Coaching a high school golf team may be one of the most gratifying roles that one can experience. High school golfers, myself included, always remember the lessons that their high school coach taught them on the course and in life. However, coaches do not always possess the knowledge and the know how to best serve their athletes. The good news is that there are organizations which try to provide high school coaches with resources to help better their coaching profession and overall team experience.
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is the body that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the United States. The NFHS serves its members, related professional organizations and students by providing leadership for the administration of education-based interscholastic activities, which support academic achievement, good citizenship and equitable opportunities. If you are a newer high school golf coach or even a veteran, I would recommend completing the courses around the fundamentals of high school coaching along with becoming an Accredited Interscholastic Coach (AIC). Here are four courses that the National Federation of State High School Associations require that you complete to become accredited:
Other popular courses that the NFHS recommends that high school coaches complete are: Heat Illness Prevention and Sportsmanship
Depending on the state that you reside and coach in, another great resource for you to look at is becoming part of your state’s high school coaches association. Only 15 states currently have coaches association including Michigan, Florida and Kentucky. If you are fortunate to live in a state that does, be sure to join to up in order to learn more on coaching at the high school level and resources available to coaches in your state.
Even if your state does not offer a golf coaches association, looking at your State’s Golf Association (click on your state for a link) you can learn more about the rules of golf, junior golf organization and establishing USGA handicaps for your high school players.
The NHSGA is offering monthly webinars for high school coaches to learn about various high school golf topics in our High School Golf Learning Center – be sure to check out the page to see what topics will be discussed in the summer months. We are focused on helping educate high school golf coaches on ways to better their team, coaching and overall experience for their high school golfers.