Coaching Education Changes!

In Iowa we are very proud of the efforts made our cheer coaches, their school administrators, the IHSAA and the ICCA have made to help educate our coaches for the benefit of our students!  There have been no requirements made of our coaches by the state, yet we have persevered!  Good job!

The National Federation of High Schools is committed to provided quality education for all coaches and now they have taken it one step further.  Many coaching education courses are online.  The NFHS knows how busy you are and online training can be done in your own home and on your own time.  This also helps to make the costs very reasonable.

Many of you are now Bronze and Silver Level credentialed!  Great!  Those credentials are yours and no one can take them away!  Remember that in order to stay certified in AACCA, you must renew every four years. 

With the addition of online course the NFHS has changed their program somewhat.  How will this affect cheer/spirit?  We are now placed in the same program as all athletic coaches.  The Federation has renamed it’s levels and re-written the program.   Please go to www.nfhslearn.org to learn more about the program and it’s requirements.

The first level of their program requires that coaches take the online course, “Fundamentals of Coaching.”  It costs you $35.  It if full of extra resources and excellent general coaches training.  The second course required is “Coaching First Aid.”  For Spirit/Cheer coaches the third and final course for the first level is “AACCA.”   It is designed so that the third course of the first level is a sports specific class and AACCA is that class for spirit. 

The exciting part is that two more courses should be done soon.  The first is the “Fundamentals of Coaching Cheer and Dance.”  This is a combination of the former Coaching Principles and Spirit Program Management programs.  Partner Stunt Progressions I is also in the works. 

Please go to www.nfhslearn.org and learn more.  Now coaches education will be more accessible for you! Rejoice!