Abbreviation NFHS Legal status Association Region served United States Founded 1920 Type of business Nonprofit organization | Formation 1920 Purpose Athletic/Educational Membership 18,500+ high schools Staff 39 | |
Headquarters Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Similar Illinois High School A, Michigan High School At, South Dakota High Sch, Alabama High School At, Indiana High School At Profiles |
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is the body that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the United States. Most high schools, whether public or private, belong to their state's high school association; in turn, each state association belongs to the NFHS. Over 17,000 high schools belong to associations that are members of the NFHS. NFHS's headquarters are located in White River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana.
However, in states that have separate associations for public and non-public high schools, only the public-school bodies are full NFHS members. For example, the Texas University Interscholastic League (public schools, with non-public schools generally not allowed) is a full member; the largest association governing non-public schools, the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, is an affiliate member, while other governing bodies are not NFHS members at any level. Similarly, the Virginia High School League, open only to public schools, is a full member, the state's largest association for non-public schools is an affiliate member, and other governing bodies are not members at all. The case in Mississippi is slightly different; the body governing public schools is a full member, while the body governing private schools is not an NFHS member at any level. In the state of Alabama the public schools and a handful of private schools compete in the AHSAA (Alabama High School Athletic Association) which is a full member of the NFHS. The majority of private schools in the state are members of the AISA (Alabama Independent School Association) a non-member that uses NFHS rules. The AHSAA will not allow its members to play AISA schools but the AISA schools do compete with public and private schools outside of Alabama.
Iowa has separate governing associations for boys' and girls' sports – the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. Only the Iowa High School Athletic Association is a full member of the NFHS; the girls' governing body is an affiliate member.
The provincial associations of Canada are affiliate members of the NFHS.
The NFHS publishes rules books for each sport or activity, and most states adopt those rules wholly for state high school competition including the non member private school associations.
The NFHS offered an online Coach Education Program in January 2007. It released a course, Fundamentals of Coaching. The NFHS has announced that it will offer a National Coach Certification in September 2009. This will enable to coaches to become a Level 1 - Accredited Interscholastic Coach issued by the NFHS.
NFHS National High School Hall of Fame
See also: U.S. high-school baseball awards and USA Today All-USA high school football teamStarted in 1982, the National High School Hall of Fame honors high-school athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, fine arts coaches/directors and others for their achievements and accomplishments in high-school sports and activity programs.