Clarence Central School Coaching Certifications

Paid and Unpaid

* All coaches or personnel working with our student-athletes must be certified and board approved.

Definition of Unpaid Coaches 

 An unpaid coach is defined as a non-paid person who is approved for the season to assist paid District staff appointed to serve as coaches for one of the various levels of District athletic competition (modified, freshmen, junior varsity, and varsity).  An unpaid is a person who offers to provide assistance or service of his/her own free will without legal obligation.

General Guidelines 

General administration of the unpaid coaching program shall be the responsibility of the Superintendent or his/her designee with the Athletic Director assuming general authority over the program.  The need for unpaid coaches will be determined seasonally by the Athletic Director after consultation with the current coaching staff for the team in question.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:  unpaid coaching applicants must provide the Athletic Director with a signed completed application (see attached), documentation of clearance from the Commissioner of Education for the criminal background check (finger-printing clearance)) and documentation that he/she meets the requirements of state coaching regulations.  There are three (3) possible categories of additional requirements for unpaid coaches:

1. CERTIFIED PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS:  Must hold a valid NYS physical education teaching certificate, a valid first-aid certificate, a valid CPR/AED certificate and up to date concussion management certificate.

2. OTHER CERTIFIED TEACHERS:  Coaching a secondary school athletic team is considered teaching physical education by the state education department.  However, a person who holds a valid NYS teaching certificate in an area other than physical education may also be approved as an unpaid coach.  The person must possess a

        valid first aid certificate, CPR/ AED certificate, Concussion management certificate and DASA Certificate.  

In order to obtain a Professional Coaching License,  the certified teacher must:

 a) complete an approved course Philosophy, Principles, and Organization of Athletics in Education within two years from the date of initial appointment as a district coach;

b) complete a course on Health Science Applied to Coaching within 5 years of appointment as a District  coach

c) also, within that same five years, complete a course on Theories & Techniques of Coaching the sport or sports for which he/she is applying.    

3. NON-TEACHER COACHES:  

• Temporary Coaching License (TCL):  A person who does not hold a current New York State teaching certificate may be approved as a District unpaid coach  -  provided they have obtained a temporary coaching license from BOCES and have met all requirements of section 135.4(c)(7)(i)(c) and Section 135.5.  
• Professional Coaching License (PCL):  A person who has completed all of the required coaching courses, child abuse and violence abuse workshops, maintains fingerprint clearance, has valid first aid, CPR/AED, concussion management and DASA certification, and has held a minimum of three temporary coaching licenses for a sport per CR135.4(c)(7)(4)(A) may apply for a three-year renewable professional coaching license and be considered for District unpaid coaching positions.  

Volunteer coaches may not supervise a practice or coach unless an appointed District paid coach is present.  

Unpaid coaches are not to discuss student performance with parents or guardians without the specific approval of the appointed District paid coach.  

Unpaid coaches are subject to all expectations of performance and professional conduct applicable to paid school personnel including sexual harassment training which will be expected annually. The district will provide a link to this training