Article I, Section 9 of the TSSAA Bylaws states the following:
All coaches must be registered with TSSAA annually and will fall under one of the following categories:
- Full-time certified teacher (a minimum of 100 school days) of a board of education with a Tennessee teaching license or the equivalent.
- Retired educator (five or more years' experience) with a valid Tennessee state teaching license or the equivalent.
- Non-faculty coach – Anyone approved by the principal, superintendent, and/or local board of education in the normal course of employment procedures in accordance with applicable state law.
- Classified Employee – Any individual employed by a member school or school system in a position that does not require a teaching license or the equivalent. A Classified Employee must be employed 30 hours or more per week in a non-coaching position and may not be an independent contractor or an employee of an independent contractor.
Use of a coach who does not meet all the requirements listed below or the use of a Non-faculty Coach or Classified Employee Coach who has not been submitted to the state office shall result in a fine of $500.00. Use of a full-time certified teacher or retired educator who has not been submitted to the state office prior to the date of first contest allowed by the Sports Calendar shall result in a fine of $50.00.
All coaches of Unified Sports must meet the coaching requirements of TSSAA and Special Olympics of Tennessee.
Coaching Requirements Checklist
Retired Educators (five or more years of teaching experience) & Full-Time Certified Teachers (those who are currently teaching a minimum of 100 school days) are not considered non-faculty. These individuals have no other requirements. These individuals must be submitted by the principal to TSSAA each year.
High School Classified Employees and Non-Faculty Coaches
_____ Must be approved by principal, director of schools, and/or school board each year.
_____ Must be submitted by the principal to TSSAA each year.
_____ Must successfully complete the NFHS “Fundamentals of Coaching” and “First Aid, Health, & Safety for Coaches” courses prior to coaching.*
Middle School Classified Employees and Non-Faculty Coaches
_____ Must be approved by the principal, director of schools, and/or school board each year.
_____ Must be submitted by the principal to TMSAA each year.
_____ Must successfully complete the NFHS “Fundamentals of Coaching” and “First Aid, Health, & Safety for Coaches” courses prior to coaching.*
*Coaches who have successfully completed the ASEP Coaches Education Course AND the TSSAA Online Coaches Training Session prior to May 15, 2013, will not be required to take the NFHS courses.
