New Coaches are required to complete the onboarding process with Club Sports Administration prior to participating in any team activities.  All paperwork and onboarding is done via Workday or in person.  Please reach out to Anna if you have not yet received instructions. This process is required for all contracted Head and Assistant Coaches who are being paid.  Please see the Coaches Onboarding Checklist for a complete list of required paperwork and certifications.

Returning Coaches are required to complete and submit the their renewal paperwork with Club Sports Administration.  Please contact Anna if you have not yet received your appointment letter.  Please see the Coaching Checklist for a complete list of onboarding items.

Head Coaches are responsible for the search, hiring, and supervision of their coaching staff and are expected to follow the guidelines below for paid assistant coaches:

1. Determine your stipend allowance for a coaching staff. Take into consideration how much wages both Recreation & Wellness and the club are able to fund.
2. Assess coaching staff needs for the year and develop position roles for each assistant in collaboration with the club's student E-board.
3. Report contact information (name, email, phone number, and address) of your coaching staff to Club Sports Administration and include each individual's stipend amount (from both Recreation & Wellness funding and the club's), and their start/end date for the creation of an appointment letter.
4. Complete and submit all new hire documents, forms, and trainings as listed above.
5. After all documents are submitted, you will receive clearance from Club Sports Administration that an assistant coach may begin helping to support club operations. Your cooperation is expected in not allowing assistance coaches to be involved with the club until they have been hired.

Download the required Volunteer Form below. Complete and submit to Club Sports Administration, [email protected]:

1. Volunteer Profile, Disclosure and Consent Form

All volunteer and unpaid coaches must register as University Volunteers and pass a background check prior to any contact with members of a club sport. Once submitting the above form, an email requesting information for your background check will be sent to you.  

Policies and procedures on becoming a University Volunteer can be found through the Risk Management web page. Please note that the Head Coach or club E-Board must appoint Volunteer Coaches as they are not open positions.

Payment Policy

Volunteer coaches are unable to receive any compensation from Grand Valley State University or their Club Sport.

Each club sport is awarded an annual amount of funding to pay their coaching staff that will be communicated by Club Sport Administration prior to each fall semester. Head coaches will determine how stipend amounts are split.

Any additional funds that clubs would like to pay their coaches must be communicated by the club E-board to Club Sport Administration. 

Payment Policy

Clubs that are supplementing their coaching stipends must do so through Club Sports. Clubs are responsible for the principal plus any additional fringe cost. 

No coaches are to be paid from any funding source outside of Grand Valley State University.

All coaches (non-volunteer) are required to have the following certifications current and on file with Club Sports Administration:

• CPR, First Aid, & AED
  • Club Sports will hold free training once a year for coaches 
  • If you cannot make our free training, it must be completed on own time and cost
    • Use the link above for a list of on-campus certification classes
• Concussion Training
• Title IX/Cleary Act Training (Will be sent automatically via email to all Part-Time Adjunct Coaches; Not required for Volunteers)
• Club Sports Handbook
  • Coaches are expected to review, understand, and follow the policies and regulations outlined in the club sports handbook.

You will be asked to resubmit copies of current certifications annually.

All paid coaches must be contracted GVSU.

Head Coaches are responsible for the search, hiring, and supervision of their coaching staff and are expected to follow the guidelines in the "Assistant Coaches" section in the Hiring Section for hiring paid assistant coaches.

Please see "Volunteer Coaches" for more information on establishing volunteer staff.

Mentor student leaders to ensure that financial records and the current year budget are up to date and accurate with the team’s current or previous treasurer. 

Regular financial meetings should be held within the organization to ensure the members are well-informed on the financial status of the club.

Monthly statements for off-campus bank accounts are required to be submitted to Club Sports Administration by the Club's E-Board.

Ensure that all equipment and uniforms that are necessary for the start of the season are ordered ahead of time. 

It is important to note that each printed item using GVSU’s intellectual property or club sport organization name, must follow all marketing and branding guidelines provided by Club Sports Administration prior to printing. All printing or embroidery using GVSU's name, the club's name, or GVSU intellectual property must be printed by a licensed vendor.

Please refer to the Club Sports Handbook when assisting with the design and ordering of apparel.

Reservations for use of the Outdoor Athletic Fields, ICA Weight Room, Fieldhouse Arena, Fieldhouse Combative Room, Fieldhouse classrooms, or the Kelly Family Sports Complex should be made through the Club Sports Annual Form. 

Clubs must submit a competition schedule of games and/or events as soon as possible. All events are subject to facility and staff availability and are not guaranteed.

All requests submitted by these deadlines will be looked at fairly in comparison with other club sport requests. Scheduling games and practices can often be a frustrating experience due to lack of availability of facilities for many club sports. Early communication with Club Sports Administration can help resolve this problem.  

For questions regarding scheduling of Club Sports on campus, please contact Club Sports Coordinator, Andrew Rolls.  Clubs utilizing off-campus facilities should contact Assistant Director, Anna Tollefson, to ensure a Facility Use Agreement is in place.

All coaches are expected to have a GVSU ID card upon getting hired.

With the issuance of a GVSU network ID and G# you may visit in person to receive your staff. ID. Please visit Student Services at 10800 N Campus Dr, Allendale, MI 49401 to complete.

Volunteer Coaches will receive a Facility Access Card upon completing their required paperwork.

Members of teams that include coaches will also be asked to complete an evaluation survey with the coaching staff at both mid-year and end-of-year.  These surveys will be turned in to Club Sports Administrative staff to help ensure the needs of the club sports organizations are met.  

Head Coaches will be contacted to schedule a post-season evaluation to discuss performance and contract renewal for the following season. Coaches are encouraged to discuss salary contributions from their club prior to meeting with Club Sports Administration.

COACHES EVALUATION FORM

Mentor Club Eboard on appropriate budgeting and financial transactions.  Help keep track of expenses and revenue and what the status of the current budget and accounts are at.

Regular financial meetings should be held within the organization to ensure the members are well-informed on the financial status of the club.

Monthly statements for off-campus bank accounts are required to be submitted to Club Sports Administration by the Club's E-Board.

Ensure agreed upon coach duties are being met.  Communicate with student leadership about direction and outcomes of the season.

Facilitate communication with Club Sports about specific Game Operations needs in a timely manner.

Please refer to Club Sports Handbook for additional Facility and Event hosting details

Review and understand all EAPs for your respective spaces.  Review and understand all weather related emergencies and their action plans.  

Help Game Ops staff anticipate potential emergencies including but not limited to athlete injuries, acts of god, weather, or additional situations.

All Risk Management policies and procedures can be found within the Club Sports Handbook and at GVSU Emergency

Ensure your club is in compliance with all GVSU required travel details.  The inability to follow all travel regulations may result in the removal of travel for the club.

Please see the club sports handbook for more details

All coaches should help ensure their club's webpage is revised and up-to-date.  This includes, but is not limited to, contact information, roster, season schedule, and results.

Social media information should also be up-to-date and coaches should help student leaders maintain effective and appropriate content.

If desired, coaches are able to recruit student-athletes to their club sport, but it is not required. Clubs that actively recruit high school students, transfer students, and current students to join GVSU Club Sports are typically more successful. Please note, funding for recruiting efforts is not supported by Recreation & Wellness but rather from your club's student E-board.

Coaches should work with Club Sports Administration to set up campus tours, get connected with financial aid, among other tools to help with recruiting efforts. Visit their Be a Laker, Bring a Laker program for more details.

Each Club Sport is responsible for keeping an inventory and safely storing equipment. If storage space is needed, please contact Club Sports Administration.

If you are interested in hosting a Camp or Clinic for your club, please contact Club Sports Administration to begin planning. No camp or clinic is to be hosted without prior authorization from Club Sports Administration.

Clubs are encouraged to utilize off-season times to continue their fundraising efforts.  Please contact Club Sports Administration with additional questions