Athletics Veritas is a weekly series aimed at helping higher education executives, faculty, and other stakeholders stay tuned in on trending national issues impacting college athletics, especially NCAA Division I. Athletics Veritas is created by senior DI athletic administrators around the nation.
Term-In-Ology: Health & Safety Certifications Required for Strength & Conditioning Staff Monitoring Voluntary Workouts
So far this June, medically cleared student-athletes’ workouts and athletic activities on Division I campuses may only be voluntary.
And although head and assistant coaches cannot be present or otherwise require, direct, or receive post-workout recaps of a student-athlete’s voluntary activity, select non-coaching staff, such as a strength and conditioning coach, may be present to monitor and conduct voluntary workouts to support a student-athlete’s health and safety.
NCAA rules state that a strength and conditioning coach who conducts voluntary weight training or conditioning activities is required to maintain certification in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
There are similar health and safety certification expectations for coaches and other staff present at required, countable activities that we can explore another day. It is reassuring to know strength coaches must possess these first-response health and safety certifications while monitoring student-athletes’ voluntary workouts.
Athletics Veritas is presented for information purposes only and should not be considered advice or counsel on NCAA compliance matters. For guidance on NCAA rules and processes, always consult your university’s athletics compliance office, conference office, and/or the NCAA.
