Coaches Corner

Back Pocket Games are fun, simple activities that are perfect for filling downtime or easing transitions. They are great for when you need a quick burst of fun, focus, or energy and can be used to fill extra time or supplement lesson plan activities that aren't working well for your group.

The links and materials in each document below provide access to resources like videos that break down key skills and techniques of the sport! Be sure to review them alongside your lesson plan so you’ve got the basics down and can jump in with confidence when teaching the sport-specifics at your session!

 Daily Weather Call 

• The daily weather call is posted online immediately after a final decision has been reached. Updates are posted no later than: 

• 4:00 p.m. – Weekday Leagues  &  8:30 a.m. – Weekend Leagues 

• Coaches should check the weather call update before heading to their field.  

 
Weather Scenarios 

• In instances which sessions are called on and the weather is inclement at class time: 

• The coaches will have the final say on the conditions; however, will consult with parents on a as needed basis to make the best decision for the group.  

• If the Coach decides conditions are playable but a parent decides their child will not participate, no credits or makeup classes will be issued.  

• If classes are called ‘OFF’ or fields are ‘closed’ during the regular season:  

• 1st time – the season will be extended by one week; the class will be re-scheduled. 

• 2 or more times – whenever possible, the season will be extended by one more additional week. This is only possible if it does not cause the season to overlap into the next season.  

• If extending the season is not possible, a make-up session will be issued. 

Extreme Weather Conditions 

• Thunder and Lightning  

• If lightning is present, coaches will pause / delay the class and participants should move off of the playfield to a safe location (e.g. vehicles). 

• Coaches will wait 20-minutes to allow the lightning a chance to pass before calling the session off. 

• If conditions become playable again within 20 minutes, the class will be resumed and played within the original timeframe.  

• If parents opt to leave before the 20-minute wait period has passed, classes will not translate to a makeup and will not be credited or refunded. 

• If there is thunder and it is not accompanied by lightning, classes are still playable, and coaches will monitor the sky.  

• Air Quality 

• GoPlay! will call classes ‘OFF’ anytime that the Air Quality Health Index is at or above an 8 rating at the time the weather call. 

• Activities will be adjusted appropriately on days when smoke is prevalent, but classes are still able to be hosted safely.  

• Coaches should slow the pace of the session, focus on less running and more slow skill development.  

• GoPlay! understands that some participants are more at-risk than others due to poor air quality and encourages any player in the at-risk population to mark an absence on days they are not comfortable playing. 

Unparented Classes Only 

 In order to ensure safe pick-up, each GoPlay! Guardians have been asked to provide a password for their child.  

• At the end of each class, the children are to sit in a circle in the middle of the gym. They are not to leave the circle until the coach permits them to. 

• Once the guardian arrives, they approach their child and provide the password to the coach.  

• The coach ensures the verbal password matches the password in the binder and they are then permitted to leave.  
   

If at any time a child seems uncomfortable or unfamiliar with the person picking them up, the coaches are to do the following: 

• Contact the emergency contact person on the attendance tracker to confirm pick-up is ok. 

• If the emergency contact(s) are not able to be reached and the person has the password, please ask to see their ID and record first and last name of the person doing the pick-up. 

Parented Classes: Parents are responsible for taking their child to the washroom as needed. Coaches are to never go into a washroom with a child.  

Unparented Classes: Children in unparented classes are required to be potty trained. If a child needs to use the bathroom, they should do so themselves. Coaches are to never go into a washroom with a child. If the washroom is outside of the play space, one coach must go with the child to ensure that they get there and back safely. In this scenario, coaches must stand outside the door and wait for the child. 

• If a bathroom emergency occurs during an unparented class (e.g., a child has an accident), please contact the child’s parent — either locate them if they're on-site or call them if they've left the facility. It is the parent’s responsibility to manage their child’s accident NOT the Coach. If you need support while waiting for the parent to arrive, please call the On-Call Staff.

Let’s work together to get paid on time!  

Payroll is processed once every 4 weeks for coaches. The Spring payroll submissions are due by noon on the following dates: May 22nd, June19th, and July 3rd. Funds will be deposited the Thursday after the payroll submission (May 28th, June 25th, and July 9th).

Please note:
- Coaches can choose to not submit hours until the end of the season
- If necessary, upon special request, coaches can request bi-weekly pay. Please contact Haylee to discuss this.
- Bonuses will be paid out on the final payroll.
- Pay forms are to be submitted to [email protected]

 
When submitting your payroll, it needs to be: 
 
1. Accurate (correct hours, include travel when applicable, etc.) 
2. On Time (prior to 12:00pm on Friday of a payroll week)  
 
If it does not meet both above criteria, it will need to be resubmitted and will be paid out on the following payroll cycle (2 weeks later). If at any time you have questions about how to submit your payroll, please ask us! We are happy to provide guidance as needed. 
 
Bonuses: We will process your bonus on your final payroll of the season – you are not required to take action on this.  

We want you to get paid on time each and every time you choose to submit your payroll, so thank you in advance for diligently creating and reviewing your submissions for accuracy. 😊  

Expectations of GoPlay! Coaches 

GP coaches have a unique responsibility to provide excellent and consistent coaching to their classes each week of the season. Both the kids and their parents will feel they are getting more value from our classes and will have a better experience if the coaches are familiar each week. At the same time, the office staff at GP need to count on our coaches to be reliable and attend their scheduled shifts even when it is not ideal on any given day. When you agree to being a GoPlay! coach you are committing to be someone that the staff, kids and parents can count on to show up for every shift. 

 
Substitutions 

We recognize that legitimate unforeseeable situations may arise that prohibit a coach from attending a shift. If a scheduling conflict occurs for you then you must contact your supervisor or another GP office staff at least 48 hours prior to game time to enable them to find a sub for you. Same day canceled shifts due to scheduling conflicts are not acceptable. In the event of sickness or other personal challenge, we ask that you give as much notice as possible and always try to attend each shift you have committed to. 

 
Incentives 

The following policies have been implemented as of the Fall 2024 season to encourage 100% attendance: 

• Each GP coach will accumulate a season-end bonus of $2.00 for each hour worked during the season.  

• The bonus will be paid out at season’s end if the following criteria are met: 

• 100% of scheduled shifts are attended 

• When applicable, submit a fully completed Session Report after each shift 

• Your supervisor at GP grades you as a positive factor at GP games 

• The first time that you cancel a shift due to scheduling issues – while still providing at least 48 hours’ notice – you will forfeit $20 of your bonus. 

• If you cancel a shift due to scheduling issues with less than 48 hours’ notice you may forfeit your entire bonus and/or be put under review. 

• The second time that you cancel a shift you will forfeit your remaining bonus and your employment at GP will be under review. 

• Reasons for canceling a shift that include sickness, or other unforeseen personal challenges will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may or may not affect your bonus. 

• If a GP coach cancels a shift on short notice (48 hours or less) and another coach agrees to pick-up that shift they will receive $25.00/hr for that shift. 

 
Hourly Pay Rates 

New GoPlay! coaches will start at $20.00 per hour. After every 4 seasons you will be eligible for a $1.00 raise until you reach a base of $23.00/hr. All current GP coaches will be bumped to $20.00/hr if they are currently below that level. 

Some shifts will include a single session, and some will have back-to-back sessions. If coaching a single session (50-60 minutes) you will be paid for 2 hours. If coaching back-to-back sessions, you will be paid 2.50 hours (to accommodate set-up and take-down). If coaching three consecutive sessions you will be paid 3.5 hours. 

Head Coaches base wage will start at $21.00/hr. 

 
Travel Bonus 

If a GP coach has to travel more than 25 km to their shift (one-way), they will be paid an extra 0.5 hrs for that shift. 

 
Playing Bonus 

GP coaches are eligible for an SSC playing bonus at the end of each season. If the coach participates in an SSC league in that season, they will receive a monetary refund, otherwise they will receive a gift card to use in a future season (see amounts below). 

• 0 - 15 hours worked = $0 compensation 

• 16-25 hours worked = $60 compensation  

• 26+ hours worked = $80 compensation  

 
Referral Bonus 

Recruiting strong coaches is a primary focus at GP. Over the years at GP and SSC we have learned that ‘good people know good people’. We encourage all of our coaches to identify people they know that could make a difference at GP. If someone you refer applies and is hired as a GP coach and successfully completes a full season, you will be paid a $100 bonus. 

Equipment Distribution Policy

As coaches will be coaching multiple sports across the sessions that they are scheduled for, it is the coach's responsibility to pick up and return their equipment during the Equipment Distribution Dates throughout the season.

• Each pick-up will cover two weeks of sessions. Equipment pick-ups will take place at the office, and this will also be your time to return the equipment from the previous cycle.

• All dates fall on Thursday, Friday, Monday, or Tuesday to accommodate your coaching schedule.

• Please plan accordingly to arrive during your preferred date range depending on which sessions you are coaching. Where applicable, coordinate with your co-coaches as necessary to decide who will handle the pick-up.

Time spent picking up or dropping off equipment during the designated dates is compensable and should be included in your timesheet:

• If you live less than 25 km from the office: You may claim an additional 30 minutes on your timesheet.

• If you live 25 km or more from the office: You may claim an additional 1 hour on your timesheet.