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Coaching Requirements & Guidelines

In order to provide quality coaches for secondary school athletes, Amherst Central School District and New York State have established standards required of all coaches, non-paid and paid.  The following guidelines are requirements from the New York State Education Department.

Non-Certified Teachers must complete the following to coach in New York State:

  • Fingerprinting clearance through NYS Education Department. 
  • Current first aid certification (valid for 3 years)
  • Current CPR/AED (valid for 2 years)
  • Child Abuse Course.  Available through BOCES.
  • Violence Prevention & Intervention (SAVE) workshop. Available through BOCES and on-line.
  • Completed Temporary Coaches license. Done through NYS TEACH. Renewed annually.
  • Completion of Philosophy, Principles, and Organization of Athletics in Education course within 2 years of initial appointment.  Available through BOCES and on-line.
  • Complete Health Science Applied to Coaching and the Theory and Techniques of Coaching (sport specific) course within three (3) years of initial appointment. Available through BOCES and on-line.

Physical Education Teachers must complete the following to coach in New York State:

  • New York State initial, provisional, or permanent certificate to teach physical education. 
  • First Aid certification prior to start of sport season.
  • Current CPR/AED certification prior to start of sport season.

Teacher Coaches (excluding Physical Education) must complete the following to coach in New York State:

  • Current first aid certification (valid for 3 years)  approved courses
  • Current CPR/AED (valid for 2 year)  approved courses
  • Completion of Philosophy, Principles, and Organization of Athletics in Education course within two (2) years of initial appointment. Available through BOCES and on-line.
  • Complete Health Science Applied to Coaching and the Theory and Techniques of Coaching (sport specific) course within three (3) years of initial appointment. Available through BOCES and on-line.
Amherst Central Athletic Office procedure for interested non-paid coaches:
  • Notify the Varsity coach within that program of the person interested.
  • Varsity coach investigates coaching experience and background of individual.
  • Varsity coach recommends the individual to the Athletic Office for the non-paid position.
  • Athletic office verifies individual's credentials. (Please see above requirements)
  • Athletic Director recommends the individual to a one year appointment to the Amherst Central School District Superintendent.
  • Superintendent recommends individual to the Board of Education.
  • Non-paid coach is monitored and evaluated by varsity coach and Athletic Director.