January/February 2024 PS Magazine

JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2024

Wishing you a wondeRful new year

A valuable video library of information from past webinars, seminars, conferences, summits, and tips from master coaches. www.skatepsa.com

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Contents

JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2024

Departments 3

President’s Message

4

Recognition Ratings & Recognition

6

Education

19 Team PSA

New Members Calendar of Events

Featured

8

Excel at excel

10 Onto the next stage: Jimmie Santee 14 Coach Integration into U.S. Figure Skating Issue No 4 | WWW.SKATEPSA. COM

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PS MAGAZINE

1

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president’s message PSA OFFICERS President First Vice President Second Vice President Third Vice President Treasurer Past President PSA BOARD OF GOVERNORS West Mid-West East Members at Large

Rebecca Stump Tim Covington Patrick O'Neil Kirsten Miller-Zisholz Lisa Hernand Alex Chang

Russ Scott Phillip DiGuglielmo Andrea Kunz-Williamson Ashley Wyatt Cheryl Faust Jill Stewart Denise Viera Denise Williamson Peter Cain

Ratings Chair Education Chair Events Chair ISI Rep to PSA U.S. Figure Skating Rep to PSA PSA Rep to U.S. Figure Skating Summit Chair Diversity, Equity, &Inclusion Interim Executive Director

Cheryl Faust Denise Williamson Danny Tate Jane Schaber Heather Paige Kelley Morris Adair Teri Klindworth Hooper Darlene Lewis Barb Yackel

COMMITTEE CHAIRS Awards Coaches Hall of Fame Accelerated Coaching Partnerships Area Representatives Hockey Skating Sport Science Endorsements Executive Executive Nominating Finance Nominating Professional Standards PSA Rep to ISI Adaptive Skating

Andrea Kunz-Williamson Alex Chang Debbie Jones Gloria Leous Dianah Klatt Garrett Lucash Barb Yackel Alex Chang Alex Chang Lisa Hernand Alex Chang Kelley Morris Adair Gerry Lane Mary Johanson

PSA AREA REPRESENTATIVES Area 1 Tracey Seliga-O'Brien Area 2 Kimberlie Wheeland Area 3 Andrea Kunz-Williamson Area 4 Jill Stewart Area 5 Angela Roesch-Davis Area 6 Maude White Area 7 Nicole Gaboury Area 8 Jackie Timm Area 9 Mary Anne Williamson

Area 10 Francesca Supple Area 11 Charmin Savoy Area 12 Roxanne Tyler Area 13 Liz Egetoe Area 14 Marylill Elbe Area 15 Tiffany McNeil Area 16 Russ Scott Area 17 Martha Harding

Art Director

Amanda Taylor

DISCLAIMER: Written by Guest Contributor | PSA regularly receives articles from guest contributors. The opinions and views expressed by these contributors are not necessarily those of PSA. By publishing these articles, PSA does not make any endorsements or statements of support of the author or their contribution, either explicit or implicit.

THE PROFESSIONAL SKATER Magazine Mission: To bring to our readers the best information from the most knowledgeable sources. To select and generate the information free from the influence of bias. And to provide needed information quickly, accurately and efficiently.

The views expressed in THE PROFESSIONAL SKATER Magazine and products are not necessarily those of the Professional Skaters Association.

The Professional Skater (USPS 574770) Issue 4, a newsletter of the Professional Skaters Association, Inc., is published bimonthly, six times a year, as the official publication of the PSA, 3006 Allegro Park Lane SW, Rochester, MN 55902. Tel 507.281.5122, Email: office@skatepsa.com © 2024 by Professional Skaters Association, all rights reserved. Subscription price is $19.95 per year, Canadian $29.00 and foreign $45.00/year, U.S. Funds.

Happy New Year to Each One of You!

I

hope this New Year finds you well and filled with excitement for the possibilities that 2024 holds for us in the world of figure skating.

Looking back, 2023 was a year of significant changes for the PSA, marking a new chapter in our collective journey.

As we embrace the dawn of a new year, my sincere hope is that 2024 will bring positive strides, growth, and continued success to both our coaches and our beloved sport.

For those who attended the fall webinars on the coaching changes, you are likely aware of the transformative shifts on the horizon. Starting July 1st, the PSA membership will no longer be a requirement for coaching compliance as U.S. Figure Skating takes the reins of coaching education, aiming to certify all coaches in our sport. The PSA, in response, is committed to preserving its legacy, ensuring that the hard work of our volunteers, staff, board members, past leaders, and membership remains relevant in the evolving landscape.

U.S. Figure Skating will seamlessly transfer all active PSA Ratings into their new certification and accreditation system. The familiar CERs from the PSA will be replaced by U.S. Figure Skating’s CEUs. The prospect of coaches having a new voice and vote in the governance of U.S. Figure Skating is an exciting development. We are actively collaborating with everyone to ensure that our community, awards, history, and coach education progress positively, benefiting coaches at every level.

Amidst the substantial changes, the PSA Board of Governors is diligently working to identify matters that are important to the PSA membership. As these changes influence the way each of you conducts your business and education, we acknowledge the integral role PSA has played in your coaching careers. However, with coaching education transitioning to U.S. Figure Skating, coupled with the removal of the membership requirement, sustaining paid staff, maintaining intellectual property, and providing programming may pose significant if not impossible challenges. The upcoming months will serve as a transition period, during which we urge you to stay informed through emails, webinars, and announcements from both the PSA and U.S. Figure Skating.

Your dedication to the sport of figure skating is truly commendable and we are confident that together, we can navigate these changes and usher in a new era of growth and success for our sport. Thank you for your continued commitment and passion for coaching.

Becky Stump is the President of PSA and resides on the east coast.

PS MAGAZINE

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RATINGS & RECOGNITION

What Do You Have to Show?

A

commitment to the ratings process and achieving a rating is much more than just earning a credential and adding it to your resume. The ratings process affords each candidate the opportunity to take a deep dive into understanding how they teach what they teach. The process enables the candidate to achieve a strong sense of their teaching methodology and allows the coach to become more efficient and effective during the lesson.

As a coach is preparing to sit for an exam, the study guides available in each discipline help the candidate self-evaluate their methodology. The questions interspersed within the study guides are designed to elicit thoughts of how you are teaching a particular turn in skating skills, or how you approach jumps and spins, or creating a program for a world level competitor. Will your methods allow you to coach successfully from the grassroots levels all the way to championship level?

This preparation will encourage a candidate to pause and think about how they are teaching what they are teaching. This allows opportunities for the candidate to identify any holes in their information and evaluate how they deliver the information to the skater. Additionally, preparing for an exam helps to highlight areas of strength and how, as a coach, you can continue to develop yourself.

Lastly, ratings exams provide an opportunity to connect with other rated professionals and build your network of people to seek technical help from, receive guidance from, and share ideas. While preparing for your verbal exam, the PSA offers Ratings Study Groups led by Master Rated professionals who are current with exam procedures. Study Groups will be offered in February and March for Skating Skills, Free Skate and Group disciplines for all Registered through Master levels.

FEEDBACK FROM A NOVEMBER CANDIDATE:

“I’m very pleased with how the virtual rating went!! I was apprehensive before it because it has been so long (30 yrs) since my last rating! ... I’m actually looking forward to doing my next rating exam now!!”

Kirsten Miller-Zisholz (MFS, MM) is the 3rd Vice President and oversees the Ratings Committee

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Virtual Rating Exams Schedule • February 9, 10, and 11 Site is full — waiting list in effect • April 12, 13 & 14 Sign up begins January 15th • Newly Added! May 10 & 11 Sign up begins February 15th

Thank you to our dedicated Rating Examiners for all of your precious time and efforts in 2023.

Linda Alexander Michelle Lauerman Jackie Brenner Gloria Leous Lee Cabell Diane Miller Alex Chang Kirsten Miller-Zisholz Tim Covington Katie Moose Alyssa Craig Kelley Morris Adair Vikki Dalquist John Mucko Jeff Digregorio Patrick O'Neil Philiip DiGuglielmo Julie Patterson Marylill Elbe Tara Patterson Cheryl Faust David Redlin Lisa Geltz-Perri Carol Rossignol Carrie Greene Jimmie Santee Jonathan Hayward Russ Scott Doug Haw Kris Shakarjian Teri Hooper Danny Tate Grant Huang Heidi Thibert Brock Huddleston Janet Tremer Susan J. Wagner Roxanne Tyler Robbie Kaine Kathryn Vaughn Andria Kelling Kim Wheeland Stacie Kuglin Denise Williamson Andrea Kunz-Williamson Ashley Wyatt Jamie Lane-Youtsey Barb Yackel Gerry Lane Nicole Zawojski Debbie Lane

Be wise enough to learn from the past, shrewd enough to capitalize on the present, and clever enough to prepare for the future. ~Matshona Dhliwayo Basic Accreditation

Ice Den Chandler* Chandler AZ

Heidi Lustig Evelyn Jackson Jeannette McGowan

Giannia Imhof Brooke Gewalt Julia Kowalski

Ice Den Scottsdale* Scottsdale AZ

World Arena Ice Hall*

Colorado Springs CO

November 2023 | Ratings Hannah Bay MG Ellen Bennett SSS Sara Buck-Lalonde SSS Connie Budiwarman RSS Alexis Capouellez MPD Jessica Chism SSS Erin Egelhoff SFS Alexander Ho RSS Natalia Irvine RFS Tammy Jimenez MPD Inna Kuznetsova CFS Sacha Lalonde SSS Rachel Landers SG Naomi Lang RSPD

Martha's Vineyard

Vineyard Haven MA

Bonnie Lewis CFS Lucas Marquardt SD Natalie Matthies RTOI Elena Morrow-Spitzer RFS Tatum Nachtrab SSS

Coach Aimee Skating Academy Lake Hiwwatha NJ

ONYX Suburban Skating Academy Rochester MI

Lenie Newby Estrella MPD Shayne Orologio RSPD Alyssa Stump SG Elizabeth Treu MSS Kathryn Vaughn CSPD Janice Wallace RSS Kimberly Wilczak SSS Ashley Wyatt CPD Nicole Zawojski CTOI

Palm Beach Skate Zone Lake Worth FL

Palm Beach Ice Works

West Palm Beach FL

Rochester Figure Skating Club Rochester, MN

The above are progressive training facilities dedicated to excellence in coaching both on- and off-ice.

Master Rating Achieved

www.skatepsa.com

Accelerated Coaching Partnership Mickey Farrell Sakshi Wagh Amanda Meek

Skating Skills Free Sakte Free Skate

Meet * these rinks on pages 7 and 12!

Mentor: Jan Tremer Mentor: Karen Gesell Mentor: Tiffnay McNeil

Hockey Skating 1

RANKINGS

Michael Farrell Kinsey Kleppe Alexeia Gorecki Natsuki Hirota

• Gerry Lane

Level 6 Dance

• Debbie Lane

Level 6 Dance

• Gerry Lane

Level 6 Singles

• Debbie Lane

Level 6 Singles

Hockey Skating 2 Michael Farrell Alexeia Gorecki

• Lorie Charbonneau • Philip Deyesso

Level 7 Singles

Level 2 Singles

• Kananililiaikapela Tanka

Level 4 Singles

• Kananililiaikapela Tanka

Level 4 Pairs

• Crystal Rose Sanders

Level 1 Showcase

Hockey Skating 3

• Gretchen Caudill Bauer

Level 3 Singles

• Matej Silecky

Level 4 Pairs

Michael Farrell

• Matej Silecky

Level 4 Singles

PS MAGAZINE

5

EDUCATION THE UNSEEN BURDEN:

Competitive Figure Skating Coaches World of Stress S

tress! We experience this often in our daily lives.

It is challenging to watch or listen to the news without hearing a story that induces stress. Like many careers, the role of a competitive coach is filled with stress and it comes from a myriad of directions.

Our sport is a captivating display of athleticism, artistry, and grace and behind the allure that draws fans to our sport lies a demanding—and typically stressful—environment for both athletes and coaches. At the most elite levels of competition, the pressure to perform can be immense and the stakes incredibly high. For coaches, these demands can be intensified by the responsibility they feel for their skater’s success.

We, as coaches, realize the vital role we play in the development of our athletes. Coaches at all levels provide technical direction, choreography, offer mental support, and so much more. Typically, it is the coach that first sees the potential in their athlete.

With this realization, the coach creates a roadmap for the athlete to follow to achieve excellence with unwavering commitment. This role is demanding and can take a toll on the coaches’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

We joke at times about how our sport is literally “slippery”. One poor edge, timing off by a fraction of a second, catching a bad piece of ice can make a difference in the technical score and overall performance. The slightest mistake can cost 1/100th of a point which can result in an undesired placement. The constant pressure to perform can be overwhelming for both parties.

Working with younger athletes creates challenges as these individuals are still in the process of developing their emotional maturity and coping skills.

It is common to witness athletes doubting themselves, becoming anxious about performing and the common fear of failure. During training, coaches need to travel through these obstacles with them providing emotional support to their athlete while continuing their focus on training and competition. This alone

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can be draining for any coach.

While at the Orlando Summit one of the speakers spoke of the years of stress leading up to the Olympic Games. After the Games the experience left him utterly exhausted. Hearing this has drifted back into my mind several times which is the reason for this column’s topic. Coaching at a high level can take a significant toll on coaches’. The symptoms of this stress can be seen as anxiety, depression, burnout, and changes in physical health. Often the demands of the job can place their personal life into jeopardy.

I asked a few of our country’s Elite coaches how they manage stress on a daily basis, during a major event or how they recover after a long season. Here are just a few responses…

Tammy Gambill 2017 USFS/PSA Coach of the Year & four time Developmental Coach of the Year During the Beijing Olympics, I felt that I mostly tried to keep the stress off of my skater and to make it feel like one more competition but with a much greater experience. I wanted her to milk every moment of the Olympic experience. We had so much more media attention because of the Russian doping situation and so it was a little overwhelming. To be truthful, the media was over the top and having a skater face all these distractions—and falling down the stairs the morning of the short program—was a little much!

There is so much more pressure on the kids to live up to the expectations of the fans. So, I think the biggest take away for me was that the focus was not on me and my role was to keep my skater feeling as positive as possible and enjoying every moment of her Olympic adventure.

Highlights

Peter and Darlene Cain Olympic Coaches/Team USA Something we’ve started to do during the day is take short timeouts for ourselves.

We do a little meditation, some breathing exercises, and even some stretching or yoga poses. Taking these reset moments alleviates some of the stress of coaching. Walking outside in the sunshine for 30 minutes away from everything with no phone has really helped. We have also stopped rushing to answer every single email or text the moment it arrives and this has lightened the load as well. Lastly, finding time for holidays away has become more important than ever…in our new RV!!

Darin Hosier 2023 USFS/PSA Developmental Coach of the Year I have started using an Apollo Neuro to see if it has an impact on my HRV (heart rate variability) regarding “competition cocoons” and butterflies. (If so, it could potentially be a future training tool for our skaters.)

And after a major competition? Puppy hugs and trash TV with the hubby. At the end of the season?

VACATION! Jeff Digregorio Two-time USFS/PSA Developmental Coach of the Year When I was competing we were told to never wear green because it was bad luck.

The first time I wore green as a coach at a competition, my skater won!! Of course, after that, I usually wore green for the short program and black for the long. I also never shaved before the short and always shaved before the long. It was my lucky thing and my way of fighting off stress and nerves.

The rewards of being a competitive coach can be incredibly rewarding. However, it is demanding and with a large amount of responsibility. Coaches who are able to manage their own stress are then able to provide their athletes with support they require to attain their fullest potential. One of the best things a coach models for their athlete is the importance of prioritizing their own mental health.

Denise Williamson (MFS, MM, SFF, CC) is the chair of PSA's Education Committee.

World Arena Ice Hall

Colorado Springs, CO EOI facility since 2008

Why is being an EOI rink important to you?

Being an EOI rink is important to us because we place great significance in being an elite training facility that values coaching excellence both on and off-ice, while also offering a wide variety of programming to our patrons.

What makes your rink standout?

The World Arena Ice Hall is one of the finest training facilities in the world. It is a highaltitude facility that provides elite-level services for emerging athletes. We offer more than 120 hours per week dedicated to figure skating, as well as comprehensive on-ice and off-ice programs that attract all levels of skaters from across the World. We are committed to growing the sport with our programming and by creating a culture of figure skating excellence with a system of structured learning supplemented by individual development from a staff of PSA-certified instructors. We are the home of Olympians as well as those who are just learning the sport.

Excel at Excel

2024 EXCEL SERIES UPDATE

By Marc Weitzman, National Vice-Chair – Excel Program

S

ince its inception in 2019, the Excel Series has seen rapid growth and continues to offer athletes an exciting and competitive environment that motivates them to focus on strengthening their program components and advancing their technical skills.

The 5th season of the Excel Series kicks off in January and will run through June 2nd, culminating with the Excel National Final & Festival July 11-14, 2024. Skaters interested in participating in the 2024 Excel Series will need to complete the online Excel Series registration form by March 1, 2024, or prior to their first series competition — whichever is earlier. Additionally, skaters must register for the individual Series competitions they wish to enter.

Skaters must participate in at least two Series competitions in order to have their scores recognized. Skaters may enter any Series competition, anywhere in the country.

For qualifying events, each skater’s top two scores earned at Series competitions will be added together to attain their final point total.

Skaters can compete in as many series competitions during the season as they desire; however, only the skater’s top two point finishes will be used towards their point total with top finishers receiving invitations to the 2024 Excel National Final & Festival. For “Open” events, athletes must participate in at least two Series competitions in order to receive an invitation to the 2024 Excel National Festival. New this year: “Open” event Excel Series athletes will receive recognition

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through the New Excel Series Online Podium throughout the Series season based on placement at Excel Series Competitions.

As the series gets underway, we want to make sure you are aware of some of the changes this season so that you can best prepare your athletes for success. aThe biggest changes to this year’s series, and all competitions including Excel events, pertains to the compression of some lower levels. The New Aspire 1-4 competition levels were created, in part, to reduce redundancy in Freeskate and Beginner, High Beginner levels and a more unified pipeline.

More information can be found on the Compete USA site and the required program elements for each level are included on the elements chart for Excel. For the 2024 Excel Series, Aspire 1-4 categories will be included in the Series. For simplicity: Excel Beginner most closely matches Aspire 2 (max salchow & toe-loop) and Excel High Beginner most closely matches Aspire 3 (max loop jump).

In addition, now that the tests have been de-coupled from competition level, the Excel Program is working towards reducing some of the redundancy between the levels. As Excel Pre-Juvenile was the smallest category in the 2023 series, we began there. Excel Preliminary has almost the identical requirements and the same program length as the Excel Pre-Juvenile level had in 2023. Skaters who were at the Excel Preliminary level last year and have tested their

“Skaters can compete in as many series competitions during the season as theY desire; however, only the skater’s top two point finishes will be used towards their point total...”

Pre-Juvenile freeskate tests can still skate Excel Preliminary as there is no maximum for test level.

If you coach one of the handful of athletes who skated in Excel Pre-Juvenile for the 2023 season and you feel your skater is not yet ready to enter Excel Pre-Juvenile Plus or Excel Juvenile, the Excel Program and USFS will make an exception to allow those skaters to lower their competitive floor for the 2024 Excel Series. To do so, please have your skater sign up for the Excel Series as Pre-Juvenile Plus. Once the registration is complete, send an email to Casey Mallory (Cmallory@usfigureskating.org) to request to be moved to Excel Preliminary.

CHANGES to REQUIRED ELEMENTS CHARTS: Steps To align with the test requirements as well as the well-balanced requirements, Excel Pre-Preliminary, Excel Preliminary, Excel Preliminary Plus and Excel Pre-Juvenile Plus will no longer include a choreographic step, but instead include a choreographic sequence. The requirements for this element will be identical to those in well-balanced (at least two different movements like spirals, arabesques, spread eagles, Ina Bauers, hydroblading, small jumps, etc.). The code for the Choreographic Sequence at these levels will be pChSq1 for a confirmed sequence, with a base value of 1.50, and pChSq for a no value sequence.

For Juvenile Plus and Intermediate Plus, the choreographic step will be replaced with a leveled

step sequence. For Juvenile Plus, the step will have a maximum of level 1. The only feature evaluated for level is: Feature #1 – Minimum Variety (five difficult turns and steps), none of these can be counted more than twice. For Intermediate Plus, the step can have a maximum of level 2. The only features evaluated for level are: Feature #1 – Minimum Variety (five difficult turns and steps) or simple variety (7 difficult turns and steps) none of these can be counted more than twice & Feature #2 – rotations in either direction with full body rotation covering at least 1/3 of the pattern in total.

For Excel Novice the maximum level for the step sequence will increase from level 2 to level 3. All features in ISU Communication #2558 will be evaluated to determine the level, with a maximum of level three to be awarded.

Spins Excel Pre-Preliminary will still require one spin to be a spin in a single position with no change of foot. For the 2024 season, the other spin may either be a single position spin with no change of foot, a combination spin with no change of foot or a combination spin with a change of foot. As always, both spins must be of different character (codes).

As the quality of spins has dramatically improved, the solo spin in Pre-Juvenile Plus will require a basic position for at least two continuous revolutions to receive a value.

Jumps For all levels Juvenile Plus and below, there is a maximum of two of any of the same jump permitted. This is inclusive for solo jumps and/or jump sequences.

For Intermediate Plus, there is a maximum of two single Axels. These can be done as solo jumps and/ or part of jump combinations or jump sequences.

For more information on required elements, technical rules, as well as the list of series competitions and the complete Excel series handbook, please be sure to visit the Excel Page on usfs.org.

The success of this program could not have been possible without the support of our coaches.

We value your input and feedback as we continue to develop this program for the athletes. Best of luck to all your skaters for a most productive and rewarding 2024 Excel Series!

PS MAGAZINE

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PSA OFFICE UPDATE | Executive Director

JIMMIE SANTEE

On to the Next Stage

By Kent McDill

A

fter more than 17 years as the Executive Director of the Professional Skater’s Association, Jimmie Santee has moved on.

Answering a call few could turn down, Santee accepted the position as tour manager for Disney on Ice’s current tour, Mickey’s Search Party. In that role, he joins son Ryan who is a performing skater for Disney on Ice. “I hadn’t planned on leaving until the end of my contract in June (2024), but this opportunity came up and it was with Ryan,’’ Santee said. With the end of his role as Executive Director in sight, he made the decision to move on.

How It Started

2011 PSA Conference | Dallas 2009

Santee became the Executive Director of the PSA in 2006 after spending many years managing the Oakton Ice Arena in suburban Chicago. That job grew from coaching skaters and running the ice rink to operating all the facilities surrounding the arena, including a swimming pool, a golf driving range, and a dog park.

He was also the model suburban dad, getting his three children to their baseball or softball games or soccer matches while his wife Jamie conducted figure skating lessons at the ice arena.

Oh, and he was also serving as the mascot, Skates, for the local minor league hockey club, the Chicago Wolves.

“I was working so many hours and I felt I was missing things with the kids,’’ Santee said.

As a member of the Ice Skating Institute Board of Directors at the time, Santee was serving as the liaison to the PSA when Carol Shulman announced her retirement as the PSA’s Executive Director.

“I got it in my brain that it would be nice to have just one job and to be able to focus on both my kids and my work,’’ Santee said. “The PSA offered me a better balance of family and business.”

His Tenure At the end of each membership year of Santee’s time as Executive Director, he would write a synopsis of the organization’s accomplishments during the previous year. Building membership and increasing participation at the PSA Summits were regularly mentioned.

But the world changed during Santee’s tenure. The PSA needed to change with it.

Santee said the greatest accomplishment of the PSA during his 17-year reign was “figuring out how to deliver online content, and then getting that process completed.”

The goal was to extend the PSA’s reach in conducting educational events virtually without requiring professionals to gather in a specified location.

“With the advent of Zoom, we were able to get education to

2019

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2013

B A R B YAC K E L 2014 PSA Palm Springs Golf Classic benefitting PS Foundation 1st Place Team: Jimmie Santee, Todd Eldridge, Darin Mathewson, Peter Cain

all corners of the country in an affordable manner, as opposed to trying to organize in-person events,’’ he said.

Virtual learning allowed for dramatically lowered costs — “Like, going out to the west coast and managing an event in Oregon where there is a lower and more-spread-out number of members and they have to drive to get to the event... we were able to bypass some of those cost barriers.”

These new virtual tools and skills became vastly more significant when the coronavirus struck. With everything shut down, including rinks and skating events, PSA’s communication and guidance efforts went into overdrive.

PSA held regular webinars, sought legitimate guidance in an ever-evolving landscape, and found new ways to support members via the PS Foundation while also taking immediate measures to protect the association.

“During Covid, we did a plethora of events for thousands of our coaches,’’ Santee said. “Our online events were very well attended. For our first virtual On the road with Disney summit, we had over 1,000 registrain December 2023 tions and much of that was at no cost to members. Our mission was accomplished during Covid at a more thorough level than I thought possible.”

A Familiar Face The PSA Board of Governors extended an invitation to Barb Yackel to step into the role of Interim Executive Director and lead the PSA staff through the integration with U.S. Figure Skating. Barb embraced the opportunity to work with a team of fabulous colleagues to carry out the PSA mission in the transition days ahead. Likewise, everyone is sincerely grateful to Jimmie Santee for developing and educating such a wonderful team.

Barb is well known to our membership for her years of tireless effort to further the educational opportunities of skating coaches and professionals. To this position, Barb brings passion, dedication, and a vast knowledge of the inner workings of the Association and looks forward to fulfilling the PSA's mission. She will continue her duties with events and marketing and expand her role to lead the day-to-day operations of the PSA.

On With The Show The timing of PSA’s transition to U.S. Figure Skating aligned with the Disney offer he couldn’t refuse. The move not only allows Santee to join his son on tour, it also returns him to coaching as he works with performers on technique and presentation.

The PSA survived and thrived through these last years in large part due to the dedicated efforts of Jimmie Santee.

2014

PS MAGAZINE

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Highlights

Ice Den Chandler & Ice Den Scottsdale Arizona Why is being an EOI rink important to you?

Receiving the EOI endorsement is important to our rink because it confirms and recognizes our exceptional staff and programming. Maintaining this standard from season to season demonstrates our commitment of offering the highest quality programming to our skating community.

What makes your rink standout?

We are fortunate to have a private owner who shares our passion for ice sports and continues to invest in our staff and facilities. We pride ourselves on operating state-ofthe-art venues along with a variety of amenities. With over 60 coaches between the two locations, we can confidently offer a wide range of programming including Learn to Skate, Learn to Speed Skate, Pre-Hockey, Aspire Programs, figure skating, dance, solo dance, synchro, adult skating, as well as off-ice classes which include spinners, jumps, dryland, ballet + stretch. Our Learn to Skate Scottsdale program has been recognized in the nation’s Top 10 list since we opened our doors over 25 years ago.

How do you encourage harmony, goodwill, and ethical behavior among, skaters, parents, coaches and rink personnel ?

Intentional, consistent communication among staff and between staff and our ice sports community is imperative to our success. Through our “Respect the Rink” campaign, we promote the importance of being a good sport and share detailed information on policies and expectations among our community. In 2023, our business was featured as a Top Workplace in Arizona, based on employee feedback.

Contributors:Tara Patterson, Julie Patterson, Dawn PiepenbrinkMcCosh, and Tammy Jimenez.

What education do you provide for your coaches on and off the ice?

We encourage our coaches to continue their professional development and education, by pursuing ratings, and host our own PSA ratings study sessions. With 19 Master Rated coaches on staff, our team collaborates on study and prep work to support each other and build comradery. This also aligns expectations and standards which contributes to a healthy work environment.

Intern and Junior coach training opportunities exist both on and off the ice and are frequently filled by skaters from within our own skating community.

To continue to grow and develop our Ice Denettes synchro program, we partner on choreography and technique with National level synchro coaches throughout the competitive season.

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JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2024

Join the talented Disney On Ice team and find infinite opportunities to reach your potential as a performer.

Start your journey at DisneyOnIceAuditions.com

A Community that Cares

It's easy to donate via PayPal!

For the coaches.

The Professional Skaters Foundation was founded to expand the educational opportunities of PSA members through a non-profit, charitable foundation.

Visit skatepsa.com for more information.

All contributions are tax-deductible.

COACH

Coach Integration into U.S. Figure Skating

By Heidi Thibert, U.S. Figure Skating Director of Coaching Development and Education

P

rompted by a survey of athlete members for the development of U.S. Figure Skating’s Strategic Plan 2022-26 where athletes ranked their coaches as the #1 influence in their success, U.S. Figure Skating and PSA took the first steps forward seeking to grow our sport in the U.S. by moving coach education development and certification to U.S. Figure Skating. The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) encourages and supports the move for the National Governing Bodies (NGBs), such as U.S. Figure Skating, to house their coaching development and education programs and certify their coaches. At the 2023 Governing Council, the vote for a coach-specific membership was 983 in favor to 9 opposed. The message was truly clear— coaches are important!

As coaches are the only constituency that has regular interactions with athletes, parents, officials, clubs and rink management, a critical component to growing our sport is an integrated coaching program included in strategic decision-making to ensure a common strategy for growth and success.

The coach integration plan includes empowering the coaching members by implementing: 1. U.S. Figure Skating Coach Membership: through a club or individual member/Background check/ SafeSport Training/Liability insurance/Core Certification/Continuing Education Units (CEUs) 2. Verification/ Validation (online, searchable directory with a coach digital “business card” verifying aspects of their coaching business) 3. Governance and Voting Rights (Coaches Council with voting privileges at Governing Council) 4. System of Coach Development (Team at headquarters to deliver coach certification, development, and education maximizing USOPC resources for all U.S. Figure Skating coaches) 5. Rules and Athlete Programs more coach-driven (coach influence and connection to athlete development and athlete experiences)

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U.S. Figure Skating Coaches Council

The U.S. Figure Skating Coaches Council was approved by the 2023 Governing Council as part of the coach integration project, and the U.S. Figure Skating Board of Directors has appointed the inaugural Coaches Council that will serve as an Interim Council to sunset when an elected Council takes its place in May 2025.

The Council is led by a Chair, Tim Covington, and a leadership team of six vice-chairs. The Council includes at least one-third athletes, which may be 10 year or 10 year+ athletes; however, members are not allowed to serve simultaneously on the Athletes Advisory Committee. An “athlete” is defined as anyone who has represented TEAM USA at an international competition at the senior level, or World junior or junior Grand Prix at any point in their skating career.

The twenty-seven members that make up the Council reflect the broad experiences of the coaching community. Backgrounds that were considered include coaching at various levels from Learn to Skate USA to national and international, as well as all disciplines and programs offered in U.S. Figure Skating.

The Coaches Council reports to the U.S. Figure Skating Board of Directors and communicates regularly with other committees, especially those in the Athlete Services Section.

The Council fulfills the following responsibilities: • Functions as a space to share ideas and knowledge and input from coach members of U.S. Figure Skating.

• Serves as an advisory group and partners on strategies with appropriate U.S. Figure Skating staff departments delivering coach certification, development, and education.

• Provides input into athlete development strategies and major decisions impacting athletes (i.e., NQS, qualifying pipeline, etc.)

• Serves as delegates to the Governing Council, representing coaches (2025).

• Supports working groups for areas supporting

“Coaches are key to the growth, development, and continued success of our sport and need a voice.” coaches – i.e., mentoring, events, parents’ education, education topics, written materials, professional standards, and awards programs.

• Advises and facilitates coach representation on all U.S. Figure Skating Committees

U.S. Figure Skating Coach Core Certification

For the 2024-25 Season, in lieu of completing CERs as done in the past, all current coaches will complete the Coach Core Certification as a requirement for Coach Compliance. All coaches will take this ONE time in our careers, and when we complete the certification assessment we will be recognized as an official U.S. Figure Skating Certified Coach.

The “U.S. Figure Skating Coach Core Certification” was built using the USOPC Quality Coaching Framework, the USOPC Coaching Principles, and the National Standards for Sport Coaches as a blueprint.

These standards describe the core responsibilities coaches should possess along with supporting competencies that provide insight into the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to support a quality sport experience.

The Coach Core Certification will be an interactive, engaging online course with multiple sections that are aligned to the U.S. Figure Skating values of: Excellence, Integrity, Respect, Resilience, and Community. These are incorporated into the content and included in the five parts: 1) Pathways and

Opportunities, 2) Coach and Athlete Well-Being, 3) Coaching Best Practices, 4) Coaching Essentials Fundamentals, and 5) General Technique Concepts.

A Coach Core Certification Guidebook will accompany the course and be available for review before, during or after taking the assessment along with some handouts for deeper reading. The assessment will not be timed, can be taken as many times needed to reach a score of 80% correct, and does not have to be finished in one sitting.

The content is not comprised of how to teach complicated skills such as triple Axels or Group 4 pair lifts, but rather brings together aspects of coaching that all coaches should be knowledgeable about. Things like communication, feedback, athletecentered coaching, and coach self-care. Also, included are the basic axioms of figure skating including body alignment, balance on the blade, body lean, acceleration, flow, and the skills that lead an athlete to quality edges and power. The content is an aggregate of the foundational concepts that underpin technique —no matter the discipline.

The Coach Core Certification ensures to members that U.S. Figure Skating has the highest level of commitment to coaching best practices and serves as an external validation of a quality and systemsapproach to coaching. It will add to the recognition of coaching as a profession in skating and enhance prestige and value. Set to open in February 2024.

PSA Ratings

Key Pillars of Integration • U.S. Figure Skating required Coach Membership with certification and continuing education (Coach I.C.E) • An online system within Members Only to verify and validate all coaches' requirements and accomplishments, available to members • Governance and Voting Rights (approved at GC) • A team at headquarters that delivers coach certification, development, and education • Influence and connection to athlete development and athlete experiences

Recognizing coaches’ past accomplishments earned through PSA is important to the development of this program. After earning the Core certification, coaches will have the opportunity to earn advanced accreditations based on the levels and disciplines currently offered through PSA Ratings. Since we started circulating this concept, we have continually had questions on how the PSA ratings transfer over to USFS. PSA Ratings must be active or “activated,” and the important thing to know is that the PSA ratings transfer level is automatic when the Core Certification is completed.

For those coaches with a Basic Accreditation, the Coach Core Certification replaces the BA on the U.S. Figure Skating system. The BA and the Coach Core Certification are quite different in their goals, composition, and scope and are not interchangeable.

All coaches (even those that are rated at higher levels) will take the Core Certification, and U.S. Figure Skating will be able to declare to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) that

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Are you a rated professional?

After coaches holding an active PSA rating at any level complete the Core Certification and join U.S. Figure Skating Coach I.C.E., their active rating is transferred to CORE CERTIFIED CORE CERTIFIED U.S. Figure Skating Accredited Coach at the following CORE CORE CERTIFIED CERTIFIED levels in the discipline in which it was earned:

COACH COACH

Get Ready for Coach I.C.E Step 1

Starting February 2024 – members login to Members Only and click U.S. Figure Skating Coach to complete the U.S. Figure Skating Core Coach Certification course. (complete by June 30, 2024)

Step 2

Starting June 2024 – after you have complete Step 1 and join USFS via a club or individual, purchase U.S. Figure Skating Coach I.C.E.

Step 3

By July 1, 2024 – complete any remaining coach compliance requirements in your Coach I.C.E. profile

Step 4

After July 1, 2024 – from within your Coach I.C.E. profile, participate in any learning activites that will count toward your CEUs that keep your certification/ accreditation active

Current, active PSA rating level transfers to:

LEVEL 11 LEVEL LEVEL 11 ACCREDITED LEVEL ACCREDITED

ACCREDITED ACCREDITED COACH COACH COACH COACH

Registered

LEVEL 22 LEVEL LEVEL 22 ACCREDITED LEVEL ACCREDITED

ACCREDITED ACCREDITED COACH COACH COACH COACH

Certified

SENIOR SENIOR SENIOR ACCREDITED SENIOR ACCREDITED

COACH COACH COACH COACH

Senior

ACCREDITED ACCREDITED

MASTER MASTER MASTER ACCREDITED MASTER ACCREDITED

Master

ACCREDITED ACCREDITED COACH COACH COACH COACH HIGH PERFORMANCE HIGH PERFORMANCE HIGH ACCREDITED HIGH PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE ACCREDITED

ACCREDITED ACCREDITED COACH COACH COACH COACH

MENTOR MENTOR 5000+ U.S. Figure Skating coaches are certified by MENTOR ACCREDITED MENTOR ACCREDITED ACCREDITED ACCREDITED their national governing body (NGB). And every coach COACH COACH COACH will be able to say they areCOACH officially certified.

Step onto “Coach I.C.E” (Inspiring Coaching Excellence)

Not only does the Core Certification open a pathway to support all coaches and guide them towards their goals, but for those who have coaching experience, it opens the coaching membership portal, “Coach I.C.E.”. This is the space to find information, content to support coaching, access compliance components, and a space to establish a network all in one place.

Coach I.C.E. will, in essence, replace a PSA membership and bring together all compliance requirements, certification/accreditation, continuing education, and professional development opportunities.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

To keep an active certification and accreditation, coaches will participate annually in their choice of continuing education units (CEUs) within Coach I.C.E. This will give coaches more control over what they feel the need to learn or review for their coaching journey.

After completing the Core Certification, joining Coach I.C.E., (and potentially transferring a higherlevel accreditation), all coaches must complete Continuing Education Units (CEUs) of their choice annually to maintain their active certification or accreditation. All CEU opportunities will be

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delivered through Coach I.C.E., as part of the member benefits or added opportunities. There will always be enough CEU options included to maintain activity at no additional cost and with no travel required. (Note: CEUs will replace CERs.) Generally, in-person workshops/seminars/events will have an additional charge and digital options will be included. Additional requirements including background check, SafeSport, insurance, waivers, etc., will be accessed and managed through the Coach I.C.E. portal on Members Only Examples of CEU Opportunities and Options • Attend an in-person U.S. Figure Skating Coach conference, seminar, or workshop • Attend a “CoachConnect Live!” program at a major event (U.S. Championships, Skate America, U.S. SyS Champs, etc.)

• Complete continuing education online eLearning modules via the U.S. Figure Skating Coach platform • Attend online webinars or seminars • Attend an online workshop, such as Coaches College Plus • Earn a new appointment as a technical specialist or test judge • Participate in an official mentor program • Complete a higher-level accreditation Concept: Coaches must be regularly, and actively engaged in learning and continuing education, but they choose the experience that best supports them in their

coaching career and journey. CEUs replace CERs, but as a more flexible option. CEUs will not be restricted to specific online courses, coaches can use any of our education offerings to fulfill the annual CEUs.

Coach Profile and Coach Directory

Coaches will manage their coach profile via Members Only, and input and select items to display on the U.S. Figure Skating Coach Directory. The Coach Directory will be available to U.S. Figure Skating members and will output current, compliant, certified/accredited members of Coach I.C.E. Examples of Items Under Development (Subject to Change) • Name, email, coaching website, home club, affiliated rink(s) • Coaching Philosophy and Coaching Background • Certification/accreditation level(s) • Competitive Coaching Experience* • Disciplines/specialties • Additional relevant degree/certification • Personal test and qualifying competition history • Continuing education

* This replaces the content of the PSA Rankings, which recognize the highest levels of competition a coach has coached a skater in. Currently, rankings are obtained by submitting a form and paying a fee and are not recognizable publicly. This will be included for all coaches, along with a standardized sheet of definitions.

The collective coaches’ passion and expertise are

vital to the sustainable development of figure skating in the U.S., and athlete success is dependent on the number and quality of coaches within the sport.

Coaches provide expertise to improve and maintain the performance of athletes of all levels and all disciplines, and they also motivate, inspire, and develop athletes as healthy individuals with a life-long love for skating.

After almost 15 years on the staff at PSA, on June 1, 2023, I started as the U.S. Figure Skating Director of Coaching Development and Education. I have cherished being a part of PSA and the work we have all done together. I am proud and honored to have been a part of the broad and deep impact that has occurred since 2009 when I joined the PSA staff. I am extremely grateful to the PSA staff and Board of Governors for all the professional and personal relationships forged throughout that time.

The scope of work is to design, create, deliver, and evaluate a coaching development pathway for long-term coach development and implement a coach certification system for the first time in the history of U.S. Figure Skating. As I begin this journey, I welcome your feedback, ideas, questions, and concerns always.

Contact

My email is: hthibert@usfigureskating.org, and I can be reached at 719-559-5535 ext. 914. I will respond or call you back as soon as I am able.

Additional resources — 719.635.5200 memberservices@usfigureskating.org coaching@usfigureskating.org

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FAIRFAX ICE ARENA 3779 Pickett Road, Fairfax, VA 22031

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JOIN OUR COACHING STAFF

• Guaranteed a base salary of $70,000 –$95,000 • Relocation allotment offer • Paid Vacation Days

ABOUT US For more than 50 years, Fairfax Ice Arena has offered year-round indoor public ice skating, and recreational and competitive figure skating programs, a Pro Shop and a cafe. The rink continues to have first-rate, world and nationally renowned coaches and competitive skaters. We are proud to be the home ice rink of the Skating Club of Northern Virginia.

Fairfax Ice Arena is located only 12 miles from Washington D.C., in Fairfax County, Virginia, one of the wealthiest county in the United States.

OUR PROGRAMS • More than 58 figure skating sessions each week during fall, winter, and spring

• A 10-week Summer Training School • Ballet and Off-Ice Training Studio • Jump harness on- and off-ice • Our program has developed Olympic,

World, National, Sectional, and Regional ranked skaters

REQUIREMENTS • A minimum of 3 –5 years coaching competitive figure skaters and/or

• A National or International competitor as a singles senior level skater and/or

• A principal show skater at a reputable show production

Email your resume and skating video reel links to General Manager Todd Martin at tmartin@fairfaxicearena.com.

Did you see our furry Facebook post? We asked to see the support system behind the coach and boy, did you deliver.

It was fun to see how many of our coaches are able to include their pets with skating, whether they cheer the TV or chase pucks across the ice.

New Members NEW MEMBER

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Brianna Botcher

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Kennedy J. briggs

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calendar JANUARY 2024 Event

RATINGS STUDY GROUP

Event

RATINGS STUDY GROUP

Date Credits

Registered and Certified Skating Skills discipline Mondays—January 8, 15, 22, 29, and February 5 5 PSA Educational Credits

Date Credits

Registered and Certified Free Skating discipline Thursdays—January 11, 18, 25, February 1, 8 5 PSA Educational Credits

Event Date Credits

Virtual Foundations of Coaching Course January 9, 16, 23, 30, and February 6 10 PSA Educational Credits

Event

RATINGS STUDY GROUP

Date Credits

Registered and Certified Group discipline Thursdays—January 11, 18, 25, February 1, 8 5 PSA Educational Credits

Event

RATINGS STUDY GROUP

Date Credits

Senior and Master Skating Skills discipline Wednesdays—January 10, 17, 24, 31, February 7 5 PSA Educational Credits

Janua

Study ry regist Group deadl ration in Januar et is y5 h

FEBRUARY 2024 Event Date Credits

Virtual Ratings Exams *Event full – waiting list in effect February 9-11 1 PSA Educational Credit

MARCH 2024 Event

RATINGS STUDY GROUP

Event

RATINGS STUDY GROUP

Date Credits

Senior and Master Skating Skills discipline Mondays—March 4, 11, 18, 25, and April 1 5 PSA Educational Credits

Date Credits

Registered and Certified Group discipline Wednesdays—March 6, 13, 20, 27, and April 3 5 PSA Educational Credits

Event

RATINGS STUDY GROUP

Event

RATINGS STUDY GROUP

Date Credits

Registered and Certified Skating Skills discipline Mondays—March 4, 11, 18, 25, and April 1 5 PSA Educational Credits

Date Credits

Senior and Master Free Skating discipline Thursdays—March 7, 14, 21, 28, and April 4 5 PSA Educational Credits

Event

RATINGS STUDY GROUP

Date Credits

Registered and Certified Free Skating discipline Tuesdays—March 5, 12, 19, 26, and April 2 5 PSA Educational Credits

APRIL 2024 Event Date Credits

Virtual Ratings Exams – all disciplines and levels *Exception is Synchronized Skating April 12-14, 2024 1 PA Educational Credit *Registration open January 15, 2024

For the most up-to-date Calendar of Events, visit www.skatepsa.com

20

JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2024

New

MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT!

Coaching Group Lessons

by Jonathan Hayward

Register for free in the Online Store and access the course in your E-Learning account.

AVAILABLE IN THE PSA ONLINE STORE www.skatepsa.com

PS MAGAZINE

21

A PUBLICATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL SKATERS ASSOCIATION

3006 Allegro Park Lane SW Rochester, MN 55902

2023 Photo of the Year Finalist

by Michael Martineau