What Do I Need to Become a High School Coach?
High school sports coaches are responsible for teaching the fundamentals of a sport. In addition, a coach is also responsible for helping student-athletes maintain good study habits, develop positive moral characteristics and navigate the usual transitions that occur during the formative high school years.
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Higher Education Degree
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According to the Education Portal website, no particular educational requirement exists for a high school coach. However, most have at least a bachelor's degree in exercise or sports science. Some high school coaches may have a degree in another educational subject and use it to teach a primary subject during the day before taking on coaching duties after school. In fact, this is fairly common among most coaches at the high school level.
Knowledge of Sports Rules and Regulations
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A high school coach must be familiar with the ins and outs of his sport's rules. He not only must use his knowledge of the game to strategize, but also he needs to use that knowledge to teach the tactics of his particular sports to his athletes. Part of being a student-athlete is learning the fundamentals of a particular sport; it is the coach's responsibility to impart at least some of this knowledge.
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State Certification Requirements
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that high school coaches must possess special sets of certifications. Each state varies, but most require training in certified pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This is key because student-athletes challenge themselves physically and may unknowingly trigger an underlying health disorder. A high school coach must be prepared to respond to this type of emergency.
Background Check
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Because a high school coach works so closely with students and can be one of the major influences in their lives, background checks are generally performed to ensure the coach in question doesn't have a criminal history. A drug test is also performed -- routinely in some school districts -- to ensure the coach does not have a problem with illegal substances.
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