Coaching Education Now Required for California Coaches

Author: ASEP Marketing

06/22/2005

CIF Coaching Education Program Fulfills Requirement

This May, the California Interscholastic Federation Council passed a revision to Article 22.B.9 requiring all coaches in California to complete essential training before coaching high school sports. Prior to this ruling approximately one quarter of California's coaches participated in coaching education courses as recommended by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). The CIF worked closely with the California Department of Education to turn this recommendation into a requirement.

"This is a major step forward to enhance the experiences of California's student-athletes by ensuring that their coaches have met a minimum level of training," said Roger Blake, assistant executive director of the CIF. "Without a doubt a coach can have such a powerful influence on the young men and women they coach. In today's world with issues such as the use of performance enhancing drugs, coaches must be informed and educated so they can help guide their student-athletes to make good choices."

Under the new requirements coaches must become certified to coach by completing a coaching principles course, a state rules test, and hold a current CPR certification or an equivalent by December 31, 2008. The CIF is working with the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to provide the newly revised course to an estimated 10,000 coaches in 2005. The CIF is also recommending but not requiring that coaches complete the NFHS/ASEP Sport First Aid course.

"This is a huge step forward in making coaching a profession, not just an occupation. California is leading the way in requiring those who coach to have minimum training in order that these leaders of our youth are more likely to provide a beneficial, safe, and enjoyable experience in sport," said Rainer Martens, founder of ASEP.

Coaches will have the option of taking the NFHS/ASEP Coaching Principles and Sport First Aid courses and a state rules test either online or in a classroom setting. These two courses are a part of the NFHS Coaches Education Program, which also includes a sport-specific techniques and tactics course. These three courses plus a CPR validation constitute the Bronze Level, a comprehensive coaching education curriculum aimed at training the entire coach. Through the NFHS Coaches Education Program, 38 states and D.C. currently require the Bronze Level in whole or in part for their high school coaches.

"Even before coaching education became a requirement, California's coaches have been the largest group of participants in the NFHS/ASEP Coaches Education Program. This new requirement really emphasizes the commitment to excellence in coaching that has always been there," said Jerry Reeder, ASEP program consultant.

Tim Flannery, NFHS assistant director said, "This new requirement is a positive step for California's student-athletes. They'll reap the benefits of coaches with a deeper knowledge base who are better prepared to work with today’s athletes. Ultimately, it's about the kids."

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) is a statewide nonprofit organization established to direct, develop, and support California's high school interscholastic sports activities with the goal of developing student athletes of character. For more information about the CIF and coaching education, visit www.cifstate.org.

In 1990, ASEP began a partnership with the NFHS to develop and deliver the NFHS Coaches Education Program for high school coaches.