Page 51 - 2023-24 By-Laws

Rule 7 - Coaches

Q. 7-5 May an individual, who is a full-time teacher, serve as a non-teaching coach in
boys and girls cross country at a neighboring member School?
A. Yes, the IHSAA rules do not restrict where a non-teaching coach is employed.
Q. 7-6 An individual who has been coaching girls’ basketball in a member School has the
coaching contract terminated for the following year and is so informed in writing
by the school officials. May this individual now coach a Non-School Team where
Three (3) of the coach’s former players are members of the Non-School Team?
A. Yes, because this individual is no longer a member School coach. However, if
the termination of coaching services is not confirmed officially in writing and/or is
merely verbal and/or an action that is anticipated, the individual is still considered
to be a member School coach and may not coach such a team. (rule 15-2.2b)
Coaching Remuneration
Q. 7-7 Can non-School funds (e.g. booster club funds) be used to pay a coach of a
School team?
A. No, under the Coaches Rule, rule 7, only a School’s funds may be used to pay
a School’s paid coaches. (rules 7-1.1, 7-1.2)
Q. 7-8 May team members present a gift to their coach?
A. Yes, so long as it is of symbolic value only. (rule 7-1.1)
Q. 7-9 An unpaid or nominally-paid coach for a team works for, is employed by or
receives money and/or benefits from a team booster, or from a company which
is controlled by a team booster, and it appears from the circumstances that some
or all of the coach’s obligations to that booster or to that booster’s company are
to provide coaching or services to that team. Is this allowed under the Coaches
Rule, rule 7?
A. No, a purpose of the Coaches Rule regarding coach remuneration (rules 7-1.1,
7-1.2), is to assure that all coaching remuneration is approved by and paid through
the School. And while the use of totally unpaid volunteer coaches is permitted,
it is contrary to the rules when boosters are able to pay, and thereby control, an
unpaid coach or a nominally-paid coach by indirectly paying that coach through
outside wages and benefits. If an unpaid or nominally-paid coach is an employee
or worker for a known booster, or the company of that booster, it will be presumed
that the coach is a recipient of remuneration in violation of rule 7-1.1 and 7-1.2,
and the coach should not coach.
Rules Interpretation Meetings
Q. 7-10 Must a head coach successfully complete the rules interpretation meeting in a
sport?
A. Yes.
Q. 7-11 What is the penalty if a head coach or a representative of the coaching staff does
not attend a mandatory rules interpretation meeting in a sport?
A. The member School will be assessed a $50 penalty for each rules interpretation
meeting in which a representative is not in attendance. (rule 7.2)
Q. 7-12 If both boys’ and girls’ teams play a sport under the same playing rules, i.e.,
basketball, may a School send only One (1) coach to the mandated rules meeting
to represent both programs or must it send both a coach of the boys team and
a coach of the girls team?
A. No, the rule requires that the rules interpretation meeting must be attended by the
head boy’s coach and the head girl’s coach. If the same individual is the head
boy’s golf coach and the head girl’s golf coach, the individual need only attend
the fall rules interpretation meeting. (rule 7-2)
Coaching Accreditation
Q. 7-13 Are coaches Accredited by the IHSAA?.
A. Yes. A coach, paid or voluntary, must be Accredited prior to coaching an IHSAA
Recognized Sport at a member School. Accreditation is achieved by a coach by
completing the specific education courses listed in section 7-1.4 and remaining
in compliance with all applicable state licensure and disciplinary statutes and all
rules, regulations, purposes and goals of the IHSAA.
38