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.