COACHing standards
COACHING STANDARDS INFORMATION
The purpose of the WIAA Coaching Standards program is to enhance the training of student-athletes by assuring that their coaches maintain a certain level of professional development throughout their careers. For full details regarding the WIAA Coaching Standards Requirements please refer to the following sections of the WIAA Handbook:
- Article 23.5.0: Coaching Requirements
- Appendix 17: Coaches Standards Task-Based Checklist
coaching standards faq
Any sport coach, cheer coach, or dance-drill coach at a WIAA member middle level or high school, whether paid or volunteer. Activity coaches/advisors, such as music advisors, debate coaches, and drama advisors are not subject to the WIAA Coaching Standards.
The ultimate responsibility falls to the coach to provide documentation for all activities undertaken toward meeting this requirement. This documentation is provided to the school’s designated compliance officer (usually the Athletic/Activities Administrator).Â
Coaching Standards requirements have changed for the school year. Please refer to the WIAA Handbook for full details regarding Coaching Standards Requirements.
Individual coaches are responsible to maintain record of clock hours earned. In the event you no longer can find your clock hour form please submit the Clock Hour Request Form on this page.
After the 1995-96 school year, WIAA Rules Clinics stopped carrying clock hours, because they didn’t meet the 3-hour standard. While these clinics count toward coaches education standard hours, they do not provide clock hours any longer.
While WIAA establishes the number of hours required to meet compliance, it is up to the individual schools to determine whether or not an activity will be accepted toward that school’s Coaching Standards requirement. The only exception is the ASEP Coaching Principles Course.
No specific action is warranted against individual coaches by WIAA; the regulations only apply to overall programs. Any specific expectations or action will be at the discretion of the individual school in accordance with their personnel policies.Â
Many coaching clinics with a high number of available hours (typically 15-20) are available every year. The WIAA maintains a list of WIAA-approved clock hour courses that is linked on this page under “Clock Hour Resources.” Also, schools often post listings of professional development activities open to coaches outside their school. These are all resources for finding out about activities for coaches.
Assuming that it is approved by your school, yes. Each quarter credit hour of study carries 10 coaching hours; each semester hour of study carries 15 coaching hours.
Yes. Coaching hours are specific to the individual, not the school. This is another reason why it is important for the coach to maintain a copy of her/his own records, so that documentation will be easy at the new school.
No. You must meet the requirements prior to the start of your third year of coaching employment at the school, not your third year as a coach. The clock begins your first day of scholastic coaching.
RULES CLINIC LAUNCH DATES
- FALL – August 1
- WINTER – October 1
- SPRING – February 1
CLOCK HOUR RESOURCES
The following a list of facts and recommendations to help manage clock hours:
- Obtain documentation for every in-service program attended.
Verification of attendance should be obtained for each program. It may be such that you change districts, and your new district will recognize and give credit for an in-service. - Keep the original of any documentation you receive and provide a copy to your school.
Some schools or districts may require originals – if that is the case, then comply with that request. Regardless, do not rely solely on your school for maintenance of your records. It is up to the coach to provide proof. - Treat your WIAA Clock Hour Transcript as you would any official document.
One of the most common requests received in the WIAA Office is for replacements of the Clock Hour transcript, usually toward the end of the school year. The WIAA maintains clock hours for seven years. However, the individual coach is help responsible as the official record holder for all clock hours earned - Treat clock hour registration forms as you would any official document.
When you attend a WIAA approved in-service and purchase clock hours, you will be provided a copy of the registration form. Maintain this in the same location that you do for your Clock Hour Transcript. Because the WIAA only maintains records for seven years, it is especially important that the coach maintain a copy of this form for his/her records.
