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CHESTERFIELD
TOWNSHIP ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
COACH
RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMMITMENTS
(For a Printable Version of this document, click
here.)
I.
Coach’s Mission.
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The mission of
the Chesterfield Township Athletic Association (CTAA) is to provide fun,
safe and affordable recreational athletic opportunities for the children
of Township residents. Coaches are expected to teach the fundamentals of
the sport and basic principles of teamwork and sportsmanship in a fun and
enriching environment. Children should be taught to compete, but not to
win at all costs. |
II.
Training.
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All coaches
must attend the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. course for partial protection
against civil liability. |
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Coaches are
required to attend clinics held by the Northern Burlington Instructional
Athletic Association (NBIAA) prior to the season and should encourage
players to attend. |
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Baseball/Softball coaches are required to be certified as having completed
the training program at
www.baberuthcoaching.org. |
III.
Teaching Fundamentals.
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Coaches are
expected to be equipped to instruct players in the fundamentals of the
sport. CTAA programs are not only designed to provide recreational
opportunities for children who may not be destined for future athletic
prowess, but also to provide a challenging instructional experience for
more advanced players. Failure to provide strong instructional guidance
to children at the recreational level will deprive those players of the
growth necessary to allow them to compete at higher levels if they wish to
do so. Coaches should not volunteer to coach a sport without a
corresponding commitment to learn the rules and fundamentals of that
sport. |
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Coaches should
rely upon encouragement and positive reinforcement in teaching
fundamentals. Harsh criticism and yelling at players for game performance
is not acceptable. |
IV.
Sportsmanship.
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Coaches should
approach games professionally and should lead by example when dealing with
opposing coaches, officials, parents and players by treating everyone with
respect. |
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Coaches should
focus on coaching and leave the officiating to the officials. Coaches
should avoid arguments with and repeated criticism of officials.
Regardless of the quality of officiating, officials are always to be
treated with respect by coaches, players and parents. Coaches are
responsible for the behavior of their players and the parents of those
players. |
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Players should
be taught the value of teamwork and how to be a good teammate. Criticism
by players of teammates should not be tolerated. |
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Players should
be taught to respect opposing players. Taunting, ridiculing and
celebrating other players’ failures should not be tolerated.
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Running up the
score is inconsistent with principles of good sportsmanship. If a coach’s
team is winning a game by a large margin, that coach is expected to take
steps to avoid humiliation of the opposing team. |
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It is an
express objective of the CTAA to promote a respectful and harmonious
relationship between the participating townships of the NBIAA. All of
these children will be attending Northern Burlington Regional Schools
together and many of them will be teammates at the high school level.
Coaches should bear that fact in mind and govern themselves accordingly.
Coaches are expected to promote identification with a single Northern
Burlington community and should refrain from instilling hostility or
prejudice toward teams from other townships.
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V.
Safety.
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Coaches should
ensure that first aid equipment is present for all games and practices.
Prior to any game or practice, the field/court and equipment should be
surveyed to ensure a safe environment. |
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Coaches are
responsible for monitoring all players for 100% of the time that those
players are under their supervision. |
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After the
completion of a game or practice, coaches must ensure that all players
have rides home with parents or other responsible adults. Children must
never be left unattended. |
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Coaches are
responsible for ensuring that state laws regarding safety are complied
with (e.g., eyewear). |
VI.
Communications with Parents.
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Coaches should
meet with parents at the beginning of the season and throughout to review
mutual expectations and to establish clear lines of communication. At
such meetings, coaches should review the objectives of the CTAA as
outlined herein and the behavior that will be expected of them and their
children. Coaches also must distribute the CTAA Guidelines for Supportive
Parents. |
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Coaches should
provide timely and effective notice to parents of all scheduled practices
and games, as well as other communications as they arise (i.e., awards,
cancellation of games, rescheduled games, tournament info, etc.). |
VII.
League Responsibilities.
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The CTAA
participates in the NBIAA, which includes teams from Chesterfield,
Mansfield, North Hanover and Springfield. The task of organizing
schedules, officials, facilities and other matters related to a league of
this size is an enormous undertaking that is accomplished through many
hours of volunteer work. All of this effort is wasted, however, if
coaches are not acting in concert with NBIAA initiatives. Therefore,
attendance at all CTAA meetings during the season is mandatory for
all coaches. Likewise, NBIAA-called meetings for coaches are also
mandatory. |
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Coaches may be
asked to work scoring tables or to engage in other necessary support
functions during the season. In volunteering to coach, a coach also
volunteers to assist with such tasks. During tournament time, such tasks
may become mandatory. |
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If coaches have
league-related problems or issues (e.g., complaints about officials or
other coaches), those matters are to be communicated to the CTAA President
or the CTAA Coordinator for the sport in question. CTAA officials are
responsible for communications with the NBIAA and coaches are not to
communicate directly with the NBIAA. |
VIII.
Courts and Fields.
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When sharing a
gym, coaches are expected to keep their players on their side of the court
unless scrimmaging. There are plenty of distractions that come with
sharing a gym and keeping each team to their half will help minimize those
distractions.
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Coaches may not
run over on their practice time. If a coach must start late for some
reason, that coach forfeits his/her own practice time and may not invade
the practice time scheduled afterward.
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Coaches should
not start practices earlier than scheduled. Coaches may arrive early to
prepare the court/field for practice (e.g., adjusting the basket), but
should not start practice early. Scheduled times are generally
coordinated with the school or township and are set for various reasons
that may not be readily apparent. If we do not follow those boundaries,
it will jeopardize the CTAA’s access to such facilities in the future.
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Coaches should
follow all rules for Chesterfield and non-Chesterfield courts and fields.
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IX.
Scheduling.
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Coaches should
first try to switch their games with two other scheduled teams for game
change requests. As long as it does not require changing officials you
may call coaches directly to make arrangements for a switch.
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Other than
schedule changes arranged with other coaches as outlined above, any other
requests to change practice or game schedules must be cleared through the
scheduling coordinator appointed by the CTAA Board (currently Board
Member-At-Large Diane Loitfellner). The scheduling coordinator will
endeavor to accommodate specific requests for scheduling modifications to
the extent possible, but final determinations shall be in the sole and
absolute discretion of the scheduling coordinator. Coaches’ flexibility
and understanding in these matters is greatly needed and appreciated.
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X.
Coverage.
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If any coach
will be away for more than a day during the season, he/she must provide a
point of contact to the CTAA (name, phone number and email address) of
someone who will be responsible for the team while away. This includes
communicating to the parents, running practices, and attending mandatory
meetings. |
XI.
Equipment.
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Coaches must
return all uniforms and equipment within one week after the end of the
season. |
XII.
Feedback from Parents.
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Parents will be
asked to complete coach review forms in order to provide constructive
feedback to coaches and CTAA officials. Coaches will be given a summary
review of the feedback received but will not be given access to individual
reviews submitted. |
I certify that I
have read the foregoing responsibilities and commitments and hereby agree to
be bound by them.
_________________________________
Name Printed
_________________________________
_______________________
Signature
Date
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