Lead-Deadwood Girls Softball Association
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FORMS

PARENT HANDOUTS

The 2024 Softball Season Parent Handout is now ready and can be viewed here!

KNOW THE RULES

The Northern Hills League Rules will be posted as soon as the Northern Hills league has approved them for the upcoming season! 2024 RULES

MANDATORY COACH/VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND CHECK

LDGSA requires that every person who intends to work directly with our players complete a background check PRIOR to league practices or games.  All coaches, assistant coaches, team managers, and book keepers must submit a background check.  A good "rule of thumb" is if you plan on being in the dugout with the team, we need a background check. 

USA Softball has changed its protocol to ensure the protection and safety of our youth.  Background checks are now completed and paid for on-line through a provider sanctioned by USA Softball. Atleast 1 Coach / team for are required to complete the ACE certification.  The cost is $35 and it includes the background check. If you are just doing the background check it is $20. This season, you will be required to complete the component that has been added to the ACE certification called "Safe Sport" so allow a few hours to complete this training.  

Please use the link below to set up your USA account which will allow you to complete your ACE certification and/or complete the mandatory background check.  Have your credit/debit handy as you will need to pay online to complete the process.  After you have completed the ACE certification or background check, you must print off the receipt/confirmation page and bring it to the coaches meeting or email it to ldgirlssoftball@gmail.com.  You will not be allowed to have any contact with your team/players until this documentation is received. Depending on the funding we have available we may be able to reimburse coaches for the completion.

  You will not be allowed to have any contact with your team/players until this documentation is received. Depending on the funding we have available we may be able to reimburse coaches for the completion.

USA Account

Harassment and Sportsmanship Policy (adopted Dec 2023)

Harassment Sportsmanship Policy

Harassment or unsportsman-like conduct at any LDGSA sponsored event WILL NOT be tolerated by anyone, on or off the field.

Harassment and unsportsman-like conduct are defined as follows:

  1. Yelling or shouting;
  2. Heckling or mocking;
  3. Demeaning language or actions;
  4. Swearing;
  5. Persistent arguing;
  6. Name-calling;
  7. Bullying or Intimidating behavior;
  8. Disrespectful language or actions;
  9. Physical violence or threat of physical violence;
  10. Commission of any acts that are contrary to the objectives and purposes of LDGSA/USA Softball;
  11. The use of artificial noisemakers (cowbells, whistles, etc) are prohibited.

Any reported incidents of harassment or unsportsman-like behavior aimed at any individuals (including UIC’s, umpires, players, coaches, fans, and LDGSA staff or board members) will immediately be reported to the LDGSA Board. If the behavior makes an umpire feel unsafe and the behavior continues to interfere with the game, the harassing individual will be ejected from that game and /or park. If any individual is ejected from the park, it is for FOUR league games, beginning with the game that they were asked to leave.  Subsequent offenses, will or could result in removal for the remainder of the season.

If the harassment or unsportsman-like behavior continues after the individual has been asked to leave, the police will be called to the respective park.

All LDGSA coaches will receive their first warning for harassment and unsportsman-like behavior at the LDGSA pre-season coaches’ meeting. A coach(s) first violation at a game or practice will, at a minimum, result in a 4-game suspension, beginning with the game that they were asked to leave. 

It is the coach’s responsibility to keep their team’s players, parents, and spectators in compliance with the LDGSA harassment and sportsmanship policy during games and practices.  Harassment or unsportsman-like behavior from the team’s players, parents, or spectators will result in penalties for the coach or coaches.

Any incidents of harassment and unsportsman-like behavior that are reported to the LDGSA Board, will be investigated as soon as practicable and may result in additional penalties placed on any individuals as deemed necessary by the LDGSA Board.

If you are the individual being reported to the Board, you will be contacted during the “investigative” process so that you may have the opportunity to appeal personally to the LDGSA Board.

Reporting an Incident of Harassment or Unsportsman-Like Conduct

  1. To report a violation of the LDGSA Harassment and Sportsmanship Policy, send an email to the LDGSA Board at ldgirlssoftball@gmail.com within 24 hours of the incident.  The following information must be included. 
  2. Full name(s) of the coach/player/umpire/person in violation of the policy. Full name(s) of the coach/player/umpire/person who was the recipient of the harassment or unsportsman-like behavior. Name of the softball park you were playing at, the field number, and game time. rief statement of the FACTS of the incident. Full names of other individuals involved (witnesses).Your full name, email address, and cell phone number. 
  3. A member of the LDGSA Board will contact you within 48 hours of receiving your complaint. 
  4. LDGSA will not accept phone calls from any parties involved in the incident.  All concerns must be sent via email so that all complaints or concerns are fully documented; allowing all Board Members to have the same information to render a decision. 

 All decisions and penalties made by the LDGSA Board are final and non-appealable.

Concussion Policy

LDGSA Concussion Policy

LDGSA Coaches shall remove any athlete who may have a concussion during practice or game for the remainder of the day. Any athlete removed for this reason must receive a written clearance note from a medical doctor- trained in the management of concussions before returning to practice or game play.

Coaches it is mandatory to take the free online course:

https://nfhslearn.com/courses/61151/concussion-in-sports (in learning center choose our state and then order) Please email a copy of the certificate to sefsareg@gmail.com and please keep a copy in your coach binder.

For more concussion info visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/index.html

What is a concussion and how do I recognize it?

A concussion is a kind of brain injury. It can be caused by a bump or hit to the head, or by a blow to another part of the body with force that shakes the head. Concussions can appear in any sport and look differently in each sport.

Most concussions get better with rest and over 90% of athletes fully recover. However, all concussions should be considered serious. If not recognized and managed the right way, they may result in problems including brain damage and even death.

Most concussions occur without being knocked out. Signs and symptoms of concussions may show up right after the injury or can take hours to appear. If your athlete reports any symptoms of concussion or if you notice some symptoms and signs, seek medical evaluation from a medical doctor trained in the evaluation and management of concussion. If your athlete is vomiting, has a severe headache, or is having difficulty staying awake or answering simple questions, call 911 to take her immediately to the emergency department of your local hospital.

Athletes will often not talk about signs of a concussion which is why it is vital that you as a coach know the signs and symptoms.

What can happen if the athlete keeps playing with concussion symptoms or returns too soon?

Athletes with the signs and symptoms of a concussion should be removed from play immediately. There is NO same day return to play for a youth with a suspected concussion. Youth athletes may take more time to recover from concussion and are more prone to long-tern serious problems from a concussion.

Even though a traditional brain scan (MRI or CT) may be “normal”, the brain has still been injured. If your athlete suffers another concussion before completely recovering from the first one, this can lead to prolonged recovery (weeks to months), or even to severe brain swelling (Second Impact Syndrome) with devastating consequences.