Do I need a certification to coach softball privately?

No. There is no state license for private sports instruction. Families judge you on where you played, who you have coached, and your reviews. A USA Baseball, USSSA or NFHS certification is a plus on your profile, not a gate. CageList does require a background check before your profile goes live.

How much can a private softball coach make?

You set your own hourly rate on CageList, anywhere from $20 to $500 an hour. On athletes CageList sends you, you keep 95%. On clients you bring yourself CageList takes nothing; only the card fee (2.9% + 30c) comes out of your price. CageList was started by Isaac Hess, who pitched seven seasons professionally and charged $120 an hour for private lessons in Los Angeles before building this.

Do I need my own cage or field?

No. Coaches book cage time by the hour on CageList, or meet at a public field. You never sign a lease or carry facility overhead.

Is it free to become a CageList coach?

The profile is free. The only charge is $29.99 for the background check, paid when you apply, passed straight through to Checkr, and refunded in full if you are not approved. There is no monthly fee and no annual renewal.

How fast is my coach profile live?

The application takes about ten minutes. A real person reads it, usually within two days. Once your background check clears, your profile is searchable the same day.

Is this a job or independent contractor work?

Independent contractor work. CageList is a marketplace, not an employer: you choose your clients, your rate, your hours and where you coach. CageList handles the booking, the payment and the payout to your bank. It fits former players, current team coaches adding private lessons, and college players home for the summer.

Coaching jobs

Softball coaching jobs

Private softball lessons, anywhere in the US, on your own schedule and at your own rate. Create a free coach profile in about ten minutes.

Create your free profile See how it works

Free to apply, and it takes about ten minutes. The only charge is a $29.99 background check, paid when you apply and refunded in full if you're not approved.

Coaching jobs

Softball coaching jobs

Private softball lessons, anywhere in the US, on your own schedule and at your own rate. Create a free coach profile in about ten minutes.

Create your free profile See how it works

Free to apply, and it takes about ten minutes. The only charge is a $29.99 background check, paid when you apply and refunded in full if you're not approved.

The job, plainly

Three things to know before you apply. Nothing here changes after you're live.

Independent, not employed: You run your own softball lesson business. CageList is the marketplace: it finds families, books the session, takes the payment and pays you out. Nobody sets your hours.
You set the rate: Anywhere from $20 to $500 an hour, changed whenever you like. Half-hour, hour and small-group sessions are all yours to price.
Keep 95%, or all of it: 95% of every lesson CageList sends you. Nothing taken from clients you bring yourself: they pay your price and only the card fee (2.9% + 30c) comes out of it.

CageList was started by Isaac Hess, who pitched seven seasons professionally and charged $120 an hour for private lessons in Los Angeles before building this.

What softball families book

Softball demand runs on pitching. Windmill pitching instructors are the hardest coach for a family to find, and slap hitting and catching lessons follow close behind before fall ball and spring tryouts.

Windmill pitching
Mechanics, spins and a change-up. Pitching families book weekly for years, which is why this is the steadiest lesson income in the sport.
Hitting and slap hitting
Power swings and the left-side slap game. Two skills, two kinds of hitter, two reasons to book.
Catching
Framing, blocking and pop time. Usually booked by a pitcher's parent who wants her catcher to keep up.
Fielding and throwing
Infield hands and outfield reads, often as a pair or trio from the same travel team.

How you get on

Four steps, in this order. You're not disappearing into a queue.

01
Tell us who you are
Where you played, who you've coached, where you're coaching now, and one person who'll vouch for you. About six minutes.
02
We read it
A real person, usually within two days. We're looking for people who know the game and can teach it, not only people who played it.
03
Background check
Pay the one-time $29.99 fee, refunded in full if you're not approved. Checkr runs the check and you enter your details directly with them; CageList never sees them.
04
Go live
Once you've cleared and we've approved you. Set your rate, add your photos, and your page is searchable the same day.

Start your application

What it costs, in full

You should be able to read this once and know exactly what you'll be charged, for as long as you coach with us.

$29.99
Once · when you apply
Passed straight through to Checkr for your background check. CageList keeps none of it, and it is refunded in full if you are not approved.
$0
Clients you bring yourself
Bring your existing athletes and we take nothing. Your family pays your price and the card processing (2.9% + 30c) comes out of it. Want your full rate? Add it to your price.
5%
Athletes we send you
You keep 95%. CageList pays the card fee out of its share. The family pays a one-time $10 finder's fee. CoachUp charges the family $24.99 for the same introduction.
$0
Every year after
No renewal and no annual fee. CageList re-runs your background check every three years and pays for it.

Checkr is the screening company we use. You can read about who they are before you hand them anything. You enter your details with them directly; CageList never sees your Social Security number.

How others do it

CoachUp runs an ID check, a basic background check and a sex offender screen on every coach each year, charges the coach $49.99 to join and $9.99 a year after, takes 43% of a first session with a new athlete sliding to 6% by the fifth, and provides coaches $1M in general liability coverage.
Pro4mer runs a sex offender registry lookup only, says in its Terms that it does not represent instructors as having passed a background check, takes 17% plus card fees, and requires coaches to carry $500,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate in liability insurance.
CageList runs a Checkr criminal background check for $29.99 at cost, takes nothing from your own clients and 5% on athletes we send, and asks you to carry the same $500,000 / $1,000,000 cover Pro4mer does.

What we don't cover

CageList doesn't provide liability insurance. You're an independent coach running your own business, and we'd rather say that plainly than let you find out after something happens. Before your first lesson you'll need general liability cover of at least $500,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate; you confirm that when you apply. We'll point you toward the carriers other CageList coaches use. Ask your accountant how the premium is treated against your coaching income, because that depends on how you file.