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Board updates coaching and volunteer rules: mandated trainings and IHSAA reporting for serious offenses
Summary
Board reviewed policy changes requiring concussion, heat-illness and cardiac-arrest training for coaches (including volunteer coaches) and new reporting requirements to the Indiana High School Athletic Association for certain serious convictions.
The board reviewed consolidated policy updates requiring coaches — including volunteer coaches — to complete training on concussion protocols, heat-illness prevention and sudden cardiac arrest, along with mental-health and suicide-prevention training.
"Our coaches also have to have training on mental health and suicide prevention," Castaneda said, adding that athletic directors across the district provide start-of-season training. She told the board district athletic staff already conduct those trainings and the policy language was updated to match practice.
Castaneda said the policy also requires reporting to the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) if a coach is convicted of serious offenses while employed or if background checks reveal disqualifying conduct. "If they get convicted of an offense…we have to also now report them to the IHSAA," she said. The reporting requirement is intended to prevent individuals with serious convictions from obtaining coaching positions elsewhere.
The board also discussed volunteer coaches: the updated volunteer policy requires the same key trainings for volunteers who will have ongoing contact with students and clarifies volunteer background-check standards and disqualifying offenses.
Board members asked how training is delivered and whether volunteers are paid to attend; Castaneda said athletic directors provide short in-house sessions and volunteers are unpaid.
