December 03, 2007


REGISTRATION

 

As the National Governing Body for the sport of Softball, the ASA / USA and the Michigan Amateur Softball Association 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 our program, including players, managers, coaches, assistant coaches and scorekeepers. Most other National Governing Bodies who sponsor youth sports 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 and MASA Softball has converted to ' Individual Registration ' (as opposed to team registration) for the Junior Olympic Program.

INSURANCE BENEFITS

Individual registrations offer the following coverage:

$2,000,000 Liability Insurance

$250,000 Excess Accident Medical Insurance

Individual Registration has a  deductible for Accident Medical Insurance of $ 250.00.
In addition:

Coverage follows the individual throughout the calendar year for all ASA / USA and MASA activities, even if the individual changes to another ASA 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.

OTHER BENEFITS

Membership in an Olympic organization

Copy of Balls and Strikes Magazine

Discounts on Official ASA Licensed merchandise

 

Frequently Asked Questions regarding the JO Individual Registration Program
1.

 If we elect to convert to individual registrations, how do we begin?

The manager of your team or league should contact the MASA state office or MASA Junior Olympic Commissioner for instructions on how to individually register. 
2.

I have a large league with many players. What is the easiest way to get the ASA/USA Softball Commissioner the required information?

There are four ways for you to supply the information:
i.

MASA will supply you with a Individual Registration Form.
ii.

If you already have the information computerized, MASA will work with you to provide the information via disk or electronically.
iii.

Make a photocopy of your league sign-up form, and send it to the MASA state office..
iv. Register online through RegisterASA.com
3. When do I start sending in the information and payment?

As players, coaches, managers and scorekeepers signup with your league/teams, you will send in their information and payment to the MASA state office. This will be an ongoing process throughout the year as you add players and/or coaching staff.
4. When is coverage effective?

The master policy is effective January 1st to December 31st of each year. The registration and insurance are effective when the MASA state office 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.
5.

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 MASA state office receives the required information & payment through December 31st of the current year, regardless of how many ASA/USA Softball teams the player joins.
6.

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

Yes, the coverage follows the player who plays on a team that is registered with ASA/USA Softball for the current year.
ii.

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.
iii.

Yes, the coverage follows the players on an individually registered team if the team plays in a non-ASA sanctioned event.
iv.

No, the coverage does not apply if the player plays on a team that is not registered with the ASA.
v.

No, the coverage does not apply if the player goes on her/his own to play in a non-ASA sanctioned event.
7. 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.

8.

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 $2,000,000 liability policy to protect the players, coaches, team and league against lawsuits arising out of their softball activities.
9. What Accident deductible choices are available?

MASA has selected the @