Young people will experience the positive outcomes of athletic participation only if they have a qualified coach. A well-qualified coach knows how to plan dynamic practice sessions, teaches sound fundamentals with good learning progressions, and plans training programs appropriate for the sport. Successful coaches communicate with the athletes effectively and understand the kind of positive motivational approaches that result in achievement.
Athletes who receive good coaching will also be injured less frequently. As a consequence, they will have more opportunities to experience the excitement and receive the positive values of athletic competition, while perform at their best possible level. This is why the SDHSAA staff and board are excited about offering this educational opportunity to its membership.
All 9th-12th grade coaches in the state of South Dakota are now required to have completed both a Fundamentals of Coaching and a First Aid for Coaches course (or their equivalent). Those individuals with an elementary or secondary teaching certificate with a coaching endorsement from the Department of Education prior to the 2000-01 school year are grandfathered into the SDHSAA system. A complete list of all coaches education courses, both elective and required, can be found at http://www.nfhslearn.com.
New Beginning in 2011-12: SDCL 13-36-9 requires all coaches to be educated concerning the Signs, Symptoms, and Behaviors of a possible concussion. They must also receive information regarding the short-term and long-term effects of a concussion. Therefore, beginning with the 2011-12 school year all coaches will be required to complete the online NFHS course, "Concussion in Sports - What You Need to Know". This course is free and takes about 20 minutes to complete. It may be access through the SDHSAA coaches education page. This will be an annual requirement as per state law. No equivalent course will be accepted. Once the course is completed, print the certificate of completion and provide it to your school administration for documentation purposes.