I know many of you have been patiently waiting to be able to complete your ACE Certification and I thank you for that. Below are instructions and the new link for ACE or the stand alone background checks.

If you have problems or questions, please don't hesitate to email Renee for further assistance.  DO NOT create a new profile as this will cause more problems.

I ask and thank you for your patience during this transition process. We are updating many things to provide you better service and are trying to work through all the bumps.

Best of Luck to all in the 2010 softball season!!

Login instructions for ACE Coaches who were ACE Certified in 2009.
If after logging in you see your profile did not update properly with the current ACE Level, DO NOT purchase anything and email Renee so she can see that the profile is updated properly.  When the profile is updated, Renee will email you back when you can proceed.

Login instructions for NEW ACE Coaches for 2010.

Coaches who wish to do the stand alone background check can follow the same above instructions.

If you used the ACE system in 2009 then follow those instructions. If you did not use the system in 2009 then follow the instructions for NEW.

To begin your ACE Certification or stand alone background check click here.

Everything will be done on-line. The ACE certification will take around an hour.

***If you are unable to finish in one sitting, you can begin right where you left off the last time. If you were in the middle of a video, it will begin at the beginning of the video.

Cost for Level 1 is $25 (this includes the background check).
Cost for Level 2 is $20 (this includes the background check).
Cost for Level 3 is $20 (this includes the background check).
Cost for Level 4 is $20 (this includes the background check).

IT IS ONLY NECESSARY TO ATTAIN ONE (1) LEVEL PER YEAR.

ASA/USA Softball is proud to introduce the ACE Coaching Certification Program. The ACE (Achieve, Certify, Educate) Coaching Certification Program is a brand new certification program, developed and designed to provide softball coaches of all levels – from beginning coaches to experienced veterans – an opportunity to certify as a coach with a national softball organization.

As the National Governing Body of Softball, it is the ASA’s responsibility to ensure that our coaches achieve a certain level of understanding of what their duties are as coach of a youth softball team. The ACE Certification videos and the ACE Certification Manual are practical guides to the everyday situations you will encounter as a youth softball coach. After obtaining your ACE certification, you will be well prepared to coach a youth softball team.

The guiding principles behind the ACE Coaching Certification Program are:

A-chieve: A certain level of knowledge.
C-ertify: To confirm that a coach has obtained a level of understanding over that which he/she has been tested on.
E-ducate: To assist with the gathering of knowledge and information.

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 http://RegisterASA.com. 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!

Benefits of ACE membership:

Here is a quick run through of the ACE Coaching Certification program and how one would become certified and achieve the highest level of ACE Certification

The first step to complete for any coach who is attempting to become certified using the ACE Online System is a profile lookup. If you are an existing coach* who is coming to the site to complete another level of certification your profile should be located and you should be able to continue from the position that you left off. For example if John Doe has completed ACE Levels 1 and 2 in an ACE Clinic through its local association, when he looks up his profile the system will recognize this and make ACE Level 3 available for purchase and completion. For the system to properly find your coaches profile, you must enter your information (i.e. first name, last name, email address, zip code) exactly how you did when you registered. If you have moved since you last registered, enter the previous zip code under which you registered and then edit your information in the ACE Online System. If you are a previously registered coach and the system does not find your profile properly, DO NOT create a new profile which you will do in Step 2 on the ACE Online Program. Instead, contact the ACE Administrator at the ASA National Office. The administrator's contact information can be located on the ACE Website under the Contact Us tab.

If you are a first time ACE Coach or you have not certified through a local association in the last year, you will have to create a new profile and begin ACE Online Certification at Level 1.

Once your profile has been found or you have created a new profile here is what you will have to do to become an ACE Certified Coach:

ACE Level 1 Coach Certification
1. Register with the ACE Online program and purchase Level 1 Certification Video and test.
2. Successfully complete the Level 1 ACE certification exam (questions will be taken directly from the ACE Level 1 video)
3. That’s It!
Benefits: Insurance coverage, certificate and ID card

ACE Level 2 Coach Certification
After your first year of certification, you do not need to watch the ACE video again to re-certify. To stay an ACE certified coach for a second year you must:
1. Log-on to the ACE Online Program, purchase the ACE Level 2 Video and certification exam.
2. Watch the ACE Level 2 Video and complete the ACE Level 2 Certification Exam as you watch the video.
3. That's It!
Benefits: Insurance coverage, certificate and ID Card

ACE Level 3 Coach Certification
To be eligible for this level of certification a coach must have completed the ACE Level 2 Certification
1. Log-on to the ACE Online Program, purchase the ACE Level 3 Video and certification exam.
2. Watch the ACE Level 3 Video and complete the ACE Level 3 Certification Exam as you watch the video.
3. That's It!
Benefits: Insurance coverage, certificate and ID Card

ACE Continuing Education Certification
To be eligible for this level of certification a coach must have completed the ACE Level 3 Certification.
1. Log-on to the ACE Online Program and purchase the ACE Continuing Education Exam.
2. Complete the ACE Continuing Education Exam.
3. That's It!
Benefits: Insurance coverage, certificate and ID Card

For coaches who have previously certified with their local association at an ACE Clinic, online certification should begin at your current level of certification. For example, if you complete ACE Level 1 Certification at an ACE Clinic then when you log onto the ACE Online Website you should be able to purchase and complete ACE Level 2 Certification. At this time, only the Level 2 material will be available for you to purchase and complete. The Level 1 Video, Certificate and Insurance form will not be available for you to review or to view and print off. The feature will be available in the future as we continue to enhance and improve the ACE Online Coaching Certification System.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the ACE Online Coaching Certification Program please contact your local JO District Commissioner.

ACE/Background Checks -
(a) Each JO Championship Play team must have one (1) coach within the field of play/dugout be ACE Certified (current year) 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 (current year).  Only one (1) level is required per year. 
(b) All JO team personnel assisting within the field of play/dugout must have an ASA background check (current year).
(c) ACE/Background Check Costs

1st year ACE - $25.00 (includes ASA background check). 
2nd year and Beyond - $20.00 (includes ASA background check).
ASA Background Check - $5.00 (No ID Card), $7.00 (with ID Card).

Rosters - Must submit three (3) copies.

At all Championship Play, in order to be eligible a player must provide the proper identification and sign the ASA Official Tournament Signature Form.

JO teams in Gold and Class B or lower may not include any player who has participated in a college softball program.  College players that meet the age requirement may ONLY participate in Class A.

District Entry Fees - $175
District 10 JO (Omaha) Fees - $225
State Entry Fees - $225

Metal cleats may be worn in 16-Under and 18-Under JO All Classes.

Nebraska ASA will provide all State Champions with a State Championship t-shirt (must be present).

Pitching Distances:
16-Under (Class A, B, C, D) - 43'
18-Under (Class A, B, C, D) - 43'

Class A State Championship ONLY - Games can begin as early as 9:00AM on Friday.

Junior Olympic Age Qualifications - A player’s age as of December 31 determines the age in which the player is eligible to play the following year.

10-Under Age Classification - A player born after December 31, 1998 is ELIGIBLE.
12-Under Age Classification - A player born after December 31, 1996 is ELIGIBLE.
14-Under Age Classification - A player born after December 31, 1994 is ELIGIBLE.
16-Under Age Classification - A player born after December 31, 1992 is ELIGIBLE.
18-Under Age Classification - A player born after December 31, 1990 is ELIGIBLE (Includes Junior Olympic GOLD).

Once a player participates in an intercollegiate softball program for a university, college, or junior/community college, she is ineligible to play in the Junior Olympic Gold or Class B programs.

Players of younger age classification may play in older age classifications, but an older age classification player may not play in the younger age classification.

For the 2010 Junior Olympic Playing Season, use the chart below to determine Junior Olympic Age Qualifications. ‘ E ‘ indicates the player is eligible for the respective age group(s).

Click here to visit the Bollinger Website

Click here to download the Bollinger Individual Insurance Claim Form

The Bollinger Individual Insurance Claim Form MUST be completely filled out and sent to NE ASA, 4103 Osborne Drive East, Hastings, NE 68901 for a signature.

It will be verified, signed and sent back to you.

Attach all requested information to this signed form and send into Bollinger at the address listed at the bottom of the form. Forms sent directly to Bollinger without an ASA authorized signature will NOT be accepted and further the delay.

What is INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATION?

As the National Governing Body for the sport of softball, ASA/USA Softball is committed to the goal of providing accident and liability insurance for all participants in the Junior Olympic (youth) program. The only way this can be accomplished is to individually register each participant in the program, including players, managers, coaches, assistant coaches and scorekeepers. Most other National Governing Bodies of youth sport programs individually register their participants, mainly for the insurance benefits individual registration provides. Therefore, to ensure that our youth players receive the insurance protection they need, ASA/USA Softball will be converting to individual registration (as opposed to team registration) for the Junior Olympic Program. Individual Registration will also be available to Adult teams and leagues in certain areas.

Each individual registrant will receive the following benefits:

Insurance :

• $5,000,000 per occurrence limit of Liability Insurance, plus $250,000 Excess Accident Medical Insurance.
• Coverage follows the individual throughout the calendar year for all ASA/USA Softball activities, even if you change to another ASA/USA Softball team.
• Coverage extends to the team as an insured entity if all team members register individually.
• Coverage extends to the leagues as an insured entity, as well as to league officers, if all league members register individually.
• Coverage will follow the player through the current High School Softball season.

Other Benefits

• Registers you with the ASA
• Membership in an Olympic organization
• ASA/USA Softball Membership Card
• Each registered team receives a rulebook and a score book

FAQ's

1. When is coverage effective?
The master policy is effective January 1st to December 31st of each year. The registration and insurance are effective when your local ASA/USA Softball Commissioner receives the required information & payment. At that point, the insurance is effective back to January 1st and continues through December 31st. An important feature of individual registration is that as long as you renew your membership each year, the insurance plan will be continuous, with no gaps in coverage.

2. Do players need to register a second time if they change to another ASA/USA Softball team?
No, the individual registration will follow them for all ASA/USA Softball play throughout the year. One time registration covers them from the point the Commissioner receives the required information & payment through December 31st of the current year, regardless of how many ASA/USA Softball teams the player joins.

3. Does the insurance coverage follow a player who plays on another team or goes to play in a non-ASA sanctioned event?

• Yes, the coverage follows the player who plays on a team that is registered with ASA/USA Softball for the current year.
• Yes, the coverage follows the player if she/he goes on her/his own to play on an ASA/USA Softball registered team in an ASA/USA Sanctioned Tournament.
• Yes, the coverage follows the players on an individually registered team if the team plays in a non-ASA sanctioned event.
• No, the coverage does not apply if the player plays on a team that is not registered with the ASA.
• No, the coverage does not apply if the player goes on her/his own to play in a non-ASA sanctioned event.

4. Are players covered while participating in tryouts?
Yes, players are covered prior to actual registration and payment. Be sure to individually register any participant that is injured during tryouts and include a copy of the individual registration form with the claim form in this instance.

5. Why do players need insurance if they have coverage through their parents’ health plan or other insurance?
ASA/USA Softball has made a commitment to provide accident and liability insurance to all of its participants in the Junior Olympic (youth) program, as so many other youth sports organizations do. One reason for doing so is that the coaches or managers of the teams and leagues cannot know who in their organization has other insurance and who does not. And even if they could, the situations in each family could change during the year, making it impractical to track.
Thus, all players are protected by an Accident Medical policy. This coverage is also designed to supplement any existing coverage the player may have. For example, this policy may pick up deductibles or supplement limitations of the primary coverage. If no other insurance exists, then this coverage would become primary.
There is also a $5,000,000 per occurrence limit of liability insurance coverage to protect the players, coaches, team and league against lawsuits arising out of their softball activities.

6. What proof of ASA registration and insurance is provided?
Each person receives from their Commissioner an ASA/USA Softball registration card with their name, date of birth and insurance deductible printed on it. On the back of the card is information regarding the insurance coverage and the number to call in case of an accident claim.

7. Why is Individual Registration better than Team insurance?

• It’s less expensive.
• There is only one age group.
• Registration fee is included.
• Coverage follows the player when he/she plays on another ASA registered team or in an ASA sanctioned tournament.
• Whereas with team coverage, players must play on a team that has ASA insurance in order to be covered.

8. What do we do if a player quits the league after we have submitted the information and payment to ASA/USA Softball?
Once submitted, the registration and insurance continue for the remainder of the year and may not be canceled. That person would be covered for any ASA/USA Softball activities during the year.

9. How do I obtain Certificates of Insurance so my team/league can use softball facilities?
Requests for Certificates of Insurance naming field owners as
Additional Insured’s should be requested from your Commissioner.

10. A registered youth coach also plays on an ASA/USA Softball slow pitch adult team. Is the coach covered when playing?
No, the coverage is only in effect for his/her coaching activities with the youth team.

11. Whom do I call for more information?
The first place to go with questions on individual registration
is to contact your local ASA Commissioner. He or she can answer questions about the cost to register, how to get started in your area with individual registration and update you on the status of your registrations. For other questions about the insurance plan or claims, please contact Bollinger’s ASA Department at 1-800-526-1379.