Policy 4127 - Temporary Athletic Team Coaches

1. Care and prevention of athletic injuries, basic sports injury first aid, and emergency procedures as evidenced by one or more of the following:

a. Completion of a college-level course in the care and prevention of athletic injuries and possession of a valid cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) card
b. A valid sports injury certificate or first aid card, and a valid cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) card

c. A valid Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) I or II card

d. A valid trainer's certification issued by the National or California Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA/CATA)

e. Practical experience under the supervision of an athletic coach or trainer or experience assisting in team athletic training and conditioning and both valid CPR and first aid cards

 

2. Coaching theory and techniques in the sport or game being coached, as evidenced by one or more of the following:

a. Completion of a college course in coaching theory and techniques

b. Completion of inservice programs arranged by a school district or county office of education

c. Prior service as a student coach or assistant athletic coach in the sport being coached

d. Prior coaching in community youth athletic programs in the sport being coached

e. Prior participation in organized competitive athletics at high school level or above in the sport being coached

 

3. Knowledge of the rules and regulations pertaining to the sport or game being coached, the league rules, and, at the high school level, regulations of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF)

 

4. Knowledge of child or adolescent psychology as it relates to sport participation as evidenced by one or more of the following:

a. Completion of a college-level course in adolescent or sports psychology

b. Completion of a seminar or workshop on human growth and development of youth

c. Prior active involvement with youth in a school or community sports program

 

The Superintendent or designee may waive competency requirements for persons enrolled in appropriate training courses leading to acquisition of the competency, provided such persons serve under the direct supervision of a fully qualified coach until the competencies are met.

 

5. Volunteers who supervise or direct an athletic program shall meet the qualification criteria specified in 5 CCR 5593 required for temporary athletic team coaches employed by the district. Any volunteer who does not meet such criteria shall serve only under the supervision of a fully qualified coach and shall not be given charge of an athletic program.

 

1. Must be at least 21 years of age prior to the beginning of the season of the sport to be coached in order to be a head coach

 

2. Must be at least 19 years of age prior to the beginning of the season of the sport to be coached in order to serve as a paid assistant coach under the following conditions:

a. Graduated from the school appointing the coach and participated in the sport to be considered

b. Approved by site principal

c. Volunteered for at least one prior year as an unpaid assistant coach

 

3. Paid or volunteer coaches under the age of 21:

a. May not drive student athletes in any motor vehicle

b. Must be under the direct supervision of the head coach at all times

 

In addition to the competencies listed above, the Superintendent or designee shall determine that a noncertificated person employed as a temporary athletic team coach:

1. Has not been convicted of any offense referred to in Education Code 44010, 44011 or 44424, or any offense involving moral turpitude or evidencing unfitness to associate with children.

 

2. Is free from tuberculosis and any other contagious disease that would prohibit certificated teachers from teaching, as verified by a written statement, renewable every four years, from a licensed physician or other person approved by the district.

 

3. Complies with 5CCR 5 5593

 

Non-certificated coaches have no authority to give grades to students.

 

Each employee or volunteer high school athletic team coach shall complete, at the individual's expense, a coaching education program that meets the standards developed by CIF and includes, but is not limited to, training in regard to sport psychology, sport pedagogy, sport physiology, sport management, statewide and school regulations, CPR, including certification, use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), and first aid that includes, but is not limited to, training in recognizing the signs, symptoms, and appropriate response to concussions, heat illness, and cardiac arrest.  A high school coach who has completed the education program in another California school district shall be deemed to have met the requirement for this district.  An individual who has not completed the education program may be assigned as a coach for no longer than one season of interscholastic competition.

In addition, prior to coaching an athletic activity and every two years thereafter, athletic coaches shall complete an approved training course on the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest.

 

Employees providing supervisory or instructional services in interscholastic athletic programs and activities shall:

1. Show respect for players, officials and other coaches

 

2. Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials

 

3. Establish and model fair play, sportsmanship and proper conduct

 

4. Establish player safety and welfare as the highest priority

 

5. Provide proper supervision of students at all times

 

6. Use discretion when providing constructive criticism and when reprimanding players

 

7. Maintain consistency in requiring all players to adhere to the established rules and standards of the game

 

8. Properly instruct players in the safe use of equipment

 

9. Avoid exerting undue influence on a student's decision to enroll in an athletic program at any public or private postsecondary educational institution

 

10. Avoid exerting undue influence on students to take lighter academic course(s) in order to be eligible to participate in athletics

 

11. Avoid suggesting, providing or encouraging any athlete to use nonprescriptive drugs, anabolic steroids or any substance to increase physical development or performance that is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Surgeon General or the American Medical Association

 

12. Avoid recruitment of athletes from other schools

 

13. Follow the rules of behavior and the procedures for crowd control as established by the Board and the league in which the district participates