High school head coaches oversee the growth and development of student athletes by focusing on fundamental skills instruction with an emphasis on whole child development to include expectations for academic and athletic excellence, leadership skills, and positive social relationships.
Per WIAA requirements, you must be at least 19 years of age to apply for any assistant coaching positions and 21 years of age to apply for any head coaching positions.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed while in other cases related duties may also be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
General
- Professional Development and Leadership: The head coach will keep abreast of knowledge and techniques associated with his/her sport by staying current with sport-specific literature and attending clinics and workshops.
- Responsibility for Rules and Regulations: The head coach will study the rules and regulations associated with his/her sport. The head coach will read and understand the rules and regulations of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), Federal Way Public Schools, and the league in which his/her team competes.
- Program Promotion: The head coach will promote his/her sport within the school and in the community. Scores and contest-related information will be reported to designated media and the league website immediately following each contest.
- Program Organization: The head coach is expected to hold practice on a daily basis and work with his/her building athletic director to organize and schedule practice sessions. The head coach will determine the system of play to be used on all teams within his/her program.
- Standard of Care: The head coach is expected to provide safety training relative to his/her sport to all participants and assistant coaches. He/she is to emphasize safety precautions at all times and maintain time, date, and attendance records documenting safety-related instruction. The head coach is expected to have a working knowledge of basic athletic training skills and procedures. He/she should be able to perform basic taping and first aid functions.
- Professionalism: The head coach is expected to exercise good judgment and project positive coaching behaviors. The head coach is expected to assume a major role in the molding of student athletes in his/her program and the school/community at large. The head coach is expected to teach and develop basic skills fundamentals, leadership characteristics, and cooperative, team-oriented behavior. His/her approach is expected to be even keel, calm, and positive. He/she is expected to be contemplative and fair-minded.
- Sportsmanship and Ethics: The head coach is expected to serve as an example of sportsmanship and humility at all times. When faced with obstacles or losses, he/she is expected to handle each instance with grace, dignity, and pride. The head coach must model and insist upon ethical behavior and good citizenship at all times.
Administrative
- Supervision: The head coach is responsible for participants in his/her program from the time they report until the time they leave.
- Presentation of Rules/Regulations: The head coach thoroughly understands and explains eligibility requirements, participation rules, and the District Eligibility Code to program participants at all levels sometime during the first week of practice.
- Attention to Eligibility Rules: The Head Coach ensures that each program participant has completed the eligibility process before taking part in any form of practice activity.
- Accident/Injury Procedure: The head coach is expected to call 911 without hesitation for serious and/or difficult to assess injuries. The head coach is expected to fill out and submit an Accident Report Form to the building athletic director within 24 hours of a student or staff member being injured. Emergency situations are to be immediately reported to the building athletic director and director of athletics.
- Media Contact: The high school head coach is expected to report scores promptly and accurately to local news media and the league website immediately following the event. A designee may be used to complete this task; however, the head coach maintains full responsibility for the assurance that this information is reported after each home contest and for away contests taking place outside the local coverage area. This includes reports on non-league tournaments and post-season events.
- Meeting Attendance: The head coach is expected to attend building, district, league, and rules clinic meetings as scheduled and as required by Federal Way Public Schools and WIAA regulations.
- Post-Season Awards Gathering: The head coach is expected to work through the building athletic director to seek approval for a post-season gathering that includes participants from all levels of the program and parents/guardians.
- Scheduling: The head coach makes scheduling recommendations to the building athletic director when requested. The head coach does not schedule his/her own contests with the exception of designated make-up contests due to weather conditions (outlined in rainout make-up procedures).
- Responsibility for Playing Facility and Equipment: The head coach monitors the condition of his/her playing facility and makes recommendations for improvements. The head coach immediately reports safety concerns and assumes responsibility for the care of equipment and facilities used in his/her program.
- Violations and Ejections Procedure: The head coach is expected to report a violation and/or ejection to the building athletic director and director of athletics immediately following the contest where the infraction occurred.
- Program Cut and Awards Criteria: The head coach is expected to develop/maintain criteria for program cuts where applicable, school letters, certificates, and special awards. Criteria for the aforementioned items must be pre-approved by the building athletic director and on file in his/her office. Criteria for program cuts must be shared with program participants and parent(s)/guardian(s) on or before the first day of practice. All other criteria must be shared with program participants and parent(s)/guardian(s) during the first week of the season. Documentation should reflect the date of presentation and a record of who was in attendance.
- Seasonal Summary Sheet and Coach Evaluation Process: The head coach is expected to attend an evaluation meeting with the building athletic director following the season. He/she is expected to present a program inventory at that time.
- Head Coach as Program Leader: The head coach is expected to meet regularly with assistant coaches to provide leadership, share expectations, and coordinate program goals. The head coach is expected to submit written program goals and assistant coach/player expectations to the building athletic director on an annual basis in advance of the season.
- Camps and Clinics: The head coach seeks advance approval from the building athletic director and director of athletics for camp and/or clinic programs involving Federal Way Public Schools players, coaches, and/or facilities.
- Travel: The head coach seeks advance approval from the building athletic director and director of athletics for all travel requests. Travel must be in accordance with department practice/policy, take place within the Northwest, and involve no time lost from school.
Financial and Equipment
- Responsibility for Program Equipment, Supplies, and Inventory: The head coach is responsible for his/her program’s equipment/supplies and is expected to:
- Complete an annual inventory that is submitted at the post-season evaluation meeting.
- Retrieve all equipment and supplies from players and coaches no later than one week after the last contest played.
- Submit a fine list no later than one week after the last contest played.
- Mark and number each equipment and/or uniform item with school identification.
- Coordinate repair and storage of equipment no later than one week after the last contest played.
- Coordinate the cleaning/laundering of equipment/uniforms no later than one week after the last contest played.
- Annual Budget Request: The head coach is expected to prepare/submit an annual budget request to the building athletic director by the announced deadline date each spring. This budget must be accompanied by an inventory current for that school year.
- Fundraising Activities: The head coach is expected to seek advance approval from the building athletic director for all fundraising activities and complete required paperwork in accordance with district guidelines.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
- Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit and supporting student learning objectives.
The preceding list of responsibilities is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:
High school diploma or equivalent
Three years of sport-specific playing and/or coaching experience in a secondary and/or post-secondary athletics program and/or related club coaching experience.
Proven training and experience in the presentation of drills, safety factors, and proper application of skills.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Work scheduled hours on a consistent basis
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Five or more years of paid high school and/or post-secondary sport-specific coaching experience and/or related club coaching experience.
Completion of the National Federation Coaching Fundamentals Course to include passing the test.
CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:
21 years of age or older
Criminal background clearance
First Aid and CPR certification (must be hands-on training).
Online Concussion Training (CT). A free course is available at www.nfhslearn.com
Note: Individuals may submit an application prior to completing FA/CPR/CT Training.
KNOWLEDGE OF:
- League and WIAA rules and regulations
- National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) sport-specific rules and regulations
- Record keeping and report preparation
- School board policies and procedures
ABILITY TO:
- Organize, administrate, and oversee a sport-specific athletics program at each level of the program
- Comply with school board policies and follow administrative procedures
- Organize and perform job responsibilities efficiently and independently without close supervision and able to pay strict attention to detail
- Speak, read and follow written or verbal communications
- Practice effective safety and security within individual work routines
- Develop and maintain positive customer relations with staff and service providers
- Work collaboratively with District staff and promote teamwork with co-workers
- Practice ethical and professional standards of conduct including the requirements of confidentiality
- Relate effectively with parents, staff, students and the public in a multicultural and multiracial community
- Perform job responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES RELATED TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND EQUITY:
- Knowledge/awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others.
- Ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff, students, and patrons of the District.
- Ability to understand and hold self and others accountable for promoting the Federal Way Public Schools’ commitment to “Each Scholar: A Voice. A Dream. A Bright Future.”
- Ability to recognize that each person is a unique individual even as we celebrate their group cultural heritage.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in indoor conditions and on surfaces that vary in height and stability. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
WORK SCHEDULE:
Varies – Work days are dependent on the schedule for the specific sport.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:
Reports to and is evaluated by the Building Athletic Director
REPRESENTATION:
Federal Way Education Association represent Federal Way School Coaches
LEVEL OF COMPENSATION:
Federal Way Education Association represent Federal Way School Coaches Salary Schedule
CLASSIFICATION HISTORY:
Update 12/2015
Disclaimer: The preceding list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the scope of responsibility and the level of knowledge and skills typically required, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements, skills or duties so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed.
All employment open positions are made available on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or veteran status.
Job descriptions are written as a representative list of the ADA essential duties performed by the entire classification. They cannot include, and are not intended to include, every possible activity and task performed by every specific employee.
