We often get questions about requirements for coaches who are not paid by the school or school system.
Are volunteer coaches subject to the same requirements as those who are paid supplements?
Yes. All coaches, paid or unpaid, are subject to the requirements found in the TSSAA bylaws. Compensation does not dictate coach status or requirements. Anyone who provides instruction to students in your athletic program is considered a coach by definition.
TSSAA Education Requirements Depend on Employment Classification:
- Non-Faculty Coaches (not full-time certified teachers or retired educators): Must complete two NFHS courses prior to coaching—NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching and NFHS First Aid, Health, and Safety for Coaches.
- Classified Employee Coaches (full-time school staff that do not serve as teachers or administrators): Must complete the NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching Course (exempt from the First Aid requirement).
- Certified Teachers / Retired Educators: Must be listed on the portal, but do not require these specific additional non-faculty NFHS courses. Retired educators may not have actually retired from the teaching profession. Coaches can be listed as retired educators provided they have had five or more years of experience as a certified teacher.
Questions/Support: Reach out directly to Joe Blair (jblair@tssaa.org) for specific coach education compliance questions.
Resources for Athletic Directors
Subscribe to the TN AD Podcast for regular content from the Tennessee Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (TIAAA). The most recent episode features Dr. Alex Diamond, active member of the TSSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and current chair of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Sports Medicine Advisory Committee.
TSSAA Volunteer Coaches
