Ideas on Encouraging More Teachers to Serve as Coaches

There is a long-held belief that the ideal situation within our nation’s schools is that coaches are also teachers within the school system. After all, teachers understand students and how the school is structured and operates, and coaching provides them with a great way to bond and expand their working relationship with students.

In addition, it is easier to communicate with teachers who work in the district as opposed to community members who come into the building to simply coach. It is a win-win situation to have teacher-coaches in your program.

Unfortunately, there are fewer teachers who may currently be willing or able to coach. This means that many athletic administrators have to come up with a plan to attract and retain more teachers to serve in this vital capacity. To accomplish this goal, three questions need to be answered.

How do you assess potential coaches among your school’s teachers?
In today’s world of interscholastic athletics, it has become more difficult to add experienced coaches to your athletic program. Perhaps potential candidates don’t have the specific certifications that are required by your state, or it may just be more challenging to find the right fit for your teams. A great place to start would be the schools in your district.

If you hire a teacher who has minimal coaching experience, it is essential that the teacher has a positive attitude and enthusiasm. If this individual is willing to grow and learn the sport, he or she would be a major asset to your athletic program. A teacher who enjoys working with young people, is motivated, and has a positive attitude will benefit your program.

How do you encourage more teachers to coach?
Encouraging both new and veteran teachers to become involved in the interscholastic athletic program is crucial for continued success. The benefits of being a part of an athletic program are not exclusive to the student-athletes. The connection to the school and community does not stop at the last bell of the school day, and, in fact, it can be enhanced through participation in afterschool activities, for both students and teachers.

It is important that teachers understand this benefit, and the impact that they can continue to have with the students within their school and the community at large. Teachers who coach will be able to develop positive relationships with students and families in ways that a typical classroom instructor cannot offer. And this is the message that an athletic administrator has to share with the teaching staff, since some may not be aware of the potential impact they might make.

How do you recruit more teachers to coach?
A great way to recruit teachers to coach is to collaborate with colleagues in other positions within the school district. Communicate with the individuals who do the hiring of teachers, and provide them with a list of anticipated coaching vacancies. Ask your principal or the person who does the hiring for contact information for all new teachers, and then follow up with recent hires to determine if they would be interested in coaching. When anyone expresses interest, you can then schedule a meeting to see if the person would be a good fit for one of your teams and the athletic program.

Another effective way of recruiting more teachers to coach would be to make a brief presentation during in-service days, and at faculty and staff meetings. Not only will this be an opportune time to reach out to the greatest number of new teachers, but you can also remind established instructors about the benefits and rewards of coaching.

In addition, make it a habit to stop into the faculty lunchroom during the first two or three weeks of school. Sit down with one to two new teachers for a few minutes to explore their possible interest, and encourage them to consider coaching. This personal touch can be very effective.

How do you retain teachers in coaching?
Retaining quality coaches is an important aspect for an athletic program because it takes a great deal of time and effort to fill vacancies, and you also want to maintain consistency. For teachers to remain committed to coaching, however, it is important that they feel appreciated and are provided with the resources they need to be successful.

Teaching is an increasingly taxing and demanding profession that requires countless hours, and with the added responsibility of coaching, many days can be grueling. In order for an athletic administrator to get the most out of their teachers who coach, they must ensure that coaches are supported in the decisions that they make and protected from external pressures that they may face.

Often the off-the-field demands of coaching are what impact a teacher’s decision to leave the profession. It is crucial, therefore, for athletic administrators to counsel, provide help and advice, and give the coach the autonomy to do the job.

It is vital to honor and celebrate your coaches, and to make sure they know just how important they are and how much they are appreciated. Praise them whenever possible in pre-season parent and booster club meetings, with postings on your website, and in all other opportunities.

Teacher-coaches provide an invaluable service to the school and community. They know and understand the mission of the school, and they have proven a commitment to the students and school that they serve. Many of the same strategies and techniques that instructors use during the school day can be incorporated into their coaching lives.

Teachers who also coach show that they have a vested interest in the success of well-rounded students. Recruiting and hiring these individuals as coaches may be a huge challenge, but it is one that is extremely important for your program. It is a task that can be successfully accomplished with some thought, time, a plan and effort.