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How to Get Every Coach CPR/AED Certified Before the Season
Starting January 1, 2027, California youth sports organizations must make sure their coaches are certified in CPR and AED use. Most leagues already know this. The hard part is getting 20, 50 or 200 volunteers through it on time. Here's a simple way to do it.
Step 1: Build your coach list
Pull every head and assistant coach from your registration system into one list: name, email, team and division. Add new coaches as they’re appointed. This list becomes your roster for the whole season.
Step 2: Decide who pays
Some leagues buy seats for every coach. Others ask coaches to buy their own and reimburse them. Prepaid seats are easier to track, and with A-B-CPR, unused seats don’t expire.
Step 3: Send one link, with a deadline
Email coaches one link and a clear due date, ideally a few weeks before your first practice. Keep the message short: what it is, why it matters, and when it’s due.
Step 4: Track who’s done
Check completions every week. An admin portal shows who’s enrolled, who’s finished and who still needs a nudge, so you’re not chasing screenshots.
Step 5: File certificates and renewal dates
Save each coach’s certificate and note the expiration date. Certification must be renewed at least every two years, so put renewal dates on your league calendar now.
Don’t forget the rest of the requirement
By January 1, 2027, your league also needs a written cardiac emergency response plan, reviewed with coaches and staff every year and sent to parents every year. AED access at every official practice and game starts January 1, 2028. Our free checklist covers all of it.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How early should coaches finish?
Before your first practice of the season, and no later than January 1, 2027 if your season spans the new year.
What if a coach joins mid-season?
Give them a seat when they're appointed. Unused A-B-CPR seats don't expire.
Can coaches do it on their phones?
Yes. The course is online and self-paced.