tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post7210461826445561556..comments2023-04-07T10:27:50.934-05:00Comments on Xanboni: Who gets to teach figure skating?Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-3266215993639090012010-09-03T12:06:42.753-05:002010-09-03T12:06:42.753-05:00Hi Xan, I've learned a lot from your blog. Tha...Hi Xan, I've learned a lot from your blog. Thank you! I would love to read more about your personal journey from beginning adult skater to coaching. I would be particularly interested in learning what you would do the same and what you would do differently, knowing what you know now. What would you recommend as the first three or four steps to take as an adult beginner (recently finished first ISI Learn to Skate Adult 3 class) who loves skating and has discovered that she loves to share that passion with other skaters almost as much as skating herself? If I do pursue coaching, I want to do everything I can now and along the way to become a competent coach. I'd love to read your ideas and insight on the "how" if you're game. Thanks!Melanienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-18244083846234559872010-03-02T13:08:50.599-06:002010-03-02T13:08:50.599-06:00I wondered if UofD might have a program since they...I wondered if UofD might have a program since they have an elite training center there, and lots of students who are high level competitors. Thanks for the info!Alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-5124641317419721432010-03-01T19:02:25.243-06:002010-03-01T19:02:25.243-06:00University of Delaware offers a degree in exercise...University of Delaware offers a degree in exercise science with the ability to minor in figure skating science. Admission to the minor requires a high level of proficiency in your own skating and has four semester long figure skating practicums. I don't know if other universities with similar programs, this is the only one I'm aware of, and I find the concept quite interestingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-91844048403013872262010-02-23T12:13:59.024-06:002010-02-23T12:13:59.024-06:00Beth, you nailed it. Don't even get me started...Beth, you nailed it. Don't even get me started on junior coaches. I will say that if you are a regular employee of a rink, the rink covers liability, plus if the rink is "signed up" with the ISI weSkate or USFS Basic Skills program they also provide insurance for both skaters and coaches. All coaches who teach privates on any rink, including their own, must provide proof of liability insurance, available thru PSA, ISI, or USFS.Alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-70112333608448123062010-02-23T07:16:38.541-06:002010-02-23T07:16:38.541-06:00Amazing - considering the potential for injury and...Amazing - considering the potential for injury and how litigious we are.Beth Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-20959151628637222402010-02-22T17:04:44.977-06:002010-02-22T17:04:44.977-06:00IceMom, that's great, I hope I hear from other...IceMom, that's great, I hope I hear from others with that kind of stringent coaching requirements. It will restore my faith! (Altho it would keep me off club ice! I've only got Adult tests!)Alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-83156240979867643882010-02-22T16:59:21.186-06:002010-02-22T16:59:21.186-06:00Love the P&G ads too.
Also love the Walmart ...Love the P&G ads too. <br /><br />Also love the Walmart ad where hockey mom gives her reasons for why she saves: saving for a new pair of skates (I took a temp job at Christmas to pay for skates) and saving for the next 10 years of hockey fees. Spoken like a true skating parent. In this case, Walmart is really skating a mile in my boots.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-83360338932595997312010-02-22T16:40:40.414-06:002010-02-22T16:40:40.414-06:00One of Ice Girl's clubs has requirements for c...One of Ice Girl's clubs has requirements for coaching; the other does not. Here are the rules for one club:<br /><i><br />All approved FSC of *** coaches:<br /><br />- Have achieved at least the Intermediate USFSA Freestyle test level in their own<br />skating.<br /><br />- Are members of the Professional Skater's Association (PSA).<br /><br />- Have professional liability insurance.</i><br /><br />Only approved, green-lighted coaches can be on club ice. The rest can coach on the limited number of open freestyle sessions. They won't allow new coaches on club ice without an approved coaching mentor, either.<br /><br />That said, the other club lets anyone coach as long as they pay dues and have insurance. PSA isn't a requirement.<br /><br />For parents, I think that having some order in the chaos would help with selecting a coach. <br /><br />Great post, Xan!<br /><br />Ice MomIce Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05639175462486739483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-76204210468197154252010-02-22T16:07:55.085-06:002010-02-22T16:07:55.085-06:00One of the ways that coaches qualify to take the r...One of the ways that coaches qualify to take the ratings exams is by having students pass the levels (you can qualify by passing the level yourself, or by taking a student through the test). No way to know why a coach, skater, or parent makes a choice. Level of the skaters that a coach has is an excellent indicator of their skill, or of their specialty (for instance, I never teach kids over FS3, just not interested).<br /><br />Member of the PSA means they are just members, but it is still a good indicator of someone who takes the profession seriously. To be a regular member of PSA you have to have a sponsor and you have to demonstrate that you have been coaching.<br /><br />And no, PSA does not get skating parents at all. Parents are the most misunderstood factor in the equation, across the board. It's one of the reason I'm loving the P&G "for the Moms" ads at the Olympics!Alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-70218613304927435372010-02-22T14:42:31.363-06:002010-02-22T14:42:31.363-06:00Thanks for the info on the PSA rating system for c...Thanks for the info on the PSA rating system for coaches. I'll be able to ask better questions now when interviewing coaches.<br /><br />Are coaches judged by the skating levels of their students? I'm asking because a former coach, who previously was not agressive about having her students test, is now pushing her students thru free skate tests. Suddenly she is pushing her students to test and she has one skater who has passed to a level where she won't be competitive (anytime soon) with other skaters in that level (even in test track) because her skills are not strong enough. Knowing this student, I'm sure this is going to be frustrating (perhaps discouraging)for her at competitions. What do you think is going on? I'm wondering if the coach is trying to pad her resume. If coaches are looking to change rinks, what kind of criteria is used by clubs/rinks to determine the abilities or competency of potential coaches? Are the test levels of their students one of the criteria?<br /><br />When I have visited the PSA site, I have been bothered (offended, really) that the only info under the heading of info for parents is a list of suggestions of how we should behave. I would suggest that a link to the ratings descriptions section should be at the top of the list, so we can ask the right questions when interviewing potential coaches. Also, I have suggested to Ice Mom that we need an anonymous "Rate Your Coach" database for parents like they have for professors, since it is suggested by the PSA that we not talk to others about coaching issues.<br /><br />One more thing, if a coach's bio states they are "a member of PSA" does that mean they have not taken any tests, just paid membership fees?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com