NFHS Course ‘COVID-19 for Coaches & Administrators’ Now Available

As athletic departments across the country attempt a return to athletic activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has developed a new course to help coaches and administrators navigate a safe return.

In collaboration with the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC), the NFHS Learning Center developed the new free online course entitled “COVID-19 for Coaches and Administrators,” the organization announced in an issued press release.

The course offers vital information on the pandemic for coaches and school administrators to take advantage of in their efforts in conducting workouts, practices, and, eventually, games.

“While we know states – and communities within states – are in different phases concerning COVID-19, we wanted to have a resource available for the interscholastic community to assist returning to activity,” NFHS director of educational services Dan Schuster said in the release. “This course discusses what coaches and administrators can do to limit the spread of COVID-19, including practicing hygiene and cleaning, social distancing when possible, and the importance of recording who is at each workout, practice, and game to track exposure.”

SMAC is comprised of a 15-member advisory board composed of medical doctors, certified athletic trainers, high school coaches and officials, research specialists, and state high school association executives. The committee’s contributions were at the foundation of the course, Shuster said in the release.

“Dr. Michael Koester, chair of the NFHS SMAC, is one individual who especially should be thanked. He put extra time into the development of this course and allowed us to turn this course around very quickly,” Schuster said. “His efforts coincide with the goals of the NFHS Learning Center in providing timely and valuable educational materials for state associations and all constituents within the interscholastic community. It is our hope that this course will be another helpful resource and one that can assist the restart of interscholastic programs when each state is ready.”

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Included in the course is information from the organization’s “Guidance for Opening Up High School Athletics and Activities” document released in May by the NFHS.

For more information and to access the “COVID-19 for Coaches and Administrators” course from the NFHS Learning Center, click here.