ORONO – A new sports course offers college students and interscholastic and community coaches the opportunity to add coaching credentials to their resume.

The one-credit Coaching Fundamentals course, KPE 200, scheduled this fall at locations in Orono and South Portland, meets the minimal course requirements for interscholastic coaching eligibility at the middle school and high school levels in Maine and most other states.

Middle schools, high schools and community sports programs are facing an increasing shortage of qualified coaches, according to Keith Lancaster, director of the Maine Center for Coaching Education headquartered at the University of Maine.

“This is an opportunity to gain the information and qualifications necessary to becoming a caring and effective school or community coach,” said Lancaster. “The developmental information included in the course is essential for anyone coaching competitive teams with athletes ages 12 and under.”

Participants study of the basic principles of coaching, including sports philosophy, psychology, pedagogy, physiology and management. Students will also learn the basics of recognizing common sports injuries and to administer sport first aid and CPR.

Coaching Principles and Sports First Aid, are required for coaching eligibility by the Maine Principals’ Association, which oversees secondary interscholastic sports in Maine.

The course is taught by Lancaster and UMaine athletic medicine coordinator Richard Young. Both are American Sports Education Program-certified instructors.

The eight-week course meets on Monday evenings. It runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9-Nov. 4, at UMaine; and from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 21-Dec. 16 at South Portland High School.

For information and registration, contact Ellen Woodhead, UMaine Division of Lifelong Learning, 581-3143.