SECTION II.5. COACH VOLUNTEER IN LEADERSHIP POSITION DESCRIPTION & CODE OF CONDUCT 1 Purpose The position of Coach supports the CDBA s mission to promote the growth of dragon boating. The coach voluntarily assumes a key leadership position in the CDBA to promote the advancement of strong, healthy paddlers in the Bay Area through the development of high caliber dragon boat teams. 2 Volunteer Position Title A Coach is an important member of a dragon boat team. His/her primary focus is helping a team make the most of practice time and preparing the team for the race season. His/her work is multi-dimensional as coaches may assess team strengths and skill levels, determine immediate and long-term practice goals, provide hands-on instruction about paddling techniques and race strategy, train drummers and steerspersons, develop lineups, and help the team blend and bond. A Coach may also serve in other roles such as Team Captain, Steersperson, Drummer, and paddler. Although many coaches may find it hard to be in multiple roles during practices, race events and activities. Teams may choose to adopt a structure where there is a Head Coach, Coaching Assistants and Practice Leaders as part of the coaching staff to provide hands-on instruction and assessment. 3 Location The CDBA has five (5) practice sites and conducts its race events and activities at various venues in the Bay Area. 4-i Key Responsibilities to CDBA may include, but are not limited to a. Serve as one (1) of the team s Points of Contact (POC). b. Fulfills the Coach s safety role as defined in the CDBA Safety Program c. Abide by all established Policies and Procedures, Safety Program, Youth Protection Plan, and Coaches Code of Conduct set forth by CDBA. d. Follow established protocol to coordinate the team s practice schedule with the Team Captain and the CDBA Practice Scheduler via the CDBA website and at practiceschedule@cdba.org. e. Ensure the team s practice is scheduled on CDBA s Master Practice Schedule. If the team is not listed, the Coach shall not take the team out to practice in accordance to CDBA Practice Schedule Policy. f. Ensure that all paddlers have completed online the CDBA Liability Release and Waiver Agreement form prior to stepping into a dragon boat. A hardcopy is acceptable at time for first practice but an online version must be completed before the fourth (4 th ) practice for insurance coverage. g. Ensure that all paddlers and participants wear a personal floatation device (PFD) properly fitted. cdbapp/2018.v3.0 21
h. Ensure that all practice equipment, including the boat, paddles, PFDs, oar lock and oar are safe and functional and two (2) bailers are present in the boat prior to heading out on the water. i. Review safety rules, commands to know and emergency protocols with the team and with new paddlers prior to each season. j. Ensure that all equipment is treated with due care and not abused. 4-ii Key Responsibilities to a team may include, but are not limited a. Provide leadership and guidance for the team, primarily in relation to the team s on-water technique, fitness plans, sport strategy and competitive focus. b. Select and manage coaching staff that will help implement the coaching strategy and communicate a unified and consistent direction for the team. c. Provide clear instructions about the mechanics of the team s dragon boat stroke and the race strategies. d. Work with the coaching staff to instruct members in proper techniques, rules of dragon boating and aid the paddlers in the development of such techniques. e. Assist paddlers who require mentoring in the techniques of dragon boating regardless of paddler experience. f. Be aware of paddler s health requirements (i.e. asthma, allergies, diabetic, etc.) and plan accordingly with the health of the paddler in mind. g. Work with the coaching staff to cultivate plans for each practice as well as overall planning for the progression of the year, so as to increase the skill level of the team. h. Set up and clearly communicate to the team both long term and short term competitive goals and team internal policies, such as crew selection, fitness testing, and time trials. i. Work with the coaching staff to set up a fitness program. j. Meet with the coaching staff to monitor team s progress in learning and adapting to new information in both the team s general demands and paddlers specific needs. k. Attend Captain/Coach meetings on race, relay team communications, organize paddlers for line up, and delegate team responsibilities as necessary. l. Keep current on evidence-based or research based training/fitness concepts to be implemented both on and off the water. m. Be the pathway of communication between the team and CDBA. Communicate CDBA policies, updates, requirements, etc. to the team. 5 Reports To The Coach also acts as a Point of Contact (POC) for CDBA and works in collaboration with the Team Captain, Steersperson and Drummer. A Coach who never paddles is not required to pay CDBA member dues. However, a donation is appreciated to support CDBA operations. 6 Length of Volunteering A Coach may cease the role with his/her team and the CDBA at any given time after first informing the team of his/her decision to leave. The CDBA requests to be informed through a director with an opportunity to have an exit interview. 7 Time Commitment A Coach position may require a minimum of two and a half hours per week, for each week of the dragon boat season. Practices are generally two and a half hours per session including cdbapp/2018.v3.0 22
warm up and debriefing. Number of practices per week is determined by the team and its desired competitiveness. 8 Minimum Qualifications a. Must be 21 years old or older. (Exception may be requested on a case-by-case basis due to extenuating circumstances. A written request is submitted to the CDBA Board President and/or his/her designee for review and approval). b. Must take and pass CDBA s Safety Training Classroom. c. Two (2) years of dragon boat paddling experience. c. Agree and abide by the CDBA Coaches Code of Conduct. 8-i Pre-requisite: if there are youth paddlers under 18 years old on the team, a minimum of one (1) designated POC of the team must, a. Consent to and pass a criminal background check including the National Sex Offender Registry prior to including youth participants to team practices, activities and rosters for race events. 8-ii Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred a. Certified as a CDBA steersperson. b. Possess a current CPR and First Aid certification. c. Maintain the highest levels of sportsmanship and integrity. d. Have a deep interest in the technique, sport, and strategy of dragon boating. e. Have a positive, motivational attitude and possess good judgment. f. Demonstrate ability to adapt, evaluate performance, problem solve, and provide constructive feedback and instruction for both individual paddlers and the crew as a whole. g. Lead the team by voice, example, and even-handed decisiveness. 9 Support Provided by CDBA a. Access to CDBA s partnership with Coaching Corps, formerly Team-Up for Youth, to learn and participate in their 5 principles to Building Blocks for Quality Youth Sports. b. Access to CDBA s sponsored Safety and Steering classroom and practicum. c. Access to CDBA s sponsored CPR/1 st Aid classes. d. Access to on-line websites for child abuse protection training. e. Access to CDBA s sponsored coaching/paddling clinic. 10 Appointed By An individual meeting the minimal qualification to be a Coach and endorsed by the Team Captain as able to perform his/her duties will be recognized by the CDBA Board as a Volunteer in a leadership position. cdbapp/2018.v3.0 23
COACHES CODE OF CONDUCT The CDBA Coaches Code of Conduct is intended to provide standards of conduct in dragon boating. The Code of Conduct is intended to provide general principles to cover most situations encountered by a Coach. I hereby agree to perform my duties to the best of my abilities and abide by the Code of Conduct set forth by CDBA. As a Coach, I will: Treat all paddlers and participants at CDBA endorsed race events and activities equally regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, creed, ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, ancestry, medical conditions (e.g. cancer or cancer related illness; HIV/AIDS or related conditions), genetic characteristics (e.g. nonsymptomatic carriers of inheritable diseases), gender identify, marital or domestic partner status, parental status, veteran status, height, weight or any other basis protected by law. And I will expect to be treated in the same manner. Provide a safe dragon boat experience for my paddlers. Organize practices that are fun and challenging for my paddlers as determined by the team objectives. Lead by example in demonstrating fair paddling and sportsmanship for my team. Ensure a sports environment for my team that is free of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. Be knowledgeable in the safety rules and regulations of dragon boating, and require these safety rules be adhered to and practiced by paddlers. Encourage team paddlers to respect CDBA equipment in accordance to the practice sites which may include to mooring the boats properly, hanging up the PFDs, storing and handling of paddles, and keeping the storage unit clean and the surrounding environment clean and tidy. Encourage the team and individual paddlers to volunteer and cooperate in performing assigned race day and program activities by the CDBA to support the organization and the dragon boat community. Practice and maintain a culture and environment on the team that exemplifies CDBA values of integrity, fairness and respect to my paddlers and others. Share in the management of risks with CDBA by reporting near-miss and incidents so CDBA is accountable for implementing reporting procedures and study incidents that do occur to learn from them, and reduce risks where possible. cdbapp/2018.v3.0 24
I understand that violation of this Code of Conduct may result in cancellation of this agreement and dismissal as a Coach. cdbapp/2018.v3.0 25