Information for Coaches

Coaches & Assistant Coaches

Each team will need one head coach and at least two assistant coaches. Prior coaching experience is helpful, but not required.

Step up to the plate!

If you're interested in being a head coach or assistant coach, you should indicate that on your child's registration form or email us at mtairybaseball@yahoo.com. A League Commissioner will contact you about coaching vacancies and clinics.

Training & support

We hold a coaches orientation session and coaching clinics before the season begins. Support from experienced coaches and commissioners is available throughout the season.

Attending coaching clinics is essential for all head coaches and assistant coaches. Each head coach will receive a handbook of skills, drills, and practice techniques. However, no handbook can substitute for demonstration and instruction. In order to help each child learn to the best of their abilities, we need to learn how to be good teachers.

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Background Checks & Clearances

Pennsylvania law now requires many employees and adult volunteers who work around children to obtain criminal background and child abuse clearances:
Adults applying for or holding an unpaid position as a volunteer with a childcare service, a school or a program, activity, or service responsible for the child's welfare or having direct volunteer contact with children you will need certifications. Direct volunteer contact with children is defined as the care, supervision, guidance, or control of children and routine interaction with children Under the Child Protective Services Law, certifications are good for 60 months (5 years).

For Mt. Airy Baseball this will apply to head coaches, assistant coaches, and umpires. Clearances must be submitted to the League Commissioner. (Use the address shown under "How to Submit Clearances.")

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All volunteers must obtain clearances:

  • PA Child Abuse History Clearance
  • State Police Criminal History Clearance
  • Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal History Clearance
    (Only needed by umpires and any coaches who lived outside the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the last 10 years.)

To get started on these clearances, go to the PA Department of Human Services website: https://www.dhs.pa.gov/KeepKidsSafe/Clearances

For the Child Abuse History Clearance, please list Mt. Airy Baseball as the organization name.

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Cost Estimates

For all coaches (volunteers):

  • PA Child Abuse History Clearance, $0
  • PSP Criminal History Clearance, $0
  • FBI Criminal History Clearance, $23.25 through DHS
  • FBI Criminal History Clearance, ~$25.25 through PA Dept. of Education

For umpires (employees) having contact with children:

  • PA Child Abuse History Clearance, $13
  • PSP Criminal History Clearance, $22
  • FBI Criminal History Clearance, $25.25 through DHS

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How to Submit Clearances

Clearance results should be:

Emailed to MABSecretary@gmail.com 

OR

Mailed to the League Commissioner:

Dan Winterstein
100 West Mt. Pleasant Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19119

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Answers to common questions

If I have a criminal record, am I prohibited from volunteering?

Having a criminal conviction does not automatically bar you from coaching or umpiring.

The following is a list of crimes and child abuse findings that do prohibit someone from employment or volunteering with children, including Mt. Airy Baseball:

  • Chapter 25 (relating to criminal homicide)
  • Section 2702 (relating to aggravated assault)
  • Section 2709 (relating to stalking)
  • Section 2901 (relating to kidnapping)
  • Section 2902 (relating to unlawful restraint)
  • Section 3121 (relating to rape)
  • Section 3122.1 (relating to statutory sexual assault)
  • Section 3123 (relating to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse)
  • Section 3124.1 (relating to sexual assault)
  • Section 3125 (relating to aggravated indecent assault)
  • Section 3126 (relating to indecent assault)
  • Section 3127 (relating to indecent exposure)
  • Section 4302 (relating to incest)
  • Section 4303 (relating to concealing death of child)
  • Section 4304 (relating to endangering welfare of children)
  • Section 4305 (relating to dealing in infant children)
  • Section 5902(b) (relating to prostitution and related offenses)
  • Section 5903(c) (d) (relating to obscene and other sexual material and performances)
  • Section 6301 (relating to corruption of minors)
  • Section 6312 (relating to sexual abuse of children), or an equivalent crime under Federal law or the law of another state.
  • A felony offense under Act 64-1972 (relating to the controlled substance, drug device and cosmetic act) committed within the past five years.
  • Named as a perpetrator of a founded report of child abuse within the past five years or have been convicted of any of the crimes listed above.

Who has access to the submitted results of the clearances?

The results will be kept in confidence. All decisions regarding assigning coaches will be made by the League Commissioner and the board member responsible for the division in which the individual wishers to coach. No one else will have access to the information for purposes of assigning coaches.