(Courses offered in NFHS Coach Education Program)
All above-school-age adults with any coaching responsibility for a school team are considered coaches and must meet certain criteria for certification under the AHSAA Coaches Education Program.
The required Fundamentals of Coaching course is offered online from the following websites: http://www.nfhslearn.com ($85) and http://www.asep.com/asep_content/org/AHSAA.cfm ($85). For questions about the NFHS online testing, call the Help Desk at 317-565-2023. The email address is help@nfhslearn.com. The regular pre-registration fee for the four-hour PREPARE course is $85. Walk-up registration is $135. Contact Kathryn Gwaltney at 205-329-7535 or 866-508-6277 to register or get additional information.
Meeting the requirement for the first aid course are the PREPARE Sport First Aid course offered by the National Center for Sports Safety (NCSS ) at a regular cost of $85 or the ASEP Sport First Aid course at a cost of $85. The ASEP course is available online at http://www.asep.com/asep_content/org/AHSAA.cfm.
The next PREPARE first aid course will be offered Thursday, Feb. 11, at Shades Valley High School Fieldhouse (6100 Old Leeds Rd., Irondale, AL 35210). The pre-registration cost is $85, which includes a $25 non-refundable registration fee. The pre-registration deadline is Feb. 5, after which the cost is $135. Registration/check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. for the 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. course. There is no admittance after 9:00 a.m.
Printable Registration Form
Coaches at member schools prior to 2001-02 are exempt from the course requirements but must have an active CPR certification each year.
Note: A school using a non-certified coach that is not involved in the Coaches Education Program will be fined $300 and the coach will be suspended.
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
In order to be certified, all coaches and non-faculty coaches must meet the following standards for certification:
Non-Faculty Coaches
--Must complete Coaching Principles and Sports First Aid courses. After assuming coaching responsibilities, at least one course must be completed by the end of the first year and both courses must be completed by the end of the second year. (If one of the courses is not completed during the first year, the coach cannot continue coaching the second year.)
Note: A coach must pass both required courses in order to qualify to receive a coaching card. Verification of course requirements and CPR certification for each coach must be kept on file in the principal's office. Membership fees itemized on each school invoice (generated online) must accompany that invoice upon submission to the State Office.
--Must complete the coaches' portion of STAR Sportsmanship by 2009-10.
--Must be CPR certified. Certification mut be active each year.
First-Time Coaches
--Will have two years after being hired to complete Coaching Principles and Sport First Aid courses. At least one course must be taken during the first school year, then the second during the second year. Both courses may be taken during the first year. Coaches will be exempt if these courses were taken during undergraduate or graduate programs and approved by the State Office.
Note: A coach must pass both required courses in order to qualify to receive a coaching card. Verification of course requirements and CPR certification for each coach must be kept on file in the principal's office. Membership fees itemized on each school invoice (generated online) must accompany that invoice upon submission to the State Office.
--Must complete the coaches' portion of STAR Sportsmanship by 2009-10.
--Must be CPR certified. Certification mut be active each year.
All Other Coaches
--Are recommended to take both courses for professional development or personal development.
--Must complete the coaches' portion of STAR Sportsmanship by 2009-10.
--Must be CPR certified. Certification must be active each year.