November/December 2011 PS Magazine

NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER

2011

www.skatepsa.com

Kurt Browning

4-time World & Canadian National Champion 3-time Olympic Team Member Landed the first quadruple jump in competition

facebook.com/RiedellSkates iSkateRiedell.com Š2011 Riedell Shoes, Inc.

Season's Greetings!

COLUMNS 4 8

Over the Edge | Jimmie Santee

Ratings | Kris Shakarjian

FEATURES 10

Left Handers Lament | by Paul Dore

14 18 34

Sport Science | Heidi Thibert

20

coming! The coaches are coming!

Education | Carol Rossignol

Legal Ease | David Shulman

9 22 30 33 36 38

Ratings Exams Passed

23 26

PSA Calendar of Events

20

Happy Campers

The Skating Club of Boston

26

| by Kent McDill

Great Tips – Concussion Special!

New Members

23

| by Joanne Vassallo Jamrosz

Excellence On Ice Meet Your Area Representative

2012 Boston PSA Conference: The coaches are

31

Summary of Motions:

2011 Spring Board Meeting World Figure Skating Museum & Hall of Fame

Jimmie Santee | Editor Lee Green | Managing Editor Carol Rossignol | Contributing Editor Amanda Taylor | Art Director Ann Miksch | Editorial Assistant NOVEMBER | DECEMBER

2011 ~ No 6 #ISSN-574770

KEEP UP WITH THE PSA...

Professional Skaters Association(PSA)

@ProfSk8rsAssoc

Over the Edge

PSA OFFICERS President First Vice President Second Vice President Third Vice President Treasurer Past President

JIMMIE SANTEE

PSA BOARD OF GOVERNORS West

I

just returned from a business trip to find ten voice messages awaiting my attention. Eight of those messages were from coaches or skating directors seeking my counsel regarding a wide range of topics, but all centered on poor ethical behavior. Some were perpetrated by management, some by parents and a few by fellow coaches… this is not an unusual occurrence. Most Mondays I spend the morning talking on the phone. That being said, eight messages is a little more than typical. I have to reason that as the economy continues to sputter, anxiety among the general skating population grows. Honestly, some of the skating community, PSA members AND non-members alike, are doing whatever it takes to stay in business, regardless of ethics.

There lies the problem. As we have all heard, “Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.” It seems in a number of instances it is revealing a lack of character. Why does this happen? This cannot be a phenomenon exclusive to the skating industry. A study conducted in January of 2010 by the Police Executive Research Forum reported that 44% of police departments believed that they were seeing an increase in crimes that were directly related to the poor state of the economy…Ok, it’s a stretch from high crime to ethical issues in figure skating but tight funds create bad decisions.

Bad decisions almost always come from poor or no communication at all.

The reality, as I see it, is when times get tough, we stop communicating. A major majority of those problems come Emma Thompson from a lack of direct communication.

Would you believe something you heard from Sarah’s brother’s girlfriend’s hairdresser who was talking to a client who told her that Jimmie was talking smack about Jamie’s teaching style…really? But this is what I often hear and my advice is almost always to do the following – communicate!

1. Remove all emotion from the equation 2. Write down the facts and review 3. Sleep on it…a good decision today is a better one tomorrow!

4. Ask for a one on one meeting with the opposite party. Invite a third party as a mediator if warranted.

5. Lay out the issues, again leaving out the emotion…don’t make it personal 6. Listen and don’t interrupt 7. Listen some more 8. Hopefully come to a resolution that works

Any problem, big or small, within a family, always seems to start with bad communication. Someone isn’t listening.

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East

Doug Ladret Todd Sand Dorothy Cassini Patrick O’Neil Denise Williamson Rebecca Stump Alex Chang Paul Wylie Jackie Brenner Glyn Jones Brittany Bottoms

PSA

A Lack of Communication

Mid-West

Angela Riviello Christine Fowler-Binder Dorothi Cassini Carol Murphy Kelley Morris Adair

Members at Large

ISI Rep to PSA U.S. Figure Skating Rep to PSA Executive Director Legal Counsel

COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Awards Coaches Hall of Fame Education Seminars State Workshops Apprentice, Intern Area Representatives Hockey Accreditation PS Magazine Sport Science Ethics, Endorsement, Products Executive Executive Nominating Finance Fundraising ISU Coaches Commission Legal Nominating Professional Standards PSA Rep to ISI Ranking Review Ratings Special Olympics U.S. Figure Skating Coaches

PSA AREA REPRESENTATIVES Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5 Area 6 Area 7 Area 8 Area 9 Area 10 Area 11 Area 12 Area 13 Area 14 Area 15 Area 16 Area 17

Jimmie Santee David Shulman

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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, 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. 507.281.5122, Fax 507.281.5491, Email: office@skatepsa.com © 2004 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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Even if you don’t come to a mutual decision, at least you have done your due diligence.

This works when your problem is with the arena as well.

Poor communication is not exclusive to coach to coach tribulations. Often a lack of information to coaches from their club or rink management is just as much to blame. Your arena or club has an obligation to tell the coaches what is expected of them; such as a written “job description” and the policies and procedures of the organization. How can you be expected to follow those rules if you have never seen them? The coach should know what to expect from the arena and vice versa.

There are some other unique issues when dealing with a club or rink. In fact, the list is long. Is your rink public or private? Is it a school or co-op? Does the club buy the ice or is it sold by the rink? Each ownership type will have its own style of management and rules to follow.

State laws are another matter. Do you teach in an “at-will” state? According to Employeeissues.com, it essentially means that employers may fire employees for any reasons, no reasons and even unfair reasons, as long as they are not illegal reasons.

One thing we know for certain, “He who has the gold makes the rules.”

To cut a long story short, communication is the key to any successful relationship. If you don’t communicate, or even more importantly, don't make yourself available for communication, you should not be surprised when you find yourself in the middle of a huge predicament.

Cover Art Our November/December 2011 issue of PS Magazine features the talents of Renie Britenbucher on the cover as well as the table of contents. Her fun and whimsical winter scenes— complete wtih lots of snow and ice skating—encourage a smile and conjur old memories. Renie showcases her skills on a website and has paintings available for purchase in her Etsy shop. Feel free to check out her work and remember, the holidays are coming. Her paintings are a perfect gift idea!

A little more about the artist: Renie Britenbucher is from northeast Ohio. She showcases her love of color, whimsy, folk art, and fun in every painting she creates. Renie has been a freelance artist for 30 years and her work has been sold and collected worldwide. She has been a winner in the annual Artists Choice Awards (ACA) for the last several years, nominated and voted for by fellow artists, along with several other awards and recognition.

Portfolio www.reniebritenbucher.com Shop http://reniebritenbucher.etsy.com PS MAGAZINE

5

Take note. . .

NOTICE

Sport Science and Medicine The Coach's Guide to Figure Skating Sport Science and Medicine has been revamped and updated to create an informational third edition. This educational guide is a must-have for any coach, as well as coaches preparing to take the Sport Science and Medicine rating exams.

Additionally all Sport Science & Medicine exams will be updated to incorporate the changes made in the 3rd edition of the Coach’s Guide. The changes to the exams will be effective as of January 1, 2012.

Professional Skaters Foundation Applications Available for the

APPLY NOW! DEADLINE:

1/1/2012

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NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2011

Walter and Irene Muehlbronner Scholarship Award The Professional Skaters Foundation (PSF) was founded to expand the educational opportunities of PSA members through a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable foundation. A scholarship program is available to PSA members through the PSF. In 2006 the scholarship was re-named the Walter and Irene Muehlbronner Scholarship Award.

The selection process is based on established guidelines and criteria. The scholarships are intended for the reimbursement PSA education programs and development of coaching skills.

Awards are based on financial need, dedication to coaching, sound character and ethical practices.

Accurate and complete data in support of financial need must be shown in the application. Race, religion, color, creed, sex and ethnic background are not considered in the selection of recipients.

Qualification requirements: The applicant must be a full member in good standing of the Professional Skaters Association. Each applicant must include two letters of recommendation; one from a current club officer, rink manager or supervisor and one from a current member in good standing with the PSA. In addition, an essay outlining your future skating plans must accompany your application. The applicant must have been a full PSA member for at least one year and hold a Registered or higher rating in any discipline.

The award of scholarships is made by the Scholarship Committee of the PSF for attendance at programs that are approved by the board of directors of the Professional Skaters Association. To be considered for the 2012 scholarship year, applications MUST BE RECEIVED in the PSA office by January 1, 2012.

It has been determined by the Foundation Trustees to award one scholarship each to four members to attend PACE, Seminars, Workshops or the International Conference. These scholarships will be available for 2012 programs only. The continuation of the Scholarship program depends entirely upon the amount of contributions received by the Professional Skaters Foundation. Apply now!

Created by David Lipetz, Off-Ice Specialist and Physical Therapist

Ratings KRIS SHAKARJIAN

Mentoring On Skype for Oral Rating Exams

By Andrea Cooper

O

n June 13, 2011 at 7:30pm, I opened Skype, clicked on “Call” in the menu bar, dragged my arrow down to “Start Conference Call,” and added the names of coaches Victoria Greco and Linda Kardos. Next, I added master-rated Group coach Janet Tremer, clicked “Start,” and a mentoring session for a Certified Group oral rating began in virtual space!

Earlier that spring, while putting on our skates to teach group at Hatfield Ice World in Colmar, PA, a few coaches began asking one another if they were planning to take an oral rating during the Liberty Competition in Aston, PA. As it turned out, Linda, Victoria and I were all planning to take the certified group rating. Linda suggested that we get together and form a certified level study group.

I added that I had an amazing mentoring experience

“With Skype, we could share ideas and prepare for our exam from the comfort of our homes without having to leave or make provisions for our children, plus we didn’t have to drive miles and spend more money on gas.” with Janet Tremer when I took my registered group rating, and suggested that we ask Janet if she would consider mentoring us for the certified group exam. With full coaching schedules, other jobs, family responsibilities, and a host of other previously committed dates, scheduling conflicts immediately came into play.

Since I had used Skype in the past for conference calls, I suggested that we use Skype as the software platform for our study group. With Skype, we could share ideas and prepare for our

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NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2011

exam from the comfort of our homes without having to leave or make provisions for our children, plus we didn’t have to drive miles and spend more money on gas. As coaches, constantly driving from rink to rink, the idea of not having to fill up our tank one more time was very attractive and we all agreed to try this. Everyone in our group, including Janet, happened to already have Skype accounts set up on their computers, so it was easy for us to connect for a conference call, and we were off for our first of six virtual mentoring sessions!

The first session lasted over two hours as we exchanged ideas, took notes, answered scenario questions, and discussed new ways to approach questions, as well as finding ways to answer questions more clearly and efficiently. There was some discussion about whether or not we should use video, voice, Conference ... or text, since all three mediums are available simultaneously when using Skype, but we decided to keep it simple and use the voiceVideo Share More Hang Up only option.

During the next six weeks, Andrea Cooper (host) we covered all of the categories on the exam: General/Rules and Standards, Ethics and Education, Skills, Class Management, Safety, and Equipment. The best part of Victoria Greco our study group was that we were all able to take suggestions and solutions to the ice in order to test new ideas out during group Linda Kardos lessons prior to taking the oral rating. I would highly recommend forming virtual study groups along with attending PACE, whenever possible, to Janet Tremer prepare for oral ratings—it’s easy, fun, and Skype is free!

Janet Tremer “Mentoring on Skype is absolutely magical! A longtime believer in the power of technology to facilitate learning,

Recently Passed

RATING EXAMS Congratulations to the following coaches who passed the Basic Accreditation (BA) and ELCC:

Congratulations to the following coaches who successfully completed the requirements for a Rating Certificate:

E-Learning Management | BA Exams

Colorado Springs, CO | August 15–16, 2011

Stephanie Andrade Patricia Brown Sharon Carz Jeffrey Chang Alyssa Craig Victoria de Vries Melissa Frana

Pat Koster Jenna Longo Amy Pinkham Trina Pratt Katherine Schwaegler Krista Volpe Gretchen Wolf

Entry Level Coaching Course | September 11, 2011 Molly Christiansen Gina Cline Angela Dodge Denise Dublinski Lauren Ernst Sara Franzen Jennifer Goette Naomi Jehly Sarah Kohout Meryl Lenzner

Ryan Otto Carol Paul Lynn Pudlo Denise Reinholtz Suzanne Schmitt Alexis Scott Samantha Stankowicz Katerina Tetzloff Gretchen Wolf

I jumped at this offer. Andrea, Linda and Victoria have always been eager to learn and willing to try new things. I knew we were all up to this cooperative, groundbreaking experiment. Had I not known all the participants I might have been concerned with voice identification in a group setting.

Skype takes care of that by putting the names of all the participants on the screen and highlights the person talking. Simple!

A huge advantage of Skype was that it freed up more time to actually discuss teaching instead of driving. We did longer sessions more often because we didn’t waste time physically getting to one place. While the Video Conference mode has a fee, the free Audio Conference option allowed us to stay within our “no cost” budget. The free One-to-One Video option is always available to practice questions requiring demonstrating or drawing. Mentoring several coaches at once is time saving for the mentor and energizing for everyone.

Whoever said social media is a waste of

Carrie Greene RFS, CM Grant Huang RG Kristona Jacobsen CFS, RM Michelle Lauerman SG, CFS Cynthia Tnag RG, RFS Jamie Uribe Rossi CG

Milwaukee, WI | September 10, 2011 Tim Covington CFS Michelle Goodnetter CM Christina Haras SG Trisha Hessinger SM, RFS Dena Hineline RM

time is clearly wrong. This experience has empowered me to do something I couldn’t do before—agree to mentor multiple coaches regardless of their location using a platform that is hands free, has high audio and video quality and is FREE. The world is now my mentoring oyster! What a feast of learning!”

Linda Kardos “The desire to have my teaching methods validated by taking a rating exam was strong. I was, however, very apprehensive of registering because I didn’t think I would be able to dedicate the time needed to prepare. Having a study group would hold me accountable. Skype was perfect—I was able to go home, have dinner with my family and then ‘meet’ my study group. Having no video was a huge plus on my side—I was in my comfortable pj’s for most of our study groups! As always, preparing for a ratings exam is always filled with many benefits. We learned each other’s methods, some tips and tricks, and

Paul Paprocki SM Carol Paul RG Suzanne Schmitt RG Becky Spillar SG Renee Tesemer Brainerd SG

shared our teaching experiences. It also helped us get to know each other better which lead to stronger friendships.”

Victoria Noel Greco “There is much value in using teleconferencing services, such as Skype. I highly recommend a Skype group study to my fellow coaches.

I am a college student with two part time jobs and my schedule is jam-packed.

With this online chat, my study group and I were able to squeeze our meetings in on our own time, without worry of interfering with our daily routine. Besides scheduling issues, using Skype without video really helped me describe my teaching methods. No one could see what I was demonstrating; I had to rely solely on my descriptions. Sometimes my words weren’t thorough enough and I was forced to dig deeper into my vocabulary. This whole experience greatly prepared me for the exam and also made me a better, more descriptive coach.”

PS MAGAZINE

9

Left Hander’s Lament

BY PAUL DORE

When I’m teaching skating, I enjoy being active and mirroring the skaters to make them push harder and go faster. But I’m getting older and I’m slowing down. A few weeks ago, I tripped up on those pesky toe picks and broke my fall with my right hand. The next morning, my wrist and entire hand was sore, I could barely move it. This was not good since I’m right-handed.

I had to go to the bank and make some transactions. I couldn’t even lift the plastic bag of rolled change.

At the bank, the teller requested my signature and I couldn’t grasp the pen.

I picked up the pen in my left hand, figuring any old chicken scratch would suffice. The strangest thing happened— the writing was perfect!

Walking home from the bank, I wondered if my entire life had been a lie. I counted myself among the 85% of the population that was righthanded, as opposed to those less fortunate left-handed people. Perhaps I was ambidextrous? I always admired people who could use both hands equally.

My mother is left-handed. Is hand orientation hereditary? My old trusty friend the Internet told me there is evidence that this is true. Apparently, hand orientation develops in the fetus, determined by observing which hand is predominantly held close to the mouth.

Researching further, I discovered

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that left-handedness has had many negative associations. Left-handedness is also known as sinistrality, a Latin word that took on meanings such as ‘evil’, ‘unlucky’, and the derivative, ‘sinister’. Left-handed people are sinister! Right-handed people are, well, right. When you think about it, righthanded people are inherently pretty arrogant.

There is a National Left Handers’ Day—at least I would not be alone. The website for the celebration explains, “Don’t feel left out. Are you tired of trying to use gadgets and tools made for right-handed people at home or in the office? Then vent your frustration on August 13th!” Was a revolution coming? There was even a song, a call to arms if you will—the Left-Hander’s Lament by Ian Radburn. Here is a sample of the lyrics: “Now here’s the story of my life/I’ve had fun but lots of strife/For I was born left-handed, but I’m proud/To be one of the elite, right-handers we can beat/We’re the 10% that stand out from the crowd!”

Over at the left-hander’s club website, there are links to left-handed products such as scissors, knives, handguns, children’s products, garden equipment, instruments, clocks and watches.

I began my life as a left-handed person.

Back on the ice, I tried skating to the left. It felt so natural that even at my old age, I tried doing some jumps.

Within three days, I was landing

more difficult jumps than when I was younger and a competitive figure skater. I considered a comeback.

On my way home, some kids were playing street hockey. I asked if I could join. Historically, I had never been good at sports, I was usually picked last and a groan emitted from someone when they got stuck with me on their team. I groaned as well, as I didn’t want to be on either team.

I grabbed a left-handed hockey stick and immediately scored a goal on the large ten year old guarding the net. After five more goals, I continued home.

That evening, I was playing squash.

I took the racket in my left hand and never played better. My shot seemed to be twice as hard and accuracy went through the roof.

At home, I switched my mouse over to the left side of my computer. Shook hands with my left hand. Wrote notes in perfect and lyrical handwriting. It was challenging for me to teach lefthanded skaters, but now, they were my favorite students. I was born again.

I would be what you call a ‘Right Brain Person’, someone who operates in the right hemisphere: creative, artistic, cerebral—a dreamer. I was never good with numbers or technical information, leaving that up to the left-brainers, who operate in the left hemisphere. But now that I’m a lefthanded person, does this mean I’ve actually been a left-brain person all these years?

To calm myself down, I went to the library and was immediately drawn to a book called The Hidden Reality, written by physicist Brian Greene. I was never interested in String Theory before, but all of a sudden, I was fascinated by the complex mathematical equations that could prove there is a universe external to our own, using theories that are based on formulae Einstein proposed decades ago.

“This was a Pandora’s Box I did not want to open—with Computer programming? String theory? Something was very wrong.

In addition to sports, I was never good at math or science. By revealing my left-handedness, was my left side completely taking over? How could this be? Further research showed that in fact the left side of my brain controls the right side of my body and vice-versa. So, if I was actually left-handed, that would mean my right brain was taking over and I would be even more creative. Now my entire brain hurt.

I had lots of thinking to do: should I remain a left-handed person? Perhaps my left brain was just taking over and negating my right brain completely?

her my left nor right hand."

neit Will it completely push out any creative passions I had as a right handed-right-brained person? I hadn’t written anything or thought a creative thought since crossing over to the left side. I lived for that creativity in the past. Would irrational numbers, transcendental fractions, decimal representations and string theory dominate my dominion?

This was a Pandora’s Box I did not want to open—with neither my left nor right hand.

I went for a long walk, came home and put my mouse back on the right side of my computer. I cancelled my order for left-handed scissors and

revoked my pending application for the left-hander’s club. I worked through the pain in my right hand by printing barely passable words. Within an hour, I had my first creative thought for days.

PS MAGAZINE

11

FRANK AND EVAN LYSACEK FRANKCARROLL, CARROLL,OTHER OTHERWORLD WORLDTEAM TEAMCOACHES COACHES ANDOLYMPIC WORLD CHAMPION CHAMPION E VAN L YSACEK KNOW LEGAL CONCERNS. DO YOU? EGAL ISSUES ISSUES AND AND C ONCERNS. D O YOU ?

KNOW WHO WHO TO TO CALL CALL WITH WITH L

619.232.2424 or 619.572.9984

Jonathan Geen Attorney at Law Partner, Borton Petrini, LLP Over 20 years of legal experience National Judge in Singles / Pairs Former Skater http://bortonpetrini.com/bio/geen_se.pdf Coaching Agreements Rink / Coach Agreements Dispute Resolution / Grievance Counseling

Agent Agreements Show / Entertainment Contracts General Business Law and Trademark / Copyright

The Forgotten Art of Skating Etiquette Available for purchase

• Visit the PSA Online Store

View online or download at www.skatepsa.com/PSA-TV.htm

Only

$15

It seems that hardly a day goes by in any rink in America where skaters don’t complain about someone getting in their way during their program. Maybe it’s a kid working on an Axel in the Lutz corner or someone practicing moves in the field in the opposite direction. Worse is the coach who follows their skaters throughout the lesson, oblivious to anyone else on the ice. Regardless, if skaters and coaches can work together, we can begin to change the culture ... one skater, one coach, one parent, one club, and one rink at a time. We can do this by making it a focus to teach our skaters the history, traditions and etiquette of our sport. This presentation is a great tool to begin the process.

PRODUCED BY THE PROFESSIONAL SKATERS ASSOCIATION 2011

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NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2011

ETHICS GUIDELINES for

Taking the CER Courses

This article has been created as a supplement to the PSA Code of Ethics. As it is a supplement, it is not intended to replace the code of ethics already in place, but rather provide guidelines for our professional behavior. This document may not cover all possible issues.

Listed below are guidelines regarding the ethical process to take CER Exams. Continuing Education Requirements (CER) are required by US Figure Skating and administered by the PSA. CERs are intended to foster continuing professional development of figure skating coaches. Their dual purpose is furthering the knowledge base of coaches as well as enhancing their professional training and performance at all levels.

• A study group with another coach or with other coaches is very worthwhile.

• False statements made by anyone taking the exam may result in disciplinary action.

• When you actually take the test, do it by yourself.

• If you do not pass the exam, simply educate yourself in the area that you need more work on and take the exam again. This will benefit YOU and your clientele.

• It is not ethical to have another person take the test for you. Coaches should be taking the exams themselves.

• It is not ethical to take the test for another person.

• When signing on to take the exam, you will need to certify that you are the person signing on and personally taking this exam.

• As a professional, you owe it to your clientele to be knowledgeable, stay up to date with the latest rules and achieve and maintain the highest standard of ethical behavior.

“Advice for anybody - enjoy what you are doing, enjoy the process of learning and don’t be impatient.” ~ ROBIN COUSINS www.skatepsa.com

www.usfigureskating.org

COURSES ACCESSIBLE ONLINE! Earn your CER credits anytime, online at www.skatepsa.com. Sport Safety, Ethics, U.S. Figure Skating Rules and IJS courses are available Sponsored twenty-four By: hours a day, seven days a week.

sponsored by

CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

PS MAGAZINE PROFESSIONAL

13

Sport Science HEIDI THIBERT

Concussions:

Not just a bump on the head!

By Michael Cook, BS, ATC, CSCS

T

he word “concussion” is a hot topic of discussion in the news these days, whether it deals with concussion research, changes to either a sport or a governmental level with respect to concussion management, instances of athletes sustaining a concussion, or athletes returning from experiencing a concussive event. Concussion's impact is even reaching into the video game market.

According to the website PubMed Health (a consumer website created by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), a division of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)), a concussion is defined as: A traumatic brain injury that may result in a bad headache, altered levels of alertness or unconsciousness. It temporarily interferes with the way your brain works, affecting your memory, judgment, reflexes, speech, balance, coordination and sleep patterns.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), as it relates to sports, affects 1.6 – 3.8 million people annually in the United States, according to a 2006 epidemiological study published in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation.

Have you ever had a student complain of dizziness, nausea, ringing in the ears and/or blurred vision after a fall? Did that athlete hit his/her head on the ice or boards?

Acceleration of the brain against the cranial cavity can result in a concussion. This type of trauma can occur directly from collision with a solid object, such as the boards of a rink or the ice surface, another skating athlete, or indirectly with repeated falls.

The signs and symptoms of a concussion can vary depending on the population. They can include headache, loss of consciousness, loss of short term memory, impairment of speech, reflexes, balance and coordination. Accurate identification of these possible signs and symptoms can decrease potential long term effects of the trauma to the brain. What are the potential ramifications of not properly treating a concussed athlete?

• Physical Problems • Emotional Disorders • Depression • Secondary Impact Syndrome

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It is estimated that 40% of the athletes who sustain a concussion return to sport participation prematurely, thereby increasing their exposure to a “second impact”, and increasing the length of recovery from not just the first trauma, but also the second.

Studies being conducted at Boston University School of Medicine, Center of the Study for Traumatic Encephalopathy have shed new light on the damage caused by concussions, and have shown the ramifications of repeated blows to the head. Many professional athletes have offered to donate their brains to the BU Center in hopes of furthering the research into the long term effects of multiple concussions.

Additional studies have revealed that the youth athlete appears to be more susceptible to concussions and their brains are less equipped to handle them.

Identification begins with the coach at the boards! As mentioned above, if your athlete complains of a headache after a fall or collision, seems dizzy, or has an altered level of alertness, they should be removed from the ice and directed to the appropriate medical facility for evaluation.

The American Academy of Neurology produced a position statement on Sports Concussions in October 2010 with the following recommendations: 1. Any athlete who is suspected to have suffered a concussion should be removed from participation until he or she is evaluated by a physician with training in the evaluation and management of sports concussions.

2. No athlete should be allowed to participate in sports if he or she is still experiencing symptoms of a concussion.

3. Following a concussion, a neurologist or physician with proper training should be consulted prior to clearing the athlete for return to participation.

4. A Certified Athletic Trainer should be at all sporting events, including practices, where athletes are at risk for concussion.

5. Education efforts should be maximized to improve the understanding of concussion by all athletes, parents and coaches.

“It is estimated that 40% of the athletes who sustain a concussion return to sport participation prematurely...”

Proper identification of the signs and symptoms, and proper management of the concussion are the best chances to decrease long term impacts of concussive events.

“Traumatic Brain Injury isn’t an event that you recover from. It’s an event that you live with for the rest of your life,” stated New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell, when introducing a bipartisan bill to Congress called the Children’s Sports Safety Equipment Act, in March of 2011. This legislation aims to protect young football players, ages 18 and younger, from the dangers of sports-related brain injuries by requiring helmets to be re-inspected following every season by a third party to determine its ability to protect the user from head trauma. It also specifically addresses the prevention of concussions in children younger than 12 years old.

The reason I mention this specific sport is that it involves athletes colliding at high rates of speed while using protective head gear. As we all know, the sport of figure skating does not really fit into the “protective gear” realm of sports, particularly in competition. However, during practice/ rehearsals there is a new product on the market that may help and offer an increased level of protection against TBI/ concussion: The Rib Cap, http://www.ribcap.ch/home/.

While this hat looks innocuous, it offers an increased level of protection, particularly for those who have sustained previous head trauma.

The take home lesson with regard to concussions is: • “When in Doubt, Sit Them Out” and get them off the ice • Education is our best defense in protecting the minds and futures of our athletes.

These websites are useful resources to provide answers to any questions you might have relating to concussions and their management.

• http://www.cdc.gov/TraumaticBrainInjury/index.html# • http://injuredathletes.org/ • http://www.ncaa.org/

Michael Cook works with pair skater Jimmy Morgan to successfully rehabilitate a shoulder after surgery.

Michael Cook, BS, ATC, CSCS — Michael has 14 years of Certified Athletic Training experience and is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. His training experiences include numerous high school and college athletic teams, as well as professional team training during the 1996-1997 season with the Boston Bruins. Mike runs the off-ice training program at The Skating Club of Boston, which has resulted in a deep knowledge of the physical demands on the competitive athlete.

Michael is an active member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, the Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the Professional Skaters Association, U.S. Figure Skating, and member of U.S. Figure Skating Sports Medicine and Science Committee. He is an active Executive Board member on the NSCA Special Interest Group for Figure Skating.

Pair skater Alex Shaughnessey receives guidance from Mickael Cook.

PS MAGAZINE

15

OO Figure

Eights

the

Life Force of

Figure Skating

TM

Karen Courtland Kelly

16

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2011

PSA Endorses New DVD

“Figure Eights: the Life Force of Figure Skating” Master the Skating Skills Learn the Foundation of the Moves in the Field Figure Eights make Everyone a Better Skater

Order Now:

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DID YOU KNOW?

Louis Rubenstein • In 1890, Louis won the gold medal in the first unofficial World Figure Skating Championships held in St. Petersburg, Russia, where organizers first tried to prevent the Jewish skater from participating and later tried to deny his victory.

• Louis was coached by Jackson Haines • He won several championships and titles and was North America’s first famous skater Photo courtesy International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Netanya, Israel

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Education CAROL ROSSIGNOL

Pathway to Spins Text and diagrams by Christie Allan-Piper

N

ature repeats a good design. The Fibonacci or diminishing curve is found everywhere, in spiral galaxies, hurricanes, sea shells, pine cones--and the entrance into skating spins, two foot, one foot, forward and back (camel and flying spins excepted).

The figure skate is a precision instrument that carves its way to a circle’s center. There the skater circles, as if tethered to an invisible pole anchored to the center of the earth, rising to the sky.

The ice marks tell the tale. A spin entrance, like the curve into a school figure loop, is proportional to the skater’s height. For both loop and spin, the curve is key.

After passing the long axis, the curve becomes so tight, the body must either resist the center’s pull, looping around it, or allow the skate’s forward motion to be arrested and spun. As the skate turns, the free leg releases, swings round and the spin begins.

A great spin leaves the mark of concentric circles no larger than a dinner plate. Spins traveling slightly, not along on a line, but a platter, merely require adjustment.

Some sagging body part, elbow, hip, or shoulder needs alignment.

A chain of small loops veering off a previously centered spin is evidence of the helicopter or tornado effect, lifting the mass off its moorings. Usually this pull can be resisted by pressing down shoulders, arms, free leg, and--importantly--the free foot heel, keeping the spin secure and fast.

A straight line of never centered loops indicates a three and spin begun too soon, before the skater passed the long axis and approached the center, in fact missing it altogether. The premature spin careened outward, away from the pole. Impatience and frisky free foot are culprits here. Telltale marks bespeak of a spin so wrong, it should have been stopped. A runaway spin is a danger to the spinner and all nearby. A skater must be taught to correct or abort at once. Shame on any coach who allows such a spin to be practiced!

For the forward spin, the free leg must be held back,

18

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2011

behind the heel of the skating foot, until the curve is so small, the blade turns involuntarily. Then the free leg releases with force to make its own circular path around the center.

For the back spin entered by a forward inside edge, the free leg must be held in place, somewhat back, but inside the circle rather than behind the heel of the skating foot.

In due course, the body rotates to face the foot, turns the three and spins.

Forward spin or back, the Fibonacci curve is the same, never cut short, free leg restrained, until it no longer can be. At the turn, the free foot releases to swing with a force of a circular sling shot.

For the upright forward spin, hands and elbows are best held shoulder level, curved slightly forward, as if hugging a gradually shrinking tree. The great spin master, Gus Lussi kept forearms horizontal as they tighten and draw back close to the ribs. Like plane wings and sailboat booms, their horizontal force balances the vertical mass. (Strong skaters can manage vertical forearms, but weak skaters wobble.) Finally the arms, free leg and heel press downward against the body in a burst of speed.

The back spin begins with free arm strongly forward, skating arm strongly back and low, ready to punch up and inward, a swift upper cut as the spin begins. Again drawing in, forearms are most effective kept horizontal, hands flat, one above the other, thumbs hooked, elbows pressed against ribs, until straightening and pressing down flat against the body.

In change foot spins, each outward cut of the departing foot makes another Fibonacci curve. The mark of a well centered spin, with many changes of feet, resembles a pinwheel or spiral galaxy. When changing feet, one places the new foot on the rim of the wheel opposite the departing foot, one foot leaving as the other foot arrives.

Coming and going, feet must be parallel and apart.

Skaters with open (spread eagle) hips must concentrate

Ideal

Spin on a plate

on turning the free foot inward. In transition, a turned out foot is as much impedance to a spin as an open door on a moving car. Toed in, blade parallel to the ice, the free leg offers least resistance to the air. Molding extremities to the line of flight, in this case circular, maximizes aerodynamics.

The spin is important for its own beauty and for the foundation and daily warm-up it offers jumps. Once spins are centered, the body is ready for airborne spins. But spins offer even more. In a chaotic world, the Euclidian design and logic of spins is reassuringly certain.

As in the eye of a storm, in a spin’s center, is stillness.

Within an invisible, circular chamber, one feels the pull of centrifugal and centripetal forces in concert. Tethered to the invisible pole, one becomes a conduit between earth and sky, balanced amid the forces of the universe.

A spin can be read, understood, mastered. Centering spins, we learn to balance ourselves. Centering carries over to jumps and life, itself. The world may spin around us, out of control, but in it we can—must--find our balance and hold it strongly.

For more than fifty years now, I have done spins almost daily. Each one has been a meditation, exploration, revelation—a serene and hallowed moment.

Not quite ideal

Spin on a platter

Tornado effect

PS MAGAZINE

19

2012 PSA International Conference � Trade Show 20

PERFORMANCE AND EXECUTION:

Planning For Success The Coaches Are Coming! The Coaches are Coming!

G

rab your skates and join the revolution because we are headed to Boston for the PSA International Conference and Trade Show. This educational event will be held May 24-26th, 2012, with the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and The Skating Club of Boston as our gracious hosts. Our focus this year is providing updated and time-tested content to help increase your coaching business success, as well as providing tools to increase your athletes’ accomplishments.

As always, we will offer great on and off-ice sessions targeted at improving technical skills. This year, in responding to your needs, we will be offering a variety of sessions to help you create the well-rounded athlete. Huzzah!

AGENDA • Come hear Paul Wylie tell the story about his journey to an Olympic silver medal.

• In looking at creating a positive coaching experience, we have turned to nationally recognized expert, David Benzel, founder and Executive Director of Growing Champions for Life, Inc. David provides parents and coaches with practical tools and positive strategies for helping athletes reach their full potential while enjoying the youth sport experience.

• To get on top of the latest strategies in sports psychology, Gloria Balagué worked extensively with USA Track & Field, USA Gymnastics, and USA Field Hockey at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. She was a keynote speaker at the 2000 Olympic Congress held in Brisbane, 2003 European Congress of Sport Psychology in Denmark and the 2006 South American Congress

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2011

of Sport Psychology in Chile. She will speak to us about Training Mental Skills for Competition.

• Scott Gregory, author of the book Champion Mindset: Refusing to Give Up Your Dreams, will speak on Ten Tips for Developing a Winning Mindset. Scott is a two-time World and Olympic competitor who focuses his coaching efforts on helping skaters get the positive mindset and focus necessary for competition success.

• Don’t miss the revolution — Kaisa Nieminen and Saga Krantz will be leading the way for synchronized skating. They will share their expertise and help you prepare for a successful season. Kaisa is the coach of the reigning junior and senior world synchronized skating champions, Team Fintastic and the Rockettes, and hails from Finland. Saga is the coach of the current World Bronze medalists, the Haydenettes.

Early Bi rd Registra tion deadlin ei January s 9�, 2012

THE SKATING CLUB OF BOSTON 1240 Soldiers Field Rd Boston, MA 02135

617.782.5900 www.scboston.org

THE BOSTON PARK PLAZA HOTEL 50 Park Plaza at Arlington St Boston, MA 02116

800.225.2008 www.bostonparkplaza.com

• Ever wonder how to bring out the best acting capabilities of your skaters? Tim Covington, former skater and professional actor, now coaches skaters and their coaches in how to Create a Winning Character for Success.

• You won’t want to miss our Saturday morning breakfast panel, which will unveil the results of our soon-to-be released PSA member-wide survey on Competition Best Practices. We will have a panel of experts relate tips and secrets on their best practices. Panelists include: Paul Wylie, Todd Sand, Kaisa Nieminen, and Ben Agosto.

Merry Neitlich from the Coach’s Edge will join us as moderator.

PSA 2012 Conference

Trivia Contest

One revolutionary coach will be galloping to Boston with a FREE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION this year!

Keep a keen eye on your email for the first of two trivia questions to be sent November 1, 2011.

More details and official rules can be found at our website: www.skatepsa.com/2012Conference

Other inv



• Dan Be

ited spea

nardot • Kathy Casey • Mike C ook • Peter Jo hansson • Christy Krall

kers inclu d

e:

• Rob Mc Bride • Scott M cCoy • Mark M itchell • Tom Za krajsek PS MAGAZINE

21

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NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2011

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ddddddd Happy ddddddd Campers ddddddd ddddddd ddddddd ddddddd ddddddd ddddddd Adult Skaters Take to the Ice At Dorothy Hamill’s Figure Skating Fantasy Camp | BY JOANNE VASSALLO JAMROSZ

F

or the adult skaters and coaches of the Dorothy Hamill Figure Skating Fantasy Camp, skating camp means gathering with old friends, making new friends and most of all sharing the joy of skating.

Hamill created the camp in 2009, because of her love of adult skaters.

“I’m always trying to encourage adults to be brave and take the plunge. You are never too old to skate. It is a healthy exercise. It’s creative, and it is a great activity for adults,” Hamill said.

The camp takes place the final week of August at the Nantucket Ice Arena in Nantucket, MA, and for Hamill

Camper Susan Frobish skates with Olympic silver medalist and camp coach Peter Carruthers

and fellow coaches, they cannot think of a better way to spend this time together.

There are few requirements. Campers must be 21 years old, but need only bring “a pair of skates and a fun attitude,” according to Hamill. Skaters from all levels are welcome from the very beginner who has never stepped on the ice to the adult gold medalist. Skaters absorb every aspect of the sport through weeklong presentations by Hamill and her guest coaches which include Olympic and World skaters Randy Gardner, Peter Carruthers and JoJo Starbuck, Choreographers Tim Murphy and Nathan Birch, and coaches Elin Gardiner Schran and Julie Patterson. Schran is the daughter of Olympic and World Champion Tenley Albright.

Adult skater Anita Lawrence-Porter traveled all the way from Sydney, Australia just to attend this “incredible” camp. Lawrence-Porter is a member of the Sydney Figure Skating Club.

“It’s a cliché to say ‘It’s a dream come true’ and it’s one I didn’t want to wake up from,” Lawrence-Porter said.

“To meet these people who are so well known and to come in feeling nervous but then to find people who are just so warm and welcome, I feel like I can do anything now.”

Fellow camp newcomer Beth Diehl- Svrjcek, a member of the Baltimore Figure Skating Club, attended the camp after skating on and off as a child. She found the camp presented a perfect opportunity to skate with fellow adult skaters.

“It’s been an incredible experience,” Diehl-Svrjcek said. “The best thing is that it is adult oriented. I grew up watching these Olympians. They were a part of my youth. Just to be able to take lessons from them is an awesome experience.”

PS MAGAZINE

23

For more information on the 2012 Dorothy Hamill Figure Skating Fantasy Camp contact fantasycamp@dorothyhamill.com.

The happy campers and coaches give a cheer while posing for a group picture at camp’s conclusion.

For the coaches, the feeling is mutual. For Gardner, the lessons he learns from the campers each year play an important role in his coaching.

“The collaboration between the faculty is amazing,” Gardner said. “And I learn from working with these adult skaters. I take with me a wealth of knowledge that I actually share with my own students back home.”

Skaters spend four hours on ice every day. Classes focus on such topics as spins, moves in the field, jump skills, choreography and basic skills for beginners. There are off ice presentations as well, and this year campers were treated to a talk by Olympic and World Champion Dick Button, and a visit from Tenley Albright who attended the group’s farewell exhibition.

Darlene O’Neal is a new skater and a second year camper. O’Neal, who skates at Mount Vernon in Alexandria VA., could not wait to return this year.

“I had to come back,” O’ Neal said. “I only skated six months last year, but I signed up for camp so I would stick to it. This year I wanted to feel it and enjoy it.

Everyone just understands me here.” O’Neal even started an adult skaters' blog.

“I inspired two people at work to start skating,” O’Neal said. “I am definitely the pied piper of ice skating.”

Susan Frobish is also a second year camper. “It was the most amazing skating experience I ever had,” said Frobish who skates at the University of Illinois Ice Arena.” Not only because of the wonderful coaches, but also because of the friendships I made. The encouragement that we give each other. I feel like we are kindred spirits, and each and every coach brings a little something to the ice.”

“It’s amazing,” Patterson said. “The adults are here to

24

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2011

ABOVE: The group poses with Olympic and World Champion Dick Button, who presented a great off-ice seminar during the camp. RIGHT: Camper Anita Lawrence-Porter takes a lesson from Nathan Birch.

learn but they are also here to have a good time.”

During the camp’s exhibition on the final day, Hamill best summed up the week’s experience. “The dream behind this camp was to give adults a chance to do something they always wanted to do,” Hamill said.

“Thanks to these amazing coaches, we’ve been able to do just that.”

For more information on the 2012 Dorothy Hamill Figure Skating Fantasy Camp contact fantasycamp@ dorothyhamill.com.

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The

Skating Club of

Boston

Skating Club of Boston T the celebrates its 100th birthday this

year. The third-oldest skating club in the United States will be celebrating its 100th birthday next year as well. That’s a story for down the page.

In 1911, under the direction of George Atkinson Jr., The Skating Club of Boston was born. Following the Philadelphia Skating Club and the Cambridge Skating Club, The Skating Club of Boston helped propel America’s emerging love affair with the New Style of skating popularized in Europe by American Jackson Haines.

Today, The Skating Club of Boston boasts more national champions than any other American club.

“We may have more champions than all other clubs combined,’’ said Ben Wright, a former United States Figure Skating Association president and U.S. Figure Skating historian. “During the time from 1912 to 1961, we were the dominant club from the standpoint of national competitions.”

World and Olympic champions Dick Button and Tenley Albright list The Skating Club of Boston as their home ice.

Thirteen national champions and two junior champions also call The Skating Club of Boston home. (Their names can be found at the club's web site, www.scboston.org).

The Skating Club of Boston also popularized skating shows with its Carnival, a skating program that began in 1911 and remains a significant event in Boston today, under the name “Ice Chips.”

“Carnival is a gala,’’ Wright said. “It

26

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2011

leading up to that celebration to reengage folks with the long history of the club.”

By Kent McDill PHOTOS COURTESY of WORLD FIGURE SKATING MUSEUM & HALL OF FAME

is a show, a series of exhibitions, with a variety of numbers in it. There are singles, pairs, dance, group numbers, and we added synchronized skating teams in recent years.

It does more to provide cohesion than any other membership program we have because everybody participates.”

Carnival also provided The Skating Club of Boston with a boost to its funding needs.

“It was a big money-maker,’’ Wright said.

“It raised enough money to take care of the bulk of our costs.”

In recent years, The Skating Club of Boston has raised the awareness of Theatre on Ice, and sponsors a number of championship teams in that new arena of skating.

The official celebration for the centennial is scheduled for Feb. 18, 2012. At that point, it is the hope of the current leadership of The Skating Club of Boston to delineate the long and storied history of the club.

“We are making a push to do that with the celebration coming up,’’ said Doug Zeghibe, executive director of The Skating Club of Boston. “We are having a ball in downtown Boston, and we are using the opportunity

HISTORY Many of the original members of The Skating Club of Boston were members of a group originally named the Back Bay Skating Club, which was using several outdoor rinks for their time together, although their primary site was Hammond’s Pond in Chestnut Hill. In 1909, the Boston Arena was erected, and the Back Bay Skating Club wanted to use it for skating during the warm months when there was no natural ice and in the winter months when weather was a hindrance to outdoor skating. So in 1911, they became The Skating Club of Boston.

In 1912, The Club was officially incorporated, which is why the club will officially celebrate its centennial next year.

In 1918, the Boston Arena burned to the ground. At the same time, the United States was embroiled in the First World War, and coal and other materials were limited. Under those adverse conditions, The Club moved its skating to a small rink in Cambridge, which was known as the Ice Pavilion. It was a much smaller facility, so the club members were thrilled when the Boston Arena was rebuilt in 1920.

Since 1911, The Club had held its Carnival annually, and the profits from those special shows gave The Club an operating budget large enough to buy some property and build its own facility. The Club’s new home was built on Soldiers Field Road in

Brighton, south of the Charles River.

The new rink was opened officially on January 1, 1939. The first person on the ice was Miss Joan Tozzer, who was the current National Ladies Champion and a club member.

The new rink was built in the fashion of a Quonset Hut, a structural style used

by American troops throughout World War II. The key to the structural fashion of the Quonset Hut was that it required no vertical tie rods, with the weight of the roof directed onto outside footings. This allowed the rink surface to be uninterrupted by structural beams.

The Club’s original floor was made of concrete, with pipes imbedded in it to circulate the refrigerant necessary for keeping the ice solid.

The Club’s original purpose was to provide skating during the normal skating period, from the fall months to the spring months. There was no summer skating at The Club until 1969.

In 1967, the original surface was pulled up and replaced but that floor did not last because The Club had opened itself up for summer skating and frosting was a problem.

In 1973, The Club laid a sand floor with pipes lying among the sand, and the ice had to be doubly thick to support ice treatment machinery.

In 1993, the original wood roof was replaced by a galvanized steel roof, along

with a low-hanging parachute-like fabric for insulation.

It was not until the year 2000 that The Club found a way to publicly salute its champions with a series of banners that ring the rink. The Club also has one of the largest displays of skating trophies in the world, with two cases on each of two walls.

In 2013, a new home rink will be built six blocks from its current location on five acres of land received from Harvard University, which will then occupy The Skating Club of Boston’s current location.

The new facility will house three rinks, including a 2,000-seat performance center and a rink specifically for hockey.

THE CHAMPIONS The Skating Club of Boston has produced hundreds of national titles among its membership. It also helped propel American skating into the international competitive landscape, and recorded many of the country’s first Olympic skating medals.

The Club’s first competition occurred almost immediately upon the club’s creation.

A team of Rotch and his two sisters, Edith and Clara, as well as Edward Howland, ventured to Ottawa, Canada, to compete against the Minto Skating Club in Fours.

The Ellis Memorial Trophy was created to celebrate the event, the first international skating competition held in North America.

The Ottawa team traveled to Boston in 1914,

and The Skating Club of Boston won the competition that year, and still retains the Trophy, which can be seen at The Club today.

The Club’s first acclaimed skater was Theresa Weld (eventually Theresa Weld Blanchard) who was the first United States Lady Champion, the North American Pair Champion with Niles and the National Pairs Champion nine times. In 1920, Blanchard won the Bronze Medal in the ladies competition, giving the United States its first Olympic medal in figure skating.

Sherwin Badger, a Boston native and one of the first American national champions, and Beatrix Loughran were Silver Medalists in Pairs competition in the 1932 Olympics at Lake Placid, the first medal for the U.S. in that event. Maribel Vinson was a Silver Medalist at the 1928 World Championships and Bronze Medalist at the 1932 Olympic Games. She was a nine-time U.S. Ladies champion. She was also the first female sports writer at the New York Times, covering figure skating.

Vinson’s effect upon the history of the club extended beyond her own skating. Her

Tina Noyes Photo by Bob McIntyre

PS MAGAZINE

27

rrrr rrrr rrrr rrrr rrrr rrrr rrrr rrrr rrrr rrrr rrrr rrrr rrrr rrrr rrrr rrrr rrrr Famous Faces of

in the World Championships, the World Junior Championships and the ISU’s Four Continents Championships as well.

daughters, Maribel and Laurence, followed their mother into competition. Maribel won pairs titles with Charles Foster and Dudley Richards. Laurence won individual titles in North American and National competitions.

Roger F. Turner was a two-time Silver Medalists at the World Championships in 1930 and 1931, marking the first such award for an American skater in that event.

Dick Button, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, represented the Philadelphia Skating Cub in 1948 and The Skating Club of Boston in 1952.

The height of success for The Club came in the 1950s, when Tenley Albright was a Silver Medalist in the 1952 Olympics in Oslo, and won the first World Ladies Title for the United States in 1953 and 1955. Tenley then won the Olympic Gold Medal in Cortina, Spain in 1956, another American first.

Lorraine Hanlon, Tina Noyes and Roger Turner were national champions, while Paul Wylie brought The Skating Club of Boston back to international prominence when he finished as an Olympic Silver Medalist in 1992.

The Club has been solidly represented Tenley Albright

28

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2011

CARNIVAL While The Skating Club of Boston has provided dozens of champion skaters, its greatest contribution perhaps is its annual Carnival, a joyous skating exposition that eventually became known as “Ice Chips.”

The shows grew annually, and occasionally the carnivals became special events.

Without the carnivals, the club would have had difficulty ever having a home of its own.

This was the simplest way for the membership to gather its talents and present them to the world. From the tiniest Learn to Skate participants to its national competitors, Carnival involved all members in a show unlike any other.

“That includes the top skaters, who always wanted to participate,’’ Wright said.

From the beginning, the Carnival was an event of unique showmanship for the era, and it grew to become more than just a one-city affair. In 1924, and for the next two years, The Skating Club of Boston hosted the first USFSA joint carnival in conjunction with the New York and Philadelphia clubs.

Each Carnival had a different theme, and in 1934, it was “The Cruise of the S.S. Arena,” with performances by Sonja Henie and Karl Schafer. That show increased the scope of The Carnival so that for the next several years, it played before soldout audiences at the Boston Garden.

Also in the 1930s, the Carnival began inviting top European skaters to participate and the shows extended beyond Boston to the other figure skating capitals in the East, New York and Philadelphia. Several skaters, including Henie and Schafer, made their “professional’’ debuts in those shows.

It was proceeds from these shows that allowed The Skating Club of Boston to build its own home rink in 1938.

It was at this time that another touring skating show known as The Ice Follies was born, and it traveled throughout the established cities of North America. While The Ice Follies cut into the luster of The Carnival, The Skating Club of Boston still managed to put on notable shows, including the 1947 performance that included Dick Button, who was the World Silver medalist at the time.

After decades of shows at The Boston Arena and the Boston Garden, the Carnival

The Skating Club of Boston Dick Button

Beatrix Loughran

& Sherwin Badg

er

Laurence, Maribel & Maribel Owen

Roger Turner

Lorraine Hanlon

Tenley Albright

en Maribel Vinson Ow

Paul Wylie

Tina Noye

downsized and was held either at the Walter Brown Arena of Boston University or the Matthews Arena of Northeastern University. During the first decade of the new century, the show was moved to Harvard University’s Bright Arena. The 2011 Ice Chips show was the 99th performance, meaning the 2012 show will indeed celebrate its own 100th anniversary.

In the modern era of skating, some of the big name skaters who have performed in Ice Chips include Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Charles Tickner, Scott Hamilton, Brian Boitano, and Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner. More recently, Paul Wylie and Sasha Cohen have performed as featured skaters.

THE COACHES Clubs do not have champion skaters without championship coaches.

“Basically, the success of the club is based on the coaching staff,’’ Wright said.

The club’s coaching history started with Fritz Schmidt, and George and Elspeth Muller, all of Germany. George Muller is credited with creating ice dances known as the Dutch Waltz and the Fiesta Tango.

Willie Frick, another German, joined the Club in 1920, and he and his American wife Cathleen Pope taught at The Club for more than 40 years. Almost all of the club champions from 1920 through 1960 were taught by Frick.

“He was a good coach of compulsory figures, which were dominant in those days,’’ Wright said. “He was Tenley Albright’s original coach, Maribel Vinson’s coach, and the first coach of Theresa Weld Blanchard.”

Montgomery “Bud’’ Wilson taught at the club from 1946 until his death in 1964. He brought with him his experience from winning six North American and nine Coach Cecilia Colledge

Teresa Weld Blanchard

Canadian championships as a singles skater and numerous pairs championships with his sister Constance Wilson Samuel.

Another notable coach was Cecilia Colledge, a British champion who coached at The Club from 1952 into the 1970s.

Like the aforementioned coaches, Colledge is a member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

THE TRAGEDY Like every other skating group in the country, The Skating Club of Boston was adversely affected by the 1961 plane crash in Brussels that killed most members of the U.S. National Figure Skating team.

Among the members of The Skating Club of Boston members who lost their lives included Maribel Vinson Owen and her daughters Maribel and Laurence, former USFSA President Walter S. Powell, and National Pairs champions Gregory and Nathalie Kelley.

THEATRE ON ICE In recent years, The Skating Club of Boston has spearheaded the growth of ice theatre, a performance of skating ability with a storytelling component. It is a team event that has grown to create national and international competitions. The Skating Club of Boston is host and sponsor of Act I of Boston, which competes in U.S. Figure Skatingsanctioned competitive events. The Skating Club of Boston also sponsors Imagica, an adult Theatre on Ice team, and Encore, a team for eight to 15-year-old skaters.

“We have 80 skaters of all ages in Theatre on Ice,’’ Wright said. “It’s very popular. It provides another vehicle for people to skate other than high performance.”

THE FUTURE As it enters its second century of existence, The Skating Club of Boston remains a viable member of the Boston skating scene.

“The evidence of our connection to the community is demonstrated by the size of our basic skills program,’’ Wright said.

Zeghibe said the club is operating programs for 1,200 skaters at a total of five rinks as part of its Skating Academy. That number figures to rise with the expansion to the new location in 2013.

In 2012, The Club is going to go out of its way to let the world, including its current membership, become wrapped up in the club’s history.

In 2011, the documentary “Rise’’ showed the part The Club played in the history of American figure skating, as well as its unfortunate losses from the 1961 air tragedy.

That information is certainly available to members today, but sometimes the past is lost in the push to get through the present.

“You know, the kids train, the parents have other kids participating in multiple sports and activities, and you can’t assume they are going to learn the club’s history just by being involved with the club,’’ Zeghibe said. “This is the perfect opportunity to promote our history.”

Zeghibe said the growth of the club and its inclusion in almost all of Boston’s skating interests put it in perfect position to start well on it second century of existence.

“If you are interested in skating in Boston, no matter what your pursuit, the is the one place you can come to pursue whatever your skating love is,’’ he said.

Coach Bud Wilson

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GREAT TIPS FROM AMERICA'S TOP COACHES EXCERPTS FROM SPORT MEDICINE SYPMPOSIUM

Concussion Case Studies 2011 PSA Dallas Conference

by Michael Cook and Dr. Damond Blueitt

A

ccording to a 2006 epidemiological study published in The Journal of Head Trauma and Rehabilitation, traumatic brain injury as it relates to sports affects between 1.6 & 3.8 million people annually in the United States. The majority of these are categorized as mild traumatic brain injuries or commonly known as a concussion. It’s not just a bump on the head anymore. Have you ever had a student complain of dizziness, nauseousness, ringing in their ears or blurred vision after a fall? Did the athlete hit his or her head? If you answered yes to any of these questions then it’s possible that the athlete has sustained a concussive event. Does impact have to occur for trauma to occur to the brain? Cranial impact is not necessary for a cranial injury to occur. An example is of an athlete who came out of a jump prematurely and fell on her outstretched arm which caused her head to jerk sideways and gave her whiplash as well as signs and symptoms of a concussion.

What is a concussion?

According to PubMed Health (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/) a concussion is defined as a traumatic brain injury that may result in a bad headache, lowered levels of alertness or consciousness. It temporarily interferes with the way your brain works such as memory, judgment, reflexes, speech, balance and coordination and sleep patterns. The U.S. Figure Skating Sports Science manual further clarifies and includes in its definition of concussion that they are usually caused by a blow to or severe jamming of the head.

Concussions do not always result in lack of consciousness. Most are mild and most people who have concussions never experience blackouts. Many symptoms can be very subtle, therefore concussions can go undiagnosed and untreated.

A story from one coach: A skater had stepped on the ice, hit his toe pick, slid face first and collided with the ice. While the coach was dealing with his bloody lip, she asked him if he remembered what happened, he said no. He had lost his short term memory for that event. She also looked at him and noticed that his eyes weren’t looking quite right and he wasn’t acting himself. She suggested to the parents that they consider taking him to the ER to evaluate him for a concussion. Two days later the mother sent a follow up email to the coach stating that she had taken him to the ER and he did, in fact, suffer a concussion. It doesn’t matter where your head hits. If it comes in contact with something hard you have a higher potential for a concussive event to occur.

So what’s the big deal? What are the ramifications of not properly

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treating a concussed athlete? There are physical problems that can manifest later on, such as inability to concentrate, difficulty with depth perception, emotional disorders which can lead to depression, and there’s a risk of second impact syndrome (SIS), which can lead to potentially deadly brain complications. (http://www.sportsmd.com/ Articles/id/38.aspx) In a recent article in the Boston Globe Magazine (http://articles. boston.com/2011-04-24/yourtown/29469461_1_taylor-twellmangalaxy-goalkeeper-steve-cronin/3), former New England Revolution star Taylor Twellman documented seven reported concussions and recounted the story of his 2008 concussion that finally led to the end of his career. He was unable to concentrate on either television or reading, and could not drive or be social with his family or friends, causing him to feel isolated and extremely depressed. As his symptoms subsided over the season, he attempted a comeback, but in the end he was forced to retire. He has since started an online resource called Sports Injury Nation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCtEOcnjfb8) to help athletes, coaches and parents understand the injury and recover from its impact.

Bottom line!

Here is what you need to know and where to find info in your area: Concussion Legislation by State — As of September 2011, 30 states (plus the District of Columbia and the city of Chicago) have adopted youth concussion laws while one state has passed legislation and is awaiting the governor’s signature. The NFL supports and recognizes the laws as they represent the main principles of the Lystedt Law model legislation including: 1. Inform and educate youth athletes, their parents and guardians and require them to sign a concussion information form; 2. Removal of a youth athlete who appears to have suffered a concussion from play or practice at the time of the suspected concussion; and 3. Requiring a youth athlete to be cleared by a licensed health care professional trained the evaluation and management of concussions before returning to play or practice.

Legislative updates on all 50 states can be found here: http://nflhealthandsafety.com/zackery-lystedt-law/states/ Sports-related concussion in youth and high school sports can be serious or even life threatening situations if not managed correctly.We can help athletes stay active and healthy by knowing the facts about concussion and when it is safe for them to return to the ice.

For more information see Concussions on page 32

SUMMARY OF MOTIONS

2011 Spring Board Meeting • Dallas, TX

» The following are the results of the Requests for Action from the May 2011 PSA Board of Governors meeting

PASSED MOTION #S11-1: “I move that the board approves the agenda for the May 2011 meeting of the PSA Board of Governors, with the addition of a discussion about the Confidentiality Agreement.”

Motion: Vice President Fowler-Binder Second: Governor Wylie Voice Vote In Favor _all___ Opposed _0_____ Abstentions ___0____ PASSED MOTION #S11-2: “I move that the board approves the minutes from the Fall 2010 Board meeting held in Dallas, Texas, with the two corrections on page 130 of the Board Report.”

Motion: Vice President Fowler-Binder Second: Vice President Benson Voice Vote: In Favor _all___ Opposed _0_____ Abstentions ___0____ PASSED MOTION #S11-3: “I move that the board approves the slate of board members for the 2011-12 membership year.”

Motion: Vice President Riviello Second: Governor Ladret Voice Vote: In Favor __all_____ Opposed __0_____ Abstentions ___0____ PASSED MOTION #S11-4: “I move that the board approves the Internal Board of Governors Policy Manual, S11.doc.”

Motion: Vice President Riviello Second: Treasurer Murphy Voice Vote: In Favor _all Opposed __0_____ Abstentions ___0____ PASSED MOTION #S11-5 “I move that the board approves the PSA 2011 Administrative Policy Manual, V.5.”

Motion: Vice President Riviello Second: _ Past President Morris Adair Voice Vote: In Favor __all_ Opposed ____0___ Abstentions ___0_____ PASSED MOTION #S11-6: “I move that the board approves the Treasurer’s Report.”

Motion: Vice President Benson Second: _Governor Ladret Voice Vote: In Favor __all___ Opposed ___0___ Abstentions _________ PASSED MOTION #S11-7: “I move that the board approves the 2011-12 Budget.”

Motion: Vice President Benson Second: Governor Ladret Voice Vote: In Favor __all___ Opposed ___0___ Abstentions __0____ NO ACTION TAKEN MOTION S11-8: “I move that the PSA Board of Governors approve Exhibit A, the ARC Recognition of Achievement Task Force Proposal.”

Sent back to committee by Executive Board.

Motion: Second: ___________________ Voice Vote: In Favor _______ Opposed _______ Abstentions _______ Rationale: It is important for PSA leadership to recognize and reach out to members in all locations. Member recognition demonstrates support of PSA members as they support the PSA. All PSA members deserve consideration for special recognition. As an additional benefit, the information gathered in the ARC Awards process could become a resource for identifying National Award nominees.

Financial Impact: Minimal costs for printing and delivery of certificates.

NO ACTION TAKEN MOTION S11-9: “I move that the PSA Board of Governors approve Exhibit B, the Representatives Presence at PSA Seminars proposal.”

Sent back to committee by Executive Board.

Motion: Second: ___________________ Voice Vote: In Favor _______ Opposed _______ Abstentions _______ Rationale: Implementation of the Area Representatives Presence at Seminars Proposal will further the mission of the Area Representatives Committee, strengthening ties between PSA Representatives and their members. The workload of the PSA Office will be reduced when members contact their Area Representatives for advice and information.

Financial Impact: The estimated maximum cost for full implementation of this proposal will be approximately $160 per year. This amount will fund the cost of lunches for sixteen Area Representatives from the United States at $10 each. Costs will be reduced depending on the number of Representatives who will be able to attend seminars.

NO ACTION TAKEN MOTION S11-10: “I move that the PSA Board of Governors approve Exhibit C, the PSA Volunteer Recognition Program.”

Sent back to committee by Executive Board.

Motion: Second: ___________________ Voice Vote: In Favor _______ Opposed _______ Abstentions _______ Rationale: The success of the PSA relies heavily on the strength of our volunteers. We all owe our dedicated volunteers a huge debt of gratitude for their contribution of time, energy and expertise. The PSA benefits greatly from the significant volunteer efforts of its members. When implemented, the PSA Volunteer Recognition Program will motivate members to continue and potentially increase their service. Additional members will be inspired to serve the PSA. Financial Impact: Costs are minimal, including token awards and light refreshments for a Volunteer Appreciation session at the annual PSA Conference. (It is hoped that this cost will be absorbed by the contracted food and beverage minimums) Costs are also dependent on the number of Platinum level Volunteers each year.

PASSED MOTION #S11-11: “I move that the board approves offering the Hockey Skating 1 & 2 tests on-line. Participants must take the class at conference and purchase the manuals to be eligible to take the test.”

Motion: Vice President Fowler Binder Second: Vice President Benson Voice Vote: In Favor _all____ Opposed __0_____ Abstentions ___0____ Rationale: We feel that this will offer flexibility to be able to take the exams.

FAILED MOTION #S11-12: “I move that the board approves adding Hockey Skating 1 and Hockey Skating 2 to the agenda at three (3) Nationwide Seminars.”

Motion: Vice President Fowler Binder Second: Past President Morris Adair Voice Vote: In Favor __0__ Opposed __all__ Abstentions ___0____ Rationale: We would like to offer hockey at other educational programs other than the annual National Conference. We feel this will help give flexibility to coaches when planning out their year and ratings they wish to take. Moreover, it will help promoting the Hockey Skating throughout the country and reach coaches who cannot attend the annual National Conference.

NO ACTION TAKEN MOTION #S11-13: “I move that the board approves reimbursement speakers for travel, meals, and hotel for all Nationwide Seminars..”

Motion nulled by failure of Motion #S11-12

Motion: Second: ___________________ Voice Vote: In Favor _______ Opposed _______ Abstentions _______ Rationale: The rationale for asking for reimbursement expenses for the Fall Seminars comes from the fact that USA Hockey covers all expenses for all presenters for their programs.

PASSED MOTION #S11-14: “I move that the board approves those who have passed the previous Hockey 1 & 2 and Power Skating (all three) prior to our committee work should be grandfathered through the current Hockey Skating 1.”

Motion: Vice President Fowler-Binder Second: Governor Stump Voice Vote: In Favor __all__ Opposed __0___ Abstentions ___0___ Rationale: Based on the current rating structure, we believe that grandfathering those who have previously passed Hockey Skating 1, 2 and Power Skating (prior to our committee work beginning summer 2008) through the current Hockey Skating 1 will help increase the Hockey Skating 2 and 3 numbers. For example, the Moves in the Field skating tests have been revised effective September 2010, yet those who hold MIF rating are not required to go back and retake the rating exams just because the skating test have changed. So why should coaches have to for Hockey Skating?

continued on page 35

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Continued from page 30

CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT LEGISLATION

“THE LYSTEDT LAW” HB 1824

PLEASE STAY CURRENT WITH THE EVER CHANGING LEGISLATION UPDATES IN ALL 50 STATES BY GOING TO:

http://nflhealthandsafety.com/zackery-lystedt-law/states/

On May 14, 2009, the Washington State Legislature passed the “The Zachary Lystedt Law” HB 1824, directing the education of coaches, players, and parents on the recognition and management of concussions as well as establishing return to play protocol for all youth athletes suspected of or having a concussion or brain injury.

The following three “tenants” of these laws are consistent across the states: TENANT #1: To mandate education outreach to coaches, parents and athletes

Many states legislation is specific to Intramural and School activities and there are a few states that have extended this legislation within the recreational sports community.

This law applies to all athletes under the age of 18 for all sports, both public and private. Note: there are some states that do not provide an age requirement therefore it is assumed that this may be applicable to adults as well, details continue to evolve so keep checking back.

These are two great sources for Concussion Management Training:

TENANT #2: To mandate immediate removal from play of any athlete who sustains a concussion or who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with the injury AND to only allow those athletes to return to physical activity after receiving written clearance from an appropriate health care provider who is trained in concussion management

• http://www.knowconcussion.org • http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/youth.html.

TENANT #3: To require parents to sign an acknowledgement form prior to allowing their child to play contact sport. Parent acknowledges receiving information on concussion and acknowledges concussion risk involved with sport.

PSA and our insurance providers have recommended that all PSA figure skating coaches and Learn to Skate instructors take the free course provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). (http:// www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/youth.html) Once you have completed this course, please print a copy of your certificate of completion and forward it to the PSA. Please do not hesitate to contact our office with any questions.

This is an important issue, and one that will continue to develop over the next several months.

Disclaimer: At the time of printing, this information was current. However, state requirements vary and change often. Each state that has passed legislation has its own requirements, and coaches must continue to stay abreast of the changes in legislation. The Professional Skaters Association, its employees, board members, and committee members are not liable for any damages or claims that might arise due to changes in legislation that occur after the publication of this article.

Champion Cords help “out of the box” thinkers most skating coaches think of how best to use their Champion Cords, they typically use the tools When to create better alignment and awareness of positions with their students, but Sheila Thelen, the Sheila Thelen Champion Cords – Alignment PRESIDENT – Champion Cords EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR –

Grassroots To Champions

Audrey Weisiger Olympic & World Coach, PRESIDENT – G2C FOUNDER – Young Artists Showcase (YAS)

creator of these fantastic products suggested we use them to develop artistry. The 2011 season of the Young Artists Showcase (YAS2), an online contest for aspiring choreographers, included a challenge that required the contestants to use Champion Cords plus any other prop they wanted to incorporate into their choreography. The prop had to be something they could carry and the cords had to remain attached to the skaters at all times in some fashion. The pieces could be a duet, trio or quartet. The contestants were urged to use their imaginations to create interesting shapes and forms utilizing the elastic quality as well as the visual quality of the cords.

Brian Wright, an award winning choreographer, in whose memory this event was conceived, was an “out of the box thinker”, especially when it came to his skating programs. I once watched him choreographing a fantastic piece for an ice dancing team, the geometry and shapes he molded their bodies into was unlike any other dance I had seen before, so I asked him what his inspiration was and he replied, “lampshades” which, after hearing that, made the visuals so powerful that I could actually “see the shades” as they moved.

At the time of this writing, the contest had not yet started, but I know the combination of creative thinkers and Champion Cords made for some fantastically fascinating pieces. The date of this particular challenge was November 4, and the judging was on the 6th. This Is What Inspiration Looks Like!

To view YAS2 go to www.YouTube.com/users/G2CYAS Champion Cords can be purchased online at the PSA Store (www.skatepsa.com) Champion Cords are Endorsed by the PSA

Meet your AREA REPRESENTATIVE Interviewed and written by Kathy Goeke Clarification

Amy Hanson-Kuleszka

Area 1 Representative for 3 years

Patrick O'Neil is a creative soul, however he did not graduate with an art degree (as stated in the last issue) but instead acquired his B.A. in Political Science and Public Administration from The American University, Washington, D.C. He also achieved his Masters in Social Work, Concentration in Child and Family Mental Health Issues, at Syracuse University. Bravo, Mr. O'Neil!

Years Coaching: 23 MM, SFS; Level III Ranking Amy Hanson-Kuleszka, her husband Mike and son Mickey, 3, welcomed little brother Max to the world on Sept. 3. Having a houseful of precious boys has added to Amy’s challenges of coaching six days a week, but she still finds time for the PSA. “Being an area representative is a great way for me to give back without having to spend lots of hours away from my family,” Amy said. “I’m able to get information and updates out to the coaches in my area when my boys are sleeping.”

She values the educational experiences provided by the PSA and member coaches, including PSA’s mentoring philosophy. As a new coach, her former coaches took her under their wings.

“It was incredibly helpful to have their support,” she said. “I have been so fortunate to meet and work with some of the most accomplished coaches in our country. I highly recommend seeking out

great coaches to learn from.”

Amy’s mentors guided her as she navigated the world of teaching, preparing for ratings exams, and dealing with demanding parents.

“With difficult parents, you must try to communicate as honestly and professionally as you can,” she said. “You must educate parents about the sport and your expectations for their child’s behavior, as well as their own behavior!”

Amy hopes to instill the principles of commitment and perseverance in her students – important lessons she, herself, learned from skating.

“All the years of putting myself out there, the early mornings, injuries, financial challenges – somehow as an athlete, you find a way to make it happen.”

Leslie Deason

Area 14 Representative for 3 years Boise, Idaho coach and skating director 20 years coaching experience, MFS, MM, MPD; Level 3 ranking; technical specialist Leslie Deason is “acing” life! She credits skating for teaching her the importance of infusing quality into every aspect of her life.

Deason was inspired by her previous coach and current National Technical Specialist Dorian Valles, who encouraged her to never stop learning and to try to achieve more.

“She’s one of the reasons I worked so hard to become a triplemaster-rated coach,” Deason said. She is also motivated every day by her students.

“I have the best job,” Deason said. “I get to be a part of these kids’ lives and teach them life lessons through skating and competing.”

She also said her husband is her rock.

“I have a very supportive husband that understands the demands on a competitive coach and skating director,” she said.

“I couldn’t be the coach I am today if it wasn’t for his on-going support and love.”

Deason is not all-work and no-play, though. Despite her busy schedule and 70-mile commute from Ontario, Ore., to Boise, balance between coaching and family life is a priority.

“I always make time to play,” she said.

For Deason, it’s all about the love – love of skating, love of her husband and college-aged daughter, and one more recurring love in her life: tennis. Deason and her husband enjoy traveling and make sure to play tennis everywhere they go. She lists tennis champion Roger Federer as another inspiration.

“Not only is he a great athlete, but he portrays his sport with class and dignity,” Deason said – a philosophy she includes with every lesson.

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Legal Ease DAVID SHULMAN

NON-COMPETE AGREEMENTS

... a river rising A

nd just when it seemed safe to jump in… no sooner had the sun set on the article describing the troubling job of determining the status of coaches as employees or independent contractors, recent court decisions again made the water murky.

It is generally agreed that control exercised over a worker lends to the argument that the worker (coach) is not independent, but rather an employee. What is more controlling than restricting a coach from working multiple venues at the same time?

Courts and legislatures have been conflicted for many years on how to handle the restricting of a worker in when and where the worker can have employment, following the leaving of a job or in operating as do many coaches, in several rinks/clubs in a generalized area. The press for business and customers make use of such restrictions on venue hopping a business necessity. Some states such as California outright prohibit such non-compete clauses in an employment agreement. Other states, such as Minnesota, have referred to such clauses as … “without redeeming virtue…” Well, that was then and this is now.

A change is moving across the employment landscape.

Courts are moving in the direction of supporting enforcement of such restrictive employment limiting practices.

In the coaching setting, a number of facts may directly limit the use of these “Courts are moving in the direction restrictions. Courts are “blue penciling” of supporting enforcement of such the provision in the to make the restrictive employment limiting contract enforcement more practices.” reasonable. If there are only two rink facilities in an area, restriction on moving between rinks unfairly impacts the coach. Many rinks in an area may permit a court to modify a restriction to a small area effectively allowing rinks outside the “penciled” area to be safe harbor of coaching

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And what of advertising for business? A recent case in Minnesota dealt with this problem. The case involved an optometrist who signed a non-compete agreement after selling the practice. There was a specific provision described in the contract limiting the area where the optometrist could open a competing practice. The court enjoined (stopped by court order) solicitation for patients, including newspaper advertisements! Advertising in the Yellow Pages was not restricted. Would the Yellow Page exception apply to a general blast on the internet?

Limitations on the use of customer lists have always been protected by the courts. Unusual settings exist, such as no other rinks are available for competitors, who, in search of ice, attend a rink in a prohibited area for their coach to use. The factual setting of various coaching situations could carve out exceptions to the enforcement of any employment restrictions.

Historically, non-compete clauses are not favored by courts. Some states have legislation making such clauses unenforceable. Employers will seek to include them in contracts. Employees will seek to eliminate the restriction on mobility and opportunity to work. By the way, merely having such a clause or clauses in a contract does NOT make the clause enforceable if the state where the contract is to be performed outlaws enforcement of such clauses.

Am I saying an employer would put an unenforceable item in a contract? Yes, I am saying that exactly. It may be because they don’t know any better—or it may be they hope YOU don’t know any better.

Are such provisions in a contract the key to avoiding the independent contractor status? That case has yet to be definitively decided. Plenty of rink/coaching contracts would provide an interesting class action. Stay tuned.

SUMMARY OF MOTIONS continued

» continued from page 31

PASSED MOTION #S11-15: “I move that the board approves coaches be able to take Hockey 1 & 2 at the same time, with Hockey 2 exam contingent on passing Hockey 1 exam.”

PASSED MOTION #S11-19: “On behalf of the PSA Executive Nominating Committee, we nominate Angie Riviello for the 1st Vice President position.”

Motion: Vice President Fowler-Binder Second: Treasurer Murphy Voice Vote: In Favor __all___ Opposed ___0___ Abstentions ___0___ Rationale: We feel that this is a great option for people with limited time to get through their exams, especially if Hockey Skating is only offered at the annual International Conference.

Motion: Past President Morris Adair Voice Vote: In Favor __all___

PASSED MOTION #S11-16: “I move that the board approves the Hockey Skating Committee to send out a feedback survey after the 2011 PSA Conference.”

Motion: Vice President Fowler-Binder Second: _ Vice President Benson Voice Vote: In Favor __all___ Opposed ____0___ Abstentions __0__ Rationale: We feel sending out a feedback survey after the 2011 Conference will continue to help us enhance the Hockey Skating program.

PASSED MOTION #S11-17 “I move that the board approves the addition of Synchronized Skating Master Rating oral exams at the Synchronized Coaches College, and deleting them from the November site.”

Motion: Vice President Riviello Second: Vice President Benson _ Voice Vote: In Favor __all___ Opposed ____0___ Abstentions __0__ I would like to respectfully request the Ratings Committee’s consideration on making the additional date for taking master oral exams during the Coaches College for synchro. I am not requesting a third opportunity to take the exam. I am requesting synchro master exams be offered only at conference and the synchro coaches’ college, omitting the November date.

Rationale: Please consider the following reasons: • Synchronized Skating operates on a totally different schedule from Singles, Dance and Pairs.

The November date potentially conflicts with: • Sectional monitoring dates for all IJS teams.

• The first competition of the season.

• The international monitoring sessions for teams representing the US at international competitions.

• Rescheduling synchro practice is not an option for logistical reasons of the 24 members involved, but also for contracted ice time with the arenas.

• The Coaches College and Training Festival is the elite training camp for all synchro coaches.

• It is the only conference available that specifically addresses synchro.

I truly feel this would be a benefit for PSA to have more coaches involved with PSA. There are over 100 synchronized coaches in attendance at the Coaches’ College. This year U.S. Figure Skating has granted PSA the opportunity to be involved with classes. I have set up classes to specifically benefit the ratings process. We will have 1) ratings exams 2) rankings and 3) “what would interest you at conference?”

PASSED MOTION #S11-18: “On behalf of the PSA By-law Committee, I propose the following amendment to Article III Section 17.”

Any member disciplined by the Committee on Professional Standards for violation of rules or standards of ethics of the PSA may apply for re-consideration of the finding of violation. Such re-consideration shall proceed according to procedures established by the Professional Skaters Association and decided by the Executive Committee of the Professional Skaters Association. A re-consideration shall be limited to the question of determining if the deciding panel appointed by the Committee on Professional Standards acted in good faith and upon the record presented to it for consideration. Such re-consideration shall not be De Novo but shall be based upon the record. Any member of the Executive Committee who served on the original hearing panel shall remove themselves from the re-consideration process. All action taken by the executive committee on a re-consideration regarding the discipline of a member shall be final.

No member of the Executive Committee or the Committee on Professional Standards against whom a grievance has been filed, shall take part in any consideration of that grievance.

Motion: Past President Morris Adair Second: Vice President Fowler-Binder Voice Vote: In Favor __all___ Opposed ____0___ Abstentions __0__ Rationale: To make the By-law language consistent with the PSA Grievance Procedure Rules and to clarify the intent of the rule.

Second: _Vice President Benson Opposed ____0___ Abstentions __0__

PASSED MOTION #S11-20: “On behalf of the PSA Executive Nominating Committee, we nominate Christine Fowler-Binder for the 2nd Vice President position. This will be for one year to fill the vacated seat of Angie Riviello, contingent upon the 1st VP election.”

Motion: Past President Morris Adair Voice Vote: In Favor __all___

Second: __Vice President Riviello Opposed ____0___ Abstentions __0__

PASSED MOTION #S11-21: “I move that the Board of Governors approves the Registered Free Dance (RFD) rating to the Free Dance discipline.”

Motion: Vice President Riviello Voice Vote: In Favor __all___

Second: Past President Morris Adair Opposed ____0___ Abstentions __0__

PASSED MOTION #S11-22: “I move that the Board of Governors approves the following changes to the Rating System Requirements (pink pages) for the 2012 PSA Directory.” See Exhibit A attached. Underlined portions are changes.

Motion: Vice President Riviello Voice Vote: In Favor __all___

Second: Vice President Fowler-Binder Opposed ____0___ Abstentions __0__

PASSED MOTION: # S11-23 “I move that the Board of Governors approves the addition of video analysis to the registered, certified, and senior levels of the Free Skating exams and re-edit the video for the master level.”

Motion: Vice President Riviello Voice Vote: In Favor __all___

Second: Past President Morris Adair Opposed ____0___ Abstentions __0__

PASSED MOTION: #S11-24 “I move that the Board of Governors approves the addition of Pair Skating master oral exams at the U.S. Figure Skating monitoring summer competition.”

Motion: Vice President Riviello Second: Treasurer Murphy Voice Vote: In Favor __all___ Opposed ____0___ Abstentions __0______ PASSED MOTION #11-25: “I move that the Board of Governors approves the addition of adding Dance and Free Dance discipline rating exams to the U.S. Figure Skating monitoring summer competition.”

Motion: Vice President Riviello Second: Treasurer Murphy Voice Vote: In Favor __all___ Opposed ____0___ Abstentions __0______ PASSED MOTION #S11-26: “I move that the Board of Governors approves the fast tracking of examiners on a case by case basis for the following disciplines: Choreography, Free Dance, Pairs, and Synchronized Skating”.

Motion: Vice President Riviello Voice Vote: In Favor __all___

Second: Vice President Fowler-Binder Opposed ____0___ Abstentions __0______

continued on page 37

PS MAGAZINE

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35

New

MEMBERS NEW MEMBER Jessica Abeyesinhe Samiera Abou-nasr Vadim Akolzin Miranda Allison Nancy Altmann Jennifer Asher Lynn Babcock Isaiah Baggett Mali Baker Jenna Beairsto Trena Beardsley JJ Beck Klaranda Behrens Ashley Bergholtz Treva Blake Andrea Buffington Kaila Calhoun Jenna Carlon Kathryn Chandler Jennifer Chaney Kristen Chapey ShinJuh Chen Min Choi Mollie Christiansen Gina Cline Nicole Cochrane Aimee Coe-Johnson Tiffany Coffelt Ariane Cook Michael Coulter Molly Crawford Nicole DePasquale Duc Dinh Damian Dodge Joseph Dolkiewicz Alexis Donahoe Kelly Dreger Andrea Dudding Lauren Ernst Alexa Evenson Julie Ferguson Carah Ferrill Chelsea Firth Mikenzie Frost Kendall Gariepy Lauren Gendzier Rachel Gernes Martha Gilchrist

SPONSOR

NEW MEMBER

SPONSOR

Lefki Terzakis Thomas Incantalupo Aurore Premont Katherine Cherie Farrington Julie Van Amber Ann Brumbaugh Sheri Morse Caitlin Brozna Alexey Gruber Dawn Ristow Sigrid Berge Devan Heiber Jason Dilworth Ashley Bergholtz Lexie Fernandez Darlene Lewis Kelsie Hickcox James Darlow Natalie Mitchell-Schrader Ann Brumbaugh Jocelyn Cox Jon Robinson Sandy Lamb Mary Jane Woodward Janet Tremer Jackie Mehner-Smith Lisa Hakimi Larry LaBorde Jamye Gaster Mikhail Ignatiev Nina Stark-Slapnik Arlette Evans Richard Griffin Ronald Ludington Rocky Marval Heidi Sowards Kurt Dreger Shannon Gebler Carol Rossignol Dina Kortuem Christian Martin Shawna Ludy Don Mitchell Annette Bowman Donna Mitchell Mary Lynn Gaglioti Cassie Joyce Jackie Miles

Cathlene Glenn Jennifer Goette Chad Goodwin Laurilee Gudino Rebecca Haupt Jessie Hoelzlhammer Kristie Houser Gabriella Howard Naomi Jehly Stephanie Johnson Holly Johnston Gabriela Juarez Sara Kim Sindy Kim Page Kirkpatrick Katherine Kline Matthew Ko Sarah Kohout Justin Kozikowski Nicole Kozlowski Brittnee Kuehn Alexandra Lahurd Timothy LeBlanc Abby Leet Rene Lenzner Ashley Malin Amanda McGoldrick Olivia McNamara Sabina Miller Lisa Moore Aleksey Morkovkin David Mueller Adam Munday Karen Ostalecki Sophia Othoudt Kaela Pflumm Jill Ramos Maria Reynolds Paige Robinson Sandy Rucker Straub Brittany Schmucker Sandra Shakalov Alyssa Sherman Clelia Sigaud Jamie Smith Erika Smith Barbi Smith Farmer Samantha Stankowicz

Ann Brumbaugh Mary-Jane Woodward Jennifer Galloway-Boye Rene Bianchi Gerri Lynch-Tomich Jeannen Gulenchyn Stephanie Ellis Jessica Proctor Craig Bodoh Dawn Ristow Mandy PIrich Silvia Marcela Rodriguez-Leal Jenny Gwyn Pauline Gasparini Stephanie Radloff Marilyn Nolte Gary Clark Janet Tremer Jessica Anastasio Dmytri Ilin Janelle Wall Ronald Ludington Jason Wong Rachel Bauld-Lee Carol Rossignol Lindsay Ronayne Fenton Megan McKinley Pauline Gasparini Brenda Eby-Bader Heidi Thibert Nancy Mariani Stacy Petri Alexei Kiliakov Nicole Turay Sarah Capizzo Cathryn Schwab Amanda Shelburne Gary Jones Laurie Rossetti Christy Krall Alexei Kiliakov Jenette Maitz Mia Hoeksema Lynda Hathaway Debbie Buirge Angie Cardello David Santee Carol Rossignol

SUMMARY OF MOTIONS continued

» continued from page 35 NEW MEMBER Carley Sullivan Ariel Talen-Keller Jenna Tavares Colleen Thompson Ashley Tomich Shawn Verasammy Elizabeth Weidner Stephany Weinand Kathryn Welsh Carly Wittlief Victoria Wojick Olga Yeghyayan

SPONSOR Chris Howarth Crystal Williams Karolyn Stafford Marr Jean Calzavara-Uhlmann Andrew Stroukoff Marissa Sanchez Alexis Scott Terry Hamre-Anderson Nicole Stalker Heather Seyfer Jennifer Pelletier Justin Dillon

PATRON MEMBERS • Sara Dano • Figure Skating Club Of Hunterdon

OBITUARY Robert Edward Caudill, 76, the husband of PSA Master rated coach and former Board member Susan Dresel Caudill, passed away July 1, 2011 at the Episcopal Church Home in Louisville, KY. The PSA would like to express our condolences to Susan and her family. Expressions of sympathy are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association.

NOTICE Be advised that the following persons have been disciplined under a joint U.S. Figure Skating/PSA grievance and have been suspended or banned from U.S. Figure Skating, and PSA membership. Per U.S. Figure Skating Bylaw Article XXV, these persons should not be credentialed, nor permitted to coach in any U.S. Figure Skating sponsored or sanctioned activity including but not limited to participating in qualifying or nonqualifying competitions, tests, carnivals and exhibitions. Per an agreement between ISI and PSA, these persons should not be credentialed, nor permitted to coach in any ISI national events.

These persons are not eligible for PSA ratings, rankings and any current liability coverage is revoked.

• Marc Mandina: Permanently banned from membership • David Loncar: Suspended indefinitely

PASSED MOTION #S11-27: “I move that the Board of Governors approves the policy that a master-rated coach that has not been an examiner in the past five years, must be reviewed by the committee in a case by case basis and may be required to trial some exams before being placed on an exam panel”.

Motion: Vice President Riviello Voice Vote: In Favor __all___

Second: _ Vice President Fowler-Binder Opposed ____0___ Abstentions __0______

PASSED MOTION: #S11-28: “I move that the Board of Governors approves the following disciplinary action for rating examiners: First offense - would receive an email or letter outlining the complaint or offense.

Repeated offense - would require additional examiner training; or must do trial examining before being placed on a panel; or would be removed as an examiner depending upon the severity of the offense.”

Motion: Vice President Riviello Voice Vote: In Favor __all___

Second: Governor Ladret Opposed ____0___ Abstentions __0______

PASSED MOTION: #S11-29: “I move that the Board of Governors endorse the idea of holding Mini PACE sites that would require no ice time and would take place over a day and a half preferable over a weekend”.

Motion: Vice President Riviello Voice Vote: In Favor __all___

Second: Past President Morris Adair Opposed ____0___ Abstentions __0______

PASSED MOTION #S11-30: “I move that the Board of Governors approves the Corporate Resolution.”

Motion: Vice President Fowler-Binder Second: Vice President Benson Voice Vote: In Favor __all___ Opposed ____0___ Abstentions __0________

JOB PLACEMENTS Figure Skating Coaches Wanted: Growing central NJ indoor rink is seeking to expand its professional FS staff with quality coaches of proven coaching ability. PSA ratings a plus. The home club has been asked for assistance in identifying potentials. Interested applicants can pre-apply by emailing resumes to testchair@fscohnj.org.

Job Placement Ads which advertise a job opportunity are $25 per 50 word insertion, $.25 for each additional word over 50. An additional $25 is required to place your job posting on the PSA web site. Copy should be sent to the PSA office at Lee Green’s attention one month prior to the publication of the intended issue.

PS MAGAZINE

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CALENDAR

OF

EVENTS

NOVEMBER Date: Location: Event: Contact:

November 6 Area 11 Cedar Rapids Ice Center, 1100 Rockford Rd SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 PSA Nationwide Seminar [8:00 am - 5:00 pm] PSA Office at 507-281-5122 or byackel@skatepsa.com

JANUARY Date: Location: Event: Contact:

Deadline:

January 8-9 Area 7 Saveology Iceplex, 3299 Sportsplex Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33065 Rating Zone 1: Oral Rating Site PSA Office at 507-281-5122 or byackel@skatepsa.com Register online at www.skatepsa.com Oral Rating Exams: November 21, 2011

FEBRUARY Date: Location: Event: Contact:

Deadline:

February 27-29 Area 16 TBD - in the Los Angles, CA area Rating Zone 5: Oral Rating Site PSA Office 507-281-5122 or byackel@skatepsa.com Register online at www.skatepsa.com Oral Rating Exams December 30, 2011

Date: February 29 - March 2 Area 16 Location: TBD Event: PACE/CA Contact: PSA Office 507-281-5122 or byackel@skatepsa.com

Register online at www.skatepsa.com Deadline: February 3, 2012

M AY Date: Location: Event: Contact: Deadlines:

May 21-23 Area 2 Boston Park Plaza & Towers, 50 Park Plaza at Arlington St, Boston, MA Zone 1: Oral Rating site at 2012 PSA Conference PSA Office at ratings@skatepsa.com or 507-281-5122 Oral Rating Exams: March 19, 2012 Written Exams: April 23, 2012

Date: Location: Event: Contact: Deadline:

May 25-28 Area 2 Boston Park Plaza & Towers, Boston, MA 2012 PSA Conferences & Trade Show PSA Office at office@skatepsa.com or 507-281-5122 Early Bird Deadline: January 9, 2012

Please visit www.skatepsa.com for the complete Calendar of Events 38

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2011

DARTFISH

Introducing PSA/Dartfish TV The newly compiled Singles Skills Collection is now available!

This collection contains clips of jumps, spins, and steps at various athlete levels from the 2010 season.

From beginner to senior, some of the videos feature key teaching positions and observational descriptions of crucial aspects of the skills.

The skills can be searched by multiple criterions via a menu. Simply check the level, discipline, or skill etc.

to find exactly what you are looking for.

The first skill archive of its kind in skating, we hope you will find it a valuable and fun interactive study tool!

Content will be continually updated and added throughout the season, so check back regularly for more great interactive study tools!

Future collections will include skills for pairs and synchro as well!

Access Dartfish TV through the PSA website www.skatepsa.com

PS MAGAZINE

39

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