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Answers to common NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching course questions
NOTE: All ASEP-certified coaches will be grandfathered into the new NFHS Coaches Education Program and are not required to take this course.
8. CERTIFICATION – ATHLETIC DIRECTORS AND COACHES (Revised Fall 2015)
Athletic directors and coaches shall achieve certification in the following areas prior to assuming duties as an athletic director or coach. The high school principal shall be held accountable for verifying that athletic directors and coaches have been certified. EXCEPTION: Any emergency exception to an OSAA requirement must be authorized in writing by the OSAA.
A. NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching. http://nfhslearn.com/
The OSAA requires that athletic directors and coaches must achieve a passing score on the test included with the NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching course. This is a one-time requirement.
B. Concussion Recognition and Management Training. http://nfhslearn.com/
The OSAA and Oregon State Law (ORS 336.485) requires that athletic directors and coaches receive training to learn how to recognize the symptoms of a concussion and how to seek proper medical treatment for a person suspected of having a concussion. The NFHS’s Concussion in Sports free course satisfies this requirement. This training is required annually.
C. NFHS Heat Illness Prevention. http://nfhslearn.com/
The OSAA requires that athletic directors and coaches must achieve a passing score on the test included with the NFHS’s Heat Illness Prevention free course. This is an every other year requirement.
D. Anabolic Steroids and Performance-Enhancing Substances Training. http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?=2571
The OSAA and Oregon State Law (ORS 342.726) requires that athletic directors and coaches receive training on identifying the components of anabolic steroid abuse and use and prevention strategies for the use of performance-enhancing substances. This training is required once every four years.
E. Spirit Safety Clinic (Cheerleading and Dance/Drill Coaches Only). http://www.osaa.org/activities/che
F. The OSAA requires that any cheerleading or dance/drill coach attend an OSAA Spirit Safety Clinic by the first day of the Association year in which that person serves as a coach. Should a cheerleading/dance drill coach fail to attend an OSAA Spirit Safety Clinic by the first day of the Association Year, the squad of the non-attending coach shall be prohibited from performing partner stunts, lifts or tumbling until the coach has attended a clinic. This training is required annually.
G. Heads Up Football Certification. http://www.osaa.org/activities/fbl/management
Football coaches only; recommended for Fall 2015; required for Fall 2016). The OSAA requires that any football coach complete the USA Football Heads Up Certification prior to assuming coaching duties and to recertify annually through an online exam prior to the beginning of each Association year. Additionally, each member school sponsoring football is required to identify a Player Safety Coach. Each Player Safety Coach Is required to attend an in person clinic annually prior to the start of the Association year that is conducted by a USA Football Master Trainer in preparation for implementing and overseeing the primary components of Heads Up Football at their school.
1. Q. Does certification through the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) satisfy the requirement in Rule 1.2?
A. Yes, so long as the athletic director or coach was certified through ASEP prior to August 1, 2007. Thereafter, only the NFHS Coach Education Program “Fundamentals of Coaching” will satisfy this requirement unless an exception is granted in writing by the OSAA.
2. Q. When must a coach be certified?
A. All coaches must be certified prior to assuming coaching duties unless an emergency exception is authorized in writing by the OSAA. This includes cheerleading coaches, dance/drill coaches and choreographers at schools that do not participate in competitions.
3. Q. Is certification required of volunteer coaches?
A. Yes.
4. Q. Must a “guest” coach be certified?
A. No, but if the coach has contact with students more than three times in a sport season, the coach shall no longer be considered a “guest” and must be certified. A non-certified “guest” coach may not serve as a coach at a contest.
5. Q. May a school bring in alumni or other non-high school personnel to scrimmage with teams or individuals as “guest coaches” if those personnel are limited to student contact on no more than three occasions during the sport season?
A. No. The “guest coach” exception is intended to allow a limited number of visits by a guest instructor; it is NOT intended to allow coaches to bring in coaches or players to participate in drills or scrimmages against teams or individuals. Any attempt to circumvent the Participation Limitations by calling practice participants “guest coaches” would be a violation of OSAA rules.
6. Q. In individual sports, may a parent or non-certified coach accompany a participant to a contest as the school representative if that person is an authorized representative of the principal?
A. Yes, but the authorized representative may not coach the participant unless specific permission has been granted in writing by the Executive Director.
7. Q. Does the OSAA require high school coaches to have current first aid certification?
A. No. However, coaches should check with their athletic directors as most high schools have this as a requirement.