Thank you for dedicating your time to coaching for BVCHEA! Please review this information, watch the coach expectation video, and contact a board member if you have any questions!
It is common for some homeschool and travel/club teams to be operated entirely by the coach, this is not the way BVCHEA operates. In BVCHEA, all coaches and volunteers are stewards and caretakers of the programs that are offered. BVCHEA programs should always be a collaborative effort between its coaches, volunteers and the board of directors. This shared ownership model is crucial for sustainability and balances out the workload.
- The boards handles issues of administration, rules compliance, and disputes.
- The sports committee volunteers handle the logistics of the sports.
- The coaching staff handles the practices, games, player decisions, and other coaching duties.
We understand that coaches that volunteer will have a varying experience levels, approaches, techniques, strategies and philosophies. Above all, keep the mission of the organization at the forefront - providing this opportunity for the kids and creating a fun, safe, respectful environment.
Many churches offer training on how to create a safe environment for kids. We encourage all coaches and volunteers to attend one of these courses. Following these rules also helps protect coaches. Here are some high points that coaches should know:
- If you are addressing a player, do it in an open area in the presence of another coach/volunteer.
- If you are contacting a player, include their parent in the communication.
- Respect physical boundaries at all times. Physical interaction should be a minimum. High fives, fist bumps are great! Slaps on the rear, or any area that may be inappropriate, are NOT allowed.
- Sports get emotional. If you are emotionally charged, step aside, say a prayer, and calm yourself. BVCHEA coaches should not berate, curse at, demean or physically connect with players. Coaches and volunteers are expected to show Christ-like behavior and serve as an example to the kids.
- Sports require conditioning to build endurance. Coaches are encouraged to incorporate conditioning that is appropriate for the level of competition, but also at a degree that is safe for the players (gradual increase in intensity, rest periods, water breaks, etc).
Coaching Homeschool Sports
If you are coming from a coaching environment such as public/private school or rec league, here are some things that may help you as you adapt to coaching a homeschool team.
- Homeschooled players are typically self-motivated. Many are accustomed to self-directed study, and are hard on themselves when they don't feel like they measure up to expectations. While it is normal and acceptable for a coach to set up some sort of penalty (running, pushups, etc) for mistakes on the field of play and to call out mistakes, it is also important to communicate why that consequence is helpful, teach the proper skills needed to correct mistake, and build up the player with a positive goal to strive for.
- Homeschool parents are typically very in-tune with their kids and have close relationships with them. Some will stay for every practice and every game. If their kid is struggling with something, they can tell pretty quickly. A typical homeschool player takes things to heart. The interactions between player and teammates and player and coach are magnified. Respectful and open communication is key.
- We don't have buses. So families are driving to every road game. Consider this when arranging play time. There's no easy answer. But if your team is up by a large margin, try to rotate in bench players.
BVCHEA is a registered organization of TAIAO, a league of independent Texas schools and homeschool organizations.
- TAIAO provides a set of rules for its organizations. These rules closely align with UIL and TAPPS. As BVCHEA needs to be able to schedule games against opponents in these leagues, being a TAIAO organization in good standing sends a message to these potential opponents that BVCHEA is playing by the same rulebook, particularly in regards to eligibility. This means, age restrictions, eligibility limits, transfers, safety, and more.
- TAIAO hosts post-season play for many sports. For football, TAIAO has a playoff system. For most other sports, there is an end-of-season tournament. Some sports may have a regional, then a state tournament.
Please read and be familiar with BOTH the TAIAO general rules AND the sports plan that covers your sport.
General Rules: https://taiao.org/2024/03/march-2024-updates-to-general-rules/
Sports Plans: https://taiao.org/taiao-sports-plans/
TAIAO requires coaches of some sports to take certain training courses. Please refer to the General Rules and sports plans.
If you have any questions, please reach out to a board member. IF you have to reach out to TAIAO directly, please include a board member in the communication so that BVCHEA doesn't create multiple communication threads with TAIAO.
TAIAO requires its organizations to keep rosters and schedules in Maxpreps for high school varsity squads. BVCHEA can grant coaches and statisticians access to contribute roster/stats/schedule/results to Maxpreps. Please reach out to the board member liaison for your sport, or email info@bvchea.org if you need access to Maxpreps.
BVCHEA.ORG Email Addresses, Google Drive, Meet
If you would like us to create an email address for you (example: CoachSaban@bvchea.org), please email info@bvchea.org to request it. Some coaches like to keep their Mustangs email separate from their personal messages. An @bvchea.org address also looks pretty official! You can keep this as it's own mailbox, or you can use it as a forwarding address. Let us know!
BVCHEA has some pretty neat Google app resources. If you have an @bvchea.org, you'll have lots of space available to store files, pictures, game video, etc using Google Drive, Photos, and Youtube. An @bvchea.org address also gives you the ability to use Google Meet to videoconference.
If you or any volunteers would like to upload video to the Mustangs Youtube channel, please email info@bchea.org. This channel can be use to host archive video and - depending on the app - livestreaming. (SidelineHD is one that makes it easier.)
We'd love to have someone from each sport post upcoming game times and post-game results to the Mustangs social media. ANYONE who is a member of the Facebook group can post to the group.
We ask that you only post:
- Mustang sports announcements (game times, game changes, results, new coaches)
- Mustang events (banquet, graduation)
- Larger events of the local homeschool community (homecoming, prom) that our families participate in
- Safety announcements (travel hazards, danger to players)
If you have any questions about Mustangs social media or how to use it, please email info@bvchea.org.
BVCHEA.org has a PRO account with Canva. Canva is an online software that allows you to create custom designs for things like social media posts, posters, t-shirts, pictures and video. If you or anyone would like to have access to this for the purposes of creating Mustangs marketing material, email info@bvchea.org and we can send an invitation link to set up an account.
Note: Anyone with an @bvchea.org email can simply log in to Canva.com with those credentials and will have access. No invitation is needed for @bvchea.org accounts.