NCSSE

Q. What is the NCSSE?

A. The National Council for Spirit Safety and Education is an association of companies serving the United States & International cheerleading community who share a primary mission: to provide comprehensive safety training and certification programs for the educational development of spirit coaches and advisors through an international council of unified industry leaders.

Q. I already have taken one course from another company. Why do I need to take NCSSE classes?

A. Taking the one course is a good beginning to your coaching education. Taking the NCSSE courses is furthering your education with courses written to address all major aspects of cheer coaching. Just as college students take more than one class for their major course of study, so should cheer coaches. All professionals complete continuing education classes. Beware the coaches who say they do not need classes, and the coaches who say they know all they need to know about coaching cheerleaders. The NCSSE classes are valid for three years and coaches must recertify to keep the certificates current.

Q. Our squads don't stunt. Do I need NCSSE courses?

A. Yes. Two of the NCSSE safety certification courses cover stunting; however, Principles & Ethics and Program Management & Cheer Fundamentals cover safety and risk management as they relate to the day to day elements of coaching cheerleaders.

Q. I am credentialed. Why do I need NCSSE courses?

A. Credentialing and safety certification are two different programs. Credentialing is predominately skill and rule/level based. The NCSSE safety certification covers skills; however, the NCSSE safety program covers much more. The four cheer courses are comprehensive programs that cover all elements of cheering-not just stunting. Safety and risk management are the focus. The dance courses also cover safety and risk management as they relate to dance.

Q. Does NCSSE offer insurance after completion of courses?

A. We do not offer insurance. That type of insurance is often called a secondary or tertiary policy-it generally comes into effect after all other relevant policies have paid in a law suit. The best insurance policy is to follow accepted standards and practices, take all the quality safety classes available, and keep the certificates updated.

Q. Will the NCSSE material be valid during a court case?

A. The NCSSE material is a compilation of lessons and standards used by major companies in the spirit industry. The NCSSE recommends following accepted standards and methods of coaching, risk management, and safety. These recommendations are presented in a format that is easy to understand and thoroughly explained. Following these recommendations will give a coach an excellent defense against a law suit. Not following accepted standards and practices leaves a coach vulnerable for a law suit.

Q. Do I have to take all four classes?

A. No, you may choose to take the classes that are relevant to your coaching situation.

Q. I heard the NCSSE was a short-lived company that wouldn't be around long. Is this true?

A. No. The NCSSE is in its 6th year. Over 10,000 coaches have been certified in the U.S. and 7 foreign countries. We plan to be here for a long time!

Q. After I take an NCSSE course, will I be a certified coach?

A. No. The NCSSE does not certify you as a coach; you are given a certificate indicating you successfully completed the coursework.

Q. How do I get a certificate of completion?

A. You must successfully complete a NCSSE course by making 80% or higher on the test. You will receive a certificate that indicates the certificate is valid for 3 years. Coaches must be 18 years of age or older to receive a certificate. If a coach is younger than 18, he or she can sit the course, take the test and receive a certificate of attendance.

Q. Who started the NCSSE?

A. NCSSE was founded in 2002 by UPA, COA, Cheer Ltd., NCA & AmeriCheer; five independent companies who all believed that coaches needed a place to learn proper safety, coaching and basic fundamentals. No company is financially making a gain from the NCSSE. It is an independent organization created solely for the purpose of safety education. More and more organizations are supporting the NCSSE every year.

Reasons to Take Certification Classes

1. We demonstrate our commitment to our job-coaching.
2. We help ourselves grow as professionals.
3. We demonstrate our accomplishments in the field.
4. We build our self-esteem, our self-respect, and help validate our work as a coach.
5. We establish our credentials as coaches.
6. We enhance our job opportunities and our advancement in the field.
7. We show that we are willing to invest in our own development as a coach.
8. We improve our knowledge base and improve our skills as coaches.
9. We will receive greater recognition from our peers, our supervisors and ourselves.
10. We know it is the smart thing to do.

The recent flurry of media attention has underscored the pressing need for safety education for cheer coaches. Spirit industry leaders who founded the National Council for Spirit Safety and Education (NCSSE) six years ago agree without exception.

As Dr. Fred Mueller's report, TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT: FALL 1982 - SPRING 2007 indicates, over the past 25 years a number of school cheerleaders have suffered catastrophic injuries or have died as a direct or indirect result of participating in cheerleading. The report also suggests guidelines for improving the safety of cheerleading at school, including the one below:

Cheerleaders should be trained and supervised by a qualified coach who is safety certified. This is the focus of the NCSSE. Four comprehensive courses cover all aspects of coaching-including stunting. From its inception the NCSSE has emphasized the importance of education and strongly encourages coaches to avail themselves of all quality coaching educational opportunities.

Spirit Industry leader Steven G. Wedge, President and CEO of COA Cheer & Dance, says, "With the increase in cheerleading participation and the focus by the media on cheerleading injuries, coaches, gym owners and administrators must protect themselves and their athletes through education and prudent implementation of safe practices. The best remedy to prepare cheerleading coaches is through NCSSE coursework and certification."
NCSSE has become the international source for quality education and certification for cheerleading coaches by reaching across all borders to certify over 10,000 coaches in cheerleading safety in just six years.
Liz Rossetti, President and CEO of AmeriCheer, Inc., agrees that safety education can help reduce injuries, "With so much focus on the injuries in the spirit industry, NCSSE training offers cheerleading the perfect opportunity to provide a safe environment for their teams. NCSSE advances a coach's knowledge and will continue to make cheerleading and dance even safer by providing coaches with current information on the best coaching practices."
This view is echoed by Gwen Holtsclaw, board member and president of Cheer Ltd., Inc., who says "NCSSE is creating strong safety awareness for cheerleading coaches across the world. Every coach who attends NCSSE safety courses goes on to create a safer environment for the cheerleaders under her supervision. That is how we make cheerleading safer . . . one NCSSE-trained coach at a time."

NCSSE continues to expand its non-profit influence internationally by offering safety certification to coaches in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.

NCSSE is funded and supported by these companies in the cheerleading industry: AmeriCheer, British Cheerleading Association, Cheer Ltd. Inc., COA Cheer & Dance, Inc., Spirit Unlimited, Southwestern Cheerleaders Association, and United Performing Association, Inc.

NCSSE has forged a partnership with CrossConfirm, an authorized provider of the American Red Cross, to endorse and offer its Respect in Sport USA program to all coaches in NCSSE constituent organizations. Respect in Sport USA (www.RespectInSportUSA.com) is an internationally recognized program that educates coaches and protects youth athletes in the areas of bullying, harassment, neglect and various forms of abuse. Respect in Sport USA is delivered via the American Red Cross' world-class online distance learning platform, which trains individuals in all 50 states and 34 countries around the world.

"We are absolutely thrilled that the NCSSE is once again taking the lead in protecting youth athletes. We are proud to be working with them, and fully expect that more organizations will follow the NCSSE's example," said Kent Burns, Founder and President of CrossConfirm. Debbie Bracewell, Executive Director of the NCSSE, added, "We are excited to be working with the American Red Cross and Respect in Sport in this joint endeavor to enhance cheerleading safety and coaching education. This program addresses risk management, maltreatment, and abuse prevention thus giving our coaches the skills to become proactive in recognizing these problems and making the team environment safer."

The NCSSE continues to expand its resources to assist coaches in protecting themselves and their athletes through education and prudent implementation of safe practices.

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