Page 49 - 2023-24 By-Laws

Rule 7 - Coaches

NOTE 1: The expression “Paid Coach” refers to any person who, directly or indirectly,
receives remuneration of any kind - money, travel expenses, gifts, etc., from outside
sources - in return for services rendered in instructing or coaching any School athletic team.
NOTE 2: When a School corporation is a part of a cooperative program with other School
corporations, a full-time teacher employed by the cooperative may coach in the School
corporation where the teacher teaches.
NOTE 3: When a coach coaches a mixed (boys and girls) team, a male coach coaches
a girls team or a female coach coaches a boys team, an adult advisor from the opposite
sex should be part of the coaching staff. It is strongly recommended that such advisor
be employed by the School or the District. The advisor’s responsibilities must include
attendance at all Practices, Contests and meetings, and accompanying the team to all
events which involve travel or overnight trips.
7-1.4 Mandatory Coaching Accreditation
a. Coaching Accreditation.
(1.) Any paid or volunteer coach who is a member of a Member School Coaching Staff
must be rostered with the IHSAA and must be Accredited, prior to having Athletic
Contact with a student. ‘Athletic Contact’ refers to any interaction involving physical
athletic activities or conditioning (physical fitness) activities between a coach and a
student who is or will be a participant in an Emerging or Recognized Sport.
(2.) A coach will be deemed Accredited on the date the coach satisfies the Educational
Requirements needed for Accreditation, and will automatically renew for one (1) year
on June 30, provided the Educational Requirements needed for Accreditation are then
current and the Accreditation had not been revoked or suspended.
b. Educational Requirements for Coaching Accreditation. To be Accredited a coach must
complete the following specific education courses:
(1.) NFHS Concussion in Sports,
(2.) NFHS Heat Illness Prevention,
(3.) NFHS Sudden Cardiac Arrest,
(4.) NFHS Protecting Students from Abuse, or an approved equivalent, and
(5.) NFHS Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, or an approved equivalent.
To remain Accredited a coach must retake each course every Two (2) years, unless the
edition of the course changes, in which event the coach must take the new edition within
ninety (90) days of the edition’s release date, unless the edition’s release date occurs
during the April 1 through June 1 period, and in that event the new edition must be taken
on or before the following June 29th.
c. Licensure and Disciplinary Requirements. An Accredited Coach must remain in compliance
with all applicable state licensure and disciplinary statutes.
d. Revocation of Accreditation (Ind. Code§20-28-5-8). The Accreditation of a coach will be
revoked on the date the Commissioner receives notice that the coach was convicted of an
offense described in Ind. Code § 20-28-5-8, or of a known comparable offense in another
state; provided, however, the IHSAA may, after holding a hearing on the matter, reinstate
the Accreditation of a coach if the conviction is later reversed, vacated, or set aside on
appeal.
e. Revocation or Suspension of Accreditation (Ind. Code §§ 20-28-5-7(1), 20-28-5-7(2)).
(1.) A coach who is or was a licensed teacher, who committed misconduct described in
Ind. Code §§ 20-28-5-7(1), 20-28-5-7(2), and whose license was then revoked or
suspended, shall also have his/her Accreditation revoked, or if the teacher’s license
was suspended, have his/her Accreditation suspended for the same period of time as
the license suspension. Such revocation or suspension shall occur on the date the
Commissioner receives notice that the teacher’s license was revoked or suspended.
(2.) If the Accreditation of a coach has been revoked under sub-section (e), such
Accreditation cannot be reinstated without the coach applying for reinstatement and
then only after a Two (2) year period of revocation. Reinstatement of Accreditation
is then at the discretion of the Commissioner.
(3.) If the Accreditation of a coach has been suspended for a period of time under sub-

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