Coaches' contractural perceptions : an empirical study

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status and perceptions of contractual obligations of high school coaches in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Specifically the study assessed contract content, certification, assignment/reassignment, tenure, evaluation and termination relative to secondary coaches.

Method of Research

In May of 1982, 332 questionnaires were mailed to high school coaches in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee as part of a random stratified sample based on competitive levels of the respective states' High School Athletic Associations. Two hundred twenty-seven or 68.76 percent responded. Data were reported by absolute and relative frequencies and cross tabulations were computed using the chi-square statistic.

The major findings of the study were as follows:

1. An additional contract covering coaching duties would be acceptable to coaches that are currently coaching.

2. A head coach should be a certified teacher and be a member of the active faculty.

3. There should be some specified coaches' training in a coaches' collegiate curricula.

4. A principal should have the jurisdiction to reassign a teacher's teaching duties and also be able to reassign a teacher/coach to another school upon resignation of his coaching duties.

5. Coaches should have a written policy covering termination of coaching duties.

6. Coaches should not be terminated on teaching/ coaching duties because of a poor won/loss record. However, there should be some specific written criterion about termination of coaching duties only.

7. Coaches should be evaluated separately as a teacher and as a coach. There should be specific criteria for the evalualtion of coaching duties.