How to Become Certified to Coach Softball in Ohio

Coaching youth in a sport can be a way for a parent to spend more time with her child or a path to sharing a lifelong passion with younger generations. Community softball programs in Ohio have individual policies for the experience and training required to be a coach. To coach at a school in Ohio, including public and non-public institutions, you must have a Pupil Activity Permit, whether the position is paid or not. Several courses must be successfully fulfilled before applying for the permit.

Instructions

    • 1

      Complete one of four studies in first aid and sports injuries. This can be done through a four-hour course approved by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). Qualified providers of the course can be found on the ODE website. Three nationally approved trainings that also fulfill the requirement are the Red Cross Sport Safety Training, the Red Cross American Sport Education Program and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) First Aid for Coaches. Anyone with a medical license or with college first aid or athletic training courses completed within the previous three years also qualifies for the permit.

    • 2

      Provide a valid card demonstrating the completion of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course approved by the state.

    • 3

      Complete a course on the fundamentals of coaching provided through the NFHS. This class is required only once.

    • 4

      Submit an application for the permit to the ODE after completion of the CPR and first aid courses. If your first aid training was done through an approved provider, the ODE will receive confirmation from them when your application is received. Otherwise, include the documentation from the nationally accepted course or official college transcripts and course information with the application. All submissions must include a $45 processing fee, as of January 2010.

    • 5

      Renew your permit by providing a current CPR certification card and demonstrating the completion of one of the four first aid studies. You must complete another CPR course if your card has expired.