Temporary Athletic Team Coaches

In high school athletic programs students may be coached by credentialed teachers, noncredentialed persons known as temporary coaches, or a combination of the two. State law requires that temporary coaches who do not work under the supervision of a credentialed teacher must meet certain criteria. All Mendocino County high schools employ temporary coaches, and in most of these schools, most of these coaches meet state-mandated requirements.

REASON FOR INVESTIGATION

Schools are increasingly faced with a shortage of certified teachers willing to serve as coaches for athletic teams. As a result, non-credentialed temporary coaches often fulfill this important function. In response, the state has established criteria to insure that temporary coaches are adequately prepared to supervise student athletes. As part of the mandated survey of county schools, the Grand Jury elected to examine the certification status of temporary athletic coaches in Mendocino County high schools.

PROCEDURES

A letter, including a detailed list of the state-mandated criteria for temporary athletic coaches, was sent to the principal of each Mendocino County public high school. The principal was asked to provide the names of all coaches for the 1997-98 school year along with documentation showing how each coach had met the state-mandated standards.

After the results of this inquiry were tabulated, follow-up letters were sent to high-school principals requesting additional information about points that had been missed in their first response.

FINDINGS

A. Certification Criteria

1. State certification criteria require that each district determine that a temporary athletic coach is knowledgeable and competent in the areas of:

a. Care and prevention of athletic injuries, basic first aid, and emergency procedures;

b. Coaching theory and techniques in the game being coached;

c. Rules and regulations of the athletic activity being coached; and

d. Child or adolescent psychology, whichever is appropriate to the grade level of the involved sports activity. (Title 5, Calif. Code of Reg., Sec. 5593; Ed. Code 33031, 33352, 35160, 35179.5)

2. The district superintendent must certify that the temporary coaches meet each of the criteria, or is enrolled in a program to meet the criteria. Until each of the four criteria is satisfied, the individual must serve under the immediate supervision of a fully-qualified athletic coach.

3. Each district is required to maintain records showing how and when temporary coaches have met the requirements. and have on record a copy of the district certification letter.

4 Effective October 1, 1997. state law requires a fingerprint/background check of all school employees. Paid employment cannot begin until a clearance is received from the Department of Justice (AB 161 and AR 1610).

B. Mendocino County High Schools

1. Nine public high schools serve Mendocino County: Anderson Valley. Fort Bragg. Laytonville. Mendocino. Point Arena. Potter Valley, Round Valley, Ukiah. and Willits.

C. Results of Survey

I. All Mendocino County high schools employ one or more temporary athletic coaches.

2. Five high schools provided evidence that all temporary coaches have valid first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) cards. (Finding A: l.a.)

3. In one case, coaches were certified to meet all requirements, including a normal two-day training for CPR'First Aid, during a four-hour meeting. This is appropriate only if coaches did indeed fulfill the requirement.

4. Seven high schools provided evidence that they are in full compliance with the requirements involving coaching theory (Finding A: l.b.) and sport rules and regulations (Finding A: l.c.).

5. The law requiring some knowledge of adolescent psychology is vaguely written (Finding A: l.d.), and compliance was difficult to assess from the information presented by most schools.

6. Fingerprint/background checks have been completed for all temporary coaches at three high schools.

7. In some schools one or more coaches were not in full-compliance because they were reported to be "in process of completing one or more requirements, or were waiting for completion of background checks.

8. If all temporary coaches at a school have not completed all requirements. the school can be in compliance with state regulations by allowing these persons to work only under the direct supervision of a certified coach. Most schools which were not in complete compliance presented evidence that this is standard practice.

9. Ukiah High School and Laytonville High School are the only schools in compliance with all temporary coach reporting requirements.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Any school district which employs temporary athletic coaches must insure that these persons complete all state-mandated certification criteria. (See Findings C: 1 - 7.)

2. At all times, school districts must maintain complete. up-to-date and readily accessible records on compliance with state regulations for both credentialed and non-credentialed coaches. (See Findings C: 1 - 7.)

3. School principals and athletic directors must insure that the certification process for each coach is completed in a timely manner. Because of the time required for both fingerprint/clearance and completion of CPRlfirst aid. schools must plan ahead to meet coaching needs. (See Findings C 1 - 7.)

4 As required by law, school boards must insure that certification is complete for all coaches. Some school boards have been signing the district certification letter even though the district was out of compliance (See Findings C: I - 7)

5 The Grand Jury for 1998-99 should review the responses to this report and follow-up with additional investigation to ensure that all Mendocino County high schools are in complete compliance.

COMMENTS

1. Athletic coaches bear a significant responsibility for the health and safety of students under their supervision. Knowledge required to satisfy the certification criteria helps these coaches act in an appropriately professional manner. Enormous potential liability faces any district which has not insisted on complete compliance.

2. All Mendocino County high schools are commended for their prompt response to the first request for information. Several schools commented that this required considerable search for the information requested. If records were kept current, as required, reporting should have been an easy process.

3. This investigation was originally intended as a reminder to high schools about current state-mandated certification requirements for temporary athletic coaches. The Grand Jury particularly commends those schools which dem~rnstrated significant improvement following our initial request for information.

4. Information pertaiing to the qualification and certification of coaches should be made available to parents.

RESPONSE REQUIRED

The Boards of Education responsible for the following high schools which are not in complete compliance. (Recommendations I - 4):

1. Anderson Valley

2. Fort Bragg

3. Mendocino

4. Point Arena

5. Potter Valley

6. Round Valley

7. Willits

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