no reason?

Its a $25 donation for absolutely nothing.

[3Bsnag]

I took all 3 levels when the online version came out.

I can see why (other than insurance) that the 16U/Gold coaches may have a fit because they are beyond the material.

However, there are a ton of rec-14U coaches that should take this. Even if they just learn one or two things, it is worth the $75 (all 3) since they are still teaching our daughters good mechanics.

How many kids do you STILL see throwing improperly, with or without elbow and shoulder pain, and a coach just watches it practice after practice with no correction? A lot.

[thetruth]

Their are a lot of reasons to be sued
1) a play drops dead from conditioning
2) a coach knocks up a player [has happened in 18G]
3) parent thinks you are treating a player bad or not being fair
4) what about rec coaches being sued because little sally did not make all stars

their are people out there that sue at the drop of a hat

The ace testing is for one thing and one thing only, for ASA to make money-period

[CB_8]

Our district in Texas has been requiring it for the last four years, and word is this year, all coaches in the dugout will be required to have it. As previously posted the tests are a joke. A 10 year old would probably be able to pass it.

I agree with the thinking that is just a way for ASA to separate us from $25.

[Under the Radar]

Whats the background check for??????