Spirit Coach Education

Coaches’ Education is the single most important thing a coach can do to improve coaching skills; it is also designed to keep our cheerleaders safe in this athletic activity.  We offer a wide variety of training at our annual conference.  Also, you can receive training when attending any cheer camp held by a national organization.  ICCA schedules many rules meetings in August and September to update all coaches on the NFHS rules.  Please refer to the ICCA calendar to locate times and places.  In August we offer free clinics for all ICCA members and their cheerleaders.  It’s like FREE CAMP .  We offer rules meetings and opportunities to network during these valuable Free Clinics. (Refer to Free Clinic Tab on the home page.  We also try to offer some training in November – watch for updates.

In Iowa we subscribe to the National Federation of High Schools Coaches’ Education Program for Spirit Directors.  State Spirit Directors are Nancy Huether (nhuether@huxcomm.net) and Jeanne Ehn (jehn@heartofiowa.net)  Contact them with your questions.

Below is the official information about the NFHS Spirit Coaches’ Education Program.

NFHS Spirit Coaches Education Program

The NFHS Spirit Coaches Education Program is designed to teach all spirit coaches how to become professional, well-trained coaches capable of overseeing safe, successful spirit programs.

There are three credentialing levels available in the NFHS Spirit Coaches Education Program; Bronze, Silver, and Gold. In order to attain each level, coaches must complete four courses. Other than the mandatory courses listed below for the Bronze credential, coaches can select from a menu of courses that will meet their program needs. Technique courses must be taken in their proper order (i.e. Partner Stunt Progressions I must be completed before Partner Stunt Progressions II, etc.)

For the Bronze Level, three of the four courses are mandatory.

The requirements for the Bronze Level are:

1. Spirit Program Management
2. AACCA Safety
3. One technique course ("Partner Stunt Progressions", "Motions, Jumps and Tumbling", or "Dance Technique")
4. One additional NFHS course from the "Course Selections".

* Once the Bronze Level is completed, coaches who are members of the NFHS Spirit Association will receive an additional one million dollars of liability coverage.

For the Silver Level, four additional NFHS courses must be completed.

For the Gold Level, four additional NFHS courses must be completed.

(See the following page for Course Selections.)

All courses are $40 and three hours in length, except AACCA.

Course Selection

AACCA Safety Certification

This is the United States ’ leading safety certification course for cheer and dance coaches. The course focuses on performance readiness, skill progressions, and medical and legal responsibilities in cheerleading. The safety manual is edited by legal consultant Dr. Gerald George of the University of Louisiana , Lafayette , where he is the national’s leading authority on gymnastics and cheerleading safety. This course is required for a bronze level credential and costs $75.

Spirit Program Management

This is an overview of how to run a successful spirit program. The course includes discussions of coaching and school philosophies, personnel policies, program finance which includes establishing a budget and fundraising activities and the responsibilities of the spirit coach such as tryouts, facilities, handbooks, calendars, etc. This course is required for a bronze level credential.

Partner Stunt Progressions I

This course focuses on teaching stunts in a safe, progressive manner. Lead-up skills, stunt bio-mechanics and spotting specifics are also covered in both classroom and “hands-on” settings.

Dance Technique I

This course focuses on teaching dance coaches basic dance technique, dance terminology and style in a safe, progressive manner.

Motions, Jumps and Tumbling

This course consists of three important elements of cheerleading: motions, jumps and tumbling. The motion workshop details correct motion placement and offers coaching techniques for improving sharpness and synchronization. The jumps section covers proper conditioning and technique for the most common cheerleading jumps. The tumbling portion provides information on tumbling progressions and spotting techniques.

First Aid and CPR Certification

If you are a coach who is required by your school to take a first aid and CPR course, the NFHS Spirit Coaches Education Program will accept an approved Red Cross or American Heart Association course in first aid. You will need to send the NFHS a copy of your CPR certification in order to receive credit for this course. The NFHS wants all coaches to have first aid training and we will accept approved first aid courses that your school requires.

NFHS Coaching Principles for Cheer and Dance

This discussion course focuses on the coaching style of the spirit coach and the philosophy of coaching that accompanies that style. Each participant will take a coaching inventory to determine his or her coaching style and then will be in roundtable discussions with other coaches of different styles working through various scenarios of coaching cheer and dance.

NFHS Spirit Rules

This course covers the NFHS Spirit Rules Book and teaches the various parts of the book. Each participant will learn how to find information in the rules book and what each section discusses. A brief test will be given at the end of the course.

NFHS/American Red Cross/USOC Sport Safety

This course is designed to help coaches identify and eliminate potentially hazardous conditions in various sports environments, recognize emergencies and make appropriate decisions for first aid care. This course meets first aid requirements. Coaches also must complete a CPR course to get credit for this Sport Safety Course. This course will be delivered exclusively ONLINE for the NFHS at the price of $45.

Partner Stunt Progressions II

This course further develops the idea of teaching partner stunts in the proper skill progression. It builds on the techniques taught in the prerequisite course Partner Stunt Progressions I. The course involves a deeper look at transitional partner stunts as well as alternate ways to mount and dismount these stunts. As always, safe spotting techniques are reemphasized at each level in the progression.

Dance Technique II

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