DAPHNE, Ala. — The United States Sports Academy and the National Federation of State High School Associations entered an educational partnership through which the academy will offer Carnegie education units to thousands of high school coaches around the country who have completed the association’s coaching education course. 

Under the agreement, anyone who successfully completes the federation’s course Fundamentals of Coaching will be eligible to receive two units from the academy for $75. Students who completed the course during or after May 2007 are eligible for the units.

The Indianapolis-based federation recognizes a demand for education units among its membership, as many states require these in order to maintain teaching certification.

Certificates of education units awarded will be available online to federation members via the United States Sports Academy Web site (http://students.ussa.edu/nfhs) or via phone at 626-3303. On the site, members can enter a course completion certification number from the federation and then immediately print out an official Carnegie education units certificate.

The CEUs are based upon the Carnegie Educational System. One unit represents 10 clock hours of participation in a recognized continuing education program. CEUs are widely used by coaches, teachers, administrators and other professionals to earn salary increments and promotions and to maintain certifications.

Following completion of the federation’s Fundamentals of Coaching course and printing of the certificate, transcripts may be obtained from the academy registrar at 626-3303.

The National Federation of State High School Associations is the official coach education provider for its 51 state-level member associations, offering blended and online courses at www.nfhslearn.com. The federation also publishes playing rules in 16 sports for boys’ and girls’ competition and administers fine-arts programs in speech, theater, debate and music. It provides a variety of program initiatives that reach the 18,500 high schools and more than 11 million students involved in athletic and activity programs.

Since 1920, the federation has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and other activities that help students succeed in life. It 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 establishment of the United States Sports Academy over 35 years ago was inspired, in part, by research findings that became known as the Blyth-Mueller Report. This study established a solid link between poor preparation of coaches and the number and severity of injuries to the athletes under their charge. The new agreement with the federation meets one of the original objectives in the academy’s founding charter.