USASF COACH CREDENTIALING

Raising the bar of safety expectations starts with you and your coaches. Coaches Credentialing organizes coaching competency in three core subjects. Tumbling, stunts and tosses are evaluated. These efforts are to create a safer environment, by developing standards through proper skill progressions. After a written and hands on assessment coaches experience is validated, the coach will receive credentials through the Level(s) passed. These credentials come in Certificate form and an ID card which last 3 years.
Through Credentialing coaches are made aware of expectations as teachers and role models. It is the goal of the USASF to infuse good decisions into each and every credentialed coach so that they may expand the positive life experience of all star cheerleading and dance into the lives of the youth they encourage. USASF is recognized as the baseline of education for each individual coach and also expect these standards to be met.

Credentialing comes in 3 parts.
1. Written test (more info)
2. Hands-On test (more info)
3. Practical Field Experience Form- PFE (more info)
Pricing (more info)

WRITTEN TEST
The questions from the written test will reference the corresponding level rules and allowed skills.
For each level you will need to
1. download the test
2. answer questions on test

     Attention: Please complete written tests and bring answer sheets to "Hands On" testing session.

CREDENTIALING WRITTEN TEST

Written tests are avalible in your gym or coach profile. Please log in with your user name and password to download the written tests. If you are unsure of your login information, please contact Angela Jones at ajones@usasf.net.

HANDS-ON TEST
The Hands-On testing will continue as before. You will need to contact your Regional Director for a credentialing site in your area, go to that location and take the Hands-On portion of credentialing.

If you are not familiar with this process, read the following paragraph for an explanation.

The Hands-On portion of credentialing is proving you understand how to teach certain skills within each level. No, you will neither have to perform these skills nor will you be working with athletes during the testing. However, you will have to explain to an instructor how to perform each skill just as if you were coaching a team. The instructor will have a list of key points that you must cover in order to pass that skill and or level. You do not have to cover the key points word for word as listed on the instructors paper. The instructors job is to validate that you cover in your own words the key points of each skill in order to teach proper technique and ensure that you know what you are talking about in order to keep the athletes safe.
You must score a 70% or higher to become credentialed at that level and qualify to move on to the next.

Practical Field Experience FORMS (PFE)
The Experience Validation Forms are the new component to this years credentialing. These forms will need to be signed by your gym owner in order for you to be credentialed.
Explanation of Forms:
Levels 1 and 2
No form required. This is the entry levels for All Star Cheerleading.

PFE FORM for LEVELS 3 - 6

Levels 3 and 4
Your gym owner will need to sign off on your Level 3 and 4 PFE for you to get credentialed for these levels.
You will need a separate signed PFE for each category for which you are requesting credentials: Stunts, Tosses or Tumbling.
The Level 3 and 4 PFE states that you have a minimum of 100 hours coaching experience at level 1 and or 2 in the category for which you are requesting credentialing.

Level 5
Your gym owner will need to sign off on your Level 5 PFE for you to get credentialed for this level.
You will need a separate signed PFE for each category for which you are requesting credentials: Stunts, Tosses or Tumbling.
The Level 5 PFEstates that you have a minimum of 150 hours coaching experience at level 3 and or 4 in the category for which you are requesting credentialing.
This is an additional 150 coaching hours to the 100 hours at 1 and or 2, not just an additional 50 hours. So the total number of coaching hours is 250 a minimum of 150 hours spent at levels 3 and 4.

Pricing
For a coach to be credentialed they must first be a member of the USASF. If a coach's gym is a member then all coaches within that gym are considered members and therefore do not have a membership fee. If a coach does not work in a gym that is a member then their individual coach's membership fees are $40/year.

Coaches' Credentialing Fees