WHSBLA

Coaches Standards

Purpose: The purpose of the WHSBLA 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. It is also the goal of the WHSBLA to advance the level of play by providing lacrosse coaches the structure and training necessary to strive for the highest level of coaching and sportsmanship.

Requirements: A coach is required, by the beginning of the 2010, to 1) complete the Level 1 US Lacrosse (online or live) Coaches Education Program Clinic from www.uslacrosse.org  OR 2) participate in at least thirty (30) hours of activities, courses or programs that provide some level of professional development for the coach.  After achieving this, high school head coaches are required to maintain a minimum of thirty (30) hours of professional development activities each three year period following the initial three year cycle. All other coaches are required to maintain a minimum of twenty (20) hours professional development activities each three year period following the initial three year cycle.

In addition to meeting the above requirements, each coach must also maintain a current CPR/First Aid card (and Red Cross Safety Training for Swim Coaches), a Washington State Patrol criminal background check, be 21 years of age if head coach , 19 years if assistant coach, and attend a WALOA Rules Clinic if a high school varsity head coach.

Qualifying activities: WHSBLA only maintains standards in terms of the number of hours required; beyond that it is up to the administration of the member program to determine which activities qualify toward the 30/20 hour marks.  The types of activities that are typically qualified toward the coaching hours requirement include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • WALOA Rules Clinics
  • League Coaches Meetings
  • Chemical Awareness Training
  • Sports Psychology Courses
  • CPR/First Aid Training
  • In-School Coaching Staffing
  • US Lacrosse Level I or II online or live coaches clinic
  • Injury prevention/rehab course
  • PCA training
  • Feb. Gen. Membership Meeting
  • Sport Specific Clinics
  • Liability Training
  • Coaching roundtables
  • Motivation training

Documentation: Each year, every WHSBLA member program is required to file with the WHSBLA Board an overview of compliance for each coach, paid and volunteer, for that program.  Each coach is required to maintain his/her own records of activities that meet the hour requirements and provide a copy of such documentation to the WHSBLA member program for compliance records.

School standards: Each program must have at least 50% of its coaching staff in compliance with the above-stated requirements in order for that program to meet WHSBLA compliance.  Each program must also provide a plan to attain 100% compliance.  For programs not in compliance appropriate action will be taken by the WHSBLA Board.