May/June 2022 PS Magazine

MAY/JUNE 2022

Miami University COLLEGIATE VARSITY

U. S . F I G U R E S K AT I N G S Y N C H R O N I Z E D S K AT I N G CHAMPIONSHIPS Coached by Carla DeGirolamo, Lee Ann Shoker, Kelley Morris Adair

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.

MAY/JUNE 2022

COLUMNS 2

Team PSA

4

President’s Message

6

Ratings

FEATURES

| Alex Chang

| Cheryl Faust

10

Sport Science

14

Education

20

Coaching Development |

36

Best Business Practices

| Garrett Lucash

Heidi Thibert

DEPARTMENTS 6 34 38 40 41

9

PSA Membership Restructure

13

Travel Nutrition

15

PSA Best Performance Award Winners

17

PSA Summit Preview

22

Beijing and Bust: My 2022 Journey with Vincent Zhou |

26

U.S. Figure Skating Synchronized Skating Championships

28

2022 PSA Synchro Coaches Honor Roll

32

Accelerated Coaching Partnerships in Action

35

It’s Competition Season!

Don’t Exclude Any Skaters!

| By Julianne Pondelli

by Tom Zakrajsek

| By Courtney Fecske

Professional Development Recognition Professional Skaters Foundation New Members PSA Calendar of Events Obituary Elizabeth Thornton | Editor/Advertising Amanda Taylor | Art Director

Find, Friend, Follow

Issue No 3 |

COVER: Photo courtesy of U.S. Figure Skating

WWW.SKATEPSA.COM

PS MAGAZINE

1

Support for Ukraine P

SA stands with Ukraine. Our thoughts go out to our skating community affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Coaches and performing skaters who have been directly impacted are encouraged to apply to the PS Foundation Skaters Fund for financial assistance.

The PS Foundation also stands with Ukraine, their coaches, and performing skaters.

All donations made to the PS Foundation from March 18 through May 31, 2022 will go directly towards helping Ukrainian coaches and performing skaters pay for things such as housing, medication, food, etc.

Donations may be made on the PS Foundation website below.

All donations made to the PS Foundation from March 18 through May 31, 2022 will go directly towards helping Ukrainian coaches and performing skaters pay for things such as housing, medication, food, etc.

DONATE AT

www.skatepsa.com/foundation

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

Committee on Professional Standards Ratings Chair Events Chair ISI Rep to PSA U.S. Figure Skating Rep to PSA PSA Rep to U.S. Figure Skating Summit Chairs Executive Director COMMITTEE CHAIRS Awards Coaches Hall of Fame Education Accelerated Coaching Partnerships Area Representatives Hockey Skating Sport Science Endorsements Executive Executive Nominating Finance Nominating Professional Standards PSA Rep to ISI Ratings Adaptive Skating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion PSA AREA REPRESENTATIVES Area 1 Martha Harding Area Area 2 Kimberlie Wheeland Area Area 3 Andrea Kunz-Williamson Area Area 4 Jill Stewart Area Area 5 Angela Roesch-Davis Area Area 6 Maude White Area Area 7 Nicole Gaboury Area Area 8 Jackie Timm Area Area 9 Mary Anne Williamson

Alex Chang Rebecca Stump Patrick O'Neil Denise Williamson Lisa Hernand Christine Fowler-Binder Phillip Mills Michelle Lauerman Andrea Kunz-Williamson Ashley Wyatt Cheryl Faust Doug Haw Denise Viera Tom Zakrajsek Phillip DiGuglielmo Kelley Morris Adair Cheryl Faust Tim Covington Jane Schaber Heather Paige Kelley Morris Adair Teri Klindworth Hooper Rebecca Stump Tim Covington Jimmie Santee

Andrea Kunz-Williamson Christine Fowler-Binder Rebecca Stump Phillip Mills Debbie Jones Gloria Leous Jordan Mann Garrett Lucash Jimmie Santee Alex Chang Christine Fowler-Binder Lisa Hernand Christine Fowler-Binder Kelley Morris Adair Gerry Lane Cheryl Faust Mary Johanson Nathan Truesdell

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Francesca Supple Charmin Savoy Roxanne Tyler Liz Egetoe Marylill Elbe Tiffany McNeil Russ Scott Stacie Kuglin

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 3, 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 SW, Rochester, MN 55902. Tel 507.281.5122, Email: office@skatepsa.com © 2020 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.

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MAY/JUNE 2022

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Alex Chang, MFS, RM

Reflections and a Farewell T

imes change, needs change, and organizations change.

As I step down from my role as PSA President, I am filled with pride as I reflect on the great work and important changes during my tenure.

In the fall of 2019, during my first term, we (PSA leadership and staff) began discussing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as part of our infrastructure and best practices while looking at our industry and sport as a whole. Little did we know, a global pandemic followed by civil unrest were just around the corner. In March 2020, the world began shutting its doors, rinks went dark, and coaches, skaters, and parents had to stay away from the one activity that brought us all together...skating.

PSA quickly responded with our COVID-19 Resources webpage on March 19, 2020, as well as our Safe at Home COVID-19 Webinar Series, which launched on March 20, 2020. These efforts helped reassure members we were working hard to hear them, support them, and help them find their path in difficult times.

As the pandemic progressed, we realized we were going to have to pivot all programs and services…and so we did! 2020 marked a major shift as PSA went virtual with all educational programming, ratings exams, mentorship/partnerships, exam preparation, live/virtual events, continuing education resources, etc. Everything was made accessible from home to keep our members safe while eliminating travel costs and risk of exposure to attendees.

Beginning with the 2020 virtual Summit, we delivered our first virtual event with 36 pre-recorded segments combined with live-streaming events, making this one of our highest turn outs ever. The Delta and Omicron variants in 2021 and 2022 kept us on our toes however we were prepared and hosted our second virtual Summit in May 2021. The success of these two virtual Summits forever changed our approach as we continue to offer both live and virtual/livestream options. This May, we will host the 2022 PSA Summit in Schaumburg, IL with in-person, livestream, and on-demand options. It will be our first in-person Summit event since before the pandemic began and we could not be more thrilled to “see” everyone either in person or virtually.

We didn’t stop with Summit and webinars, we had to dig deeper and tackle not just educational events, but the ratings process as well. Through great diligence, mock trials, reflection, and refinement, the PSA launched its

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first ever Virtual Ratings Exam in July 2020. Since then, over 280 rating exams have been delivered to coaches from the safety of their own homes. Virtual rating exams are still offered nearly every month and continue to be in great demand.

In February 2021, PSA transformed one of our strongest programs, Ratings Prep, into the Virtual Ratings Prep (VRP). The program was so successful that we ran as second VRP in February 2022 with record turnout.

Additionally, the PSA re-imagined one of our landmark programs, the Foundations of Coaching Course, from a 2-day live event into a four-month fully immersive virtual course, which ran Oct 2020 to Feb 2021.

In addition to transitioning content to virtual formats, PSA has also diversified and expanded its audience by creating and delivering Level 1, consulting on Level 2, and soon delivering Level 3 content for the ISU Global Coach Education Qualification Framework program. Our partnership with the ISU brings growth and educational opportunities to coaches of ISU member federations around the globe.

PSA has gone from a global brand to a global business.

One of the most important factors that came to the forefront during the pandemic was Asset Management and Financial Sustainability. In order to sustain our future, the PSA leadership had to take a realistic look at all

Left page: Alex with previous PSA President Christine Fowler-Binder and on the ice at Conference with coach Kori Ade in 2018. This page: Speaking at the 2019 Summit in Palm Springs, with PSA Executive director Jimmie Santee, and accepting an Edi award in 2016.

assets and expenses in order to make strategic and timely financial decisions. After much research and planning, the PSA Board of Governors concluded that the headquarters building was too great of an expense to carry and not necessary to fulfill our mission and objectives. On August 1, 2021, the PSA successfully sold the building and reinvested these assets into our growth-oriented investment portfolio. Since then, the building sale has significantly reduced expenses while providing stability and additional capital to expand programs and services for PSA membership as a whole.

Part of this includes the PSA Membership Refresh, designed to better-meet needs of coaches of all levels.

Launching this 2022-2023 season, we are offering four membership categories: Basic, Community, Professional and Premier. The Basic Membership is re-crafted with specific courses for the group-lesson coach at a reduced Basic Membership price of $25 (previously $40 annually).

Additionally, we bundled annual membership, CERs, PSA TV, webinars, discounts and other benefits into the Premier Membership, designed for coaches who were committed to investing more to get more. This membership transformation has been a major focus during my tenure as President and I could not be more thrilled with seeing this project come to life!

I started this Presidential message with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion because I believe DEI will be seen in retrospect as an important shift in awareness, focus,

and purpose for our association, our sport, and our beloved skating community. These past few years has been a broad awakening for many, and PSA also felt the impact and importance of this opportunity to do good and make change.

As previously mentioned, PSA’s leadership began DEI discussions in Fall 2019, formed our first DEI task force in June 2020, and approved the DEI Committee at the 2020 Fall Board Meeting. With Nathan Truesdell as Chair, the DEI committee has done great work in hosting webinars, seminar segments, recurring DEI engagement events, and collaborating with other affinity groups and organizations.

This season, in collaboration with U.S. Figure Skating’s DEI Director Kadari Taylor-Watson, we launched our first-ever DEI CER course, which is currently offered in all 2022-23 CER modules. There is more work that will continue to challenge and improve our sport and I look forward to the great achievements ahead.

It is hard to believe that this will be my last message to you as your President as it has truly been an honor serving these past three years. I hope my words, but more importantly my intentions, resonated and made a difference for each of you, my fellow coaches. With that, I want to conclude by declaring how much I honor each of you for what you do, who you are, and the change you bring forth in others.

Yours in skating,

PS MAGAZINE

5

RATINGS Cheryl Faust MFS, MM

We look forward to helping you meet your coaching and career goals. Hope to see you all in Chicago!

What are your goals?

Y

ou have worked hard…studied…attended seminars…. talked with coaches…you did it! You passed your rating exam! Congratulations!

Now what? Just like in skating, there is always more to learn and more tests to pass. What about another discipline?

What about becoming a master rated coach? We talk to our athletes all the time about their goals—what are yours?

In your ratings quest, you will discover so much—not only about skating but about yourself which in turn will make you a better coach. How did you learn best? What tools worked for you? What helped you remember the information? The answer to those questions will also be the answer to how your students learn best. Sometimes we have coached so long we forget what it’s like to be the student.

Becoming a master rated coach is such a great goal, but it can also be just the tip of the iceberg for you. There are so many ways you can continue learning by giving back once you have achieved a master rating. PSA is always looking for master rated coaches interested in the following roles: • Working with a coach eager to learn in a Accelerated Coaching Partnerships • Serving on the PSA Board of Governors • Volunteering as a rating examiner to help others reach their rating goals • Sharing expertise as a committee chair • Hosting PSA events and being an ambassador for professional development

Hockey Skating 1

Basic Accreditation PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Hazel Dodson Margaret Dalton Benoit Richaud Katie Lange

Kaylee Pierce AnnaLi Harp Stacy O'Daffer Ann Birchard

Christie Marshall Regina Rodriguez Paige Scott

March 20, 2022 | Virtual Ratings Michael Simon RFS Nicole Zawojski RFS Claudia Fluegge RFS Akari Nakahara CFS

Jacqueline Nguyen CFS Natalia Irvine RM Kristine Kerr RM Kiana Stadler CM

April 10, 2022 | Virtual Ratings Robi Chalmers CFS Amy Guzelf CFS Lisa Sussman CFS Kathryn Vaughn CFS Julianne Pondelli CFS Regina Rodriguez RFS

Erin Egelhoff CM Jeanine Johnson CM Erica Barlow CM Hannah Bay RM Vickie Marlin RM Kelly Belin RM

Julianne Pondelli CM Ellen Bennett CM Anne Goldberg-Baldwin MM

ons on Congratulati Anne! your master,

Laurel Elias RG Odetha Hill RG Jill Ferrier RG Alexis Slack RG Mindy Wayman RG Madeleine Newby-Estrella RPD

Addison Loebl Rory Gautsche Krista Keay William Anderson Katie Lange Lari Estridge Bradley Shumway Heidi Lustig

Hockey Skating 2 Amber Crispell Rory Gautsche Krista Keay William Anderson Brianna McCormick Heidi Lustig Jackie Brenner Katie Lange

Rankings Drew Meekins Level 9 Singles Angela Johnstad Beyer Level 5 Synchro Angela Johnstad Beyer Level 4Singles Rebecca Stump Level 6 Synchro Matthew Savoie Level 5 Singles

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Tiffany Vise Baldwin Level 4 Pairs Debbie Day Minahan Level 6 Singles Rebecca Stump Level 4 Theatre On Ice Jamie Whyte Level 7 Synchro

Hockey Skating 3 Jackie Brenner Sandy Wittmann

PS MAGAZINE

7

PSA mem be renewal rship fo 2022-23 r the season is now op en!

PSA implements membership restructure for the 2022-23 season

M

embership categories, fees, and benefits have been under discussion for several years. Over the past year, a task force was assembled and worked hard to examine a possible membership restructure. The committee utilized membership surveys, data, and focus-group feedback to determine how membership categories could be adjusted to align with the benefits and services PSA members value most.

The membership task force used surveys and focus-groups to determine the benefits that mean the most to PSA members. The most valued PSA member benefits are: Professional Development—webinars, seminars, e-learning courses, and annual Summit Accreditation—validate your coaching knowledge and advertise your ratings to attract clients PS Magazine—articles on technique, sport science advancements, industry trends, and more Networking—join a community of skating professionals, mentor with coaching leaders Regular communication—PSA and the Area Representatives Committee will keep you updated on events, rule changes, and compliance updates so you don’t have to

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The primary goal of the membership restructure was to address the benefit of professional development- because we ARE professionals.

Because PSA is an education and accreditation association, we felt it was essential that each tier of membership include different education components.

Part of being a professional is growth and development for ourselves, just as we expect from our athletes. It’s not just about staying current on the rules, but about moving yourself forward, learning more, validating your knowledge, and progressing in your coaching career.

So the revised membership categories and benefits were created to make education and accreditation more accessible to all levels of coaches.

For those who choose not to pursue education, accreditation, or engage with other PSA benefits, the original Basic/Assoc/Full tiers are still available (but with new names and increased education benefits). For those who are committed to continuing education, earning accreditation, and pursuing professional development, we have created the new Premier membership tier.

Premier membership offers all the benefits of Professional membership, plus additional discounts. This is for the career coach. An additional benefit of Premier is the ability to take CERs at no extra cost, including access to additional modules for extended learning. The greatest benefit to the Premier membership is for our rated professionals- the education included in the package helps you keep your

rating current without having to spend additional money on events, unless you choose to.

The other enhancement we know you want is the option for installment payments, which PSA will be piloting this upcoming season for the Premier membership only.

Premier members who join before July 1 will have the option to either pay in full, or pay in installments of just under $25 per month.

To review, the main membership restructure changes are: • Basic membership dues have been reduced to make entry more affordable. We want to bring new coaches into the fold and start educating them. This benefits the sport, the athletes, and begins the process of professionalizing the profession.

• Community and Professional are the same cost as previous years but offer additional education benefits.

• Premier is the new category that provides the all-inclusive, bundling, and discounts that career coaches have been looking for.

• The Family membership will be discontinued and all members will select an individual membership category based on their coaching needs.

We truly appreciate having you all as members of PSA. The membership restructure committee is hopeful these changes will benefit your professional development as a coach, and make membership and education more accessible for new coaches.

BASIC $ 25 NON-VOTING Please feel free to reach out to PSA have questions Thisif you membership is or need assistance begin 2022-23 designed as foryou Learn Toyour Skate season renewal.

USA and WeSkate coaches, as well as U.S. Figure Skating judges.

COMMUNITY $ 80

PROFESSIONAL $ 130

PREMIER $ 295

NON-VOTING

VOTING

VOTING

This is for the coach who teaches a few hours a week and who does not have skaters who regularly test and compete. Community membership is encouraged for rink managers who value having an educated and professional coaching staff.

This is for the coach who has earned or is working toward ratings beyond the BA, and has skaters regularly testing and competing.

This membership meets U.S. Figure Skating coach compliance requirements.

This for the professional coach who values continuing education and accreditation, and who is committed to growth and development. This membership meets U.S. Figure Skating coach compliance requirements.

Education, Benefits, and Services • Member rate on merchandise

• Member rate on merchandise

• Member rate on merchandise

• Member rate on merchandise

• PSA Today monthly e-newsletter

• PSA Today monthly e-newsletter

• PSA Today monthly e-newsletter

• PSA Today monthly e-newsletter

• Digital PS Magazine

• Digital PS Magazine

• Digital PS Magazine

• Digital PS Magazine

• 4 virtual courses

• 4 virtual courses

• 4 virtual courses

• 4 virtual courses

• Member rate on events

• Member rate on events

• Member rate on events

• Member rate on events

• 1 month of PSA TV

• 1 month of PSA TV

• 12 months of PSA TV

• 1 webinar

• 3 webinars

• ALL webinars

• Printed PS Magazine

• Printed PS Magazine • CERs • Extra 20% off PSA merchandise • Extra 10% Summit early bird • Extra 10% off Ratings Prep • Extra 10% off Seminars/ Clinics/SuperSites • Extra 10% off Foundations of Coaching Course • Extra 10% off Rating exams

Accreditation Opportunities • Basic Accreditation

• Basic Accreditation

• Basic Accreditation

• Basic Accreditation

• Hockey courses

• Hockey courses

• Hockey courses

• Hockey courses

• Accelerated Coaching Partnerships

• Accelerated Coaching Partnerships

• Accelerated Coaching Partnerships

• Sport Science exams

• Sport Science exams

• Ratings

• Ratings

• Rankings

• Rankings

PS MAGAZINE

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SPORT SCIENCE Garrett Lucash, RFS, RM

I Don’t Believe My Eyes I

n this article, I will present the role vision plays in motor learning and share some ideas coaches can consider for use in their off-ice programs. Please note that safety should always be of paramount concern and coaches must consider each athlete and their environment when implementing new ideas.

Vision plays a sensory role in motor skill learning and performance (R. Schmidt & Lee, 2019). Balance and orientation involve the integration of inputs from many body subsystems, including vision (Woollacott & ShumwayCook, 1996). Our vision detects a flow of images called the optic flow field (Lee, 1980). The optic flow field is analyzed through subconscious processes and particular visual patterns are linked to specific movement patterns (R. A. Schmidt & Lee, 2005). This means that when an athlete performs a single Axel, what they ‘see’ integrates with what they ‘feel’.

Visual information is so powerful, it tends to dominate, even control, other sensory information such as balance and touch (Magill, 2011). Two classic experiments demonstrate this dominance. The first, called the ‘moving room experiment’, involved a square room with walls that could be moved forward and backward by the experimenter (Lee & Aronson, 1974). When placed in the room, children would tip forward or backward depending on which way the walls were manipulated. They made postural adjustments despite the fact that the floor remained stable. The visual illusion that the room was tilting dominated other sensory cues. In another experiment, participants were asked to sit at a table with one arm hidden out of sight (R. Schmidt & Lee, 2019). Experimenters placed a plastic hand on the table and brushed the plastic hand at the same time they brushed the participants’ hidden hand. After several repetitions, the experimenters brushed only the plastic hand and the participants still felt sensations in their own hand even though it was not being touched. The visual information tricked them into perceiving their own hands were still being brushed.

We can also think of countless other illusions that trick our eyes. Motion odyssey rides and amusement park attractions take advantage of the dominating role vision plays in proprioception. A motion odyssey ride is a mechanical platform that mimics the feeling of sitting in a moving vehicle such as a spaceship or rollercoaster with a first-person perspective video playing on a large screen.

The ‘ride’ moves minimally in all directions. However,

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movements are greatly amplified through exciting video that is played on a large screen. The optic flow feedback from the video gives participants the feeling that they are moving much faster.

It may not be surprising then, that vision plays a dominating role during learning and performance (Magill, 2011). If vision is available during learning, then it will continue to dominate performance even as the learner masters the skill. If vision is subsequently removed (e.g. by a blindfold), performance may suffer because the sensory information is not compatible with previous experiences.

Thus, overemphasizing vision during practice may facilitate initial performance, but can hinder learning. However, de-emphasizing vision, though it may hinder initial performance, has shown to facilitate later performance later on (R. Schmidt & Lee, 2019).

Many ballet studios and gyms have mirrors, at least on one wall. Dancers and power-lifters use the mirrors for feedback to make sure their movements are aesthetic and also technically correct. However, studies show that the longer one uses mirrors for corrective feedback, the more they depend on the mirrors to perform (Magill, 2011).

Here is a recollection from a former New York City Ballet principle dancer, Allegra Kent, who initially learned a choreographed piece in front of mirrors: “After joining New York City Ballet at age 15, my first assignment was to dance in the corps de ballet of the second movement of Balanchine’s Symphony in C. I had never performed onstage at all. I had three sessions to learn the steps in a room with a mirror and one rehearsal for placement onstage. During the performance, the bewildering dark fog of City Center and the glaring stage lights were disconcerting: I felt off-balance. My theatrical innocence was detrimental. I couldn’t place myself in this foreign territory. Later, I discovered the kindness of the stage—the mirror wasn’t there (Kent, 2011).”

In some motor learning studies, researchers will blindfold study participants to observe the role vision plays with learning a new skill (Magill, 2011). The studies show that when vision is distorted or blocked by a blindfold, performance suffers. For example, when gymnasts walk on a balance beam, in a handstand position, or even in a straight line across the floor mat with blocked vision, performance deteriorates. The athlete must rely on other sensory information that had previously not been trained or integrated into performance.

This notion—of removing vision to strengthen an athlete’s balance and orientation—could make for a very useful training method, if done safely. According to Verkhoshansky (2009), through the use of blindfolds, “the athlete remembers joint angles, the degree of muscular tension, the amplitude of movement and movement patterns best with the eyes closed and reproduces them more easily.” When the eyes are open later on, the motor sensitivity remains and the athlete can potentially detect errors more easily. The blindfolded athlete learns to detect other proprioceptive sources of information, such as body extension and lean.

This certainly does not mean we should have our students train blindfolded on the ice. The dangers are obvious. However, some creative exercises can be incorporated into off-ice training and I have used them to great success in recent years. For example, the coach can create their own ‘moving room’ conditions through which their athletes must hold static positions such as jump landings or spirals. I’ll stand in front of one athlete at a time and sway from side to side as they hold the landing position. Amazingly, this throws them off and you see them immediately start to struggle to keep balance! After a few weeks, the effect goes away because the athlete learns to connect to other sensory information to maintain balance. Sometimes I ask my skaters to close their eyes

when holding positions as well. First, I make sure they are spaced out and the room is safe. Then I ask them to hold a landing position. Finally, I ask them to close their eyes for a set period of time. My skaters like to make a competition out of it to see who can hold a position the longest with their eyes closed. I suggest mixing in these types of strategies every few weeks in off-ice class to develop your athletes’ sensory abilities.

References Kent, A. (2011, November). The Mirror Mystique. Dance Magazine.

Lee, D. N. (1980). The Optic Flow Field: The Foundation of Vision.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series B, Biological Sciences, 290(1038), 169-178.

Lee, D. N., & Aronson, E. (1974). Visual proprioceptive control of standing in human infants. Perception and Psychophysics, 15, 529-532.

Magill, R. A. (2011). Motor Learning and Control: Concepts and Applications (Ninth ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Schmidt, R., & Lee, T. (2019). Motor Learning and Performance 6th Edition with Web Study Guide-Loose-Leaf Edition: From Principles to Application: Human Kinetics Publishers.

Schmidt, R. A., & Lee, T. D. (2005). Motor Control and Learning. A Behavioral Emphasis. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Verkhoshansky, Y. (2009). Supertraining.

Woollacott, M. H., & Shumway-Cook, A. (1996). Concepts and Methods for Assessing Postural Instability. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 4, 214-233.

PS MAGAZINE

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Travel Nutrition

By Julianne Pondelli

O

nce skaters are at a more competitive level, travel may become part of their skating routine. This is especially true at the elite level. Travel may pose a new set of challenges to maintaining good nutrition. According to research, even athletes that follow an excellent performance-based nutrition plan can struggle with fueling correctly on the road. Knowing how to eat healthy and what foods work best for your body can set you up for success! When traveling to a new city or country, being prepared by researching schedules and food that will be available through the event, local grocery stores, and restaurants can keep meals and timing of fueling consistent.

Stay Hydrated Make sure you

drink enough. Flying can dehydrate you, as well as if you are traveling to a hot or humid climate. Sip on water, fruit juices, or sports drinks while in the air. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages because both are dehydrating. Bring a refillable water bottle to make sure you always have water and can refill while you are out. If water safety is a concern, only drink bottled water.

Be prepared Pack snacks to

keep with you to prevent hunger during the day. Going longer than four hours without food can lead to overeating at mealtime, or making unhealthy choices later in the day due to hunger.

Schedules may be off due to

time changes, different timed practice sessions, and competition events. It is important to stay fueled appropriately. Know and plan for your schedule while you are away so you can have an idea of where, when, and what you will eat. Plan ahead when you are out; grab extra items like yogurts and fruit cups to eat later.

Here are some snack options to keep on hand to prevent getting too hungry: • Cereals or oatmeal packets • Granola bars • Animal crackers • Pretzels • Nuts • Trail mix • Peanut butter

Be consistent Stay consistent

with your meals. Don’t skip meals, and be sure to eat a substantial breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Snacking between meals will keep your blood sugar levels up, especially if you are going longer between meals than usual. If you are staying somewhere with a kitchen, going to a local grocery store can ensure that you will at least have healthy breakfast options and can also save a lot of money.

Eating foods that your body is used to eating will prevent GI issues like stomach cramping, bloat, and diarrhea.

rants or convenience foods. Research different places to try while in the area, and look at the menu ahead of time.

Limit opting for fast food restaurants that will only offer higher caloric and higher fat foods. Try places that are farm-to-table, or choose foods that are fresh from that area. At restaurants, these simple tips can prevent consuming additional, unnecessary calories: • Limit cheese, mayonnaise, dressings. Ask for them on the side to control how much goes on your meal.

• Choose grilled, baked, or roasted foods as opposed to fried • Avoid raw foods and unpeeled fruit that may cause GI issues • Avoid sugary beverages such as soda Preparation and planning can go a long way to keep athletes’ nutrition optimized while they are traveling.

Keeping athletes well nourished, and hydrated for competition can have a huge positive impact on their athletic performance. For additional resources visit: www.teamusa.org/nutrition

Choose wisely Choose the

best options when you are eating out. You will most likely be eating a good majority of meals at restau-

PS MAGAZINE

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EDUCATION

DEI Is Good for Business Part 1:

B Y D A R L E N E L E W I S , K A D A R I TAY L O R WAT S O N , A N D D E N I S E V I E R A FROM CER PRO 204 COACHING IN A CHANGING WORLD: WHY YOU NEED T O E M B R A C E D I V E R S I T Y, E Q U I T Y, A N D I N C LU S I O N

R

acial and ethnic diversity is rapidly increasing in the United States and with that comes a more varied demographic in our rinks. In 1980 nearly 80% of the US population identified as White. By 2020 that percentage was down to just under 58%. [1] This shift in racial demographics means that all aspects of our society must address issues of not just increasing diversity and promotion of equity, but also, inclusion and belonging. This is important not only for the future of skating, but also right now, because as an early specialization sport, this shift is occurring primarily from our core demographic — youth. [2] The growth in the proportion of the population that identifies as other than White has been coupled with an expansion in the purchasing power of diverse communities. The Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia estimates the buying power for African American, Asian American, and Native American consumers have increased significantly over the past 30 years, up from $458 billion in 1990 to $3 trillion in 2020. Latino buying power also exploded over the same period from $213 billion in 1990 to $1.9 trillion in 2020.

Together these groups wield 28.3% of the buying power in the US and comprise markets greater than the GDP of nearly every country in the world. [3] Simultaneously, at over $1 trillion the LGTBQ market is one of the fastest growing markets in the US. [4] Younger generations are significantly more diverse in terms of their racial, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation and gender identity than older generations. In fact, non-Hispanic whites are now the minority among youth (under 18) in the United States. [2] Furthermore, while 80% of Baby Boomers identify as completely heterosexual, only 52% of Gen Z report being only attracted to the opposite sex. [5] Young adults, between 18-34, also embrace more gender fluidity with 50% of them agreeing with the state-

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ment “Gender is a spectrum, and some people fall outside of conventional categories”. [5] [6] Members of our youngest generations have come to expect diversity in a way that prior generations did not.

They are increasingly growing up in diverse family structures in households that are multi-racial, headed by a single parent, and/or have blurred gender roles. [7] They tend to be more independent in their thinking and socially conscious with a greater expectation of societal equity than previous generations. [8] As skating customers, they value access over possession, expression of individual identity, and are concerned about ethics, openness, and authenticity to a degree not found in prior generations. [9] [10] Unfortunately, despite changing demographics, increased buying power, and socially savvy youth, discrimination and exclusion are still prevalent. Within the US, most people’s individual social networks are still not that diverse. [11] This can lead to discomfort with people from backgrounds different from our own, stereotyping and perpetuation of biased practices and system. Historic disadvantage, stereotyping and implicit bias can interfere with or prevent full realization of an athlete’s potential. To achieve equity and inclusion now, we must acknowledge past and current inequities within skating.

As a coach, with a business to run, you should be equipped with the skillset to embrace diverse cultural backgrounds and view them as new customers. Research has shown that businesses that value and demonstrate action toward promoting Diversity Equity, Inclusion (DEI) tend to outperform their competitors and achieve greater profits. [12] In a sport that weighs heavily on competitive excellence, embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion is an opportunity for you to drive innovation, and increase your

Professional Skaters Association Announces Best Performance Awards for 2022 U.S. Figure Skating Championships ability to recruit, effectively train, and retain talented athletes. Within the $50 million youth sports industry, many future opportunities for coaches to expand their business will be grounded in these diverse and emerging markets. [10] [13] DEI is about more than “feel-good fairness.” It is central to the survival and growth of figure skating in the USA and for every coach’s business. Valuing DEI is also not about simply recruiting diverse skaters.

It is equally about working to develop a coaching philosophy and best practices that allow you to clearly communicate, engage, and support all athletes, from varied communities. Developing and implementing a solid diversity and inclusion coaching approach helps create a shared sense of belonging amongst your skaters and promotes a positive rink culture where all involved can achieve their highest potential.

Conversely, by not valuing DEI, over time you may lose business as demographics continue to change, new markets emerge, and young skaters (and their parents) expect coaches to embrace diversity and adopt equitable and inclusive approaches to coaching.

References 1. US Population more Racially and Ethnically Diverse than Measured in 2010, US Census Bureau, August 12, 2021. www.census.gov 2. Dr. William Frey, Brookings Institute, January 11, 2021. www.brookings.edu 3. Jeff Humphreys, The Multiracial Economy 2021, Selig Center for Economic Growth, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia. www.terry.uga.edu/selig 4. Gillian Oakenfull, Representing Fifty Shades of Gay in the LGBTQ+ Marketplace, Forbes, June 1, 2021, www.forbes.com 5. Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Difference by Generation, February 23, 2021. www.Ipsos.com 6. A Survey of LGBT Americans, Pew Research Center, June 13, 2013. www.pewresearch.org 7. Annie E. Casey Foundation, What is Generation Alpha?, November 4, 2020. www.aecf.org 8. Annie E. Casey Foundation, What are the Core Characteristics of Generation Z? April 14, 2021. www.aecf.org 9. Jeff Fromm, Five Undeniable Truths About Marketing to Gen Z, Forbes, January 7, 2021. www.forbes.com

April 14, 2022 – The Professional Skaters Association is pleased to announce the winners of the EDI Awards for Best Performances at the 2022 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. One winner was chosen from each category to honor and recognize the outstanding efforts of these skaters. The award is based on the “total performance” with an eye to costuming, presentation, music selection, choreography, style, and technique. Winners were determined by a committee that reviewed all long and short programs at the junior and senior levels for each discipline. The following are the winners of the 2022 Best Performances at a national championship:

Best Performance Award Winners for the 2022 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships | Nashville, TN

Best Performance Ladies

Mariah Bell — Ladies Free Skate Program PSA Coaches – Rafael Arutyunyan, Adam Rippon, Vera Arutyunyan Choreographer – Shae-Lynn Bourne Music Selection – “Hallelujah” by k.d. lang Costume Designer – Jan Longmire

Best Performance Men

Ilia Malinin — Mens Free Skate Program PSA Coaches – Tatyana Malinina, Roman Skornyakov, Rafael Arutyunyan Choreographer – Irina Romanova Music Selection – "Nobody Knows" by Autograf and Golden Age by Woodkid Costume Design – Victoria Nekrilova from "Marusia" design studio

Best Performance Pairs

Ashley Cain-Gribble / Timothy LeDuc — Pairs Free Program PSA Coaches – Peter Cain, Darlene Cain, Nina Mozer Choreographer – Pasquale Camerlengo Music Selection – “Dance For Me Wallace” and “Charms” from the W.E. soundtrack Costume Design – Denise Freye, Darlene Cain

Best Performance Ice Dance

Madison Hubbell / Zachary Donohue — Dance Free Program PSA Coaches – Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Pascal Denis, Romain Haguenaur, Josée Piché, Benjamin Brisebois Choreographers – Marie-France Dubreuil, Scott Moir Music Selection – “Drowning” by Anne Sila Costume Designer – Josiane Lamond for Madison; Susan Hubbell for Zachary

10. Tracy Francis and Fernanda Hoefel, True Gen: Generation Z and its Implications for Companies, November 12, 2018, McKinsey & Company, www.mckinsey.com

Best Performance Award Winner for the 2022 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships | Colorado Springs, CO

11. Daniel A. Cox, Findings from the American National Social Network Survey, December 15, 2020. www.americansurveycenter.org

Best Performance Synchronized

12. Sundiatu Dixon-Fyle, Kevin Dolan, Vivian Hunt and Sara Prince, Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters, McKinsey Reports, May 19, 2020. www.mckinsey.com 13. Paul Gompers and Silpa Kovvali, The Other Diversity Dividend, Harvard Business Review, July-August 2018.

Haydenettes — Free Skate Program PSA Coaches – Saga Krantz, Lee Chandler, Ashley Tomich Choreographer – Saga Krantz Music Selection – “Hold On To Tomorrow” (feat. Metropole Orkest)Brennan Heart & Christon Costume Designer – Yumi Couture PS MAGAZINE

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LAKE PLACID, NY JUNE 6 - AUGUST 27 2022 WWW.PEAK-ICE.COM info@peak-ice.com

INTERNATIONAL FOR EVERYONE.

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SKATING CAMPS BENOIT RICHAUD

VENUE Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, Chicago 1-847-605-1234 PLEASE NOTE The 2022

Summit begins at 8am on Wednesday, May 25 and will conclude at 1pm on Friday, May 27.

Session topics include: • Navigating IJS Decisions • Developing Powerful Skating Skills • Expedition into the Choreographic Process • Jumps and Spins • Navigating from Athlete to Coach • Your Coaching Compass: Unconditional Positive Regard • The Road to Resilience • In Pursuit of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion • Discovering New Technology • Learn to Skate Aspire Pathway • Defining Coaching Values

Thank you to our sponsors!

It’s time to Chica-GO! Continue your coaching journey at the 2022 PSA Summit. Join us to reflect on where we’ve been and map out the path ahead.

Session Highlight

The Ride at the Rings: Olympic Coaches' Panel Perspective | Mitch Moyer, Tom Zakrajsek, Tammy Gambill, Patrice Lauzon, Marie-France Dubreuil, and more!

The 2022 Olympic Winter Games were a ride for the history books for many reasons. Join us for a panel discussion with some of our Olympic coaches and Mitch Moyer reflecting on their individual and collective experiences there.

Heidi Thibert will facilitate the discussion centered around the impact of all that occurred and the implications on the future of our sport. Don't miss this "oncein-a-quadrennial" chance to hear first-hand stories of the journey to and from the Beijing Olympic Games!

Pre-Recorded Sessions Orientation Meeting

Teri Hooper, Barb Yackel, Elizabeth Thornton

Information Destination: Chart a Course to Being Well-Informed

Gloria Leous and PSA Area Representatives Committee

Take the High Road: Defining Coaching Values

Shelbi Meyer, Denise Kay, Julie Parkes

Adaptive Skating

Courtney Fecske, Ph.D.

Hockey 4 Webinar

Jordan Mann

(for those registered for Hockey 4 certificate)

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please take note!

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE | all times Central

IN

In-person session

LS Livestream

Wednesday, May 25 8:00-9:00am

IN LS

Navigating IJS Decisions

Josh Fischel and Melissa Dillenbeck

9:00-9:45am

IN LS

Skating Friends Are Forever Friends Members Reunion

Hosted by

9:45-10:00am

Jackson Ultima

BREAK

10:00-10:30am

IN LS

Summit Opening & Preview

Teri Hooper

10:30am-11:45am

IN LS

A Fork in the Road – Navigating from Athlete (Olympic) to Coach

Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue, 2x Olympians

1:00-2:00pm

IN LS

2:00-3:00pm

IN LS

3:00-3:15pm 3:15-4:15pm

IN LS

4:15-5:15pm

IN LS

5:15-6:00pm

IN

5:30-8:30pm

IN

6:30-8:30pm

IN LS

ON-ICE SESSIONS

LUNC H

11:45am-1:00pm

Transformative Skating Skills

Benoit Richaud, Olympic Coach |

Jump on the Bandwagon – Jumps

Denise Myers, Olympic Coach

sponsored by

BREAK

Breaking the Rules: The Creative Process of Removing Boundaries

Benoit Richaud, Olympic Coach |

Just the Ticket – Spins

Drew Meekins, Olympic Coach

Hockey 4 Session

Jordan Mann

sponsored by

Trade Show President’s Reception

Alex Chang

Thursday, May 26 8:00am-1:30pm 8:00-9:00am

IN IN LS

IN LS

10:15-10:30am

Denise Williamson and Cheryl Faust

Your Compass for Coaching Gen Z: Unconditional Regard Through the Athletic Journey

Lauren McHenry, Ph.D. and Caroline Silby, Ph.D.

BREAK

10:30-10:45am

IN LS

Day 2 Welcome & Preview

Teri Hooper

10:45am-12:00pm

IN LS

The Road to Resilience

USOPC Apollo Team

LUNC H

12:00-1:30pm 12:30-1:15pm 1:30-2:30pm

IN

IN LS

2:30-2:45pm 2:45-3:30pm

Lunch and Learn: Navigating Nutrition Challenges for Coaches

Dana Sivak

In Pursuit of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Kadari Taylor-Watson

BREAK IN LS

3:30-3:45pm

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Embark on a Ratings Quest BREAK

9:00-9:15am 9:15-10:15am

Trade Show

Jackson Ultima

Jackson Ultima

BREAK

3:45-4:45pm

IN LS

General Assembly

PSA Executive Committee

6:30-10:30pm

Edi Awards Dinner and Cocktail/Social Hour

Andrea Kunz Williamson

IN LS

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Cocktail hour hosted by PSA DEI Committee Awards Dinner sponsored by Disney On Ice

Friday, May 27 8:00-8:05am

IN LS

Day 3 Welcome & Preview

Teri Hooper

8:05-8:50am

IN LS

MAP: Medical Action Plan

Gretchen Mohney, Ph.D.

8:50-9:00am

9:00-10:15am

BRE AK

The Ride at the Rings: 2022 Olympic Coaches’ Panel Perspective

IN LS

Olympic Coaches Panel | Peter Cain, Marie-France Dubreuil, Tammy Gambill, Patrice Lauzon, Mitch Moyer, Viktor Pfeifer, Todd Sand, Tom Zakrajsek Facilitator: Heidi Thibert

10:15-10:30am 10:30am-11:30am

BRE AK

Journey of a Skater: Learn to Skate USA, Aspire, and Excel

IN LS

11:30-11:45am

Learn to Skate USA and Aspire Group

BRE AK

11:45am-12:30pm

IN LS

Discovering New Technology

Lindsay Slater, Ph.D. and Mitch Moyer

12:30-1:00pm

IN LS

Summit Closing

Teri Hooper, Alex Chang, Becky Stump, Jimmie Santee

REGISTRATION All registrants, regardless of registration track, will have access to 2022 Summit content via PSA TV through June 30, 2023 and will automatically receive 28 education credits.

In-person

Livestream

On-demand

In-person attendees get the full Summit experience with access to all sessions and the opportunity to reconnect with the coaching community.

The livestream track is perfect for coaches who want to participate in Summit but aren’t ready to travel.

On-demand access brings the Summit to those who are not available during the Summit dates but who are committed to pursuing coaching education.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Access to pre-Summit recorded sessions Interactive workshops In-person networking and social sessions Ability to participate in Q & A with all presenters Coffee social and members’ reunion Coffee break sponsored by Jackson Ultima Light appetizers and beverages at the President’s Reception Awards Dinner ticket for every attendee ($90 value) Access to Hockey 4 Certificate (separate registration required) Access to in-person ratings (separate registration required) Join the U.S. Open watch party Access to recorded sessions after Summit

EXTRAS Hockey 4 Certificate | Wednesday May 25 Ratings | Tuesday May 24 U.S. Open Professional Figure Skating Championships Tuesday, May 24 at 7:00pm CST

• Access to pre-Summit recorded sessions • Hosted livestream sessions during Summit with virtual host Matthew Lind • Opportunity to send questions during Q and A with select presenters • Access to recorded sessions after Summit

• Registration available after April 15 • Access to recorded sessions after Summit

th Journey Back Together wi ds ar us at this year's EDI Aw

Register now a skatepsa t .com

COACHING DEVELOPMENT Heidi Thibert, MFS, MM, MC

Your Champions Journey™

The Power of Why B Y S T E F FA N Y H A N L E N

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ny successful journey must begin with the WHY! Simon Sinek said it best when he opined, “Let us all be the leaders we wish we had”. Coaching, for many, is the opportunity to grow and evolve as a person and continue to make a difference in someone else’s life.

Not all coaches can work well with all athletes. Coaching is not a one size fits all game. When it’s time to transition from being an athlete to train to be a coach, I’d like to introduce a series of thought processes that may assist you on determining what KIND of coach you want to be.

Each athlete, as you know, is a unique individual with dreams and goals of their own. I always say—“I don’t coach skaters; I coach people. I help them uncover HOW and WHY they can become the best person they can be in the time we have together”. This is my WHY! Do you know yours?

Grab a pen and paper.

1. Take a moment to reflect on your past favorite coachesthe one, two or many in your past who made a positive impact on you. Write down two or three qualities of that person(s) and if you integrate those traits or values into your own coaching today.

Is coaching your passion, your purpose or is it your job?

There is no wrong answer here—it just requires telling the truth. If becoming a coach is just a job, then that must be okay with YOU. Making a living doing what you love is one of the highest callings. If you are still reading this, I assume coaching is more than just a job for you.

Over the several decades working in high level sport, I have observed four types of coaches: 1. Former athletes wanting to stay in their sport to contribute or give back 2. Former athletes who may not know what they want to do once they retire 3. Coaches who are driven to explore possibilities and figure out what and how to make a skater become their very best.

4. A combination of 1, 2 and 3. Seeing coaching as a sacred profession.

These reasons are all important because they help give us a personal road map as to what lane or specialty we want our expertise to thrive in.

2. Now, take a moment and pull up a memory of a coach that you did not align with. What were some of the traits or qualities that you did not like or didn’t resonate with you? Which list is longer? What are the traits you are committed NOT to bringing to your athletes?

Many athletes become coaches by default- or as an interim way to pay bills while they go to school or navigate their way through life after sport. This is a wonderful opportunity and a whole other conversation we can dig into another time.

Have you asked yourself lately—What drives you to coach?

Coaching can be an exercise in leadership and a gift of self-discovery—if you let it—or it can be a freezing-cold, early-morning-drag where you just put in time. What is it for you?

Figuring out your WHY you coach is even more important than the HOW to’s of teaching a skill. If you know WHY you coach and it is crystal clear to you and your clients, then the How to land an Axel or perform the perfect Baby Blues, the What to do to keep it clean, consistent, and strong- become obvious.

This question, “What drives you?” was asked to a group of high-level PSA coaches in a 2020 workshop and the answers were as varied as the coaches themselves. Several answered- “to make a difference”, a few replied, “to make a living” and one or two said “to take a skater as far as

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possible and to coach at the highest level”.

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I’ve known many of the “How to” and the “Do it again” coaches and they do a good job. But after over 35 years in this industry, I can tell you the few coaches that know their inner WHY are the ones who connect with their skaters

"Have you asked yourself lately—What drives you to coach? Coaching can be an exercise in leadership and a gift of self-discovery—if you let it—or it can be a freezing-cold, early-morning-drag where you just put in time. What is it for you?"

and train them to be champions, inside and out. Not just when they are on the ice— but in all areas of their lives.

Years later, when I randomly hear from an athlete about how much, not just what I taught them but HOW they were treated or how we helped them manage a problem or navigate an adversity—and how they use the lessons they learned from us in life outside of sport—it confirms I am living in alignment with my WHY! As you discover your WHY, let it lead you towards a career of ups and downs. You may not always be the most popular, however when you know your values and stand up for them it will be worth the effort, care, and compassion it takes to be an authentic, amazing coach!

Find Stephany's presentation for the 2021 PSA Summt at PSA TV.

Steffany has a unique and historic career working at the highest level in Sport and Business. As a pioneer in Long Term Athlete Development, Steffany is the founder of several successful businesses, has knowledge, experience and credibility unlike any other coach/

entrepreneur that crosses over into other realms of life.

A partner in I.AM, focused on the mental and emotional development of the best Ice Dancers in the world, Steffany and her on-ice partners, Marie France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon and Romain Hagenhauer are committed to building a holistic environment for Ice Dancers to train, compete and WIN on their own terms.

The driving value of Ice Academy of Montreal is to treat each athlete as a

cherished individual, on and off the ice and challenge them to dig deep to discover and be their best selves.

Steffany consults with athletes, Coaches, Clubs and Organizations around the world.

She is willing to work with PSA Coaches interested in diving deeper into how to build or elevate their businesses.

Email: steffany@steffanyhanlen.com to request a link to book your meeting.

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Beijing and Bust My 2022 Journey with Vincent Zhou

BY TOM ZAKRAJSEK MFP, CP, CG

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es, as you might have imagined, it did feel like everything had busted apart when I left Beijing after the men’s individual event three months ago. I was numb as I boarded a jumbo jet with only Tracy Wilson, Brian Orser, and four other passengers who were snowboarders from Team USA. We were spaced far apart being served by flight attendants in hazmat suits, Air China’s COVID protocol. After arriving in Tokyo, I sat in the United lounge and Tracy and Brian did their best to comfort me during our layover. I am sure they could tell I was in shock. Two-time Olympian Vincent Zhou (’18 and ’22) was in quarantine because he had tested positive for COVID-19 eight hours after the men’s team event long program. His dreams for an Olympic individual medal were squelched.

After a hard, long cry and being consoled by team manager Mitch Moyer, and team leaders Deveny Deck and Kathleen Cutone, as well as Dr. Kristin Abbott and Dr. Caroline Silby, I was still trying to figure out how everything he had worked so hard for—and I had worked so hard for---ended just like that. Like a light switch being turned off. After nine

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consecutive days of negative tests, including one right prior to the team event coupled with very strict COVID protocols established by the Chinese government to keep COVID out of the closed loop bubble, how could this be our reality? A gut punch like no other followed by a feeling of extreme emptiness. It was like a phantom limb.

The opportunity felt like it was still there, but it wasn’t.

The seven stages of grief as documented by Iris Lin and Nhi Huynh would follow in the month leading up to the World Championships in France and even though Vincent, myself, and Drew Meekins were aware of them impacting our thoughts and decisions—heck our everyday lives, it didn’t help very much at all. Mie Hamada, whom we consulted with on a weekly basis, offered consistent support to me. Every time we FaceTimed, she kept saying, “You are doing a good job.” Her words offered much needed reassurance because I really felt like I had no idea what my job was anymore.

Eleven months prior, the devastation of Vincent missing the short program cut at the 2021 World

Championships in Sweden had created a renewed approach to his Olympic season with the pandemic seeming to ease and training returning to normal.

Everything Vincent did on and off the ice had been coordinated to produce spectacular on ice training witnessed by all of the skaters, coaches, and employees in the Broadmoor World Arena Ice Hall, as well as those who saw Vincent compete in his early events: Broadmoor Open and Cranberry Cup. He was not only returning to form but he was better than ever.

Likewise, his win at Nebelhorn Trophy in September, where he secured the three men’s Olympic spots that he had put in jeopardy added to a momentum that culminated in Vincent winning his first Grand Prix medal and first GP gold medal at Skate America in Las Vegas one month later. By then the figure skating media were talking about a possible individual Olympic medal for Vincent. That made sense since he previously won bronze at Worlds

in 2019 and had just beaten threetime World Champion Nathan Chen and reigning Olympic silver medalist Shoma Uno. I only describe this scenario because the lead up to the Olympics is as intense as is reaching the Olympic podium. It takes momentum and a lot of convincing ahead of time in addition to delivering the performances in the moment. We were riding the wave and then…

Vincent got very, very sick after Skate America in the lead up to his second Grand Prix, NHK. At the time I was concerned it was COVID but every test he took – and he took a lot of them – were negative and of course entering Japan is not easy (still to this day) so I was relieved that he could compete there. Despite having lost a lot of training time which showed in his long program performance, I was grateful he finished in second place.

When I arrived stateside, my first two phone calls at LAX were to Frank Carroll and John Nicks. I knew Vincent’s chances of reaching the Olympic podium were higher than they had ever been now that he had won his second GP medal and qualified for his first GP final. I wanted their advice. They would know better than any other U.S. coaches. They were encouraging, clear, and adamant about what needed to happen. Team Vincent was already doing many of the things they recommended but their unique individual insights were welcomed and reassuring. I relayed them to the

team and we resumed course.

The first emotional blow came when Omicron raged and the GPF was postponed (it was canceled in the lead up to nationals and that was even harder to take). We had just been in Japan, where the final was to be held, four days before Omicron took over the world. How could this be? Damn that COVID! Qualifying for the GPF is not easy and this was Vincent’s fourth try and he had finally made it. He was one of the six best, most consistent men in the world. He could earn valuable points for the short program seeding at the Olympics but it was not to be.

Our journey continued through the holidays and once again Omicron began to shift testing protocols and policies. Vincent was training very well going into nationals and his practices in Nashville were great, culminating in a career and personal best short program on his way to earning a berth on his second Olympic team. Many have asked me about the disappointment of his long program performance but I really don’t see it that way. I have been on a journey with Vincent since I began working with him in May of 2015 and as he said to the media, he wasn’t going to show up at nationals without attempting to win it. His planned program content which featured two quadruple Lutzes, one in the second half was ambitious but well in line with his goals and how he had been

training.

Don’t get me wrong, when an athlete performs below training it is a major bummer but if you consider how many top athletes in other sports aren’t perfect and have off competitions, well that’s sometimes how it goes. The most important thing is to learn from every experience and build on it. We left Nashville with many lessons learned and the main mission accomplished: Vincent’s consistent competition season had earned him a coveted spot in the team event. We were now headed to Los Angeles for some pre-Olympic training.

The week in LA was a tense one.

It’s hard to express the daily anxiety associated with passing strict COVID test hurdles in order to board the Delta charter flight to Beijing.

However, the send-off arranged by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, which featured airport check in at the hotel the night before, a private bus ride to the plane on the tarmac as well as a red carpet walk was a unique experience and so very, very cool. Talk about feeling like a rockstar! Our hopes and spirits were raised.

We knew ahead of time the Olympics in Beijing would be uncomfortable and different than any other.

United States Figure Skating and the USOPC officials had prepared us for

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that in the summer of 2021. We also knew the protocols would be even more strict than they were for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo but we were grateful they were happening and not postponed for a year.

I have been to four Olympics now and each one has had their own challenges: • 2010– extra security due to worldwide terror: Iraq war ending, North Korea attacking a South Korean ship, ongoing terror threats in Paris killing foreigners • 2014– Russia/Chechnyan fighting and bomb threats • 2018– North Korea firing missiles at Japan and threatening the U.S. • 2022– COVID-19 Of course, in hindsight, Vincent’s positive test explained a lot about his long program performance in the team event. Though disappointing, it was clearly a strong effort considering the circumstances. And he had helped the team secure a silver medal.

But not competing in the individual event was devastating and it would get worse with the Kamila Valieva doping scandal and the team being denied their medal ceremony and then Vincent being nominated to carry the Team USA flag but also being

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denied by the local Chinese government officials from participating in the closing ceremony even though he was negative and out of quarantine.

I had arrived back in the states one week before Vincent did. Audrey Weisiger immediately texted me, “You must be strong for him. Keep his spirits up.” Important advice, but not easy to figure out how to do.

At first, Vincent seemed ok. He returned to the ice, and training and things appeared to be going back to normal. But one day things changed—understandably. The crazy rollercoaster ride that followed could only be described as Vincent and I and his entire team dealing with the aftermath of Beijing. Many people have died from COVID. Vincent’s experience wasn’t that. While I knew we should be grateful Vincent was able to at least participate and earn an Olympic team medal, the invisibleness of COVID can play games with your mind.

Julie Morris McKinney and Diane Miller, who was visiting her granddaughter in Denver, saw us training at South Suburban because we lost ice at the World Arena Ice Hall due to the Synchronized Skating Championships and offered much needed encourage-

ment. I still remember their positive vibes and energy about the World Championships but I am not sure how I responded to it. See that’s the thing with grief. It hits you in weird moments and you sometimes feel trapped in a bubble that you can’t get out of—sure that nobody around you can even comprehend your feelings.

USOPC psychologist Sean McCann was an amazing savior to us all. His words were calm and clear, and reflecting back, his knack for listening and his basic observations helped the most. Sean would eventually tell me he had worked with athletes at 16 Olympic Games and nothing like what happened to Vincent had ever happened to any athletes he knew. It’s not like being injured and trying to manage it or crashing on a course, the consequences of a positive COVID test are hurtful and hard to comprehend, especially if you don’t really feel that sick. From the beginning, China’s zero tolerance COVID approach was very different from any other country in the world and in the lead up to the Games, while the rest of the world had already begun easing COVID restrictions, China became even more strict. Ironically, Vincent could have had a bad case of the flu and still been in control of his destiny and chosen to compete.

Many have speculated about how Vincent got COVID because he was so very careful. Several people have warned about going down the conspiracy rabbit hole and they are right. It goes nowhere and it’s useless.

But one question lingers: since China is so strict with their testing and contract tracing, why couldn’t they release the details of his positive test?

They have the information.

I always say when I am asked about the Olympics, that the gathering of people from all sports around the world, the intense media coverage, the camaraderie, and all

of the various ceremonies make it feel like a giant party that anyone would want to attend. But Beijing was NOT like that. My daily routine went something like this: • Wake up and shower • Gargle with Listerine for two minutes • Check body temperature with my personal thermometer • Double mask with N95 • Recheck temperature outside the hotel testing room • Take COVID test • Recheck temperature outside the hotel breakfast room • Eat breakfast • Recheck temperature in the hotel lobby • Go through security (like an airport) to board bus to rink • Exit the bus • Pass through an infrared temperature screen to enter the arena • Practice • Pass through an infrared temperature screen to enter the bus • Arrive at the hotel • Recheck temperature in the lobby • Remove masks in the room • Shower • Gargle with Listerine for two minutes • Order room service delivered by a robot • Sleep • Wake up and repeat Once inside the bubble, there was little to no traveling to other venues and or watching athletes compete in other sports. Even if your schedule allowed, choosing to do that put you at risk of possible exposure. Being in a mask 24-7 is not fun and that was essentially what daily life was like at the Olympics.

Not surprisingly, my best and fondest memories in Beijing were the times spent coaching Vincent one on one and FaceTiming with Drew Meekins. Vincent was focused and killed it on every practice.

To say Vincent’s bronze medal performances at the 2022 World Championship in Montpellier, France were redemption for him is very accurate. Only those in our inner circle know exactly why and how he achieved what he did. As Vincent said to me, when we were enjoying a travel moment at the Denver International Airport on the Front Range observation platform which I was filming and wanted to post, “Not everything is for social media.” And he was right. Some things are meant to be held close to one’s heart and not shared. This article is a partial representation of my reflections on our shared experience and should not be interpreted as me speaking for Vincent. He has his own story to tell. What I will say is that what Vincent began and we shared in Beijing continued in France.

He did things his way—in every aspect of his preparation, practicing, and competing.

A special mention of Professional Skaters Association Hall of Fame coaches and my colleagues at the WAIH Christy Krall and Janet Champion is necessary. Christy offered me and Vincent a spiritual path to the peace of mind we needed in the lead up to world championships, while Janet sent a special e-mail to both Vincent and I while we were in France. Their support meant the world to me and offered a guiding light to a course which helped me feel much more confident while facing the biggest obstacle: the unknown.

What I learned about why I coach and what my role is as a coach has changed dramatically since the Games and can be summed up this way: sometimes settling for 100% of 80% or 100% of 25% or 100% of 5% or 100% of 0%--if that’s all someone can give--is just fine.

In other words, it’s ok to be only ok.

And it’s ok to not be ok.

One cliché is also important to reference: nothing is perfect.

Tom Zakrajsek (pronounced Za-cry-sheck) has been coaching figure skating in the United States since 1990. He has coached many regional, sectional, national and international champions, including US Champions Bradie Tennell-2021, Max Aaron-2013 (9 years), Rachael Flatt-2010 (for 11 years), Ryan Bradley-2011 (for 22 years) and Jeremy Abbott2009 (for 10 years). In all, his 21 national champions have won 25 titles. Most recently, his skaters include 2022 Olympian Vincent Zhou, 2019 Korean Ladies Champion Young You and 2019 World Junior Bronze Medalist Ting Cui. Tom graduated from the University of Denver with a degree in Journalism and English.

In 2001, he received his master’s degree in exercise science from the University of Colorado-CS. In 1999, Tom was named USFS Developmental Coach of the Year. In 2009, Tom was named PSA Coach of the Year. In 2018, Tom was awarded the Order of Ikkos from the USOPC for his coaching excellence with Mirai Nagasu at the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeong Chang, South Korea. Tom has published four e-workbooks: Basic Training 101: Periodization Principles for Figure Skaters, Go For The Goal!, Come Skate With Us: How To Practice Figure Skating and Perfect Your Process: How To Practice Figure Skating Vol. 2 They are available on his website CoachTomZ.com.

Ultimately, success is not only about the medal, but it is knowing that you have peace of mind because you gave 100% each day with goodness in your heart in order to do everything you could to help and to support someone.

That’s what I did for Vincent Zhou for an entire season.

Finally, besides the support from my family, I don’t think I could have managed the stress, uncertainty, and doubt without the community of PSA coaches who offered their wisdom, support, and encouragement at critical times throughout the season.

My coaching journey continues…

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2022 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships Photos courtesy of U.S. Figure Skating

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2022

PSA Synchro Coaches Honor Roll P H OTO S C O U RT E S Y O F U . S . F I G U R E S K AT I N G Disclaimer: This honor roll lists only the coach(es) of record within EMS for each team and may not be a complete representation of a team’s full coaching unit.

2022 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships Team Name

Coach Name(s)

1 2 3 4

Teams Elite Mini Mates Team Image SST Crystallettes

Tammy Cervone, Danielle Ostrower, Lauren Roman Andi Gottfried, Kendra Meller Alexia Leahy, Maria Pandazis Stacy Sue Holland , Amy Laser

1 2 3 4

Teams Elite Capital Ice Chips Star Mates Fond Du Lac Blades

Danielle Ostrower, Lauren Roman Becky Gallion, Selena Morris, Hayley Trom Tessa Hedges, Erika Hoffman Jennifer McMahon, Heather Pagel, Chelsea Rademacher

1 2 3 4

Teams Elite Skyliners Blue Fond du Lac Blades Ice Mates

Joshua Fischel, Danielle Ostrower, Lauren Roman, Jamie Whyte Pamela May, Alexandra Sais Jennifer McMahon, Heather Pagel, Megan Prellwitz, Chelsea Rademacher Saga Krantz, Lee Chandler, Ashley Tomich

1 2 3 4

DC EDGE Starlights Allegro!

IceSymmetrics

Christine Burke, Elyse Lerman Nicole Voloch Carrie Brown, Hillary Menestrina Charlene Lambros, Alyssa Lewis

1 2 3 4

Crystallettes DC EDGE Michigan Adult SST Team Del Sol Adult

Denise Dobert, Stacy Sue Holland Emily Hollander, Jenny Bacon Erin Donovan, Ashley Korn Karen Wiesmeier

1 2 3 4

Miami Univ Collegiate Varsity SST Adrian College Varsity SST Western Michigan University University Of Michigan SST

Carla DeGirolamo, Lee Ann Shoker, Kelley Morris Adair Ashley Carlson, Brandon Forsyth, Bonnie Lynch, Kaitlin D’Agostino Amy Czuhajewsli, Amy Yuengert Erin Donovan, Ashley Korn

1 2 3 4

Team Image SST Teams Elite Skyliners Lexettes

Melanie Greene, Cindy Kim Danielle Ostrower, Lauren Roman, Joshua Fischel, Jamie Whyte Josh Babb, Pamela May Saga Krantz, Lee Chandler, Ashley Tomich

1 2 3 4

Haydenettes Miami Univ Senior Varsity SST Skyliners Adrian College Varsity SST

Saga Krantz, Lee Chandler, Ashley Tomich Carla DeGirolamo, Lee Ann Shoker, Kelley Morris Adair Josh Babb, Pamela May Ashley Carlson, Brandon Forsyth, Victoria Smith

JUVENILE

INTERMEDIATE

NOVICE

MASTERS

ADULT

COLLEGIATE

JUNIOR

SENIOR

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PS MAGAZINE

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MAY/JUNE 2022

E

Accelerated Coaching Partnerships in Action

T

he ACP (formerly Apprentice Program) hopes to encourage more participation in this valuable educational program by fostering new relationships between coaches, while offering more committee support to the program. The ACP will help you form a partnership with a master-rated coach who can help increase your knowledge and teaching technique in a personal one-on-one format. You and your master-rated colleague will develop a plan that pinpoints your needs as a coach and fosters your growth in the areas that you choose. This will give you the ability as a professional to make a better living, be more successful, and inspire the next generation of our figure skating community. Get ready to be inspired as you form your alliance with a master rated coach in your area. Still not sure? Check out these testimonials from coaches and their master-rated collaborator.

Our ACP Partnership has proven an educational success. Sponsored by Phillip Mills as an ACP participant, Jessica and I began our educational path together.

Weekly meetings since the beginning of our mentoring sessions have covered topics of technique, ethics, IJS,

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leadership in sport and beyond.

ACP has allowed an opportunity for growth and learning in a safe and trusting environment. IJS Technical Specialist Denise Williamson and fellow Master rated coach Diane G Miller have shared sessions with us along our journey. Jessica has developed greater confidence with the delivery of her methodology in a concise manner. I have enjoyed our relationship as her mentor immensely, and anticipate great moments of coaching ahead for Jessica. Best wishes to all the ACP participants and their individual educational journey.

—Jackie Brenner And we are having a great time! Really enjoying the process, learning so much, networking and making new friends. Thank you for putting us together, Phillip. So happy I decided to go on this journey!

—Jessica Mills Kincade

We meet every other week and spend one hour discussing various topics. We set up a plan to break down teaching from beginner levels through Pre-preliminary competition level (Axel) in both FS and Moves in the Field. Our goal is to prepare for the Registered FS rating followed by MIF. Our typical format for our discussions have been Q and A. Usually I start with a topic for discussion.

Akari will usually asks questions for each topic. We elaborate and I typically try to target different points of view for dealing with each topic. For example, teaching technique, dealing with parents, information from her skating director, pedagogy, required elements, element progression, etc.

I’ve benefited from revisiting teaching from levels at the very beginning. It’s been great for me as a coach to reflect on the importance of teaching technique and keeping kids interested and passionate from the beginning. Akari, has an immense passion for teaching, her passion and joy have reminded me the reason why I began teaching and the joy of sharing knowledge.

—Jonathan Cassar

It is such a wonderful opportunity and privilege to be able to learn about figure skating from a completely different perspective. There is a lot more to learn from a coach’s standpoint than that as a skater. Every time I meet with my mentor, I take home a handful of new and inspiring information, which to me is forever special! I am extremely honored and grateful to be given this opportunity that better guides me onto the path of getting involved in my favorite sport as a coach. I will continue to learn and do my best to give back to the next generation skating community as a knowledgeable and dependable coach.

I love this ACP program! When I become a master rated coach in the next decade, I would love to become the guiding light to new-coming coaches like myself now.

—Akari Nakahar

Take a closer look at your professional development path.

One of the most customizable education options is the Accelerated Coaching Partnership (ACP).

The ACP will help you form an alliance with a master-rated coach who can help increase your knowledge and teaching technique in a personal one-on-one format. You and your master-rated colleague will develop a plan that pinpoints your needs as a coach and fosters your growth in the areas that you choose.

Accelerated Coaching Partnership

www.skatepsa.com

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P ROF ESSIONAL S K ATE R S F O U NDATIO N •

Officers, Board Members and Trustees PRESIDENT Patrick O'Neil VICE PRESIDENT Carol

Murphy

TREASURER Scott McCoy SECRETARY Gerry Lane BOARD MEMBER

Paul Wylie Carol Rossignol Tim Covington Kelley Morris Adair Jill Maier-Collins TRUSTEE

Richard Dwyer Robbie Kaine Wayne Seybold Moira North Curtis McGraw Webster SKATERS' FUND – DONATION LEVELS:

• • • • •

Platinum Diamond Gold Silver Bronze

10,000+ 5,000+ 1,000+ 500+ 100+

Recognition opportunities for donors available The Professional Skaters Foundation (PSF) was founded to expand the educational opportunities of PSA members through a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable foundation.

Watch Skating = Help Coaches B Y P AT R I C K O ’ N E I L , P S F O U N D AT I O N P R E S I D E N T The PS Foundation is proud to assist coaches and performing skaters with educational scholarship opportunities and at times when they find themselves in financial need due to illness or disability. We appreciate your continued support of our mission.

This year, the Foundation has awarded ten Walter and Irene Muehlbronner Scholarships (WIM) Additionally, The Foundation has provided over three thousand dollars in assistance from our COVID-19 Relief Fund. Given the current crisis in Ukraine, we have also established a fund to help the Ukrainian coaching community as well. If you know of a coach or performing skater from Ukraine who is in need, please direct them to the website for further information.

PS Foundation is proud to support the coaching community, and while we look for donations from many places, we depend directly upon the generosity of the same coaching community that PS Foundation seeks to support. If you or your business currently support the PS Foundation, thank you! Your colleagues are grateful for the donation, no matter the dollar amount. If you have never made a donation to The Foundation, please consider doing so. Reaching into your local skating community and ice rinks to ask them to support our mission is another way skating coaches can contribute to the Foundation. Perhaps your club would like to donate to the PS Foundation? All donations go directly back to our educational programs and are tax deductible.

Congratulations to all who have received educational scholarships from PS Foundation!

The PS Foundation recently joined the Smile Amazon Program. Amazon donates 0.5 of all eligible purchases to a charity that you designate on the Smile.amazon.com website. AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support the PS Foundation every time you shop, with no additional cost to you. Simply go to smile.amazon.com from your web browser, choose the PS Foundation as your designated charity, and use your existing amazon. com account with all the same settings! We all shop on Amazon today; please consider choosing the PS Foundation as your designated charity and start shopping on smile.amazon. com! Please spread the word to family and friends!

2022 Walter and Iren Muehlbronner Scholarship winners: Tara Denkers Ashlee Pantano Alyssa Reder-Judnick Amy Anderson Paige Bartholomew Kathryn Vaughn Alyssa Kormos Claudia Fluegge Ashlyn Olson Amanda Goetz

The US. Open Professional Figure Skating Championships will be held in person this year on Tuesday, May 24th at 7pm CT in the ballroom at the Hyatt Regency, in Schaumburg, IL. Competitors will send in their performances via video and those recordings will be played live in front of a panel of judges. Competitors who have joined us in Chicago will receive their feedback live in front of the audience, while those competitors who cannot attend in person will join us via Zoom to hear their comments.

The Open will be available via a livestream again this year and your link can be purchased in the PSA Store. The cost is $10. Your donation goes directly to the PS Foundation and you will be automatically registered to win a free 2023 Summit Registration.

The objective of the championship strives to promote professional figure skating

A Community that Cares 34

MAY/JUNE 2022

It’s Competition Season!

Don’t Exclude Any Skaters!

By Courtney Fecske

Cheer on the competitors

Tuesday, May 24, 2022 COMPETITOR REGISTRATION DEADLINE

April 10, 2022

A

s the competition season is in high gear, it is a great time to remind competitions, coaches, parents, and skaters that our competitions are for all skaters! Do not forget that we have many exciting and challenging competition events for skaters with disabilities.

Adaptive Skating as an athletic as well as an artistic event. It provides quality, wholesome entertainment for the entire family. While other professional competitions include skaters by invitation only, the U.S. Open gives all professional skaters a chance to perform and compete.

The 2022 U.S. Open will feature one event, consisting of men’s, ladies, pairs, dance, specialty act and group, and will be judged based on “total performance” with an eye to costuming, presentation, music selectin, choreography, style and technique. Programs will focus on entertainment rather than technical skill.

The four winners will be revealed live at the conclusion of the U.S. Open Championships on May 24. The Grand Champion will be presented with a beautiful award plus a cash prize of $2,500.00 USD. Three other special awards will be determined by our judging panel along with a cash prize of $1,000.00 USD each.

The Grand Champion will also be given the opportunity to perform with Ice Theatre of New York (ITNY) at a date and time TBD. Thank you for your continued support of the PS Foundation.

Skaters who have any kind of disability may choose to compete through adaptive competition events which include both assisted and unassisted events. Adaptive skating is the umbrella term and includes all skaters with disabilities. Assisted events mean that a skater can use a walker, wheelchair, or another skater to assist with their program. Unassisted means that the skater is competing without additional assistance but still within the adaptive skating guidelines. The adaptive skating program guidelines can be found within the Compete USA Manual. There are Adaptive levels 2-12 which include a list of elements that can be used to create a free skate program for a maximum of one minute and ten seconds with music or for a compulsory event without music.

Special Olympics

Special Olympics competition events are for skaters with intellectual disabilities and may be offered at U.S. Figure Skating sanctioned events or Special Olympics skating events. Well-balanced program information can be found in the Compete USA Manual and include Badges levels 1-12 for elements to be completed within a one minute and ten second maximum program with music. Special Olympics skaters can also compete in free skate, pairs, and ice dance with the specific guidelines also found within the Compete USA Manual.

Special Olympics has their own manual that can be referenced on the Special Olympics Figure Skating website.

Skate United

Skate United is for skaters with physical disabilities. This is the newest set of opportunities for skaters with physical disabilities so some competition hosts, coaches, parents, and skaters may still need to learn about this option. Skate United skaters can choose to compete within any standard well-balanced event with the same guideline requirements but within a separate group for only Skate United skaters. These events should be streamlined into the competition, but skaters will have their own group. All Skate United events currently are under the 6.0 judging system. The Adaptive Skating Subcommittee is hard at work to support the implementation of a classification system that will work in conjunction with IJS in the next few seasons.

Skating Accommodation Memorandum

Regardless of the adaptive skating events that best support your skater it is also important to share about the Skating Accommodation Memorandum (S.A.M.). The S.A.M. supports reasonable accommodations for skaters for both competition and testing. How this process works is that the skater or skater’s parent, depending on the skater’s age, will complete the S.A.M. Request form and sent it to the clinical review team composed of allied medical professionals with skating experience and knowledge. The S.A.M. clinical team reviews the request and determines appropriate accommodations for both testing and competition. These accommodations are sent for review to both the competition and testing committees for feedback. Once approved, the S.A.M. is drafted and the clinical team meets with the skater, skater’s parents, and coach as appropriate to discuss continued on page 37

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BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES

WELCOME TO THE AXEL CLUB:

Permission to Post E

very coach likes to celebrate the efforts and milestones of an athlete’s development. Landing the first Axel is always a big one and applauded at every rink. With the excitement of capturing this on video, coaches post this significant accomplishment on social media without thinking through important practices that should be observed.

Individual and Parent Permission Before using someone’s likeness on a public site, you need that person’s permission. For people under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must grant the permission.

You should have the written consent, release, and/or permission of each identifiable individual person in the video to use the name or likeness of each identifiable individual person.

Written permission should include the individual’s name, the date, and a description of the permission (ex. can be for a specific use or for use in any manner throughout the world of all social media).

Permission is necessary for situations such as: • Video of a minor landing an Axel for the first time • Pictures of an athlete at competition • Photos of an athlete with test papers after passing a test • Minors in the background on a crowded session As a best practice, any social media posts should include a disclaimer regarding “parental permission to post”.

Copyright Owner Permission Most online videos use streaming technology and are considered “public performances.” These usually require obtaining two rights: a reproduction right and a public performance right. Consider the following situations and permission questions: • You take a video of new program choreography with the music playing — do you have rights to publish?

• You take a competition video from the stands — do you have owner permission, are you in compliance with music copyright laws?

Before posting, you should affirm and represent that you own or have the necessary licenses, rights, consents, and

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permissions to use and authorize the trademark, trade secret, copyright, or other proprietary rights in and to all user groups. For YouTube and music copyright information please visit the following resources: • https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2797466 • https://blog.songtrust.com/the-rights-of-a-song • https://copyrightalliance.org/faqs/what-rightscopyright-owners-have/

Educate Participants and Parents Let’s consider this scenario. A parent videotaped her daughter in a figure skating club ice show group number and posted it on the internet. In the post, the parent tagged and thanked the choreographer for the beautiful number.

The skating club had permission to perform the pieces, but not to record or publish a recording. This is a copyright and ownership issue. The club now makes an official statement and announcement prior to every performance telling parents not to record the performance.

• Educate parents on the potential problems of taking and posting videos of skating performances at the beginning of and during the year.

• Get more than verbal permission to post; get it in writing and keep it in a file.

• Coaches should have individual consent to post when teaching private lessons.

• U.S. Figure Skating has excellent resources to help clubs navigate social media and forms such as Electronic Communication Policy and Name and Likeness Consent Agreement forms.

Please refer to U.S. Figure Skating’s SkateSafe Handbook for all rules, policies pertaining to athlete safety. Any violation of these rules could result in severe consequences.

In the end, if you are not sure you should post a video or picture, err on the side of caution and refrain from posting. There are hundreds of digital images being taken during skating competitions, shows, seminars, etc. every year and the digital images of these athletes will live on in perpetuity.

Keep plugging away with those Axels, but get permission before you post!

continued from page 35

the S.A.M. At this time adjustments can be made and then the final S.A.M. is completed. The skater or skater’s parent would then present the S.A.M. at the time of registering for a test session to the test chair, or if registering for a competition, to the LOC to present to the chief referee. The test chair for a test session and the chief referee for a competition are then responsible for ensuring necessary accommodations are provided. If the test chair or chief referee have questions these can be sent to the chair of the Adaptive Skating Subcommittee.

Start Competing!

If you have a skater who wants to compete in any of these events and you do not see the event offered at your competition, please reach out to the competition host and ask to compete! Every skater should be able to compete, and this is likely an oversight of the competition announcement in not including these events. Guidelines for these events can be found in the Compete USA Manual and within the rule book. If there are further questions, please reach out to the Adaptive Skating Subcommittee.

The Adaptive Skating Subcommittee aims to recruit and support skaters with disabilities in their skating journey and strongly feels these events need to be included within

T

our competition announcements and competition events.

We are working on drafting a competition announcement for all adaptive events and hope to have this available to LOCs soon. You can find more information about the adaptive skating programs in the Members Only area of the website along with a presentation explaining these tracks in more detail. www.usfigureskating.org/membersonly/skating-opportunities/adaptive-skating If you have questions please reach out to the current Adaptive Skating Subcommittee chair, Mary Johanson, who may be contacted at coachmaryjohanson@gmail.com If you have Skate United specific questions please email Courtney Fecske at courtneyjweisman@gmail.com Author Bio Courtney Fecske, PhD, CTRS is a member of the Adaptive Skating Subcommittee and serves as the Skate United lead. Dr. Fecske is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor at Indiana University-Bloomington in the School of Public Health and is also a former Team USA Synchronized skater and current official for US Figure Skating. She has founded and worked with adaptive skating programs and conducts research focused on examining the impact of participation in adaptive sports.

he PSA Hockey Skating Committee is thrilled to be offering an in-person hockey SKATING HOCKEY session for the first time in MANUAL three years! This May, coaches can earn their Hockey Skating 4 certification, or just attend for the educational opportunity, during the 2022 PSA Summit in Chicago.

All Summit attendees are encouraged to join us on the ice for the Hockey Skating 4 presentation. Coaches who have passed Hockey Skating 3 are eligible to earn their Hockey Skating 4 certification by registering in advance for the program. Candidates will attend a webinar the week before Summit as well as the on-ice session.

S A S S O C I AT I O N P R O F E S S I O N A L S K AT E R

Copyright PSA 2009

If you are currently working with hockey players, or looking to expand your professional breadth in the future, we encourage you to join us for some great networking, dialogue, and information designed to help you take your power skating business to the next level.

Ready to incorporate hockey skating lessons into your business?

Start by pursuing the PSA Hockey 1, 2, and 3 e-learning certificate courses at skatepsa.com. Hockey 4 will be offered live at the 2022 PSA Summit in Chicago.

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NEW MEMBERS

38

We lc coac ome hes!

NEW MEMBER

SPONSOR

NEW MEMBER

SPONSOR

Geraldine Antun

Michele Cantu

Ramsey McWilliams

Melia Callahan

Mollie Baldwin

Jimmie Santee

Corrina Miller

Marina Soroka

Harina Baloni

Jimmie Santee

Chelsea Mischuk

Michelle Lauermann

Elizabeth Beese

Jacqueline Pusztay

Jennifer Oliva

Kelly Benzinger

Oleksii Bychenko

Daniel Raad

Kylie Pattberg

Brianna Hatch

Christine Castillo

Kristy Evans

Michelle Ray

Kathyrn Vaughn

Mandy Chiang

Sergey Artemov

Frances Rossiter

Eleanor Kolb

Isabel Cochran

Jimmie Santee

Mark Sadusky

Phillip DiGuglielmo

Sarah Cohen

Jimmie Santee

Karl Schapfel

Andrea Iannalfo

Joshua Coleman

Chelsea Winter

Emily Schneider

Johanna Jackson

Krystal Czesnowski

Ashley J Keithley

Henry Schorse

Jimmie Santee

Jennifer Devore

Jessica Mills-Kincade

Angela Shockley

Jimmie Santee

Amy Fetherolf

Jimmie Santee

Bradley Shumway

Jimmie Santee

Caroline Figaro

Wendy Colquitt

Kaytlin Smith

Jimmie Santee

Helena Garcia Garza

Ana Cecilia Cantu Felix

Emma Sparrow

Elizabeth Thornton

Kiere Gilbertson

Lisa May

Caren Tackett

Jimmie Santee

Dana Hall

Megan McDevitt

Darlene Taggart

Robert Mock

Alison Hanley

Jimmie Santee

Brynn Thompson

Jimmie Santee

Annali Harp

Tara Patterson

Stacey Tutela

Jimmie Santee

Brian Johnson

Tracy Moore

Violeta Ushakova

Kelly Ushakova

Jennifer Kadlec

Jimmie Santee

Emily Kovalcik

Jimmie Santee

Michaela Leblanc

Elizabeth Thornton

Roger Lee

Sarah France

Sarah Lee

Karen Christensen

Katie Lipko

John Kauffman

Cody Lithco

Natalie Matthies

Caitlin Lowe

Jimmie Santee

Alexis Martinovich

Emma Bord

Rebekah McCoy

Phillip Mills

Elise McMahon

Amber Karcher-Ramos

MAY/JUNE 2022

Do you know coaches who are new to the profession?

Help them get a head start on their coaching career, and encourage them to join PSA! skatepsa.com/membership

ISI Worlds is Cooler in Chi-Town!

August 4-7

Edge Ice Arena | Bensenville, IL Test & Entry Deadline: May 20 skateisi.org/worlds

ISI mascots Flip and Twizzle can’t wait to see you and your skaters in Bensenville — conveniently located near downtown Chicago and O’Hare International Airport — for Worlds of FUN on and off the ice!

Ranking System

Knowing what it takes to be the best is one thing... getting there is another matter.

The Professional Skaters Association’s Ranking System is recognized world-wide and is directed toward the career accomplishments of PSA coaches based on the performance of their skaters/teams. Discipline-specific rankings are recognized as a lifetime achievement by the entire skating community.

For more information and to see if you qualify, visit

www.skatepsa.com

PS MAGAZINE

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CALENDAR of E V E N T S

MAY Date Event Location Credits Deadline

May 24, 2022 PSA Summit Ratings – Senior and Master Levels All Disciplines, Registered Theatre on Ice Hyatt Regency Schaumburg- Chicago, IL 1 per exam March 15, 2022

Date Event Location Deadline

May 24, 2022 U.S. Open Professional Figure Skating Championships Live at Hyatt Regency Schaumburg – Chicago, IL (Virtual tickets available) May 18, 2022

Dates Event Location Credits Deadline

May 25-27, 2022 PSA Summit (In-Person/Livestream/On-Demand) Chicago, IL 21 PSA credits April 15, 2022

JUNE Date Event Credits Lottery Opens

June 27, 2022 PSA Virtual Ratings — All Levels for Free Skating and Moves in the Field 1 per exam April 11, 2022

JULY Date Event

July 25, 2022 PSA Virtual Ratings — All Levels for Dance, Pairs, Choreography, and Program Director Credits 1 per exam Lottery Opens May 16, 2022

AUGUST Date Event Credits

August 11, 2022 Hockey Power and Edge Plus Webinar 1 PSA credit

Date Event

August 22, 2022 PSA Virtual Ratings — All Levels for Free Skating and Moves in the Field, Registered and Certified TOI 1 per exam

Credits Lottery Opens

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June 20, 2022

MAY/JUNE 2022

Please visit www.skatepsa.com for the most current Calendar of Events

OBITUARY

Find our amazing educational content with improved functionality at PSA TV. free trial | free content | videos for purchase | subscription

Hans Mueller It is with tremendous sadness that Jewel Steele announces the passing of Hans A. Mueller; her life partner of 35 years.

Born March 7, 1931, in Zurich, Switzerland, Hans was a butcher by trade, working at the family business.

Yet his real passion came from figure skating. Starting off on rollerskates, Hans swiftly transitioned to figure skating, where he became the 1955 Swiss National Champion, competed in the 1955 and 1956 World Champions and then represented Switzerland for the 1956 VII Olympic Winter Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

Following the Olympics, Hans headed to America aboard the Queen Mary. Arriving in New York and making his way to Atlantic City he joined the Ice Capades. Together with his skating partner, Darlene Ripepe, in the resoundingly successful act, "Hans and Pepe," he spent the next two decades touring throughout the United States, Canada and Australia.

After leaving Ice Capades, in 1976, Hans and Pepe continued the act, touring through Europe with Ice Parade. In the late 1970s, Hans decided to settle down in California, where he began a coaching career at the Skating Edge, formerly known as the Olympic Ice Arena. There he would spend the next three decades training a virtually endless roster of champion skaters.

On June 17, 1983, in celebration of the country he loved so dearly that he chose to make it his permanent home, Hans arguably became the proudest American Citizen.

Along with Jewel, Hans is survived by many friends and family who love and adore him, including his nieces: Monika Canova, Corina Canova, Karin Kuhn and Barbara Muller. The memorial service took place September 9, 2021, in, Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

Thank you to Caring House for the wonderful care and dignity they provided to Hans in his final days. Having their support made a world of difference during this difficult time. To make a donation in Hans' memory, please visit yourcaringhouse.org/donate.

Photo and text from online obituary posting

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