Today is the date for the start of fall sports practice in Kentucky and as it approaches, the number of coaches who have completed the KHSAA/KMA Sports Safety Course continues to increase at a rapid rate.
As of midnight, 3,447 coaches from 262 different KHSAA member schools have already completed the course and more than 1,200 others have signed up to take it.
In the past two days alone, more than 1,400 coaches have completed the online course.
“The fall sports of football, soccer, golf, cross country and volleyball can begin practice on July 15 and schools and coaches have already made tremendous progress in completing the course,” said KHSAA Commissioner Brigid DeVries. “According to the language of HB 383, ‘Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, at least one (1) person who has completed the course shall be at every high school athletic practice and competition.’ No KHSAA sanctioned practice or competition will be allowed to take place without someone in attendance that has completed the entire course.” The course was developed in partnership between the KHSAA and physicians from the Kentucky Medical Association in response to the newly implemented House Bill 383 and contains seven separate modules. Subjects covered in the modules include Emergency Planning, Sports First Aid Elements, Recognizing Athletic Emergencies, Heat Illness, Head and Neck Injuries, Facial Injuries and MRSA and Skin Conditions.
To satisfy this requirement, coaches or at least one person who will be present at every practice and competition must complete all seven modules and pass an exam on the material before receiving a certificate of completion for the course. Anyone, including administrators, parents and members of the general public may also take the course.
The sports safety course is available through the KHSAA website at http://www.khsaa.org/safety_course/.
At this time the primary focus for course completion is the fall sports because July 15 is the first day of practice for football, soccer, cross country, golf and volleyball. At least one (1) person who has completed the course must be present at every practice and competition.
Oct. 1 is the start of practice for Swimming and Diving, Oct. 15 for basketball and wrestling, Dec. 1 for Track and Field and Feb. 15, 2010, for baseball, softball and tennis.
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