OSAAtoday - 'COVID-19 for Coaches and Administrators' course

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dan Schuster

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (July 6, 2020) — In an effort to address the challenges of returning to high school athletics and activities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Learning Center has collaborated with the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) to develop a new free online course “COVID-19 for Coaches and Administrators.”

The course includes information from the “Guidance for Opening Up High School Athletics and Activities” document that was released by the NFHS in May for its 51 member state high school associations to consider in restarting high school athletics and other activity programs across the nation.

Additionally, the new Learning Center course offers vital information on COVID-19 for coaches and school administrators on conducting workouts, practices and contests as safely as possible, according to Dan Schuster, NFHS director of educational services.

“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,” Schuster said. “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.”

Schuster commended SMAC for its contributions to the guidance document, which provided the foundation for the free “COVID-19 for Coaches and Administrators” course. NFHS SMAC is comprised of a 15-member advisory committee composed of medical doctors, certified athletic trainers, high school coaches and officials, research specialists and state high school association executives that regularly develops position statements related to medical aspects of conducting high school athletics.

“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."

For more information and to access the “COVID-19 for Coaches and Administrators” course from the Learning Center, please visit: nfhslearn.com/courses/covid-19-for-coaches-and-administrators. To view the Learning Center’s entire course catalog, please visit: https://nfhslearn.com/courses.

This press release was written by Cody Porter, Manager of Media Relations in the Publications/Communications Department.

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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 performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing 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 19,500 high schools and 12 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.9 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; offers online publications and services for high school coaches and officials; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, speech and debate coaches, and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Bruce Howard, 317-972-6900

Director of Publications and Communications

National Federation of State High School Associations

bhoward@nfhs.org

Chris Boone, 317-972-6900

Assistant Director of Publications and Communications

National Federation of State High School Associations

cboone@nfhs.org

Cody Porter, 317-972-6900

Manager of Media Relations

National Federation of State High School Associations

cporter@nfhs.org