OCCUPATION: HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS COACH

Name: Annette Quintana Company: Western High School, Anaheim Thumbs up: “Because I was an athlete--I played volleyball in college--I thought I’d go into coaching so I could stay in the game. I like the competition involved and teaching the game. I like coaching boys because I like the physical part of their game. I think boys learn the physical aspects of the game a lot quicker, but the girl athletes learn the mental intricacies faster.” Thumbs down: “All the paperwork. It takes time away from being with the kids.” Advice: “There are always coaching opportunities, especially at the high school level. You must have flexible hours, especially as a walk-on coach--someone who is not teaching at the school. We also need more women coaches. This is becoming a male-dominated profession even in girls’ sports. I would say it’s about 90% men now. That’s a reversal from the ‘70s when there were a lot more women coaching girls’ sports.” Salary range: All coaches--faculty members and those who are walk-on--receive a stipend for each sport coached or each season; for teachers, coaching is an adjunct duty. Depending on the sport and level, stipends range from $500 to $2,500. Coaches receive an additional 10% of their stipend for each week their team is in the playoffs. Hours: Hours can extend beyond a normal 40-hour workweek during the season with practices, games--some of which are played in the evening--and reviews of game films. Educational and training requirements: Walk-on coaches are not required to have California teaching credentials. The state requires all coaches to have CPR and first-aid certification from a qualified organization, such as the Red Cross, a fire department or hospital.Size of work force: Large. In Orange County, an estimated 6,000 people, or 0.5% of the labor force, work as coaches. Job description: Coaches teach competition, knowledge of the sport, rules and techniques to players, emphasizing leadership, sportsmanship, cooperation and teamwork. They supervise and organize students under their direction. They are also responsible for maintaining records of practices, attendance and injuries and for providing accurate team rosters to faculty. For more information: Call the “Coaches Wanted” service of the California Interscholastic Federation, Southern Section, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekdays at (714) 826 5390 or the specific school district where you want to coach. Sources: Anaheim Union High School District; California Interscholastic Federation. Researched by DALLAS M. JACKSON / Los Angeles Times