When the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) was founded in 1922, the founders declared that the purpose of their association was to maintain the highest possible standards in the game of football and in the profession of coaching football.
In 1996, the Board of Trustees of the AFCA, with the support from the NCAA, sought to further serve that purpose by establishing an educational program to assist football coaches in their professional development. This program was appropriately named the Professional Development Series (PDS).
Click here to view the 2010 PDS Schedule
All non-meal lectures, featured at the AFCA convention, are classified as AFCA Professional Development Series. In some states, PDS credit can be used as professional development hours towards salary points and recertification.
The Professional Development Series is completed by attending a specified number of PDS-designated seminars. After each of these seminars, a PDS committee member will be available near each exit to provide a stamp which verifies attendance. When the series is completed, the verification cards are processed at the AFCA headquarters and a AFCA/NCAA Professional Development Series Certificate of Completion is mailed to the participant.
Since the program’s beginning in 1996, nearly 6000 Certificates of Completion have been given to AFCA members for participating in the Professional Development Series. Leading experts in injury prevention, financial planning, leadership development, gender violence prevention, gambling awareness, drug and alcohol awareness, NCAA legislation and media consultation have lectured in the program.
