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USASF

COACH CREDENTIALING

More than a course. 
Join more than 7000 coaches—both new and experienced—across the U.S. who are taking their coaching to the next level by earning their USASF Coach Credential. Elevate your skills, enhance your impact, and be part of a growing community of leaders in the sport.

Step up to the standard.

As a coach, your athletes' success is your top priority—whether it's their health, well-being or performance. To help them reach their full potential, staying at the top of your game is essential.

That’s why more than 7000 coaches choose to become credentialed each year, demonstrating their commitment and expertise in coaching All Star athletes. Credentialing is not only a great way to prepare for the season, but it also provides access to valuable videos, resources, and tools to elevate your coaching.

Our athletes and their families expect the best from you. They trust you to lead with excellence. Step up to the standard and earn your USASF Coach Credential today.

CHEER
DANCE
EXCEPTIONAL
CHEER

Cheer Coach Credentialing

Cheer coach credentialing evaluates coaches on their knowledge of each level’s rules. It also verifies that they can safely teach and break down skills—particularly the most challenging skills allowed at each level. Coaches must successfully meet the credentialing requirements for one level before progressing to the next.


Cheer coaches attending The Cheerleading World Championship are required to be credentialed in either building, tumbling or both, up to the level in which their team competes.

Credentialing starts with Baseline testing, which is included with membership. This is a one-time course that reviews general information about USASF and USASF policies.

Up next is taking the course from our partner, Positive Coaching Alliance. This is a one-time course that helps coaches explore why and how to pursue both winning and the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports. The fee for this course is $30 paid directly to PCA. Once completed you will not need to repeat this course again.

Your next steps are to complete the appropriate level written testing (included with your membership) and practical testing with an instructor ($25, which includes up to 6 level tests) in either building, tumbling or both. These tests verify your knowledge and understanding to teach and break down skills at each level to help keep your athletes safe and injury-free.


Tip:  Complete all of your level written tests before purchasing and scheduling your practical session. This will save you from paying multiple registration fees and allow you to test all levels with the same instructor in a single session.

DANCE

Dance Coach Credentialing

Dance coach credentialing demonstrates knowledge of the general dance rules to ensure the safety of athletes.

Credentialing starts with Baseline testing, which is included with membership. This is a one-time course that reviews general information about USASF and USASF policies.

Your next step is to complete the dance course and written testing that reviews the Dance Age Grid and General Rules, Individual Rules, and Group and Pairs Rules.

EXCEPTIONAL

EA Coach Credentialing

CheerABILITIES coach credentialing demonstrates knowledge of the general CheerABILITIES rules & divisions to ensure the safety of athletes.

Credentialing starts with Baseline testing, which is included with membership. This is a one-time course that reviews general information about USASF and USASF policies.

Complete the course from our partner, Positive Coaching Alliance. This is a one-time course that helps coaches explore why and how to pursue both winning and the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports. The fee for this course is $30 paid directly to PCA. Once completed you will not need to repeat this course again.

Complete appropriate level testing (included in your membership) called Intro to Rules Glossary for Building, Tumbling or both to at least level 2.  Once completed you then move on to Exceptional Athletes:  Cheer Testing (also included in your membership).  This course and test verifies your knowledge of the Handbook, Assessment Form and areas of adaptability & accommodations for this population.

Your next steps are completing the appropriate level written testing (included with your membership) and practical testing with an instructor ($25, which includes up to 6 level tests) in either Building, Tumbling, or both. These tests verify your knowledge and understanding to teach and break down skills at each level to help keep your athletes safe and injury-free.

Complete ALL of your level Written Tests BEFORE purchasing and scheduling your Practical Session. This way you are not paying multiple registration fees and you can test all of the levels with the same instructor at the same time. 

Cheer Coach Credentialing

Cheer coach credentialing evaluates coaches on their knowledge of each level’s rules. It also verifies that they can safely teach and break down skills—particularly the most challenging skills allowed at each level. Coaches must successfully meet the credentialing requirements for one level before progressing to the next.


Cheer coaches attending The Cheerleading World Championship are required to be credentialed in either building, tumbling or both, up to the level in which their team competes.

Credentialing starts with Baseline testing, which is included with membership. This is a one-time course that reviews general information about USASF and USASF policies.

Up next is taking the course from our partner, Positive Coaching Alliance. This is a one-time course that helps coaches explore why and how to pursue both winning and the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports. The fee for this course is $30 paid directly to PCA. Once completed you will not need to repeat this course again.

Your next steps are to complete the appropriate level written testing (included with your membership) and practical testing with an instructor ($25, which includes up to 6 level tests) in either building, tumbling or both. These tests verify your knowledge and understanding to teach and break down skills at each level to help keep your athletes safe and injury-free.


Tip:  Complete all of your level written tests before purchasing and scheduling your practical session. This will save you from paying multiple registration fees and allow you to test all levels with the same instructor in a single session.

Dance Coach Credentialing

Dance coach credentialing demonstrates knowledge of the general dance rules to ensure the safety of athletes.

Credentialing starts with Baseline testing, which is included with membership. This is a one-time course that reviews general information about USASF and USASF policies.

Your next step is to complete the dance course and written testing that reviews the Dance Age Grid and General Rules, Individual Rules, and Group and Pairs Rules.

EA Coach Credentialing

CheerABILITIES coach credentialing demonstrates knowledge of the general CheerABILITIES rules and divisions to ensure the safety of athletes.

Credentialing starts with Baseline testing, which is included with membership. This is a one-time course that reviews general information about USASF and USASF policies.

Up next is taking the course from our partner, Positive Coaching Alliance. This is a one-time course that helps coaches explore why and how to pursue both winning and the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports. The fee for this course is $30 paid directly to PCA. Once completed you will not need to repeat this course again.

Complete appropriate level testing (included in your membership) called Intro to Rules Glossary for building, tumbling or both to at least level 2.  Once completed you'll move on to Exceptional Athletes:  Cheer Testing (also included in your membership).  This course and test verifies your knowledge of the Exceptional Athlete handbook, assessment form and areas of adaptability and accommodations for this population.

Your next steps are to complete the appropriate level written testing (included with your membership) and practical testing with an instructor ($25, which includes up to 6 level tests) in either building, tumbling or both. These tests verify your knowledge and understanding to teach and break down skills at each level to help keep your athletes safe and injury-free.


Tip:  Complete all of your level written tests before purchasing and scheduling your practical session. This will save you from paying multiple registration fees and allow you to test all levels with the same instructor in a single session.

USASF Coach Credentialing: Supporting Safety and Skill Development


USASF Coach Credentialing is a powerful way to demonstrate a commitment to excellence, supporting both coaches and athletes in their growth. While credentialing is just one step in a coach’s ongoing journey of learning and development, it helps provide confidence to members and parents that:

  • a Cheer-Credentialed coach has the expertise to teach the skills required for each team level;
  • a Dance-Credentialed coach understands the essential dance rules that contribute to the safety and success of their dancers;
  • an Exceptional Athlete-Credentialed coach is equipped to guide athletes through the right progressions to reach their full potential.


By pursuing credentialing, coaches are not just meeting standards—they are actively advancing their ability to lead with knowledge, safety and care.