JJIB - Hiring and Evaluation of Coaches & Co-curricular Staff
Hiring and Evaluation of Coaches & Co-curricular Staff
The most essential factor in educationally sound co-curricular programs are well-qualified coaches and staff. These adults are an important link between after school sports and programs and the instructional program and the principles of Acton Elementary School. It is the intent of the School Committee that the school unit provides quality coaching in its athletic programs and quality staff in its co-curricular programs.
The School Committee’s view of a well-qualified coach and co-curricular program staff
Coaching and co-curricular programs involve a special kind of teaching. These adults not only teach, refine and reinforce skills, but are also role models for the students and student-athletes he/she works with. Beyond knowledge of the rules and fundamentals of his/her sport or activity, a well-qualified coach or staff will have organizational, communication, motivational and, especially, teaching skills. These adults appreciate the influence he/she has as a role model and mentor and conducts him/herself accordingly.
In addition to these fundamentals, a well-qualified coach or co-curricular staff:
Understands that, first and foremost, he/she is a teacher;
Is sensitive to the need of maturing adolescents and assists in their physical, intellectual, social and emotional development;
Recognizes that students are diverse in their characteristics and backgrounds including, age, maturity, gender, size and culture and adjusts his/her approach as appropriate;
Has a realistic sense of the level at which students or student-athletes should be expected to perform;
Promotes sportsmanship, self-discipline and respect, both on and off the playing field or area of activity;
Encourages high scholastic achievement;
Communicates in a positive manner rather than through intimidation;
Encourages competitive spirit, but not a "win at all costs" attitude;
Respects the integrity and judgment of officials;
Provides a fair opportunity for students to participate in competition;
Recognizes the difference between developmental sports programs or activities and more intensive varsity-level sports;
Develops positive relationships with opposing coaches or staff within the sport or activity;
Demonstrates a mastery of and continuing interest in coaching principles and techniques through professional improvement;
Encourage respect for all athletic and co-curricular programs and should understand that those who participate are Acton School athletes and students, not defined by a particular sport regardless of the season;
Encourages students and student-athletes to explore various athletic or other activities, both interscholastic and intramural, rather than to specialize in a single sport at an early age;
Recognizes the need for balance in the lives of students and student-athletes, including academic, family and social needs; and
Adheres to the same standards of conduct with respect to students as classroom teachers are expected to do.
Coaching and Co-curricular Job Descriptions
The Superintendent, their designee, or Athletic Director will be responsible for developing job descriptions for coaches and others on the athletic staff (e.g., assistant coaches, trainers) as well as co-curricular activities that are consistent with the School Committee’s views on coaching and co-curricular staff. Job descriptions will be approved by the School Committee.
Hiring and Assignment of Coaches and Co-curricular Staff
It is the intent of the Acton School Department to hire well-qualified coaches and co-curricular staff for all of its athletic and after school programs. The Athletic Director will be responsible for setting up the interviews and making a hiring recommendation to the Superintendent of Schools. .
All new coaches and co-curricular staff must have appropriate first aid and CPR/AED training after being hired. All persons hired as coaches or co-curricular staff must agree to follow all School Committee policies, as well as school unit and Athletic Department administrative regulations.
Consistent with the School Committee’s policies on hiring and nondiscrimination/equal opportunity/affirmative action, the Superintendent or Athletic Director will be responsible for developing and implementing procedures for recruiting, selecting, recommending and assigning coaches. No applicant will be hired as a coach, assistant coach, or co-curricular activity staff without Maine Department of Education approval, including fingerprinting and criminal background check requirements.
Hiring of coaches and co-curricular staff shall be on an annual or seasonal basis. All positions will be posted if vacant. Coaches and co-curricular staff who desire to return, and if they have received an overall satisfactory annual evaluation, will be given first priority to return to their previous position.
Because of the relationship between teaching and coaching or co-curricular activities, it will be the school unit's practice to secure coaches, to the extent practicable, from its teaching staff. If it is necessary to secure individuals from outside the teaching staff, the Superintendent or Athletic Director shall recommend only those persons deemed to have sufficient knowledge and experience to teach the fundamentals and rules of the sport or activity, experience in working or volunteering with adolescents, and current training in sports first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Coaches or co-curricular staff may be disciplined or terminated in accordance with School Committee policies or administrative regulations.
Evaluation of Coaches and Co-curricular staff
In an effort to maintain a well-qualified coaching staff and the integrity of the school unit's athletic programming, coaches and co-curricular staff will be evaluated annually.
The Superintendent, their designee, or Athletic Director 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.
Adopted: February 13, 2025