Organizations prioritizing student-athlete mental health have made headlines for years now. From the NCAA researching mental health conditions in student-athletes to sports psychologists helping athletes reach the top of their mental game, it’s clear the industry is prioritizing mental wellbeing. To that end, the North Carolina High School Athletics Association unanimously voted to mandate mental health training for high school coaches.
According to EdNC, the vote was prompted after North Carolina lawmakers proposed a bill in the Senate that may mandate similar training. Senate Bill 550 has not made it out of committee yet. But, the support from the NCHSAA is poised to make a difference.
“This requirement ensures that our head coaches are better prepared to recognize and respond to the mental health needs of student-athletes, and it reflects our shared responsibility to support the whole student,” the NCHSSA said in a statement. “The NCHSAA is grateful to be part of an effort that prioritizes the well-being of young people in such a meaningful way.”
The NCHSAA’s new rules mandate coaches in youth athletics organizations to obtain a certificate of mental health training in order to be granted access to city or county athletics facilities. Should the Senate bill also be passed, this rule would extend to middle school coaches, high school coaches, and any adult working in youth sports programs.
Those certificates will be earned from two selected courses: “Youth Mental Health First Aid” and “Teen Mental Health First Aid.”
“Coaches are often among the first to notice when something is not right. They see the long practices they have, the quiet moments, and the changes in behaviors that others might not see,” said Senator Caleb Theodros, who sponsored the original bill in 2025. “But for too long, we have expected them to carry that responsibility without giving them the proper tools or the training that is necessary.”
According to NC Newsline, not only does the NCHSAA hope these trainings better equip coaches to recognize the warning signs of mental health problems in student-athletes, but the organization also hopes coaches adopt strategies in their coaching techniques to prioritize mental well being, toughness and clarity.
