When designated as a cheer coach, that coach must be the bona-fide coach of said cheer team. The coach must attend and run all team practices and assume full responsibility for that particular cheer team. They must be listed by their school as that specific team’s coach.

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In order to be a certified cheer coach in North Dakota, the following steps must be followed:

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• Must submit proof of current USA Cheer membership with completed Athlete Protection Course. Must be Cheer Coach Membership or higher (The Athlete Protection Course must be taken every 5 years so this will count as your 5 year continuing education)

• Must complete the NFHS Heat-Related Illness Course one time.

  • Please download your certificate as this will need to be uploaded onto the certification form (one time only).

• Must Complete the NFHS CONCUSSION COURSE every two years. 

  • Please download your certificate as this will need to be uploaded onto the certification form.

• Must take and pass a CPR/AED course every two years.

  • Please download your certificate as this will need to be uploaded onto the certification form.

• Must attend a Spirit Rules meeting- First rules meeting will be offered at Coaches Convention in June and there will be 3 addiotnal virtual rules meeting throughout the year. Please check the events page for dates.

• Coach must complete the SPIRIT RULES TEST, with a passing score of 80 % or above. 

  • Please be sure to download your certificate to upload to the certification form. ​

• Must attend a bona-Fide camp approved by NDCCA, with a minimum of 1 cheerleader.  The approved camps are on the Bona-Fide Camp webpage.

• If a coach has coached for 5 years, they must take an additional course BEFORE the start of their 6th year. Courses will be required at each 5 year increment.

  • There are links to optional classes in the Resources tab.

  • You may also use the coaches Convention as your education credit. Please see the President for a certificate of completion.

• The coach will NOT be considered certified if any part of the form is not complete.

• In a school that has different coaches for each cheer team, each of those teams must have a certified coach in order to stunt. That coach must be recognized by the school as that squad’s cheer coach. (For example, if girls basketball and boys basketball cheer coaches are different people, they each must be certified.)

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To complete the Cheer Coach Certification application please go to the Certification Application page. 

Updated May 2025