Assistant Coach Checklist

By: Denise Corlett - (Retired) Stanford University

Originally Published in: Winning Ways of Women Coaches

Provided by: Human Kinetics

• Always be loyal to your head coach, staff, and school. At some point you might find you aren't happy working there. Ask the head coach to help you find another position instead of becoming a burden in the program. Remember, the head coach will be the person giving you your next job recommendation. You need to realize which team you are on, and that is always the staff team. The head coach writes a recommendation or makes a call for you, not the athletes on the team or the other assistant coaches. Think of your role as an assistant as an internship observing the head coach.
• Know your sport inside and out. Continue to be student of the game, studying all aspects of it, and take time to learn the areas you don't have responsibilities for currently but may in the future.
• Be able to teach the game to the athletes. Master coaches are master teachers. Study other great coaches and how they teach their athletes.
• Effective communication with coaching staff, athletes, administrators, recruits, parents, and the fans will be key to your success, professionally and personally. Make sure you are listening intently when someone is speaking to you. Maintaining eye contact with the person speaking is a great way to let them know you are engaged in the conversation.
• Demonstrate professionalism at all times. This means the way you dress in the office, in the gym, and while traveling, recruiting, and scouting. Dress appropriately, even when you are on your own time and out in public. Eyes will be on you everywhere, and you should cherish that. When you meet people for the first time, you want to make a good impression. Be aware of your posture, your body language, and your facial expressions. All of those things say everything about you.
• Develop positive relationships with the parents of your athletes and the department support staff that works with your program, as well as officials, other head and assistant coaches, support staff at other schools, and the media. It will serve you well to have strong relationships and a positive reputation with high school and club coaches you meet in recruiting. They should continue to want to work with you, even if you change schools or positions.
• Get involved coaching in USA summer programs--a high-performance program or one with youth and junior national teams. Attend coaching clinics and conventions to continue to grow your knowledge as well as your network and contacts in the field.