Here’s a general timeline for a team coach:

August/September – 

• Register your team & pay the $50 dues
• Speak with your principal/supervisor to discuss your budget and assistant coaches
• Gather paperwork that will be required by your school for student participation

October – 

• Attend the Fall Coaches Meeting & Workshop (date tbd)
• Sign up for the new coach mentor program

November – 

• Set a date for student and parent info meetings
• Set a tentative competition calendar for your team
• Email tournament hosts to request an invitation/password for their meet
• Set up a calendar of coaching times and share with students and parents at info meeting
• Consider promoting the association t-shirt. The profit from the annual t-shirt/sweatshirt sale helps to off-set the costs of the state tournament. Ordering information will be posted online.

December – 

• Begin to meet with students to choose categories and selections
• Have a team meeting to get to know each other and to gather paperwork
• Confirm with tournament hosts that you will be able to register for their meet in January
• T-shirt/Sweatshirt sales are on-going. If you order, your team name is imprinted on the sleeve of the shirt and you’d be able to pick up at the upcoming competitions.

January – 

• Begin to coach students
• Gather any missing paperwork
• Begin to register your team for competitions via the Tournament Scheduler
• Once your competition schedule is finalized, contact your bus company to schedule your transportation
• Have a team meeting in early January where the students perform for additional coaches/judges who can give them coaching and feedback for improvement. Often, the students aren’t quite ready, but this is a great opportunity to do a “run-through” and also get assistance with introductions, etc.
• Have a team meeting/mock meet later in January where the students should be “performance-ready”. You might want to consider inviting parents!
• T-shirt/Sweatshirt sales are on-going. If you order, your team name is imprinted on the sleeve of the shirt and you’d be able to pick up at the upcoming competitions.

February – 

• Complete your team registrations.
• Request registration checks from your school office.
• Competition season begins!
• Continue coaching students. I suggest at least weekly with the student also working outside of school with parent.
• Toot your horn! Include competition results in your school announcements and newsletters. Don’t forget to take pictures!
• Track your students’ results/scores in order to determine who will qualify for the state tournament
• Gather volunteer names & info who will be willing to assist at the state tournament. Each team is asked to provide at least one volunteer.
• T-shirt/Sweatshirt sales are on-going. If you order, your team name is imprinted on the sleeve of the shirt and you’d be able to pick up at the upcoming competitions.

March – 

• Competition season continues. Be sure you track your students progress. I suggest you do a google spreadsheet and share it with your students!
• Consider whether your state students will order boxed lunches and your judges will order judge buffet.
• Early March the state tournament registration and information is posted online.
• Register your students for the state tournament by the deadline (typically the second week of March) and request check for registration
• Schedule an awards night the week of state. Have your state competitors perform for the students, parents, and families. (We always do a cake and punch event!)
• State Tournament!

New Coach Assistance Pages

• Help! I’m A New Coach!
• Coach’s Timetable
• Coach’s Budget Breakdown
• Shared Documents and Linked Resources