Fourteen Legal Duties of Athletic Personnel – Duties #13 and #14 [NIAAA]

By: John Evers, CMAA | NIAAA

DUTY TO PROVIDE PROPER TRANSPORTATION

District transportation should be utilized as much as possible for travel to athletic events

1. Coaches that transport athletes in personal vehicles assume liability risk.
2. Athletes driving athletes to events open schools to legal liability in the event of an accident.
3. Contractors employed by the school district assume legal liability in lieu of the district.
4. District transportation must carefully vet any contracted carrier for safety records.

Additional Considerations:

1. Make sure all athletes are on the bus before departing for any away contest.
2. Make sure all athletes are on the bus before returning from any away contests.
3. Coaches should sit in different sections of the bus for better supervision.

Other Strategies:

1. If a student MUST drive a personal vehicle, provide a waiver form for student and parent.
2. Provide a permission slip for any student wishing to ride home with a parent.
3. Avoid any situation where a student rides home with another student.
4. Avoid any situation where a student rides home with an adult that is not a parent.

Documentation:

1. Coaches must have a district volunteer form to drive athletes to games and/or practices.
2. Parents must have a district volunteer form to drive athletes to games and/or practices.
3. Athletes must never drive other athletes to games and/or practices.
4. All transportation rules and forms should be placed in coaches' handbooks.
5. All transportation rules and forms should be placed in student athletic handbooks.
6. All transportation rules and forms should be posted on school and athletic web sites.

DUTY TO SELECT, TRAIN AND SUPERVISE COACHES

Develop a clear and consistent hiring process

1. Develop a sound and complete job description for every position.
2. A complete list of qualifications should be included in every posting.
3. All applicants must go through the same hiring process.
4. Standard method of advertising should be used for all positions.

Additional Considerations:

1. Similar interview process should be used for each position.
2. Criminal background check must be completed before any hiring is initiated.
3. Basic drug test should be completed before any hiring is initiated.
4. References from previous employer must be checked before hiring is initiated.

Other Strategies:

1. Rubrics should be developed for all interviews to ensure consistency.
2. Exposure to school philosophy and/or mission should be included in all interviews.
3. Official letter of intent to hire should be sent to all successful applicants.
4. Official letter of decision not to hire should be sent to all unsuccessful candidates.

Documentation:

1. Once hired, all coaches should be evaluated in both game and practice settings.
2. End of season meeting should be conducted for each member of coaching staff.
3. Official written evaluation should be placed in personnel file of every coach.
4. All coaches should be allowed to respond, in writing, to each evaluation document.
5. Athletic administrator must keep copies of all evaluation tools and meeting notes.