HS Girls Softball Assistant Coach

Position Type:
Athletics/Activities/Coaching

Date Posted:
12/13/2023

Location:
Lakewood Park Christian School

Date Available:
03/04/2024 Job Description
Assistant Softball Coach
Amended February 2018
General Duties: An assistant varsity coach's chief responsibility is to support the head varsity coach as he or she leads the personnel (coaches of all levels, managers, statisticians, etc.) and players (of all levels) in his or her sports program in a manner that carries out the mission, vision and core values of the school and enhances the overall educational process.

Primary Job Focus:

1. Maintain a godly spirit-led life and approach to coaching
2. Develop personnel personally and professionally
3. Disciple students both personally and through the sports program
4. Focus all athletic activities on supporting the LPCS mission, vision and core values
5. Effectively support the head coach as he or she coaches the team
6. Develop relationships within the LPCS Community, particularly with families involved in his or her sports program
7. Have a "program mindset" and work to develop involvement, commitment, and continuity at all levels of his or her sports program

Job requirements currently supporting the primary job focus:

1. Maintain a godly spirit-led life and approach to coaching

• Spend time regularly with God in prayer and His Word
• Regularly attend a Bible-believing church
• Model Christ-like behavior characterized by self-control and self-discipline in all situations

2. Develop personnel personally and professionally

• Help the head varsity coach disciple, mentor, and train lower level coaches through personal contact, written communication, meetings, in-service workshops, and clinics

3. Disciple students both personally and through the sports program

• Support the head coach as he or she creates and maintains a culture of respect, discipline, intensity, unity, enthusiasm, etc., as a foundational atmosphere for discipleship, learning, and athletic success
• Disciple, mentor, and train players to be great Christians, leaders, servants, teammates, men or women, citizens, through purposeful modeling, mentoring, and instruction based upon biblical principles
• Model and insist upon great sportsmanship from everyone - fellow coaches, players, students, parents, and fans

4. Help head coach focus all athletic activities on supporting the LPCS mission, vision and core values

• Monitor athletes' school attendance, grades, and personal conduct at school
• Understand and implement state and school policies regarding athletics
• Comply with all IHSAA rules and cooperate with the athletic department to document this compliance
• Comply with school policies as a model for others
• Effectively and regularly communicate the vision and events of the school, program, and team

5. Assist head coach in effectively coaching team

• Teach rules, individual and team fundamentals and skills, techniques, tactics, and strategies
• Teach and model sportsmanship, cooperation, work ethic, and responsibility to God, coach, and teammates
• Strengthen and condition athletes appropriately, emphasizing the importance of nutrition, hydration, sleep, mental toughness and other sports performance factors
• Prepare for and plan practices for maximum efficiency during practice times
• Conduct and supervise practices and contests safely, with special attention to supervision in locker room, busses, and at other off-the-court/field times.
• Respond to player injuries with approved first aid techniques, using the athletic trainer where available, and keeping the athletic trainer apprised of player injuries and health concerns
• Responsibly manage uniforms, equipment, and on- and off-site facilities
• Develop a concept of team where all members are valued regardless of their skill level and all members of the team understand and embrace their role on the team

6. Develop relationships within the LPCS Community, particularly with families involved in his or her sports program

• Be an ambassador for Christ and LPCS and its administration with students, their parents, other LPCS supports, and our community, as well as with other schools
• Respect time commitments of all athletes to other endeavors such as academics, family, church, appointments and other extra-curricular activities such as fine arts
• Uphold biblical principles by enforcing policies and administering consequences
• Know each family involved in their sport and their needs and abilities
• Counsel and disciple parents to address students' needs
• Communicate promptly and professionally with parents
• Effectively manage the costs associated with playing the particular sport

7. Have a "program mindset" and work to develop involvement, commitment, and continuity at all levels of his or her sports program

• Help the head coach develop and oversee a "feeder system" that provides opportunities for young athletes of all ability levels at as low of grade level as possible
• Coordinate the budget for your program with the athletic director

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

1. Coaching experience is desirable, but not required
2. Holding teaching certification and experience as an educator is helpful, but not required
3. Understands and effectively assists in orchestrating cultural and organizational change
4. Thoroughly appreciates children and seeks to develop them and disciple them
5. Interacts with staff, students and parents with enthusiasm and professionalism
6. Demonstrates wisdom, emotional discipline and timeliness in decision-making
7. Exhibits solid organizational skills, flexibility and problem-solving ability
8. Values positive relationships and evidences relationship-building skills especially listening
9. Supports the doctrinal statement of the school
10. Demonstrates a Biblical educational and athletic philosophy relevant to 21stcentury students
11. Professional appearance, written and oral communication skills, time management skills

Personal Qualifications

1. Has a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, evidencing spiritual maturity
2. Is trustworthy and exhibits the fruit of the Spirit in speech and deeds

Supervision and evaluation

Varsity assistant coaches are supervised by the head varsity coach, who is in turn supervised by the athletic director. Informal evaluation is an on-going process administered regularly by the head coach with formal evaluations provided as necessary.
Commitment required

Varsity assistant coaches are expected to be committed to their team and program in season by preparing for practices, practicing regularly, scouting where appropriate, coordinating and attending team bonding opportunities, transporting players to and from games, game planning and strategizing with other coaches, meeting with lower level coaches and working with lower level teams to maintain the "program mindset" (as requested by head coach).

Varsity assistant coaches are also expected to be committed to their team and program out of season by conducting conditioning programs, camps, clinics, open facilities/fields, summer shootouts and leagues, etc., to continue to develop individual athletes, their team, and their program. As anyone who has ever done it will attest, a high school assistant varsity coaching position is a major commitment.