Understanding Coaches Certification Program

Rank One Pro · Last updated July 20, 2026

The Coaches Certification Program (CCP) is a UIL requirement that ensures all coaches of grades 7–12 are trained on UIL rules, safety, ethics, and sport-specific standards before each season. Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, Rank One's UIL Portal brings training, tracking, and compliance visibility into one connected system. This guide walks you through what the CCP is, who must complete it, and how to manage it in Rank One.

Part 1: Understanding the CCP

1 Learn What the CCP Requires

The Coaches Certification Program is established under Section 1208 of the UIL Constitution & Contest Rules. It combines UIL rules education with state-law training into a single program that recognizes a coach as UIL Certified.

The CCP includes eight components, some required for all coaches and others for specific roles:

All Coaches (Grades 7–12) Must Complete:
- Constitution & Contest Rules (required for high school coaches)
- Ethics & Sportsmanship
- UIL Steroid Education
- Safety Training (state law)
- Concussion Training (state law — two hours every two years)
- Sport-Specific Training (varies by sport; required for high school coaches)
Football Coaches Only:
- Best Practices in Tackling (Atavus) — once every two years
First-Year Texas Coaches Only:
- Fundamentals of Coaching in Texas

2 Know Who Must Complete It and When

All coaches in grades 7–12 must complete the CCP annually, prior to their sport season (or before the first day of school if the sport is not yet in season).

If a coach is hired shortly before or after the season starts, they must complete the CCP within 30 days of being hired.

Schools keep the names of coaches who complete the program on file for compliance verification.

Tip: Mark your calendar for the week of July 6, when CCP courses become accessible in the Rank One UIL Portal for the new school year. This gives coaches time to complete requirements before their season begins.

Part 2: How the CCP Works in Rank One

3 Understand the Three-Part System

Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, the Rank One UIL Portal manages the CCP by connecting three essential functions:

Where Coaches Train Coaches log in to their Rank One profile to view and complete required certification modules.
Certification Tracking Each requirement is tracked electronically with completion status and timestamps, kept current as each coach completes their modules.
School Visibility (rolling out) A school-level view for administrators to track completion across coaches is being introduced for the 2026–27 season. As coaches finish their modules, the school moves toward being fully compliant.

4 Set Up your Rank One 'Profile'

Before you can access CCP modules, make sure your Rank One profile is complete and current:

Verify your full name, email, and cell phone number
Confirm your assigned UIL Role(s) (Head HS Coach, Assistant HS Coach, etc)
Confirm your Coaching Assignment(s) are accurate. Coaching assignments are updated by Rank One staff on request — if any are missing or incorrect, contact Rank One support to have them corrected
Add your coaching association member numbers (THSCA or TGCA)
For football coaches: Complete your required ATAVUS tackling certification (see the Atavus Tackling Training section below)

Important: Incomplete profile information may prevent you from accessing CCP modules or receiving completion confirmations. Update your profile before the start of your sport season.

5 Complete Your Assigned CCP Modules

Once your profile is set up, log in to Rank One to view your assigned CCP modules. The modules you see depend on your UIL role, coaching assignment(s) (if applicable) and sport / activity:

Review the list of required modules for your position
Complete each module before your sport season begins
Watch your completion status update in real time as you finish each course
Receive a timestamp and certificate for each completed module

Tip: For football coaches, the Atavus tackling certification is completed through the Atavus platform (see the Atavus Tackling Training section below). It is separate from your online CCP modules in Rank One.

6 Administrators: Monitoring School Compliance (coming soon)

A school-level compliance view for administrators — to see each coach's completion status, which modules are pending or complete, and to export compliance reports — is being rolled out for the 2026–27 season and is not yet available.

In the meantime, completion is tracked per person: each coach can view their own required modules, completion status, and printable certificates under My Profile → Compliance Forms. Watch for the administrator compliance view as it becomes available.

Part 3: Getting Started in 2026–27

7 Understand the 2026–27 Transition

For the 2026–27 school year, CCP courses will be accessible in the Rank One UIL Portal beginning the week of July 6. Here's what you need to know:

All coaches in grades 7–12 are required to complete the full CCP
Football coaches: See the Atavus Tackling Training section below for Level 1 and Level 2 certification requirements

Important: UIL guidance for the 2026–27 transition is still being released. Always confirm your specific requirements directly with the UIL at uilportal@uiltexas.org or visit uiltexas.org/uil-portal.

Atavus Tackling Training (Football Coaches)

Football coaches who need certification for the upcoming school year can begin the process on April 1st. This applies to both Level 1 and Level 2 tackling certifications. Use the ATAVUS online procedures/directions for tackling training to start your certification.

Who is required to complete the certification?

Coaches who are new to Texas and have not yet completed the Atavus Tackling Certification must complete Level 1 Tackling Certification.
Current coaches who finished Level 1 in 2024 or earlier and have not yet completed Level 2 must complete Level 2 Tackling Certification.
Any coach who completed Level 1 in 2025 does not need to complete Level 2 in 2026 — each level is valid for 2 years.

8 Get Help When You Need It

Questions about using Rank One for CCP? Questions about UIL rules or which courses you must take? Here's where to go:

Rank One Support: Contact Us — for questions about the Rank One platform
UIL Portal Support: