New Beginnings and the New Year

By Alex Chang, MFS, RM

The new season brings new hope, hidden possibilities, and most importantly, a moment to reset, reflect, and restart. The past year has no doubt brought unprecedented challenges to all of us, but before we breathe a collective 2021 sigh of relief, the battle with COVID continues and the game plan still requires mindfulness, strategy, and execution.

The good news is that we as coaches are known to be examples of resilience, patience, and resourcefulness. We bring out the best in others, identifying the challenges and opportunities with each scenario and make the best of each situation. No two skaters are alike and so we adapt our plans accordingly, and this past year we have all had to adapt, re-adapt, and ‘re-imagine’ the possibilities.

So I ask, what would you like to see for yourself as we begin the new year? Like a sculptor shapes his/her clay, what imprint, design, and vision will you bring to life for yourself, for your skaters, and for your communities? What strategies are you working on with your rinks, your clubs, and your coaching team? Every county, state, and region is different and requires collaboration on a local level to find the right solution, now more than ever. With so much uncertainty, it may feel like this is an unfair and unanswerable question, but remember, smart decisions combined with small steps and team collaboration creates visible results.

As skaters, we have all had to face what felt like impossible scenarios, but we took on the challenge, faced the competition, and focused on ‘the work’...

— on quality, on performing our personal best, on achieving one goal at a time and build upon each accomplishment. Though we are not able to control or ‘fix everything’ in our bubble, we can focus on what we can do (versus what we can’t) and walk away each day with pride, dignity, and personal satisfaction.

As you read this, just remember that you are not alone, and your friends at the PSA will continue to provide education and professional growth opportunities. We have continued to add more Virtual Ratings Exams in response to your requests, as well as Virtual Foundations of Coaching Course, Virtual Summit, Webinars, Accelerated Coaching Partnerships (ACP), and upcoming Virtual Ratings Prep. The staff and leadership have been busy re-imagining all of our curriculums and formats in an effort to provide accessible education and support to our members.

Together, we will persevere and find our strength. Wishing you all a fresh start and renewed purpose in the new year.

Yours in skating,