CPR/AED & Basic First Aid Course
Contact Tony Maselli at tmaselli@njsiaa.org with questions regarding coaches accreditation.
State Administrative Code Requirements for Qualification of Coaches:
For more detailed information, please view our Constitution, Bylaws, Rules, and Regulations.
The New Jersey Administrative Code sets forth qualifications for the coaching of public school pupils. These qualifications are found at NJ.A.C. 6A:9-5.19, as follows:
NJ.A.C. 6A:9-5.19 Athletics personnel
(a) Any teaching staff member in the employ of a district board of education shall be permitted to organize public school pupils for purposes of coaching or for conducting games, events or contests in physical education or athletics.
(b) School districts shall be permitted to employ any holder of a New Jersey teaching certificate to work in the interscholastic athletic program provided that the position has been advertised.
NJSIAA Coaching Certification and Regulations
In addition to State Department of Education Regulations, the following regulations must be adhered to:
A person shall be eligible to coach in any interscholastic contest, provided the person satisfies all of the conditions listed below (For the purposes of this section, “coach” 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 freshman level – ninth grade through twelve grade).
In addition to State Department of Education Regulations, the following regulations must be adhered to:
A. The person’s appointment as coach must be approved by the local educational agency responsible for the member school at which the person coaches.
B. All new coaches will have 120 days after being hired to complete the NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching Course online at www.nfhslearn.com. Upon completion, coaches will have sixty (60) days to complete the remaining three (3) components. A certificate of course completion must be submitted to respective athletic supervisors by June 30th to be eligible to coach at an NJSIAA member school for the subsequent school year.
C. All coaches must hold a current certificate in CPR, AED and Basic First Aid. Online CPR/AED training courses do not satisfy this requirement.
D. Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year all coaches must successfully complete a basic first aid course when renewing or completing CPR/AED certification.
E. All coaches must have Concussion Awareness training through an on-line course or an in-service program, renewed annually. - NFHS Concussion in Sports Course
F. All coaches must obtain a “Heat Acclimatization Awareness and Wellness” certificate or its equivalent, renewed annually. - NFHS Heat Illness Prevention
G. Coaches currently in place, and/or who have experience coaching in an NJSIAA high school prior to the 2006-2007 school year, will be exempt from provisions B above. (While experienced coaches will not be required to adhere to all of the provisions listed above, it is recommended that all coaches complete the NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching.)
Note: The above regulations do not apply to the coaches appointed by the school to accompany student athletes to individual events.
County Superintendents are involved in the approval of employment of athletic coaches in school districts under certain circumstances [N.J.A.C. 6:11-3.24].
The purpose of this information is to provide clarification of issues involving employment of coaches so that consistent decisions and advice are rendered to districts in all counties.
Paraprofessional Aide Positions
Nothing in the rules governing coaching positions would preclude a board of education from creating, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:32-4.7, paraprofessional aide positions to assist in the supervision of athletic activities under the direction of a certified coach. However, all such positions must be created and maintained in full compliance with the provisions of N.J.A.C. 6A:32-4.7, including requirements for written job descriptions and qualification standards, and approvals by, and annual reporting to, the county superintendent. As with classroom aides employed to assist certified teachers, athletic paraprofessionals may only function under the direct supervision of a certified coach, or if not assisting with coaching duties, under the direct supervision of designated certified staff; they may not independently undertake coaching duties or any other duties requiring educational certification. Additionally, all persons employed by a district in a paraprofessional capacity (i.e., not serving on a volunteer basis) are subject to the criminal history record check law.
If a board contemplates the use of an aide (paid or unpaid), the policies of the local board must be adopted and in place regarding this type of position, and the rules of the league or conference to which the district belongs must be followed. Please contact your county superintendent of schools should you have any questions.
