Insufficient professional preparation of coaches heightens the risk of physical harm for students in interscholastic athletic programs, the authors of a study on certification standards for coaches have warned.
Citing the results of a new survey they conducted for the American Alliance for Health, Physical Edu4cation, Recreation, and Dance, the researchers, Becky L. Sisley and Diane M. Wiese, said there were wide disparities in states’ certification requirements for school athletic staffs.
The survey, which was published in the September issue of the Journal of Physical Education, Recrea8tion, and Dance, revealed that only five states require coaches to receive special certification in addition to a teaching certificate.
Only half the states require all coaches to hold a valid teaching certificate, it found, while 12 states require neither a teaching certifiel15lcate nor a coaching certificate for any of their coaches. Furthermore, the survey indicated, regulations governing the hiring of interscholastic coaches have become less stringent in recent years.
Only 31 states currently require head coaches to be certified as teachers, it found, compared with 39 states in 1980.
Noting that coaches play an important role in conducting a safe and educationally sound athletic program, the authors called upon professional organizations, institutions of higher education, and state and local agencies to take steps to raise the standards for the training and hiring of school coaches of all kinds nationwide.--jw
Pass to Julia--Thanks again
States Requiring TeacherCertificates for Coaches|
All Coaches
Alabama Nevada
Alaska New Jersey
Arkansas New York
Colorado Oklahoma
Delaware South Dakota
Georgia Tennessee
Illinois Texas
Kansas Utah
Kentucky Virginia
Maryland West Virginia
Mississippi Wisconsin
Missouri Wyoming
Nebraska
Head Coaches
Arizona New Mexico
Idaho North Carolina
Minnesota South Carolina
All Major-Sport Coaches
Florida Louisiana
Major-Sport Head Coaches
Iowa Montana
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States Having NoCertification RequirementsFor Coaches|
All Coaches
Hawaii North Dakota
Indiana Ohio
Maine Oregon
Massachu- Pennsyl-
setts vania
Michigan Rhode Island
New
Hampshire Vermont
Assistant Coaches
Arizona Idaho
Minor-Sport Coaches
Florida Louisiana
