Figure Skating Coach CER Requirements

I hope by now all coaches are aware of the new CER requirements. I’m sure most of them are. But do you, as parents and skaters understand? I assume many figure skaters and parents do not fully understand. Although your coach might not have sat you down and explained the new education process, it’s important that parents understand, too.

CER - Stands for Continuing Education Requirements. US Figure Skating mandated in 2008 that all coaches will be required to pass certain exams to coach at USFS test sessions, competitions and qualifying competitions. The classes required depend on what level skaters a coach has and the activity the coach will be involved with throughout the year. The coaching activities are separated into categories. (See category descriptions below.)  A coach can always take more classes then what is required. I may or may not have skaters at Regionals this year, but I made sure to be Category A compliant just in case.  The classes are administered by the Professional Skaters Association (PSA) though its website, which was just re-done and is now more user friendly.

Descriptions from  (www.skatepsa.com)

Category A: PROFESSIONAL COACH (OR CHOREOGRAPHER) OF QUALIFYING LEVELS OF COMPETITION SKATERS:

• Defined as one who is coaching, teaching or instructing one or more skaters or teams that are participating in qualifying levels of qualifying competitions or championships. This includes, but is not limited to: primary coaches, choreographer, assistant coaches, and element specialists (spin coaches, jump coaches, style coaches etc.)
• Qualifying competitions are defined as regionals, sectionals, synchronized skating sectionals and adult sectionals.
• Championships are defined as U.S. Junior Championships, U.S. Championships, U.S. Synchronized Team Skating Championships, U.S. Adult Championships and U.S. Collegiate Championships.

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This Wednesday, June 30, on Ask the Expert:

1988 Olympic Mens Figure Skating Champion Brian Boitano

Boitano now has a show on Food Network, What Would Brian Boitano Make? He will answer the questions readers submitted earlier in the month about figure skaters and nutrition.

Today on Rinkformation:

IceMom.net: In Search of the Perfect Figure Skating Food

SynchroMom.net: Eating Healthy at Sync Competitions

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Category B: PROFESSIONAL COACH (OR CHOREOGRAPHER) OF SKATERS PARTICIPATING IN THE FOLLOWING U.S. FIGURE SKATING SANCTIONED EVENTS (EXCLUDING QUALIFYING EVENTS COVERED UNDER CATEGORY A):

• Defined as one who is coaching, teaching or instructing one or more skaters or teams that are participating in non- qualifying levels of sanctioned competitions or championships. This includes, but is not limited to: primary coaches, choreographer, assistant coaches, and element specialists (spin coaches, jump coaches, style coaches etc.)
• U.S. Figure Skating tests (pre-preliminary and up)
• Nonqualifying competitions(pre-preliminary and up)
• Nonqualifying event at a qualifying competition

Category D- PROFESSIONAL SPORT SCIENCE SUPPORT SERVICES

Someone who is a Sport Psychologist; PT; ATC, or like. Must submit a signed affidavit stating credentials and be able to produce current proof of professional credentials in their field of expertise. If an individual performs Sport Science Support Services and also performs duties as a professional coach or choreographer, that individual must meet Category A or B requirements.

The deadline for a coach to be CER compliant is July 1, 2010. Is your coach compliant?

Check here for Category A coaches-http://www.skatepsa.com/CER-Category-A-P.htm

Check here for Category B coaches-http://www.skatepsa.com/CER-Category-B-P.htm

Check here for Category D coaches-http://www.skatepsa.com/Instructions%20for%20Category%20D-P.htm

The courses are divided in four topics Ethics, Sport Safety and Science, U.S. Figure Skating Rules and IJS Rules. To be compliant, a coach must take at least one in each area that is required by their category. For example a category B coach does not need to take an IJS coarse, but a category A coach does (there are 4 to choose from).

Coaches must renew their CER credits each year starting July 1, 2010. The USFS year is July 1st through June 30th.  Extra credits taken in a certain year do not roll over to the next year which is unfortunate. I have actually taken over 20 of the PSA online classes. In fact I took so many extra the PSA emailed me to make sure I understood the requirements. I told them I was just happy they are so accessible now that they are online, and I want to get as much education as I can. I was told  Jimmie Santee would  happy to hear I was enjoying the convenience of the online classes.

If you are a coach don’t forget it’s also that time of year to renew PSA membership, Liability Insurance, USFS coach registration (background check), and USFS registration though your local club(s). Hope you have saved $350-$500.

Do you understand the new requirements? Is your coach on the list? Have you talked about the requirements with your coach?

Photo credits:
Apple with books: darrenhester on Morguefile.com
Partial apple: hotblack on Morguefile.com
Apples in a line: hotblack on Morguefile.com