Coach Certifications
The NFHS Coach Certification Program is a national professional credential offered to individuals who are currently coaching or aspire to coach at the interscholastic level. The attainment of this national certification demonstrates the completion of a series of courses offered by the NFHS that will enhance the ability of the coach to better serve the student, the school, the community and the profession of coaching.
- NFHS Coach National Credential
- Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA)
- Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA)
- Heads Up Football High School Coach
- Registered Athletic Administrator (RAA)
- Registered Middle School Athletic Administrator (RMSAA)
NFHS Coach National Credential
NFHS Coach Level 1
National Certification
Required Courses:
- Fundamentals of Coaching
- Concussion in Sports
- Protecting Students from Abuse
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest
NFHS Coach Level 2
National Certification
Required Courses:
- Fundamentals of Coaching
- Concussion in Sports
- Protecting Students from Abuse
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest
- First Aid, Health and Safety
- Heat Illness Prevention
- Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
- One sport-specific course of coach’s choice
NFHS Coach Level 3
National Certification
Required Courses:
- Fundamentals of Coaching
- Concussion in Sports
- Protecting Students from Abuse
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest
- First Aid, Health and Safety
- Heat Illness Prevention
- Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
- Bullying, Hazing, and Inappropriate Behavior
- Engaging Effectively with Parents
- Sportsmanship
- Strength and Conditioning
- Teaching and Modeling Behavior
- One sport-specific course of coach’s choice
Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA)
Certified Athletic Administrator
National Certification
Required Courses:
- Athletic Administration: Guiding Foundations and Philosophies
The flagship course of Leadership Training serves as an overview for interscholastic athletic administration. This course introduces the philosophy of educational athletics then focuses on the roles of the NIAAA, the NFHS, the State Athletic/Activity Associations, and the State Athletic Administrator’s Associations. - Athletic Administration: Strategies for Organization Management
This course takes a basic approach to the fundamentals and methods of athletic administration and alerts and educates athletic administrators regarding potential problems and possible solutions in areas such as chain of command, scheduling, contest management, and personnel management. The course also touches upon eligibility, Critical Incident planning, financial responsibilities, legal, law, liability, equipment and facilities. - Athletic Administration: Enhancing Organization Management
This course is a companion course to Strategies for Organization Management and outlines an approach to the fundamentals and methods of athletic administration and alerts and educates athletic administrators regarding potential problems and possible solutions in areas such as special events, public relations, awards, fundraising and Booster Clubs. The course also touches upon ways to increase or improve citizenship and sportsmanship through positive initiatives. Athletic Administrators will have a hands-on experience creating handbooks and a strategic plan for their school. - Athletic Administration: Legal Issues I – Liability for Sports Injuries & Risk Management
This course provides in-depth coverage of the legal standards governing liability for sports injuries, including the duties imposed by courts and legislatures on athletics administrators, coaches, athletic trainers, and other athletics personnel related to safeguarding the health and well-being of student-athletes and other persons in school sports environments, along with strategies for developing, implementing, and documenting an effective risk management program for interscholastic athletics. - Athletic Administration: Legal Issues II – Title IX & Sexual Harassment
This course provides in-depth coverage of the legal standards regarding Title IX compliance and equity assurance for interscholastic athletics programs, including the methodology for a school to perform a Title IX self-audit in order to proactively identify problem areas and necessary corrective actions to satisfy all applicable Title IX legal mandates, along with extensive coverage of the legal standards governing sexual harassment and sexual violence in school sports programs and strategies for developing, implementing, and documenting an effective anti-sexual harassment policy.
Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA)
Certified Master Athletic Administrator
National Certification
Required Courses:
- Athletic Administration: Guiding Foundations and Philosophies
The flagship course of Leadership Training serves as an overview for interscholastic athletic administration. This course introduces the philosophy of educational athletics then focuses on the roles of the NIAAA, the NFHS, the State Athletic/Activity Associations, and the State Athletic Administrator’s Associations. - Athletic Administration: Strategies for Organization Management
This course takes a basic approach to the fundamentals and methods of athletic administration and alerts and educates athletic administrators regarding potential problems and possible solutions in areas such as chain of command, scheduling, contest management, and personnel management. The course also touches upon eligibility, Critical Incident planning, financial responsibilities, legal, law, liability, equipment and facilities. - Athletic Administration: Enhancing Organization Management
This course is a companion course to Strategies for Organization Management and outlines an approach to the fundamentals and methods of athletic administration and alerts and educates athletic administrators regarding potential problems and possible solutions in areas such as special events, public relations, awards, fundraising and Booster Clubs. The course also touches upon ways to increase or improve citizenship and sportsmanship through positive initiatives. Athletic Administrators will have a hands-on experience creating handbooks and a strategic plan for their school. - Athletic Administration: Legal Issues I – Liability for Sports Injuries & Risk Management
This course provides in-depth coverage of the legal standards governing liability for sports injuries, including the duties imposed by courts and legislatures on athletics administrators, coaches, athletic trainers, and other athletics personnel related to safeguarding the health and well-being of student-athletes and other persons in school sports environments, along with strategies for developing, implementing, and documenting an effective risk management program for interscholastic athletics. - Athletic Administration: Legal Issues II – Title IX & Sexual Harassment
This course provides in-depth coverage of the legal standards regarding Title IX compliance and equity assurance for interscholastic athletics programs, including the methodology for a school to perform a Title IX self-audit in order to proactively identify problem areas and necessary corrective actions to satisfy all applicable Title IX legal mandates, along with extensive coverage of the legal standards governing sexual harassment and sexual violence in school sports programs and strategies for developing, implementing, and documenting an effective anti-sexual harassment policy. - Athletic Administration: Legal Issues III – Hazing, Constitutional Law, Disabilities Law, & Employment & Labor Law
This course provides in-depth coverage of the legal standards governing hazing in interscholastic athletics programs and strategies for developing, implementing, and documenting an effective anti-hazing policy, along with extensive coverage of the constitutional rights of student-athletes that must be respected by schools when sanctioning athletes for misconduct, the impact of federal disabilities legislation on school sports programs, and the employment and labor law issues related to the administration of interscholastic athletics programs, in particular the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. - Athletic Administration: Legal Issues IV – Social Media, Transgender Participation, Event Management & Security, Pregnant & Parenting Student-Athletes, & Intellectual Property
This course provides in-depth coverage of the legal standards governing the authority of schools to sanction student-athletes and athletics personnel for misuse of electronic communications tools and inappropriate postings on social media, including strategies for developing and implementing effective social media policies, along with extensive coverage of the legal mandates imposed by courts and legislatures related to event management and security, legal issues regarding the participation by transgender students in school sports programs, the rights of pregnant and parenting student-athletes that must be respected by interscholastic athletics programs, and the intellectual property issues related to schools sports nicknames, logos, and mascots.
Heads Up Football High School Coach
USA Football’s Heads Up Football Middle and High School Coach Certification
National Certification
Required Courses:
- Concussion in Sports
This course provides a unique student-centered curriculum for interscholastic teacher/coaches, assisting them in creating a healthy and age-appropriate athletic experience that supports the educational mission of our nation's schools. - Heat Illness Prevention
Exertional Heat Stroke is the leading cause of preventable death in high school athletics. To help you minimize the risk of heat illness at your school, this course has designed to provide the fundamentals of a strong heat acclimatization plan and guidelines for limiting activities to account for changing environmental conditions and other contributing risk factors. It highlights the importance of an appropriate hydration plan and establishing an Emergency Action Plan in case of a suspected exertional heat stroke. - Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the number one cause of death in the United States for student athletes during exercise. Caused by a structural or electrical problem associated with the heart, Sudden Cardiac Arrest happens when the heart unexpectedly stops beating and pumping blood. This course teaches coaches to recognize the warning signs and symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Arrest, as well as tips for what to do in the critical moments after an individual suddenly collapses in order to save their life. - Blocking and Defeating Blocks, Shoulder Tackling & Equipment Fitting
This course encompasses student-athlete health protocols and skill development. Teaching the proper fundamentals of blocking and shoulder tackling is essential to making football better and safer.
To learn more about the Heads Up Football Middle and High School Coach certification, visit www.nfhslearn.com/HeadsUpFootball.
Registered Athletic Administrator (RAA)
Registered Athletic Administrator
National Certification
Required Courses:
- Athletic Administration: Guiding Foundations and Philosophies
The flagship course of Leadership Training serves as an overview for interscholastic athletic administration. This course introduces the philosophy of educational athletics then focuses on the roles of the NIAAA, the NFHS, the State Athletic/Activity Associations, and the State Athletic Administrator’s Associations. - Athletic Administration: Strategies for Organization Management
This course takes a basic approach to the fundamentals and methods of athletic administration and alerts and educates athletic administrators regarding potential problems and possible solutions in areas such as chain of command, scheduling, contest management, and personnel management. The course also touches upon eligibility, Critical Incident planning, financial responsibilities, legal, law, liability, equipment and facilities. - Athletic Administration: Enhancing Organization Management
This course is a companion course to Strategies for Organization Management and outlines an approach to the fundamentals and methods of athletic administration and alerts and educates athletic administrators regarding potential problems and possible solutions in areas such as special events, public relations, awards, fundraising and Booster Clubs. The course also touches upon ways to increase or improve citizenship and sportsmanship through positive initiatives. Athletic Administrators will have a hands-on experience creating handbooks and a strategic plan for their school.
Registered Middle School Athletic Administrator (RMSAA)
Registered Middle School Athletic Administrator
National Certification
Required Courses:
- Athletic Administration: Guiding Foundations and Philosophies
The flagship course of Leadership Training serves as an overview for interscholastic athletic administration. This course introduces the philosophy of educational athletics then focuses on the roles of the NIAAA, the NFHS, the State Athletic/Activity Associations, and the State Athletic Administrator’s Associations. - Athletic Administration: Strategies for Organization Management
This course takes a basic approach to the fundamentals and methods of athletic administration and alerts and educates athletic administrators regarding potential problems and possible solutions in areas such as chain of command, scheduling, contest management, and personnel management. The course also touches upon eligibility, Critical Incident planning, financial responsibilities, legal, law, liability, equipment and facilities. - Athletic Administration: Enhancing Organization Management
This course is a companion course to Strategies for Organization Management and outlines an approach to the fundamentals and methods of athletic administration and alerts and educates athletic administrators regarding potential problems and possible solutions in areas such as special events, public relations, awards, fundraising and Booster Clubs. The course also touches upon ways to increase or improve citizenship and sportsmanship through positive initiatives. Athletic Administrators will have a hands-on experience creating handbooks and a strategic plan for their school. - Athletic Administration: Legal Issues I – Liability for Sports Injuries & Risk Management
This course provides in-depth coverage of the legal standards governing liability for sports injuries, including the duties imposed by courts and legislatures on athletics administrators, coaches, athletic trainers, and other athletics personnel related to safeguarding the health and well-being of student-athletes and other persons in school sports environments, along with strategies for developing, implementing, and documenting an effective risk management program for interscholastic athletics. - Athletic Administration: Administration of Middle School Athletic Programs
This course provides insights and strategies for the leadership of developmentally sound educationally compatible middle level school athletic programs. Middle school philosophy is discussed along with the relationship it has to the psychological and physical development of the middle school child. This course also focuses on concerns and/or challenges raised about the value of middle school sports programs in today’s educational setting. - Athletic Administration: Administration and Application of Middle School Athletic Programs
This course provides strategies for the development of middle school athletic programs and concentrates on the role of the middle school coach and coaching principles. Middle level athletics is an essential part of the total educational process and an excellent opportunity for the home, school and community to work together in order to provide a positive educational experience for middle level children.