Ask the AD: Incorporating Volunteer Coaches into Your Program

Editor’s Note: This column features frequently asked questions from high school athletic directors. This material is provided by David Hoch, a longtime high school coach and athletic director from Maryland and a member of the High School Today Publications Committee. If you have a question you would like answered, contact David at davidhochretad@gmail.com.

Question: What is the best way to incorporate volunteer coaches into your program? –Russ, Washington

Some states, Russ, have policies in place that govern the hiring and usage of volunteer coaches. The first step is to check to see if there are any state protocols, since you do want to be in compliance. If there are no provisions in your state, it would be wise to consider the following:

• Require all candidates for volunteer coaching positions to undergo background checks. This is a standard procedure for all school employees and this should also extend to volunteers to ensure the safety of students.

• Set a minimum age requirement. This could be 19 or 21 years of age, or whatever your school board deems suitable.

• Have all candidates complete a coaching application or similar document that includes a home address, phone number, email address, and all other pertinent information that would normally be included for other school personnel.

• Check the candidate’s references whether this be from youth league experience or at the secondary school level.

• Consult with your head coach to ensure that this is an individual that your coach would want included in the school’s program. Try to honor a head coach’s recommendation unless you uncover any “red flags.”

• Schedule a brief meeting with a recommended candidate. During this session, ask some standard questions such as why the person is interested in coaching at your school, and to briefly explain your coaching philosophy. In essence, conduct a mini-interview to ascertain if this individual would be a good fit.

• Clearly explain the chain of command in your program and what the volunteer’s role will be. In some states, for example, no volunteer coach can be left in charge of a team. The volunteer coach always has to work under supervision of a paid coach. This would be a wise provision for most schools.

• Lastly, monitor, observe and mentor a volunteer coach as you would with any contracted individual. At the end of the season, conduct an evaluation and meet with the volunteer as you do with all coaches.

As with all of these suggestions or steps, they apply to all of your coaches and not just volunteers. The only difference is that volunteers do not get a standard pay stipend for their efforts.