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  • PHASE CN - NIAAA Athletic Administration Certification Courses

    14 May 2026: LTC 903 and 504
    15 May 2026: LTC 904 and 910

The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) preserves, enhances, and promote educational-based athletics through professional development of interscholastic athletic administrators.

The NIAAA offers a range of Cognia-accredited courses and certifications for ADs through the NIAAA Professional Development Academy. Courses are divided into four sections:

  • Foundational Courses (500s)
    Operations and Management (600s)
    Leadership (700s)
    International (900s)

Each NIAAA Leadership Training Course (LTC) is designed for ADs and by ADs. In order to attend a course, participants must have an account with the NIAAA. You can apply for account towards the bottom of this page. When creating a new account, you will be asked whether you would like to become a member. You can choose to become a member (which costs money), or select Non-Member. Non-Members can still earn credits towards certification. There are a variety of types of membership and benefits include having access to NIAAA resources, $2 million in liability coverage, and a discount to LTCs offered directly by the NIAAA via webinars, asynchronous online courses, or at the National AD Conference.

PHASE does not require participants to become members to attend LTC courses, but does require all participants to register with the NIAAA.

Information needed to register for courses include:

  1. Name
  2. Email (Use email on file with the NIAAA)
  3. Member ID # (Provided when you create an account)

Please have this information ready before completing PHASE registration.

Here are the Leadership Training Course (LTC) on offer at PHASE China 2026:

14 May 2026

LTC 903 Enhancing Organization Management and Effectiveness in International School Athletic Programs

This course is a companion course to LTC 902 for the International School community. It provides a blueprint for developing a handbook and communication tools with all stakeholders. Conflict Resolution and Public relation strategies are discussed. Other topics include enhancing special events, citizen/sportsmanship and ethical coaching.

Required for: CIAA [REVISED 2023]

LTC 504 Legal Issues I (Liability for Sports Injuries and Risk Management)

This course provides in-depth coverage of the legal standards governing liability for sports injuries, including the duties imposed by courts and legislatures on athletics administrators, coaches, athletic trainers, and other athletics personnel related to safeguarding the health and well-being of student-athletes and other persons in school sports environments. Strategies are provided for developing, implementing, and documenting an effective risk management program for interscholastic athletics.

Required for:

CAA, RMSAA, CMAA and CIAA Certification [REVISED 2025]

Enrollees who will derive greatest benefit: 

  • Current International School Athletic Administrators / Head of Sports
  • Aspiring International School Athletic Administrator position. 

Attendees will receive a certificate with PD Hours from NIAAA and also from PHASE

15 May 2026

LTC 904 Child Protection Overview for the International School Athletic Administrator

This course covers liability for sports injuries, negligence, and risk management practices for athletic administrators. Best practice concepts will be introduced for athletic administrators, coaches, athletic trainers, and other athletic personnel through the use of case scenarios and guided discussion. Appropriate risk management strategies and documentation procedures for athletic administrators will be identified. Real-life scenarios and defining the duties and standards of care that schools require for child protection will be addressed.

Required for: CIAA [REVISED 2025]

LTC 910 Current Issues in The International Education-Based Athletic Community

Instructors will present important issues and effective response strategies for 3 contemporary topics within the International Athletic Community and Programs (selected from the six available for LTC 910). The instructional format of this course will consist of brief presentations, group interactions, and sharing of ideas. Participants will play an active role as these issues are debated and explored.

1) Finding/Retaining/Educating Coaches
2) Inclusion vs Competition — How Can Both Exist?
3) Home Stay vs Hotel Stay
4) Dealing with Parents
5) Dealing with Unexpected Events
6) Managing Increased Workload Expectations.

Enrollees who will derive greatest benefit: International athletic administrators seeking insight and possible solutions relative to current issues in international athletic programs. [NEW 2022]

PHASE CN – Shanghai

14 May 2026

08:00 am – 12:00 pm – LTC 903
13:00 pm – 17:00 pm LTC 504
(Lunch included for solo-course and full-day attendees)

15 May 2026

08:00 am – 12:00 pm – LTC 904
13:00 pm – 17:00 pm LTC 910
(Lunch included for solo-course and full-day attendees)

Location

SAS China Pudong Campus

Cost

CN¥1500 per course; or CN¥1400 per course if registering for two or more. (Lunch included)

To receive the NIAAA certificate and to pursue NIAAA certification you must be a member of NIAAA (You’ll have to pay NIAAA separately to become a member)

REGISTER

Certificate provided by NIAAA

Presenter

Turner Neal

Certified Master Athletic Administrator, Co-Founder, Neal Family Consulting

Turner Neal is a seasoned athletic and activity administrator who previously served at the International School of Minnesota, Concordia International School Shanghai, and Shanghai American School. He holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and is a Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA), Certified International Athletic Administrator (CIAA), as well as holding a graduate certificate as an Intercollegiate Athletic Administrator. He is the co-author of LTC 910 and the mini-course Hiring, Retaining, and Developing International School Coaches, and is a national faculty member with the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) and has been a workshop and LTC course instructor at the National Athletic Director Conference in the United States for the past three years.  Turner is the co-founder of Neal Family Consulting, where he supports athletic directors, schools, and organizations worldwide through peer groups, strategic program design, and professional development.

Presenter

Thomas Mathews

Director of Athletics & Activities, Shekou International School

Thomas has been an International School Athletic Director for over a decade. Presently serving as the Director of Athletics & Activities at Shekou International School in Shenzhen, China, Thomas is a NIAAA Certified Master Athletic Administrator and the current Sports Chair of ACAMIS. He is passionate about helping young people grow up through their experiences in sport and much of that is credited to a familiarity with Education Based Athletics.

Kate Mouton

Director of Athletics and Activities, Shanghai American School

Kate Mouton brings over a decade of experience in athletic administration to her role as the Director of Athletics and Activities at the Shanghai American School. With a background in sports management, Kate has a proven track record of leadership and dedication.

Prior to her current position, Kate spent 6 years at the University School of Milwaukee, where she served in various roles within the athletic department. She held the position of Assistant Director of Athletics prior to leaving USM, contributing significantly to the development of the school’s athletic programs.

Kate holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Aberdeen, where she focused on strategic leadership and organizational management. She completed her undergraduate studies at Boston College, where she excelled as an All-American Soccer player.

Zach Dwyer

Athletics Coordinator & MYP PHE, Xi’an Liangjiatan International School (XLIS)

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