Jun 09, 2006
NEW MANDATED NJSIAA COACHING STANDARDS ESTABLISHED

TO: Coaching Personnel
FROM: NJSIAA Headquarters, Robbinsville, N.J.
RE: Coaching Accreditation Rule Change for 2006-2007
DATE: Tuesday, June 06, 2006

The time has come for New Jersey to provide the training and require accreditation for interscholastic coaches. The intent of the proposal is to provide a professional course of study and proper training for coaches working in member schools to insure the safety of student athletes and to improve the overall quality of the interscholastic sports program. The requirements listed below will bring member schools of NJSIAA into compliance with standards approved by the NFHS.
The NJSIAA Handbook (Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules and Regulations) has added to the section:
1. Procedures for Athletic Coaches, page 123, and
2. NJSIAA Coaching Certification and New Jersey State Department of Education regulations, page 125. A person shall be eligible to coach in any interscholastic contest, provided the person satisfies all of the conditions listed below. ýCoachý shall mean all persons who coach an interscholastic high school athletic team in any way, whether for pay or as a volunteer at the varsity, junior varsity and/or freshmen level/ (ninth grade through twelve grade).

In addition to the State Department of Education Regulations, the following regulations must be adhered to:

A. The personýs appointment as coach must be approved by the local agency responsible for the member school at which the person coaches;
B. Beginning in 2006-2007 school year, all new coaches (defined as having one year experience or less) must successfully complete NFHS/ACEP Coaching Principles course;
C. Beginning in 2006-2007 school year, all new coaches will have one year after being hired to successfully complete a course in ýSports First Aidý.
D. Beginning in 2006-2007 school year, all coaches must be CPR certified.
E. Coaches currently in place, and/or who have experience coaching in a NJSIAA high school prior to the 2006-2007 school year, will be exempt from provisions B and C.
F. NOTE: Although experienced coaches are not required to adhere to all of the provisions listed above, local school districts have the right to impose a more stringent requirement.
*The National Federation of High Schools RECOMMENDED that all COACHES COMPLETE THE COACHING PRINCIPLES and SPORTS FIRST AID COURSES in addition to having CPR certification.