ACE/Background Checks

USA Softball Code requires one coach/manager to be ACE certified and ALL coaches and on-field/in dugout assistants have a background check for Championship Play.  ACE certification and background checks can be completed through https://registerusasoftball.com. (For USA Softball Missouri State Tournament and USA Softball Missouri hosted Northern National Qualifiers ONLY, the MINIMUM requirement is the manager or one coach be ACE certified and at least one additional coach have a background check.)

The ACE (Achieve, Certify, Educate) Coaching Certification Program is a coaching 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 in the United States, it is the USA Softball’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 CD-Rom 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. 

Beginning in the 2018 season, all ACE coaches must first take the U.S. Center for SafeSport's SafeSport courses prior to starting ACE. The SafeSport training is composed of 3 individual lessons; all lessons must be completed in full before you are considered SafeSport trained. If you would like to know more about the U.S. Center for SafeSport's SafeSport initiative, please click here.