Public School Strength and Conditioning Coaches

2025-2026 Bill 4743: Public School Strength and Conditioning Coaches - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 4743
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. T. Moore, Lawson and Chumley
Document Path: LC-0526WAB26.docx
Introduced in the House on January 13, 2026
Currently residing in the House
Summary: Public School Strength and Conditioning Coaches
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

12/16/2025

House

Prefiled

12/16/2025

House

Referred to Committee on
Education and Public Works

1/13/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 75
)

1/13/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Education and Public Works
(
House Journal-page 75
)

2/4/2026

House

Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lawson,
Chumley

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
12/17/2025

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION
59-63-67
SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOL STRENGTH AND
CONDITIONING COACHES, TO ESTABLISH CERTIFICATION STANDARDS, REQUIRE
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT, AND ESTABLISH OVERSIGHT AND COMPLIANCE
PROCEDURES, among other things.

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
A
rticle 1, Chapter 63, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:

S
ection
59-63-67
.
(
A) The purpose of this
section is to ensure that all public school athletic strength and conditioning
programs are conducted safely, effectively, and consistently to
student-athletes in public schools in this State to promote injury prevention,
performance development, and equitable access for student-athletes.

(
B)
(
1) Any individual designated as a
strength and conditioning coach by a public school or school district must be
certified through a nationally recognized strength and conditioning program.
This requirement applies to any person primarily responsible for developing,
supervising, or leading strength and conditioning workouts.

(
2)
If a school does not formally designate a strength and conditioning coach, any
individual who conducts strength and conditioning workouts must hold such
certification, except for individuals who conduct conditioning activities
solely as part of regular sport practices.

(
3)
For purposes of meeting the requirement in items (1) and (2), an individual
must hold:

(a) the
National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA) High School Strength
Coach Certification (HSSCC); or

(
b)
another similar nationally recognized strength and conditioning certification
designated by the State Department of Education.

(
4)
In designating acceptable certifications under item (3)(b), the department
shall consider whether the credential:

(
a)
establishes a recognized professional standard for interscholastic strength and
conditioning;

(
b)
aligns training with the developmental needs of student-athletes; and

(
c)
promotes research-based, consistent, and safe training practices across
schools.

(
C)
(
1) A public school is eligible to
receive any state-funded or district-funded athletic supplement designated for
a strength and conditioning coach only if it employs at least one individual
with a current, verifiable certification meeting requirements in subsection
(B).

(
2)
Certification must be active before any supplement is authorized or disbursed.

(
3)
Schools without a certified strength and conditioning coach are not eligible
for the supplement.

(
4)
Schools may designate personnel to obtain the required certification; however,
no supplement may be issued until certification is complete.

(
D)
(
1) The department shall, subject to
appropriation, provide professional development funding to support required
certification.

(
2)
Funds may be used for:

(
a)
the designated strength and conditioning coach at each public high school; and

(
b)
any coach assigned to teach weight training, strength training, or
sport-specific physical education courses.

(
3)
The department shall publish procedures for reimbursement, documentation, and
allowable expenses.

(
E) To
implement the provisions of this section:

(
1)
each public high school shall employ or designate at least one staff member to
serve as a certified strength and conditioning coach;

(
2)
individuals currently serving in this role at the time of enactment must obtain
a qualifying certification within two months of assignment, or within a
timeline established by the State Board of Education not to exceed six months;
and

(
3)
the department shall provide resources and guidance to assist schools in
obtaining and maintaining certification.

(
F)
Regarding oversight and compliance of the provisions of this section:

(
1)
each district athletic director shall maintain a record of certified strength
and conditioning personnel assigned to each school;

(
2)
certification status must be reviewed annually as part of the district's
athletic compliance process and reported to the department; and

(
3)
schools must ensure timely certification renewal and report any staff changes
affecting compliance.

(
G) A
certified strength and conditioning coach shall:

(
1)
implement safe, structured, and progressive training programs;

(
2)
prioritize injury prevention and long-term athletic development;

(
3)
provide equitable training opportunities for all sports and genders;

(
4)
supervise all training environments and ensure equipment safety; and

(
5)
coordinate with head coaches to meet sport-specific and seasonal needs.

(
H)
The department shall review this section at least once every three years to
ensure alignment with interscholastic athletic best practices and evolving
national standards.

(
I)
(
1) Each public school shall submit an
annual report to the department, in the manner and form prescribed by the
department, that includes:

(
a)
the names of all individuals who provided strength and conditioning coaching,
instruction, or supervision to student-athletes during the school year;

(
b)
proof of each individual's certification that demonstrates compliance with the
requirements of subsection (B);

(
c)
the role or capacity in which each individual provided strength and
conditioning guidance; and

(
d)
any additional information the department determines necessary for tracking
compliance, maintaining the statewide registry, or ensuring program safety and
quality.

(
2)
Each school must submit the required report no later than August first
following the end of each school year, unless the department establishes a
different timeline.

(
3)
School districts shall review and verify the accuracy of each school's report
prior to submission to the department and shall ensure that all required
information is complete.

(
4)
Failure to submit accurate and timely information under this subsection shall
constitute noncompliance for purposes of the district and state athletic
compliance review processes.

(
5)
(
a) The department shall create and
maintain an online, publicly accessible database that displays information
reported by each public school regarding strength and conditioning personnel
and certifications. The database must be:

(
i)
organized by school, with a separate entry for each school; and

(
ii)
posted on the department's website.

(
b)
Each school entry in the database must include:

(
i)
the names of all individuals who provided strength and conditioning coaching,
instruction, or supervision to student-athletes during the reporting year;

(
ii)
the type of certification held by each individual and whether it complies with
subsection (B);

(
iii) the role or capacity in which
each individual provided strength and conditioning services; and

(
iv)
any other information the department considers necessary.

S
ECTION 2. This act takes effect on July 1,
2027.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on January 13, 2026 at 2:39 PM