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Rule R277-517. Athletic Coaching Certification.

As in effect on August 1, 2009

Table of Contents

• R277-517-1. Definitions.
• R277-517-2. Authority and Purpose.
• R277-517-3. Athletic Coaching Training and Certification.
• R277-517-4. Compliance - SCORE Program.
• R277-517-5. Athletic Coaching Training Program Criteria.
• KEY
• Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment
• Notice of Continuation
• Authorizing, Implemented, or Interpreted Law

R277-517-1. Definitions.

A. "American Sport Education Program (ASEP)" offers training programs for coaches, officials, sport administrators, athletes and parents of athletes.

B. "Athletic coach" means any paid individual whose responsibilities include coaching or advising an athletic team, including both men's and women's baseball, basketball, cross-country/track, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, and wrestling.

C. "Athletic coaching training" means the training required of head coaches and paid assistant coaches of all sports. The training requires completion of a Board-approved in-service program covering the basic competencies outlined in R277-517-4, Athletic Coaching Preparation Criteria. A basic first aid course and CPR training shall be in addition to the required training.

D. "Board" means the Utah State Board of Education.

E. "Comprehensive Administration of Credentials for Teachers in Utah Schools (CACTUS)" means the electronic file maintained on all licensed Utah educators. The file includes such information as:

(1) personal directory information;

(2) educational background;

(3) endorsements;

(4) employment history;

(5) professional development information; and

(6) a record of disciplinary action taken against the educator.

All information contained in an individual's CACTUS file is available to the individual, but is classified private or protected under Section 63G-2-302 or 305 and is accessible only to specific designated individuals.

F. "NFHS" means the National Federation of State High School Associations.

G. "NFHS Coaches Education Program" offers professional ethics, physical conditioning, interpersonal skills and sports safety training programs for coaches, officials, sport administrators, athletes and parents of athletes.

H. "Paid" means receiving any compensation, remuneration, or gift to which monetary value can be attached as a result of service as a coach.

I. "School Coaches Official Registry (SCORE)" means a statewide database containing information about Utah coaches' training and qualifications.

J. "Standards" means criteria that are applied uniformly and which shall be observed in the operation of a program. They are criteria against which the goals, objectives, and operation of a program will be evaluated. Following standards is a mandatory action.

K. "USOE" means the Utah State Office of Education.

L. "Utah High School Activities Association" means an Association of Utah school districts that includes representation from the Board and USOE that administers and supervises interscholastic activities among its member schools according to the Association constitution and by-laws.

R277-517-2. Authority and Purpose.

A. This rule is authorized by Utah Constitution, Article X, Section 3 which vests the general control and supervision of the public schools in the Board, by Section 53A-3-602.5(2)(j) which requires the Board to develop a school performance report to inform the state's residents of the quality of schools and the educational achievement of students in the state's public education system regarding staff qualifications, by Section 53A-1-401(3) which allows the Board to adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities, by Section 53A-1-402(1)(a) which directs the Board to make rules regarding the licensing of educators, and by Section 53A-6-101 through 109 which discusses educator licensing.

B. The purpose of this rule is to mandate training for individuals employed or acting as coaches in the public schools and to establish criteria for licensed educators assigned to athletic coaching positions in Utah secondary schools.

C. It is the Board's intent that athletics and extracurricular activities remain supplemental to the Core Curriculum. It is the preference of the Board that school districts hire licensed educators as coaches and ensure that athletic coaches needed in addition to licensed educators receive training consistent with this rule. It is the Board's preference that all athletic coaches, including volunteer coaches, are trained consistent with this rule.

R277-517-3. Athletic Coaching Training and Certification.

A. All athletic head coaches and assistant coaches shall submit to a criminal background check consistent with Section 53A-3-410 as a condition for employment or appointment.

B. All other individuals who have significant and unsupervised access to students, including coaches (both paid and volunteer) and extracurricular activity advisors, shall have criminal background checks consistent with Section 53A-3-410 as a condition for employment or appointment or participation with students.

C. All athletic head coaches and paid assistant coaches of public high school sports should have completed Board-approved Athletic Coaching Training prior to beginning coaching responsibilities.

(1) Athletic coaches shall complete required training at the first available opportunity and no later than the first school year that they are employed or volunteer as public school coaches;

(2) Athletic coaches may not coach a second school year without completing training consistent with this rule; and

(3) Prior to coaching, athletic coaches shall complete basic first aid and adult CPR training through an approved or recognized program consistent with Red Cross standards available from the American Red Cross offices or school district offices.

R277-517-4. Compliance - SCORE Program.

A. Schools or school districts shall verify compliance with this rule by:

(1) reporting to the Utah High School Activities Association and the Board, utilizing the SCORE database, the following information:

(a) the names of Utah public school athletic coaches participating with public school students; and

(b) the school and specific assignment of the school athletic coach; and

(c) whether or not the school athletic coach is a licensed educator; and

(d) documentation of the training received by the coaches identified in R277-517-1B; and

(e) documentation of the completion of a criminal background check required under Section 53A-3-410, including resolution of any relevant problems.

B. Documentation of the qualification and preparation of coaches shall be provided in the activity disclosure statement required under Section 53A-3-420 no later than two weeks after the completion of tryouts for a specific sport and shall be public information.

C. School districts, as supervisors and employers of coaches, are responsible to ensure that their coaches' behavior and activities are consistent with state law and district policies.

D. Athletic coaches whose records are on CACTUS and whose CACTUS records do not identify unresolved allegations as of January 1, 2003, shall not be required to complete a criminal background check.

R277-517-5. Athletic Coaching Training Program Criteria.

A. The USOE shall review and compare the National Standards for Athletic Coaches, Levels 1-3, with the American Sport Education Program (ASEP), the NFHS Coaches Education Program and other equivalent programs to develop and determine a Utah coaching preparation program.

B. The National Standards for Athletic Coaches and the ASEP training program and NFHS Coaches Education Program are available from the USOE and the Utah High School Activities Association.

C. A Board-approved coaching preparation program shall include, at a minimum, knowledge and understanding in all of the following areas:

(1) the prevention and care of athletic injuries;

(2) bio-physiology including nutrition, drugs, biomechanics and conditioning;

(3) emergency life support skills, to include advanced first aid and CPR;

(4) pedagogy of coaching including skill analysis, learning theories and progressions;

(5) psycho-social aspects of sports, competition, and coaching including the psychology of performance, role modeling, leadership, sportsmanship, competition, human relationships, and public relations;

(6) motor learning including adolescent growth and development, physical, social, and emotional stress and limitations, external social and emotional pressures; and

(7) sports management and philosophy including sports law, risk management and team management.

D. School districts may add training about officiating at athletic events, training about local district rules and regulations, and information about legal issues in sports and school activities.

KEY

coaching certification, athletics

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment

March 27, 2007

Notice of Continuation

May 1, 2006

Authorizing, Implemented, or Interpreted Law

Art X Sec 3; 53A-1-401(3); 53A-1-402(1)(a); 53A-6-101 through 109