J.O. COMMISSIONER UPDATE: FEBRUARY 2024

[USASoftballGeorgia]

THANK YOU!

First, I want to share my appreciation for your continued support during this transition period after the loss of long-time State Commission Al Dattolo. I have been working with the National Office to create an action plan to enhance the USA Softball presence in our state. At the top of that agenda was to establish a statewide staff of individuals who share my passion for this game and USA Softball. Included with this newsletter is the new USA Softball of GA staff roster.  Please feel free to contact me or any of the individuals listed in the are you are interested in.

The key areas we are addressing are youth play at the travel and recreation levels, adult slow pitch, and umpire registration. In an effort to create a more user-friendly platform for tournament information we have purchased RegisterPlay.  Our tournament directors are working now to get all their events listed in that system. Teams and parents will love the ease at which this system provides all the information needed to enter events, find schedules, games results, etc. The new website is:  https://ga.registerplay.com/pages/home

12U ALL AMERICAN GAMES FOR 2024

Tryouts for the 2024 Georgia team are: March 10 andMarch 17 at Twin Creeks Park in Woodstock. Pre-event registration is required and can be done at our website usasoftballofgeorgia.org or ga.registerplay.com/pages/home. To be eligible to participate a player must have been 12 or younger on September 1, 2023.

USA SOFTBALL REGISTRATION

The USASB of GA registration period runs September 1 through August 31 each year.

a. Coaches BG Check, Safe Sport, and ACE certifications are good through August 31. This also includes ALL adults/players18 years of age or older, and ALL assistant coaches (see SAFE SPORT below).

b. NEW: Teams choosing to earn a Georgia berth in a National Championship event (qualifiers, Gold Nationals, JO Cup, National Championships) only need to complete the “Team” registration process.

c. Teams choosing to only play inInvitational tournaments need only to “Team” register your team on theregisterusasoftball.com website.

d. After you have registered your team and/or players any inquiries you have need to have the Team ID# attached in the communication with me.

e. If you contact me for any information concerning a registration matter please remember to include your “Team ID#”.

f. SAFE SPORT - All coaches and players 18 years old at any point during the season must complete the “Safe Sport” certification to be approved on a J.O. roster. This is a law that has been legislated for all youth sports National Governing Bodies.

Additionally, all USASB of GA teams must have ALL their coaches complete the ACE certification. Listed below is the “Safe Sport How To Guide”. This guide will help you easily navigate the Safe Sport Program.

g. DOWNLOAD Safe Sport Guide

https://registerusasoftball.com/Content ... ft%203.pdf



USA SOFTBALL AGE DETERMINATION DATE CHANGE FOR 2024 SEASON

The USASB Council voted to approve the age determining date of players to change from January 1 each year to September 1 each year, beginning September 1, 2023. This change is being made to be consistent with current registration dates.

ATHLETES GO LIVE

You can register your team at; www.AthletesGoLive.com or contact Lisa Scalzo at: lisa@athletesgolive.com

INSIDE PITCH

Go on line: (https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/Me ... an-Insider) to see the latest news from USA Softball, the National Governing Body of Softball.

2024 USA SOFTBALL OF GEORGIA STAFF

EXECUTIVE STAFF

State Commissioner

Ernie Yarbrough

commish@usasoftballgeorgia.org

Deputy State Commissioner

Kristyn Smith

ksmith@savannahsportscouncil.com

J.O. Commissioner

Jay Worley

gajocommish@gmail.com

Player Rep

Tommy Groce

tgroce@columbusga.org

Region UIC

Jimmy Derrick

umpjimmyd@gmail.com

State UIC

Lee Gray

umpwlg9@gmail.com

Allied Member Rep

Merri Scherman

msherman@columbusga.org

Web Master (non-voting member)

Jackson Murphy

jackson@jacksonmurphy.com

YOUTH STAFF

Deputy JO Commissioner – Metro Atl.

Scott Schneider

topflighttournamentdirector@gmail.com

Deputy JO Commissioner – North GA

Larry Reed

larryreed@gmail.com

Deputy JO Commissioner–Middle/South GA

Ty Rietkovich

sgusasoftball@gmail.com

Deputy JO Commissioner – GRPA 

Randy Spivey

spivey10@yahoo.com

Deputy JO Commissioner – Travel Clubs

TBD

ADULT SLOW PITCH

Deputy Commissioner

Al Monkus

pegmonkus@aol.com

Deputy JO Commissioner – GRPA

Randy Spivey

spivey10@yahoo.com

UMPIRE STAFF

District 1 – City of Atlanta

Eric Philbert

umpericp@gmail.com

District 2 – North Atlanta Metro

Shawn Schumacher 

srschumacher@cherokeega.com

District 3 – South Atlanta Metro

Al Monkus

pegmonkus@aol.com

District 4 – North Georgia

Rana Smith

nasmith0402@yahoo.com

District 5 – West Georgia

Chris Philips

coachchris32@bellsouth.net

District 6 – East Georgia

Ken Hopkins

kahopkins1@comcast.net

District 7 – Middle Georgia

Reggie Pettus

reginaldpettus@bellsouth.net

District 8 – Coastal Georgia

Donald Griffin

degriffin55@gmail.com

District 9 – South Georgia

Donald Griffin

degriffin55@gmail.com

NOTE: We are looking for an individual to serve as our liaison with the JO travel ball clubs.  If you are interested, please contact me ASAP.

BE SAFE OUT THERE and THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF USA SOFTBALL!

Ernie Yarbrough, Commissioner

USA Softball of Georgia

Email: commish@usasoftballgeorgia.org

Cell: 770-584-5044