Club Coach FAQ

A club coach is an experienced Toastmaster who partners with a club to help rebuild membership and strengthen the member experience. One of the coach’s primary objectives is to help the club achieve recognition in the Distinguished Club Program.

Club coaches are appointed for a maximum of two (2) program years, including the program year in which they are appointed. If unsuccessful in their two-program year assignment, they may be reappointed for an additional two program years, provided the reappointment occurs before September 30 following the end of their second unsuccessful term.

To learn more, visit the Club Coach Program page or complete the Club Coach Training Module in Base Camp.

Clubs are eligible for a club coach appointment if:

• The club has at least three (3), but no more than 12, members in good standing at the time of appointment.
• The club is not suspended or closed.
• The club does not already have two (2) coaches.

A club may have up to two (2) coaches assigned at the same time. If your club has one (1) or fewer coaches and would like an additional coach(es), please contact your Club Growth Director or District Director to have one appointed.

To be appointed as a club coach, you must:

• Be a paid member in good standing with Toastmasters International.
• Have been a member of Toastmasters International for at least one (1) year.
• Have served as a club officer for one (1) annual term or two (2) semiannual terms.
• Not be an existing paid member of the assigned club at the time of appointment, nor for at least six (6) months prior to appointment.
• Have completed a minimum of Level 2 in a path, or an Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB), or an Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB).
• Complete the Club Coach Program Training module in Base Camp.

A District Director (or a delegated Program Quality Director or Club Growth Director) can appoint a club coach by sending the completed Club Coach Agreement to the Club Quality and Member Support Team at clubquality@toastmasters.org.

For clubs not located within a District, the Region Advisor or Club President may appoint a club coach.

Yes. You can be appointed as a club coach for a club outside of your District, so long as the request is from the District Director (or a delegated Program Quality Director or Club Growth Director) in which the club is located. If the club is not located within a District, the Club President or Region Advisor can appoint you instead.

Upon appointment, you may request a club coach lapel pin to wear during club meetings, and you will be provided with helpful resources to aid you in performing your duties.

To receive a lapel pin, send an email request along with your address and phone number to clubquality@toastmasters.org.

If you successfully coach the club to achieve recognition in the Distinguished Club Program, you will also receive credit that may be used towards a Distinguished Toastmaster award and be sent a digital certificate of accomplishment. Additionally, you could earn optional credit towards service as a District Leader if the correct requirements are met. Please note, credit is awarded once the year-end results are final.

Yes. A club coach can be removed at the request of the Club President or the appointed club coach themselves. Club coaches may not be removed at the request of a District representative.

Additionally, a club coach can be removed at any time for any reason with a vote of the club membership. Once the vote has concluded, the Club President or club coach should notify the Club Quality and Member Support Team at clubquality@toastmasters.org.

Yes. If a club coach is unsuccessful by the end of the two-year appointment, they can be reappointed by the District Director or Club Growth Director.

For clubs not within a District, the Club President or Region Advisor can reappoint the club coach. All qualification requirements for a club to receive a coach are waived for reappointments.

Reappointment requests must be submitted to clubquality@toastmasters.org by September 30. Requests received after September 30 will be considered new appointments, and all qualification requirements will apply.

No. A club is not required to accept an appointment, and has the right to refuse the appointment or suggest another member to coach.

District Leaders are unable to check this in Base Camp, and instead, may accept verbal or written confirmation from the prospective coach. The staff at World Headquarters will ensure all program requirements are met by the prospective coaches when reviewing the Club Coach Agreement Form. If members do not meet the program requirements, World Headquarters will notify the submitting District Leader of any missing requirements.

A club coach is only displayed on the Club Coach Daily Report for a period of two (2) calendar years from the date of their appointment. Once that two-year period has ended, the coach's name is automatically removed from the Daily Report. This does not impact your ability to be recognized as a successful club coach if your assigned club meets the program requirements.

If your name is not currently on the Club Coach Daily Report and has never been, please contact the Club Quality and Member Support Team at clubquality@toastmasters.org.

The Net Growth requirement was reduced from five (5) members to three (3) members and has since been made permanent by the Board of Directors. This change allows clubs greater flexibility in meeting Distinguished Club Program goals while adapting to ongoing challenges.

District leader credit for club coaches was initially offered as a temporary exception for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 program years, approved by the Board of Directors. This option is now permanent. Beginning with the 2022-2023 program year, the requirements to earn District leader credit are:

• Serve as a coach for at least six (6) months.
• Have the club earn a designation of Distinguished or better.
• Have at least 20 paid members on the club's roster regardless of its qualifying requirement.

All club coach program guidelines, including recent updates, are outlined in Protocol 2.3. If you have questions, contact the Club Quality and Member Support Team at clubquality@toastmasters.org.