Coaches & Staffing

Directors
Last updated June 22, 2026
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Coaches & Staffing (Manual Version)

Starlings Volleyball USA is committed to developing coaches who create a positive, supportive, and development-focused experience for all athletes.

Club Directors are responsible for recruiting, selecting, training, and supervising coaches who align with the Starlings mission, values, and expectations.

Important Reminder: Coaches are the primary point of contact for athletes and families. The quality, conduct, and consistency of coaching directly impact the athlete experience and the reputation of the Starlings organization.

Coaching Philosophy

Starlings coaches are expected to engage with athletes in ways that are:

  • positive
  • respectful
  • encouraging
  • development-focused
  • aligned with the Starlings mission and core values

Winning is not the primary measure of success. Coaches are expected to prioritize:

  • athlete development
  • confidence building
  • teamwork
  • life skills
  • positive player experience

The expected coaching framework for Starlings Volleyball USA is the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) model.

Director Responsibility: Directors must ensure that all coaches understand and apply PCA principles throughout the season.

Coaching Requirements

All coaches must meet Starlings and governing body requirements before working with athletes.

Required Before Participation

Document / Form Required: Starlings Coach Membership Form

All coaches must complete:

  • background screening (USAV or JVA)
  • SafeSport or Abuse Prevention Training
  • Starlings Coach Membership registration
  • any additional governing body requirements

Safety Requirement: Coaches may not have any direct contact with athletes until all required safety items are completed and verified.

Coach Assignment & Structure

Directors are responsible for assigning coaches to teams in a way that supports athlete development and program stability.

Director Responsibilities include:

  • assigning qualified coaches to each team
  • ensuring appropriate coach-to-player ratios
  • ensuring adequate supervision at all times
  • confirming all coaches are properly cleared before assignment
  • providing guidance, leadership, and oversight to ensure players are receiving quality skill training, safety, and that PCA values are incorporated into the athlete experience

Coaching Policy: Coaches may coach only one Starlings team per season unless approved by the National Office.

Best Practice Tip: Assign coaches early and clearly communicate roles to avoid confusion during the season.

Junior Coaches (Ages 16 to 17)

Junior coaches are a valuable part of the Starlings program and often represent former players transitioning into leadership roles.

However, additional safeguards must be followed.

Junior coaches (ages 16 to 17):

  • may not serve as a Head Coach
  • may only serve in an assistant coach role
  • must always be supervised by a SafeSport-trained and background-screened adult (18+) within the club
  • may not independently supervise athletes or team activities
  • may not be placed in situations that require adult legal or safety responsibility
  • must avoid situations involving social media, electronic communication, or travel that could create safety risks or the appearance of inappropriate or unsupervised interaction with athletes

Safety Requirement: Junior coaches must be under direct supervision at all times and may not be left alone with athletes under any circumstance.

Junior coaches are expected to follow the same Safety and Compliance expectations as adult coaches, including:

  • athlete protection policies
  • communication guidelines
  • appropriate boundaries
  • conduct expectations

Best Practice Tip: Clearly define the role of junior coaches at the start of the season so players, parents, and staff understand that they are in a supervised assistant role only.

Coach Agreements

Document / Form Required: Coach Agreement Form

Directors should ensure that each coach signs a written Coach Agreement prior to the start of the season.

Coach Agreements should clearly define:

  • roles and responsibilities
  • expectations for conduct
  • communication expectations
  • compensation or volunteer status
  • start and end dates
  • expectations for compliance with Starlings policies

Director Responsibility: Maintain signed Coach Agreements on file and provide them upon request.

Coach Conduct & Expectations

Coaches are expected to model behavior that reflects the values of the Starlings organization and incorporate PCA values and coaching techniques into their daily interactions with athletes.

Coaches must:

  • treat all athletes with respect
  • create a positive and inclusive environment
  • apply PCA-based coaching principles and techniques
  • communicate appropriately with players and families
  • follow all Safety & Compliance policies
  • maintain professional boundaries at all times

Safety Requirement: Coaches must adhere to all athlete protection policies, including communication rules, supervision requirements, and SafeSport guidelines.

Communication Expectations

Coaches must follow all communication policies outlined in the Safety & Compliance section and adhere to SafeSport communication guidelines.

This includes:

  • no private one-on-one electronic communication with minor athletes
  • use of group communication platforms or inclusion of parents/guardians
  • maintaining professional and appropriate communication at all times
  • avoiding any form of communication that is private, secretive, or not observable

Director Responsibility: Directors must ensure coaches understand and follow communication expectations.

Training & Development

Starlings is committed to ongoing coach development.

Director Responsibility: Directors must ensure that coaches complete required training and are supported in their development.

Required Training

  • PCA (Positive Coaching Alliance) training, required annually
  • any additional training required by governing bodies

Best Practice Tip: Encourage coaches to continue learning throughout the season and to apply training principles in practice and competition settings.

Starlings provides access to several coach training and development platforms, often at reduced or preferred pricing for Starlings members, including:

  • Art of Coaching Volleyball
  • USA Volleyball
  • Junior Volleyball Association
  • Hudl

Directors are encouraged to promote these resources and support coaches in utilizing available tools for ongoing development.

Coach Supervision & Evaluation

Directors are responsible for supervising and supporting coaches throughout the season.

This includes:

  • observing practices and competitions when possible
  • providing feedback and guidance
  • addressing concerns early
  • ensuring alignment with Starlings expectations

Best Practice Tip: Regular check-ins with coaches help identify issues early and improve program consistency.

Coach Discipline & Removal

Directors are responsible for addressing situations where a coach does not meet expectations.

Situations that may require corrective action include:

  • failure to meet safety requirements
  • inappropriate conduct
  • violation of communication policies
  • failure to follow organizational expectations
  • behavior that negatively impacts athletes or the program

Response Actions May Include:

  • verbal or written warning
  • required corrective action or training
  • temporary suspension from coaching duties
  • removal from coaching position

Safety Requirement: Coaches who fail to meet safety requirements (background check, SafeSport, etc.) must be removed from athlete contact immediately until compliance is achieved.

Director Responsibility: Document all disciplinary actions and notify the National Office when issues are significant or ongoing.

Staffing Changes

Directors must manage staffing changes carefully to maintain compliance and program stability.

If a coach is added, replaced, or reassigned:

  • all safety requirements must be completed before working with athletes
  • the coach must be assigned in the designated platform (e.g., LeagueApps)
  • teams and rosters must be updated

Safety Requirement: New or replacement coaches may not begin working with athletes until all requirements are completed.

Alignment with Good Standing

Coaching and staffing practices are a key component of maintaining GOOD STANDING within Starlings Volleyball USA.

A club may be considered out of good standing if it:

  • allows coaches to work without required safety clearances
  • fails to supervise junior coaches appropriately
  • does not enforce communication or conduct policies
  • fails to address coach-related issues
  • does not maintain proper documentation

Corrective action may include:

  • required training or corrective measures
  • removal of coaching privileges
  • increased oversight
  • additional reporting requirements