| Fort Recovery Local School District |
| Bylaws & Policies |
2431.02 - HIRING AND EVALUATION OF COACHES
The most essential factor in an educationally sound athletic program is a well-qualified coach. The coach is an important link between sports and the instructional program between sports and character development, and between sports in school and long-term health and fitness. It is the intent of the Board that the District provide quality coaching in its athletic programs.
THE BOARD’S VIEW OF A WELL-QUALIFIED COACH
Coaching is a special kind of teaching. A coach not only teaches, refines and reinforces skills, but is also a role model for the student-athletes s/he coaches. Beyond knowledge of the rules and fundamentals of his/her sport, a well-qualified coach will have organizational, communication, motivational and, especially, teaching skills. A well-qualified coach appreciates the influence s/he has as a role model and mentor and conducts himself/herself accordingly.
In addition to these fundamentals, a well-qualified coach:
| A. | Understands that, first and foremost, s/he is a teacher; | |
| B. | Is sensitive to the need of maturing adolescents and assists in their physical, intellectual, social and emotional development; | |
| C. | Recognizes that students are diverse in their characteristics and backgrounds including age, maturity, gender, size and culture and adjusts his/her approach as appropriate; | |
| D. | Has a realistic sense of the level at which student athletes should be expected to perform; | |
| E. | Promotes sportsmanship, self-discipline and respect, both on and off the field; | |
| F. | Communicates in a positive manner rather than through intimidation; | |
| G. | Encourages competitive spirit, but not a "win at all costs" (paid reward) attitude; | |
| H. | Provides a fair opportunity for students to participate in competition; | |
| I. | Recognizes the difference between developmental sports programs and more intensive varsity-level sports; | |
| J. | Encourages student athletes to explore various athletic activities, both interscholastic and community rather than to specialize in a single sport at an early age; | |
| K. | Recognizes the need for balance in the lives of student athletes, including academic, family and social needs; and | |
| L. | Adheres to the same standards of conduct with respect to students as classroom teachers are expected to do. |
COACHING JOB DESCRIPTIONS
The Superintendent will be responsible for developing job descriptions for coaches and others on the athletic staff that are consistent with the Board’s view of coaching. Job descriptions will be approved by the board.
HIRING AND ASSIGNMENT OF COACHES
It is the intent of the Fort Recovery Local School District to hire well-qualified coaches for all of its athletic programs. Because of the relationship between teaching and coaching, it will be the School District’s practice to consider coaches, to the extent practicable, from its teaching staff. If it is necessary to secure individuals from outside the teaching staff, the Superintendent shall recommend only those persons deemed to have sufficient knowledge and experience to teach the fundamentals and rules of the sport, experience in working or volunteering with adolescents, and current training in sports first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
All persons hired as coaches or assistant coaches must have successfully completed appropriate first aid and CPR training. In addition, all persons hired as coaches, assistant coaches, or cheerleading advisors must complete the following requirements: Criminal Background Check – Fingerprinting, Drug Test, TB Test, First Aid and CPR Training, Bloodborne Pathogens and Hazardous Communications Training and apply for a Pupil Activity Certificate.
All persons hired as coaches for activities governed by OHSAA must agree to follow the MPA Rules and Regulations, Board policies and Athletic Department administrative regulations.
Consistent with the Board’s policies on hiring and nondiscrimination/equal opportunity/affirmative action, the Superintendent will be responsible for developing and implementing procedures for recruiting, selecting, recommending and assigning coaches. (including fingerprinting and criminal background check requirements.)
Hiring of coaches shall be on an annual or seasonal basis, with no exception of continued employment in a coaching position.
Coaches may be disciplined or terminated in accordance with Board policies or administrative regulations.
EVALUATION OF COACHES
In an effort to maintain a well qualified coaching staff and the integrity of the school unit’s athletic programming, coaches will be evaluated annually.
The Superintendent will be responsible for developing and implementing a process for evaluation of coaches. It is expected that the process will include a self-appraisal component, and that the administrative and self-appraisals will include knowledge of sports, coaching skills and techniques, organizational skills, attitudes, communication skills, behavior, and ethics.