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The AACCA has teamed with the National Federation of State High School
Associations (NFHS) to provide its outstanding safety certification course
for all spirit coaches as part of the
NFHS Spirit Coaches Education
Program.
The NFHS believes, as does AACCA, that education of coaches is key to
providing a safe learning environment where life skills can be learned. To this
end, the NFHS has developed a credentialing program for coaches'
education. There will be three levels of credentialling - Bronze, Silver,
and Gold. The Bronze Level courses are available now, and the other courses are
being evaluated and developed for future availability.
NOTE: South Dakota Coaches MUST BE NFHS
Bronze Level by 2009!
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is the NFHS Spirit Coaches Education Program?
It is a national program to educated coaches of cheerleading, dance, drill, and
pom. It was created because of a tremendous need for spirit coaches education in
this country. Since it is very difficult to hire and retain spirit coaches, the
NFHS believes that coaches education is the most critical component in
developing safe, successful high school spirit programs.
2. Will I have national certification when I complete the NFHS Spirit Coaches
Education Program?
No. The NFHS does not CERTIFY anyone. What the program does is give you a
credential for each level of the program, stating that you have completed the
required four (4) courses. This is merely a matter of semantics, but it is
important to recognize that this is NOT a certification program.
3. What courses will I take for the NFHS Spirit Coaches Education Program?
There will be three (3) levels of credentials for the program, the Bronze,
Silver, and Gold. The NFHS Spirit Association Advisory Board, comprised of
spirit coaches and state association staff, has made recommendations to the NFHS
on the development and choice of the courses offered. Currently, the Bronze
level credential is available to all states and we are in the process of
completing the Silver level.
4. What courses are in each level?
Each level will require four courses. The first level, Bronze, has 3
requirements, plus an additional course of your choosing. Each of the following
levels, Silver and Gold, will require any four course of your choosing as long
as they are completed in the proper order (i.e. Partner Stunt Progressions I
must be completed before Partner Stunt Progressions II). This will allow
coaches to tailor their professional development to their specific program
needs.
In addition to the elective course, the three required components are: NFHS
Spirit Program Management, AACCA Safety Certification, one basic technique course (Partner
Stunt Progressions I, Motions Jumps and Tumbling, or Dance Technique I).
Additional courses include:
- UCA Partner Stunt Progressions I
- UCA Motions, Jumps and Tumbling
- UDA Dance Technique I
- First Aid and CPR Certification (this can be any school-approved course
including the American Red Cross and ASEP courses)
- Coaching Principles for Cheer and Dance
- NFHS Spirit Rules
- NFHS/American Red Cross/USOC Sport Safety
- Partner Stunt Progressions II
- Conditioning and Stretching for Dance
5. How can I find a course in my area or state?
The NFHS website will be the place for information. Currently, we have about 40
State Spirit Directors for the NFHS Spirit Coaches Education Program. These
directors will work with the NFHS and help us set up courses in their respective
states. They will also promote the Spirit Coaches Education Program and work
with their state cheer and dance associations to make sure that courses are
offered at the various state conferences and workshops. If you are interested in
a specific course, you will need to contact the organization that teaches that
course to find out if there are classes in your area. Contact information is as
follows:
For the AACCA Safety Certification course, Partner Stunt Progressions, Dance
Techniques or Motions, Jumps, and Tumbling, visit www.aacca.org.
6. Will any of the courses be online?
Yes. Currently, ASEP Coaching Principles and Sport First Aid are online. You will
need to go to the websites of your state athletic/activities association and
find out how to go about signing up for these courses online. The cost will be
approximately $100 and remember, that after you take the Sport First Aid course,
you will need to get a CPR certification.
7. What is the cost of the courses?
The
exact total depends on the course. The AACCA Safety Certification course is $75.
All other NFHS courses are $40.
8. I’m in a state that requires the Coaching Principles and Sport First Aid
course for all coaches. Since I have also been certified in AACCA, do I have to
take these courses again?
Good question! No, you do not need to repeat Coaching Principles or Sport First
Aid. However, you will need to show proof of your CPR certification when you
request a level certificate. Once you have taken the AACCA Safety
Certification and Partner Stunt Progressions course, you will not need to take
that again. However, as you work through the Silver level credential, you will
find that these courses will build upon what you have learned at the Bronze
level.
9. Who do I contact when I have a question about the NFHS Spirit Coaches
Education Program?
The best source for your questions is the NFHS office at 317-972-6900. Nicole
Slone, Administrative Assistant to Susan Loomis at the NFHS, is the contact
person at the NFHS office. She will be able to answer your questions. You may
email her at nslone@nfhs.org. Susan Loomis, liaison for all spirit groups at the
NFHS, can also be contacted at sloomis@nfhs.org. Another excellent source is
your State Spirit Director whose name and email will be listed on the NFHS
website for the NFHS Spirit Coaches Education Program. The State Spirit Director
will also know what is going on in your state and when courses will be offered.
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