The National Standards for Athletic Coaches were developed in 1994 by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), which is an associaltion of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). The National Standards for Athletic Coaches has been broken down into 37 standards that are represented in eight domains. There are also five levels associated with each domain that correspond to levels of coaching proficiency. The National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE) reviews coaching education programs that seek accreditation and evaluates the programs based on the standards developed by NASPE.

The National Standards for Athletic Coaches are intended to provide direction for administrators, coaches, athletes and the public regarding the skills and knowledge that coaches should possess. These standards reflect the fundamental competencies that administrators, athletes and the public should expect of athletic coaches at various levels of experience. Unprecedented expansion of the information that is available to coaches requires a higher standard of care regarding the health and safety of athletes. Coaches, because of their primary roles as teachers and mentors of athletes, must aspire to and achieve high standards and have resources available to assist them in gaining needed skills and knowledge. (National Standards for Athletic Coaches, NASPE, 1995)

The Exercise and Sport Studies Graduate Program at Smith College received Level IV accreditation in 2003. Smith has the priviledge of being the highest accredited coaching education program in the country. The competencies associated with Level IV "describe the knowledge, skills and values to be attained by experienced, professional coaches who have more than one full season of experience at an interscholastic or equivalent level, or who teach highly skilled athletes at whatever age." After completing your Master's at Smith, you will possess the competencies that are associated with Level IV, which is recommended for coaches of collegiate athletes.

"The National Standards are viewed as a means whereby additional individiuals–especially women and minorities–will be encouraged to enter the ranks of coaches...."

For more information regarding the National Councill of Coaching Education, please visit the NCACE page on the AAHPERD website.