ANY COACH IN charge of athletes in high school and middle school is expected to maintain a high degree of integrity for carrying out duties and responsibilities.
Listed below is a checklist that our school uses. You can adapt it to your school’s specific rules and needs.
Early Season
o All head coaches must attend both a state rules meeting and the conference coaches meeting prior to the start of the season.
o Be certain that each player has any required physical examination documents on file with the athletic director before he or she begins to practice.
o Make sure to read and review the important topics from the athletic handbook with your team. The athletic handbook should be handed out with the student handbook and all students must have a copy of this information.
o Be smart and sympathetic when making team cuts.
o Go over all team rules with your players and see that each athlete receives a copy of this list. Also, make sure the athletic director gets a copy.
o Check eligibility lists to be sure nobody who is ineligible practices.
o Bus request times should be double checked with the athletic director and/or transportation supervisor at least 2 weeks before your first bus trip. If there’s a change in times or a late addition to your schedule, let the bus supervisor or athletic director know as soon as possible.
o Turn in a roster-eligibility list to the athletic director or athletic secretary.
o If each player can get locker space, make locker assignments and turn in a list to the athletic director.
o Get a first-aid kit ready and have it available at all times. See the trainer or athletic director for supplies.
o Turn in a monthly practice schedule to both the athletic director and his or her secretary.
o Head coaches of each sport should have regular meetings with all coaches, including middle school coaches.
During The Season
o Assign reliable managers and statisticians the duties that are expected of them.
o Be at practice on time (15 minutes early is a good rule of thumb) and don’t leave practice until all your players have left or arrangements have been made with another coach to stay until all athletes are picked up.
o If you’re the last coach to leave practice, make sure the lights are turned off, showers are turned off and all doors are secured.
o Start practices on time and end them on time.
o If coaches are unable to be present for a practice, practice will be cancelled unless the athletic director or principal approves another option.
o Monitor players who are on academic probation. This includes meeting and talking with each athlete or providing study sessions. Meet with his or her teachers periodically.
o Call in results and statistics to local newspapers. Also, send in school public address announcements that will be read aloud to the student body if allowed.
Late Season
o All equipment must be picked up and accounted for.
o Make sure you know the deadlines for award information for the sports banquet. Get that information handed in.
o A list of lost equipment and the athlete responsible is to be turned in to the athletic director. No awards will be given until the athlete pays for lost equipment.
o Turn in all keys to the athletic director unless arrangements have been made to keep them.
o Turn in a detailed inventory of all equipment used in your sport to the athletic director.
o Submit your season-ending statistics to the athletic director, including any school records that were broken and special awards that were given.
o It’s the coaches’ responsibility to change all record boards that are in the school or gym.
o Head coaches must attend the conference meeting and it’s recommended that they attend regional and state-level meetings for special recognition of their athletes.