Club Coach of the year: Lessons Beyond the Award

by

Being named Club Coach of the Year was a proud honour, yet the journey itself offered far more than recognition. Serving as a club coach provided me with a unique opportunity to give back to Toastmasters District 91, while experiencing profound personal and professional growth.

The Club Coach Programme embodies the values that define Toastmasters: Integrity, Respect, Service and Excellence. A club coach supports clubs by guiding them to achieve goals, assisting in leadership development, fostering a positive club culture, encouraging membership growth and helping members to achieve their personal growth objectives. The role involves mentoring club officers, motivating members and working alongside the team to ensure the club flourishes. Collaboration with the club committee goes beyond striving for Distinguished Club Programme status, integrating District 91 incentives, supporting members’ personal and professional development, and celebrating the progress of the club as a whole.

Through coaching, I discovered the importance of inspiration, not only in motivating others but in embracing the creativity, dedication and resilience of the team I served. Obstacles became teachers, failures became lessons, and closed doors became opportunities to discover new directions. More importantly, as Ralph C. Smedley observed, ‘we learn best in moments of enjoyment’. By celebrating achievements and fostering a positive, enjoyable environment, growth becomes both effective and memorable.

My journey as a club coach was informed by my experience across multiple roles in Toastmasters: Vice President Education, Club President, Area Director, Division Director and mentor to members and clubs alike. Each role contributed to my understanding of what it means to empower others, to demonstrate excellence and to allow teams to experience the satisfaction of shared achievement. The Club Coach Programme allowed me to weave these lessons together, creating an environment in which both the club and I grew together.

For anyone considering stepping into a coaching role, remember that it is as much about personal development as it is about service. Through coaching, we give back to our clubs and to the wider Toastmasters community while gaining insights, skills and experiences that endure. The Club Coach Programme is not merely a path to support a club or a means to earn credit for oneself; it is a journey that nurtures leaders, empowers teams and celebrates the transformative power of shared success.

 

Club Coach Eligibility and Requirements to Earn Credit Summary 

Table 1. Member Eligibility Criteria to become a Club Coach    Table 2. Club Coach Requirement to earn credit 
  • Be a paid member in good standing.
  • have been a member of TMI for at least one year. 
  • Served as a club officer for at least one year or two semi-annual terms 
  • Completed at least Level 2 of a path in the Pathways learning experience or achieved Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB) or Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB) in the traditional education programme. 
  • Completed the Club Coach Training Module. 
  • Cannot be a member of the eligible club they coach, nor have been a member in the previous six months. 
  • May only coach one club at a time. 
  • Meets with club President/ delegate officers and District leadership (District Director/Club Growth Director/Delegated Club Coach Lead); all parties sign a Club Coach Agreement 
  
  • Coach the Club Executive Committee 
  • Complete and submit: 
    • i) Club Coach Preliminary Report within 30 days,
    • ii) Club Coach Progress Report every 60 days,
    • iii) Club Coach Final Report after coaching concludes. 
  •  Serve as a Club Coach for a minimum of six months by the end of the Toastmasters programme year. 
  • Not join the club during the coaching appointment. 
  • Coached club must achieve Distinguished or higher status by the following 30 June after the six-month term. 
  • Club President (or officer delegate) must notify World Headquarters in writing of successful completion. 

A useful resource to support club performance and member experience is the Club Quality resources  provided by Toastmasters International. 

 

 

Article by Nadya Hamedi, DTM 

Last Updated on 28th August 2025 by Allen Paul