CAP REQUIRED FOR HEAD COACHES

Interested in getting additional opportunities for coaches education? The Coaches Advancement program is for you! This is great coursework for new and veteran coaches of all sports. Click the "Register Now" button below for the current schedule. Each head coach of a varsity team hired for the first time at any MHSAA member high school (after July 31, 2016) shall have completed either Level 1 or Level 2 of the MHSAA Coaches Advancement Program (CAP).

 

MHSAA Handbook Regulation II, Section 3(C)

 

Each head coach of a varsity team in an MHSAA tournament sport hired for the first time as a high school varsity head coach at any MHSAA member high school after July 31, 2016 shall have completed either Level 1 or Level 2 of the MHSAA Coaches Advancement Program (CAP). If the head coach does not complete CAP Level 1 or 2 prior to the established deadline, that coach shall be prohibited from coaching in that season's MHSAA tournament for the sport involved and shall not be present at the facility where the MHSAA tournament involving that coach's team is being held. See Regulation II, Section 15 H(4). An administrator or faculty member designee of that school shall be present with supervisory capacity over the school's competitors. Failure to receive reminder notifications (email or other) does not change the requirement of this Section. The MHSAA may substitute an alternative coach’s education program for late hires which will fulfill the requirement on a temporary basis.

The deadlines are:

  • Fall: September 15, 2022
  • Winter: December 15, 2022
  • Spring: April 20, 2023

Register NOW and get started today!

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Coaching Central

School coaches are vital grass-roots educators who have the opportunity to make lasting impressions on student-athletes as they learn lifelong lessons through athletics. We hope you'll find this page helpful in carrying out your daily duties with student-athletes.

Educational Resources 

Coach and AD Guidelines for Rating Officials

CAP

The MHSAA Coaches Advancement Program (CAP) is an educational program geared to assist coaches in their growth and development as they advance in the field of educational athletics. Value added benefits of the program include:

INSURANCE: Liability insurance coverage in the amount of $1 million per occurrence.  This protection extends to coaches’ performance of duties for the school team during the interscholastic season.  The coverage is good for the year that the coach successfully completes the program and the following year.

NEWSLETTER: GamePlans is an electronic newsletter that is sent six times a year to coaches who have successfully completed six hours of the Coaches Advancement Program. The GamePlans newsletter contains pertinent articles that will assist coaches in their daily planning. GamePlans also publishes a record of all coaches who have been certified through the MHSAA Coaches Advancement Program.

STATE CONTINUING EDUCATION CLOCK HOURS: State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) are available to coaches and can be used for the renewal of selected certificates issued by the Michigan Department of Education.  Coaches who complete a six-hour session are eligible to receive 6 SCECHs..

CAP Overview >
Current Schedule and Registration >

Coaches' Requirements

Required Sportsmanship Courses
for Ejections/Disqualifications

Coaches Course – Teaching and Modeling Behavior
Players Course – Sportsmanship

All varsity, junior varsity and 9th-grade head coaches of each high school team have a valid current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
More information on this CPR Certification can be found here. CPR Certification is tracked by the school athletic director, similar to the rules meeting-risk management course requirement for assistant and sub varsity coaches.  Athletic Directors must confirm (attest) each season through MHSAA.com that both these requirements have been met. If a coaching requirement is not complete prior to the deadline, the school shall prohibit that coach  from coaching in that season's MHSAA tournament for the sport involved and shall not be present at the facility where the MHSAA tournament involving that coach's sports team is being held.

All individuals who have been designated by their school or district to serve as an assistant or subvarsity coach (paid or volunteer) at the high school level must complete the same rules/risk management meeting requirement as the high school head coach.

The deadlines for each MHSAA member high school athletic director to certify, while logged into MHSAA.com, that all of its assistant and subvarsity coaches (paid and volunteer) have completed this requirement are below. The same deadline applies for certifying that head coaches have met the CPR Requirement:

  • Fall Sports - Sept. 15, 2022
  • Winter Sports - Dec. 15, 2022
  • Spring Sports - April 20, 2023

2022-23 Rules Meeting Dates and Coaches Requirements

Assistant and subvarsity coaches who have been registered in the MHSAA’s system with an up-to-date email address may log in to MHSAA.com and complete the same required rules meeting, just as the varsity head coach must do. In the alternative, the school may direct or permit assistant and subvarsity coaches to complete the rules meeting requirement individually or in a group setting. Regardless of the method utilized, the administration of the school is responsible for attesting to the completion of the requirement by all sports team coaches by the deadlines listed above. Click the link above to see the MHSAA  Handbook Coaching Requirements Regulations (Reg. II, Section 3 (B & C) and Section 8  (B & C).

NFHS Free Online Courses

Officials Ratings

Schools are responsible for rating officials who officiate contests involving their teams in sports for which officials’ratings ratings are maintained. Schools which fail to rate any officials during the season shall be subject to the penalties outlined under MHSAA Handbook Regulation V, Section 4. The school principal or athletic director shall verify that the ratings submitted are truthful and accurate, have met with the approval of the appropriate school administrator and are submitted on the school’s behalf.

IMPORTANT NOTE: THE DEADLINES FOR SUBMISSION OF OFFICIALS RATINGS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

FALL SPORTS -- December 1
WINTER SPORTS -- April 1
SPRING SPORTS -- June 20

Ratings Guidelines

Rate an Official

Regulations Summary

Efficiency is Effective...

The MHSAA is always willing to assist with issues concerning Association regulations. Please remember, however, the most efficient method of communication with the MHSAA on eligibility questions is through the athletic director or principal. Athletic directors should gather all information necessary on a question and then call or write the MHSAA. Coaches or parents calling the MHSAA on eligibility matters can create confusion and delay. ADs or principals are encouraged to contact the MHSAA office directly. Please follow this efficient path of communication.