COACHES RESPONSIBILITIES AND CODE OF CONDUCT
The coach in the CYO plays a vital role in the student athlete's experience in team sports. CYO views each coach as a youth minister in a Catholic environment. In light thereof, each coach shall act, speak and dress in a manner consistent with the accepted code of Catholic Christian morality and professional ethics as based on the Code of Ethics as outlined by the ADLA, Department of Catholic Elementary Schools.
The following is a list of requirements and responsibilities for individuals to coach a team with a CYO School:
- A Head Coach must be at least eighteen years of age and have completed the ADLA Coaches Certification Program (see Section 3 below)
- First Aid and CPR Certification is strongly recommended, and a coach should have access to a first aid kit at all practices and games
- A coach must maintain all emergency medical information for each student athlete at all practices and games
- A coach is required to review, understand and abide by the underlying policies, procedures, rules and regulations contained in this Governing Manual
- A coach must have a basic understanding of the rules of the sport/competition they are coaching, including the athletic event competition rules for the sport he/she is coaching, contained in the Appendix
- A coach must ensure that all equipment and playing fields (to include weather conditions) are safe and in accordance with this Governing Manual, including the athletic event competition rules
- A coach is responsible for the conduct and supervision of the student athletes and the spectators for his/her team as well as supporting the officials' decisions during the game. In light of this, prior to the start of the season for any athletic event, CYO recommends that each coach conduct a meeting for the parents of the student athletes on his/her team to ensure that everyone thoroughly understands the policies, procedures, rules and regulations contained herein
- A coach is ineligible to coach or assist more than one team in the same conference and shall not officiate a game in his/her conference unless approved by coaches of both teams
- A coach shall not appear in an intoxicated condition or have in his/her possession any alcoholic beverage or illegal substance
- A coach shall not verbally or physically abuse or assault anyone or threaten to physically attack anyone
- A coach will also take seriously their role as a mandatory reporter of suspected child abuse
A coach ejected from an athletic event will automatically be suspended for a minimum of the next two conference games, play-off games or competitions. If the ejection occurs in the last game of the season, any penalty will carry over until the next game individual is coaching.
Any individual who coaches a team without a coach's certification card, and is ejected from an athletic event, will not be allowed to coach for the remainder of the school year and will not be reinstated for the following school year until he or she obtains a Coaching Certification Card.
If a coach is ejected during the last game/competition of the season, the suspension will carry over to the next sport/competition he/she coaches. The coach must notify the school administrator and CYO of any ejection within twenty-four hours. A suspended Coach who participates in a game/competition will cause that game/competition to be declared a forfeit and he/she will be subject to disciplinary action by CYO.
Prior to coaching or assisting in any practice, game or competition of any sort for a School, an individual must obtain either a Coaching Certification Card or a Temporary Coaching Certification Card. This reflects that the coach has been trained with respect to three areas: (1) Safe boundaries with the youth; (2) Health and safety concerns; and (3) Character development of all participants.
Schools may utilize minors as young as 16 to act as Assistant Coaches provided they meet the CYO requirements for participation. Any minor who is enlisted to coach must be supervised by an adult, at all times, when in contact with the student athletes.
