Requirements For a HS Coach?

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I am curious about what kind of extra training is offered to teachers that choose to coach HS or MS teams. I assume(uh-oh) that there are clinics that are available to coaches but do school districts require them to attend? Do they have to be certified? I know that the various associations offer clinics, is it on the coach to schedule and attend?
I'm sure every district is different, I would love to hear from coaches, teachers and non-teahers. A good coach wants to improve year to year as a coach just like a good player but are coaches required to get additional training?
I don't believe that HS coaches are in it for just the paycheck but I do think that there are coaches that are not working to improve their skills just as there are players that only pick up a bat when the HS indoor season starts or at try-outs.
I know that alot of coaches that are teachers get shredded on here and that is not what I am looking for.

 

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I believe coaches have to be certified with The National Federation of State High School Associations

 

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High school coaches must be be certified in CPR and must obtain a pupil advisory permit from the state of Ohio, this involves a 3-4 hour course dealing with "sports medicine" and first aid techniques. In addition, new coaches as well as coaches renewing their pupil advisory must now take the National Federation Coaches' Seminar (via the internet). There are no sport specific requirements from the state. Each individual school has a list (or should have) of qualifications for their prospective coaches.

 

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High school coaches must be be certified in CPR and must obtain a pupil advisory permit from the state of Ohio, this involves a 3-4 hour course dealing with "sports medicine" and first aid techniques. In addition, new coaches as well as coaches renewing their pupil advisory must now take the National Federation Coaches' Seminar (via the internet). There are no sport specific requirements from the state. Each individual school has a list (or should have) of qualifications for their prospective coaches.

So youre saying they dont need to know anything about the sport..

 

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So youre saying they dont need to know anything about the sport..

I highly doubt that unless the board hiring that coach is clueless. However, I suppose it could happen. However, the money for the clinics is paid for by the coach. At least that's what I did. I'm an assistant (non paid) with Genoa and I had to attend CPR and a first aid class plus an online course and you have to submit to a background check. Most of those classes/training comes with a fee. So....I suppose if you wanted to be a coach and knew nothing about that sport, you would be spending hard earned money for what? Just saying now you need to make an effort to become a coach at the HS/MS level. You can't just come in after being hired or asked to help and not "pay a price" so to speak. So I would think that you would know something about the sport you wanted to coach now since you would have to pay for all the classes that you have to take now. Just IMO.

 

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For those High School coaches wanting a good clinic, the Best in the Midwest clinic is back in November in Perrysburg. More information will be coming shortly but we expect 3 college coaches who are now rated in the top 15 in the country in softball.

 

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I think more of a problem, is after they get the job, they never attend any softball skill camps. Yes they are paid for these by the high school, but you see few if any take advantage of this. The ones that coach travel ball along with high school ball are far in away the better coaches.

 

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Flatline - "I don't believe that HS coaches are in it for just the paycheck but I do think that there are coaches that are not working to improve their skills just as there are players that only pick up a bat when the HS indoor season starts or at try-outs."

I am wondering where these "teacher-coaches" with no ability, desire to learn, dedication, etc. are from? In Northwest Ohio, the vast majority of high school coaches that I come into contact with are hard working dedicated individuals that are at clinics, running clinics, running camps, or coaching travel or rec teams at all age levels throughout the summer and fall. Many of them are teachers. Just as an example, I would put the Northern Lakes League coaches up against anyone in the state in regard to dedication and knowledge of the sport. Some of them are teachers as well. This broad brush application of teacher-coach = incompetance is silly.

 

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I'm sure that there are great teacher/coaches. The point of my post is to set a baseline expectation.
My daughter is a freshman, she plays for a travel team with great coaches that played college and professional softball and they coach HS ball, I am amazed at the level of skill of the coaches and how they work with the girls. I didn't know what to expect going in to this new organization but both my daughter and I are blown away.
To expect the same from her HS coach would not be fair, I'm sure there are HS coaches that are better than my daughters summer coaches but not at her HS.
If the school district requires the coach to attend softball coaching clinics and the coach takes the position seriously I should expect a certain level of competence and skill from the coach. And while there are several methods and styles the ability to "coach" should be obvious.
I don't know how much they are paid, I'm sure it is not alot. The attitude of "it is what it is" doesn't work for me, I would like to know what a realistic expectation is.
He seems like a great guy, and I think HS ball is important to a 14 yr old. She will have a good time regardless, but if he is a baseball player or baseball coach that decided to coach softball I don't think he should be changing things that are taught by more qualified coaches.
The coach has to be as dedicated as the players, the level of dedication from his players increased exponentially with the freshman class coming in.

 

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Flatline - "I don't believe that HS coaches are in it for just the paycheck but I do think that there are coaches that are not working to improve their skills just as there are players that only pick up a bat when the HS indoor season starts or at try-outs."

I am wondering where these "teacher-coaches" with no ability, desire to learn, dedication, etc. are from?

Believe me, they are out there. I am from NEO and I could I could give you a pretty long list. There are many great HS coaches, but there are also many bad ones who have no experience and don't feel they need any.

 

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Klump, that pretty much sums it up. You run into both.

 

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Good coaches do things on their own just like good players.

Do some districts require the coaches to get more training and do those districts see an improvement in their program? The easy solution for a school is to find an experienced, dedicated coach, but if they don't have one shouldn't they have a plan in place to help whoever is running the program get better?

I plan on talking with the coach and AD as the season progresses(carefully) but I am wondering what other programs do. I'm sure all of the girls will give their best regardless of the credentials of the coach and I would expect and accept nothing less from my daughter.

The coach did not use his contact days over the summer and didnt seem too interested in doing open gyms. He has a former player with state honors and tons of travel experience with elite programs that is willing to work with the girls during the summer. I think he would learn some things if he worked with her but he doesn't seem to have the motivation. 7 freshmen worked every week on their own with the former player during the late summer, the invitation was extended to upperclassmen but none showed up. The former player was working with the girls for community service credit for school, no charge. None of the new freshmen ever even met the coach until they got to the HS and met him in gym.

I also think he doesn't understand what the girls are capable of doing on their own. If he could just provide the facilities in the winter they would work on skills that they have developed with their travel coaches. I asked for a corner of the gym for tee work but he said he couldn't do it.

 

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Good coaches do things on their own just like good players.

Do some districts require the coaches to get more training and do those districts see an improvement in their program? The easy solution for a school is to find an experienced, dedicated coach, but if they don't have one shouldn't they have a plan in place to help whoever is running the program get better?

I plan on talking with the coach and AD as the season progresses(carefully) but I am wondering what other programs do. I'm sure all of the girls will give their best regardless of the credentials of the coach and I would expect and accept nothing less from my daughter.

The coach did not use his contact days over the summer and didnt seem too interested in doing open gyms. He has a former player with state honors and tons of travel experience with elite programs that is willing to work with the girls during the summer. I think he would learn some things if he worked with her but he doesn't seem to have the motivation. 7 freshmen worked every week on their own with the former player during the late summer, the invitation was extended to upperclassmen but none showed up. The former player was working with the girls for community service credit for school, no charge. None of the new freshmen ever even met the coach until they got to the HS and met him in gym.

I also think he doesn't understand what the girls are capable of doing on their own. If he could just provide the facilities in the winter they would work on skills that they have developed with their travel coaches. I asked for a corner of the gym for tee work but he said he couldn't do it.

I would advise against talking to the coach and the AD. I've seen many parents fall into this before and I have never seen it work out well at all. The coach would have been recommended by the AD and hired by the school board. You will more than likely be labled as "one of those parents". Let the coach do his/her thing, sit back and enjoy your daughters HS career. You're gonna make things very difficult for your daughter and her HS softball experience if you become an armchair quarterback. I also wouldn't discuss with your daughter at all what you think the coach should or shouldn't be doing. I've witnessed what can happen to a team when a couple of parents include their daughters in what should be conversations behind closed door between adults. TOTAL CAOS!!!! FYI I'm not a HS coach or an AD.

Another thing to consider is that alot of girls play multiple sports. Alot of schools and coaches won't let their athletes participate in another out of season sport. IE basketball coaches are very rarely gonna let any of his team play winter ball. The same goes for volleyball and fall ball. Just like they're not going to give up gym time to an out of season sport. So for your coach to say that he couldn't get a corner gym he was probably correct. So my advise would be, if your daughter is "sports specific", work on your own in the off season and transfer your hard work during the summer and HS seasons. In my experience I've seen very few get better during any 2 hr practice with ANY team. Game savy, yes, athletically better, no, there's not enough time. You have to do that on your own.

 

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I think the biggest problem facing the HS softball community is the fact that so many of these coaches may know the game, but have no idea of what it means to COACH! I see coaches all the time treat their kids like chess pieces, moving them here, then there and never the slightest bit of instruction on what to do in the position. I almost think they already expect these girls to know what to do. Sure the experienced travel players do, but it stops there. Then they blow a gasket when the kid is making error after error.

I almost would rather have a coach that knows very little, is willing to listen and learn and knows how to motivate their players. It is always obvious when the players have no respect for their coach and it usually comes from the coach having no respect for their players..

 

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I think the biggest problem facing the HS softball community is the fact that so many of these coaches may know the game, but have no idea of what it means to COACH! I see coaches all the time treat their kids like chess pieces, moving them here, then there and never the slightest bit of instruction on what to do in the position. I almost think they already expect these girls to know what to do. Sure the experienced travel players do, but it stops there. Then they blow a gasket when the kid is making error after error.

I almost would rather have a coach that knows very little, is willing to listen and learn and knows how to motivate their players. It is always obvious when the players have no respect for their coach and it usually comes from the coach having no respect for their players..

Not trying to start an argument, but untill you walk in the shoes of a HS coach you have no idea. The problem most people fail to understand is that HS coaches have 3-4 weeks to prepare a team to play games. You have to throw so much at them in such a short time that it is hard for them to absorb it all, but the biggest problem I have is their lack of focus at practice when I'm trying to teach. Cell phones, boyfriends, prom, schoolwork, jobs, etc...it is agonizing to say the least. Then they go out on the field of play and look like they have never practiced. It is frustrating as a coach who puts in so many hours of their time, to watch your team fall apart because they don't want to put the effort forward in practice. I get a little fired up at games when I see kids screw up in games that have repeatedly screwed off in practice. I know what your going to say, then sit them or put them down on the JV, I wish it was just that easy.

 

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LK,

No offense, but it sounds like that player has no respect for you and the time you put in. That is my whole point about coaching; it's not just knowing the game, it's knowing how to motivate all the different personalities into accomplishing a single goal.

As the coach it is just that easy. If the kid isn't performing due to lack of effort you do what you have to for the team's sake. Take whatever heat comes your way because of it, that is another part of being a coach that is so under recognized. Too many folks trying to protect their job instead of doing what needs to be done. JMHO

 

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My hubby was asked to be assistant varsity coach this year, and I was stunned by the stuff he had to do to help out.

I agree with the background check ($50?), but the mandatory test (NFHS?) was absolutely ridiculous, not to mention it was $65 ( I believe) the content was insulting. It told him how to shake hands with the umpire and other coaches and how to talk to kids about facebook.

Yes there was some good info too. I felt that a pamphlet would have sufficed.
The test took about 6-8 hours,we do not have high speed internet, but not dial up either.

He also had to take an evening and do a first aid course which was filled with common sense info- I don't remember what that costs.

Next year even the existing coaches will have to tolerate all of this.

I think it is all about $$$$$$- and after all of that, it still does not insure that you will get a quality coach. Just my opinion.

 

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Lady_Knights hit it on the head. High School practice is nothing like travel ball. Plus high school coaches hands are tied. We were left with only 9 girls on varsity and JV this week because kids would rather go on spring break than play softball. Plus you teach them and then you have some dad tell them to ignore you. Parents yelling Swing Level, Squish the bug, and they get really confused. Parents in high school make life very difficult for a high school coach.

 

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Plus high school coaches hands are tied.

They are still the coach on the field and have a responsibility to the team to put the best players out there. If it requires taking heat from the parents, AD or school board that is what they should do. The more people allow this type of **** to continue without standing up, the more systemic it becomes.

We were left with only 9 girls on varsity and JV this week because kids would rather go on spring break than play softball.

Spring break with the family, family vacations in the summer, family holiday gatherings: all these things should take precedence over playing softball. The key is that these players need to ensure that the coach knows well in advance that they will not be available. And is it truly the players or their parents that made that decision? In the big scheme of things softball, especially HS softball, doesn't rate very high on the importance scale of life.

Plus you teach them and then you have some dad tell them to ignore you.

This is back to the respect thing. If I was to yell at my daughter on the field she would be the one telling me to shut-it (with sign language of course). She knows that I am more than competent as both her hitting and pitching coach, but it is not my time or place to say anything. Heck, I am barely allowed to cheer for her without having daggers shot my way. LoL

I will say that I have been referred to as a "bull in a china shop". If you do what is right, you can always sleep well at night. And you are never ashamed of what you see in the mirror.

 

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Flatline - "I don't believe that HS coaches are in it for just the paycheck but I do think that there are coaches that are not working to improve their skills just as there are players that only pick up a bat when the HS indoor season starts or at try-outs."

I am wondering where these "teacher-coaches" with no ability, desire to learn, dedication, etc. are from? In Northwest Ohio, the vast majority of high school coaches that I come into contact with are hard working dedicated individuals that are at clinics, running clinics, running camps, or coaching travel or rec teams at all age levels throughout the summer and fall. Many of them are teachers. Just as an example, I would put the Northern Lakes League coaches up against anyone in the state in regard to dedication and knowledge of the sport. Some of them are teachers as well. This broad brush application of teacher-coach = incompetance is silly.

I have to agree with on the bucket, but its not just in the NLL, the SLL and Toledo City leagues are full of knowlegdable coaches that also coach Summer travel ball. I have yet to meet a high school coach in NWO that didnt encourgage their players to play travel ball. I guess we are very fortunate here