NFHS launches new Coach Education Program

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 1, 2007) -- The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has launched its own online Coach Education Program with two courses -- a Fundamentals of Coaching course and a First Aid for Coaches course.

"We are pleased with the quality and depth of the courses we've launched," said Tim Flannery, NFHS assistant director and staff liaison to the NFHS Coach Education Program. "The NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching course provides a unique student-centered curriculum for interscholastic coaches, assisting them in creating a healthy and age-appropriate sport experience that supports the academic mission of the 18,500 schools from NFHS-member associations."

After 16 years with another company, the NFHS started its own Coach Education Program to keep the costs down and to provide a program that targets the role of the interscholastic coach in an educational setting. For the interscholastic coach, the primary goal is to promote learning.

"We view the sports experience as an extension of the classroom," Flannery said. "As such, winning must take a lesser role to learning. If winning is the primary goal, then it makes it impossible to achieve our purpose. Thus, the program was created in order for coaches to find the happy balance between winning and teaching.

"The whole purpose of the fundamentals course is to train coaches regarding their role in fulfilling the full mission and purpose of interscholastic sports."

Flannery said that 14 state associations have already adopted the new course as the required course for coach education in their states. He said another 10 states are expected on board by fall 2007, and an additional 10 states are reviewing the materials for possible adoption this fall.

It is anticipated that the Fundamentals of Coaching course will take 4-6 hours to complete online. For more information, visit the NFHS Coach Education Web site at www.nfhslearn.com.

About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and fine arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and fine arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 18,500 high schools and 11 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; produces publications for high school coaches, officials and athletic directors; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, spirit coaches, speech and debate coaches and music adjudicators; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS Web site at www.nfhs.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Bruce Howard or John Gillis, 317-972-6900

National Federation of State High. School Associations

PO Box 690, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206

bhoward@nfhs.org or jgillis@nfhs.org