January/February 2023 PS Magazine

All contributions are tax-deductible.

For the coaches.

The Professional Skaters Foundation was founded to expand the educational opportunities of PSA members through a non-profit, charitable foundation. Visit skatepsa.com for more information.

PHOTO BY MARK WALENTINY

PSA OFFICERS

President

First Vice President

Second Vice President

Third Vice President Treasurer Past President

PSA BOARD OF GOVERNORS

West

Mid-West East

Members at Large

Committee on Professional Standards Ratings Chair Events Chair ISI Rep to PSA U.S. Figure Skating Rep to PSA PSA Rep to U.S. Figure Skating Summit Chair Diversity, Equity, &Inclusion Executive Director

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Awards

Coaches Hall of Fame Education

Accelerated Coaching Partnerships

Area Representatives Hockey Skating Sport Science Endorsements

Executive Executive Nominating Finance Nominating Professional Standards PSA Rep to ISI Ratings

Adaptive Skating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

PSA AREA REPRESENTATIVES

Area 1 Tracey Seliga-O'Brien

Area 2 Kimberlie Wheeland

Area 3 Andrea Kunz-Williamson

Area 4 Jill Stewart

Area 5 Angela Roesch-Davis

Area 6 Maude White

Area 7 Nicole Gaboury

Area 8 Jackie Timm

Area 9 Mary Anne Williamson

Rebecca Stump

Tim Covington

Patrick O'Neil

Kirsten Miller-Zisholz Lisa Hernand Alex Chang

Michelle Lauerman

Phillip DiGuglielmo

Andrea Kunz-Williamson

Ashley Wyatt Cheryl Faust Doug Haw Denise Viera Denise Williamson Peter Cain

Kelley Morris Adair Cheryl Faust Danny Tate Jane Schaber Heather Paige Kelley Morris Adair Teri Klindworth Hooper Darlene Lewis Jimmie Santee

Andrea Kunz-Williamson

Alex Chang Denise Williamson Debbie Jones Stacie Kuglin Gloria Leous Jordan Mann Garrett Lucash Jimmie Santee Alex Chang Alex Chang Lisa Hernand Alex Chang

Kelley Morris Adair Gerry Lane Cheryl Faust Mary Johanson Darlene Lewis

Area 10 Francesca Supple

Area 11 Charmin Savoy

Area 12 Roxanne Tyler

Area 13 Liz Egetoe

Area 14 Marylill Elbe

Area 15 Tiffany McNeil

Area 16 Russ Scott

Area 17 Martha Harding

Editor/Advertising Brock Huddleston Art Director Amanda Taylor

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

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

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

The Professional Skater (USPS 574770) Issue 4, a newsletter of the Professional Skaters Association, Inc., is published bimonthly, six times a year, as the official publication of the PSA, 3006 Allegro Park SW, Rochester, MN 55902. Tel 507.281.5122, Email: office@skatepsa.com

© 2020 by Professional Skaters Association, all rights reserved. Subscription price is $19.95 per year, Canadian $29.00 and foreign $45.00/year, U.S. Funds.

Moving into a New Year

By Rebecca Stump (MS, MG, MM, MTOI, CPD, CFF)

Can you believe 2023 is already upon us? It’s crazy to think how fast this year has gone by. Where has the time gone? I feel like I say this every year, but no matter what, the new year always sneaks up on me!

But as I reflect on the year…what a year it has been! Take a moment to reflect on your past year and how far you’ve come—hopefully we’re all another year older and another year wiser! What were some of your favorite moments, and why did they have such a big impact on your life? What were some of your harder moments? How did you grow personally? Professionally? What were some of your biggest lessons learned, and how will you apply them as you move forward into the new year?

As skating coaches, it’s especially important for each of us to use this time of year to take inventory of all areas of our lives. On a personal level, did you get what you needed last year? Did you have enough of a work-life balance that you were able to take care of yourself, your family, your social obligations, and your health? Did you have enough time to sleep, enjoy some of your hobbies, and spend time with family and friends? Or did you find that work was all-consuming and forced you to put some of these other aspects of life on the backburner?

Take some time to reflect on your professional life, too. This is the best time to evaluate your own growth and development over the last year. Did you meet your goals? Are your professional relationships fulfilling, or do you need to find change? Do you still find going into the rink something that’s exciting and fun, or

have you found yourself stuck in a rut? What do you need to do to keep yourself going forward?

One of my favorite moments in 2022 had to be our return to an in-person Summit. I wasn’t completely sure what to expect, but I knew one thing for sure: I was excited to see everyone again. Summit is always a major highlight of the year for me, and last year’s Summit certainly didn’t disappoint! There’s nothing quite like several days of in-person education, networking, and catching up with old friends. It really is a special event.

Looking ahead, I sincerely hope that each of you will consider joining us this year in Orlando, Florida. If you’ve already signed up for Summit this year, I can’t wait to see you there. If not…what are you waiting for? We have some wonderful speakers and presentations in store for you. Not to mention, at this time of year, who doesn’t daydream about a trip to somewhere warm and sunny? If you’ve never been to Summit before, or if you weren’t able to come to last year’s Summit, I can’t tell you enough how glad you’ll be that you attended.

With that, I want to wish each and every member a happy and safe new year! May 2023 be a year of growth, discovery, and opportunity for each of us to continue our journey forward.

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

IJS

is the system in which the figure skating world evaluates our athletes’ performances, but can coaches use it to develop our athletes as well? The 2023 PSA Summit "IJS: Immersive-Intensive-Interactive" is a deep dive with a focus on coaching in IJS presented in a delivery format not available in the past.

Attendees will spend 2 ½ days with IJS experts who will unravel the IJS mysteries that hinder coaching progress. Sessions are designed to unlock the math and explore how to navigate every part of the accumulation of points. Through wit, wisdom, and practical advice from the faculty, coaches will be empowered to deliver IJS to their athletes in a way that leads to athlete learning and performance improvement.

Coaches interested in expanding the learning aspects of IJS will find value in the broad ideas, real-life examples, and tools, templates, and guidance the Summit will offer. We will continue to learn together as we put these ideas into practice, and we look forward to the conversations this Summit inspires. Come join the conversation!

Old Keys Will Never Open New Doors

By Heidi Thibert (MC, MFS, MM, CF)

It’s a new year and time for a fresh start. Maybe this is the time to ask yourself what you need to do to refresh or jumpstart your coaching career. It’s a time to make decisions about what is working for you, what isn’t working, what needs to change, and what needs to be let go of. Maybe it’s time to change rinks, or maybe it’s time to let go of a teaching partnership where the balance of work is heavier on your side than you feel good about. Maybe it’s just time to move forward.

There’s an old saying that goes: to get a door to open, first you have to knock. In the business world, networking is often described as one of the most important parts of career progression in any field. Coaching is a business, and so the same principle applies. What’s different, however, is that our career is far more decentralized than other fields. That is, most of us only see the colleagues in our own rinks on a regular basis; it might only be a few times each year when we see other coaches from other parts of the country when we travel to a competition or test session.

So, how do we network effectively? When researching this topic, I ran across work done by Rebecca Leder, a senior manager at Salesforce who authored a book on cultivating professional relationships. Leder has spent more than twelve years refining a five-step strategy for building high-quality professional relationships that she calls the “knock method.” The idea is that when we “knock” thoughtfully and intentionally on others’ doors—that is, when we prepare to connect with other individuals in our career field—opportunities happen for all of us.

The book cites research that says high-quality, mutually beneficial, and long-lasting relationships— even in our careers—are good for our mental and physical health. These relationships don’t always have to be transactional and don’t just lead to jobs, but greatly contribute to enhanced productivity, amplify impact, and create positive change in our teams, organizations, and surrounding communities.

Ah ha! I thought. That means that the many weekends spent at competitions and test sessions with other figure skating coaches are actually good for our coaching self-care! But as I reflected further, I thought about how these competitions and test events can be stressful environments. There are so many other opportunities for us to network that aren’t as stressful, but are actually enjoyable, fun, and exciting.

In our coaching world, there are coaching educational events such as PSA Summit, seminars, or virtually at webinars, Ratings Prep, Foundations of Coaching Course (FCC), or Ratings Study Groups. These are learning opportunities where we don’t have to have all the answers like we do in our lessons. We can ask questions of our peers and discuss ideas for methodology and technique. We can communicate, collaborate, and cooperate. We can create a community of coaching practice and we can create a network of people to learn from and rely on. These coaching friends can help us out of a rut, can advise us in a difficult situation with a parent, athlete, or coworker, and can support us when we need it. These are opportunities where we can network !

Those of you who know me well are well aware that I love a good acronym, so when I saw that Leder’s five-step methodology spelled the word “knock,” the content spoke to me even louder. Here are her five points:

• K - Know my topic, my contact, and specifics up front. Research and prepare to connect.

• N - Not about me. Be other-centered and focus on what we can do together to create an impact.

• O - Own it. Bring authenticity to relationships and invest in relationships and opportunities up front.

• C - Commonality. Bringing shared interests and backgrounds to the forefront builds trust and opens the door.

• K - Keep giving. Practice generosity and gratitude and help others, even as you develop your own career.

From here I thought, what kind of practical application could be made for the world of figure skating coaching? Here’s what I came up with:

• K - Know your sport’s history, progression, evolution of technique, and rules. Look ahead by studying current and future trends.

• N - Not about you. Remember to focus on what you can bring to your team to create a positive environment and have a positive impact on outcomes.

• O - Own the risk and work it takes to be genuine in the coaching relationship. Invest in the trust a coaching team must have to be successful.

• C - (Find the) Common ground of training and competitive backgrounds and experiences to build a coaching team upon.

• K - Keep giving to the coaching team and athletes by practicing the generosity that grows from gratitude.

Leder explains what she means by “othercenteredness.” Other-centeredness is about shifting focus off of yourself and onto others using an outward-focused lens Applying this concept to the skating world, if a coach were looking to join forces with another coach or become part of an established coaching team, one might say:

“As a successful coach or coaching team, I’ve noticed you not only value outcomes and results, but also the well-being of your athletes. I’ve watched how you speak to them when things are going well and also when things are not going well. The best interests of the athlete and their well-being are important to me, and I’m looking to join a coaching team that aligns with those values.”

This statement acknowledges and respects their coaching philosophy and communicates that you’d like to contribute to the success of the athletes and the coaching team.

In our ever-changing world of figure skating, it’s abundantly clear that no one person can do it all and do it all well. But by creating something together—an experience for both the coach and athlete—it becomes more than just an exchange of knowledge and time. Networking encompasses so much more than just slipping someone a business card or sending a hopeful text for a future weekend seminar with a few private lessons attached; it means finding out where they are struggling, what problems they’re currently trying to solve, and uncovering ways you can help.

It’s like the social media mantra: “If you want different, you have to move different.” Instead of exchanges that feel transactional and flat, work to create an experience together that comes with enthusiasm, camaraderie, curiosity, and a love for the coaching of our sport that leads to future opportunities for the coaching team through the success of the athletes under their tutelage.

The takeaway from this article is that each of us belongs to a unique professional coaching community that spans time and distance, one that is connected by cold ice and flashing steel. Each of us can use educational events as opportunities to network and connect with those who truly understand our skating careers in a way that those outside our world aren’t always able to. Maybe it won’t be a connection to find a coaching team or a new rink to coach at, but it might be a “squad” to study for a rating exam, or someone

Practicing Other-Centeredness

Leder explains that when connecting with someone in your career, there are two ways of approaching the situation.

You could say something like: “I’m interested in working for your company because I like finance and I noticed an open position.”

Instead, approaching it from the othercenteredness perspective, you might consider saying: “As a leader in the fintech industry, I noticed your company not only values profitability and innovation, but also the wellbeing of your employees, as evident by your recent article in [X publication] on the recent change to your paid time off policy. Well-being is one of my values too, and I’m looking to bring my three years of experience to your company because I’m great at balancing aggressive deadlines while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”

She goes on to point out that by using this method, you have now shifted focus to the company and its goals and values. It shows that you are invested in the relationship, that you have done your research, and that you can help them achieve their goals and are aligned with their values. Simply put, it’s more about them than it is you.

you can send a skater to for help or for lessons while their family travels nearby. You never know what that relationship might lead to in the future.

Knock, and you might be surprised what’s on the other side of the door.

Leder, Rebecca Otis. Knock: How to Open Doors and Build Career Relationships That Matter. First Edition. New York, New York: An Inc. Original, 2021. For more information, visit https://buildmeaningfulcareers.com/knock-book/

Heidi Thibert is the PSA Senior Director of Coaching Development and staff liaison to U.S. Figure Skating.

Pay It Forward: The Benefits of Mentoring a Young Professional

By Andre Beukes LLM

“Pay It Forward.” We hear it all the time, and at this point it may be cliché. But I challenge you to ask yourself, how does this pertain to me as a skating coach? In other words, how can you help the next generation of coaches that are willing to keep our sport thriving? Our coaching profession needs good mentors to share their knowledge and experiences with young and eager coaches. Likewise, if you are a younger coach, build a relationship with an experienced coach and be willing to be mentored. Collaboration between generations can be very powerful.

Coaches are like small businesses, and as such, we can learn from the outside world. Below is an article from the corporate world but also resonates with our profession. To mentor and to be mentored…that is the question!

Are you a successful business leader and would like to leave a legacy behind that would make the business world a better place? What advice will you give your 26-year-old self? Did you ever consider mentoring a young professional?

You have power, prestige, influence, and wealth and the general perception of everybody is that you made it. However, according to Harvard Business Review, a snapshot survey reveals that half of the CEOs report experiencing feelings of loneliness in their role, and of this group, 61 percent believe it hinders their performance.

Benefits of mentoring a young professional

• Build your network with fresh talent

• Learn from the mentee

• The mentee can become your client or you become their client

• Reinforce your skills and beliefs and allow you to rethink your beliefs

• Develop your leadership and management qualities

• Increase your motivation when you benefit from the energy of a vibrant young professional

• Gain recognition for your skills and experience from somebody that doesn't want to take your job

• Benefit from a sense of fulfillment and personal growth

• With today's bright and ambitious young professionals, it's a reality that you may one day work for your mentee.

Importance of mentorship

Behind every great business, there are great mentors and advisors. Steve Jobs had Ed Woolard and John Sculley, Bill Gates considers Warren Buffet a mentor.

Kabbage, Inc. recently surveyed more than 200 small business owners throughout the U.S. to evaluate the importance of mentorship.

Only 22% of small businesses had mentors when they started their business. Another 17% indicated they have or had an advisor, possibly a paid relationship for consulting and advice. This leaves 63% of business owners who do not have professional guidance at the onset of their business.

The statistics for new business failure are dire: 20% of small businesses fail in their first year, 30% of small businesses fail in their second year, and 50% of small businesses fail after five years when their financing or enthusiasm, or both, dry up. 92% of small business owners agree that mentors directly impact the growth and survival of their business.

Of all respondents, 89% of small business owners who didn’t have a mentor wish that they did. (Forbes)

“A great mentor is someone who offers objective advice, provides counsel from a fresh perspective, is willing to collaborate, listen and learn, as well as helping you stay focused on your goals, your purpose and what you’re working so hard to achieve,” notes Amy Zimmerman, Head of People Operations at Kabbage.

21st-Century skills that young professionals need

• Flexibility: Deviating from plans as needed

• Leadership: Motivating a team to accomplish a goal

• Initiative: Starting projects, strategies, and plans on one’s own

• Productivity: Maintaining efficiency in an age of distractions

• Social skills: Meeting and networking with others for mutual benefit

A note from Kelley Morris Adair (MDFD, MM, RFF), Professional Standards Committee Chair.

— WAYNE GRETZKY

My advice for my 26-year-old self

• Invest In Yourself: “Invest in as much of yourself as you can, you are your own biggest asset by far.” – Warren Buffett

• Learn How to Sell: Even if you don’t see yourself as a salesperson you must learn to sell your services, ideas, principles, and yourself

• Connections are everything: We always joke that with my 20000 connections it would be possible to reach Kim Jong-un of North Korea

• Health is Wealth

• Set Big Goals: “Life takes on meaning when you become motivated, set goals and charge after them in an unstoppable manner.” – Les Brown

• Don’t be afraid to fail: There is more to learn from failure than success.

Reprinted with permission of the author

Andre Beukes is the Founder of the Grow in Europe Executive Network and Human Resource Management Professional

Window to the past. Door

to the future.

Reflecting on our coaching journeys, honoring those that inspired us, and sharing what we've learned with the next generation of coaches and athletes. Visit SKATEPSA.COM to celebrate our team and learn how you can participate in our welcoming community.

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

Ratings: A forever-forward journey

By Kirsten Miller-Zisholz (MM, MFS)

My name is Kirsten Miller-Zisholz and I am PSA’s current Third Vice President. In this role, I oversee Ratings, Ranking, the Accelerated Coaching Partnership, Ratings Study Groups, and Excellence on Ice. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and tell you a bit about my own coaching journey in hopes that it will inspire you to always continue pushing yourself and to keep going forward.

I am no stranger to leadership roles having served two terms on PSA’s Board of Governors as well as having served on U.S. Figure Skating’s Board of Directors for three years.

As a kid, I grew up skating in Lansing, Michigan in a rink owned and operated by my dad. Skating was a family sport—my mom was an original Ann Arbor Hockette, my dad was a Michigan State University varsity hockey player, and all three of my brothers have played professional hockey in the NHL. You could say figure skating was in my blood.

As a skater, I trained under Mary Karen Campbell Henderson, Evy Scotvold, and Theresa Romano Mckendry, eventually earning three gold medals in figures, freestyle, and dance. When I had gone off to college, my original plan had been to pursue law. Upon graduating, however, I decided that this wasn’t for me and chose to pursue coaching instead.

The transition from a competitive skater to a coach wasn’t always easy. There was so much to learn for me to be everything my skaters needed. I was young and my abilities as a coach were still unproven, but my desire to be a good coach was strong. I knew I needed guidance, and so I began my coaching and rating journey after attending a local PSA seminar. It was there that I began to understand that coaching is a business and that my methodology of creating a complete athlete was not yet defined. I wanted my skaters and their parents to believe in my abilities as a coach and my commitment to their skating career.

I started my ratings journey to prove to myself and my clientele that I was knowledgeable and had the ability to lead them to their individual successes in figure skating. I credit the PSA for my coaching successes. The PSA provided the educational opportunities for this grassroots coach to grow an athlete from a beginner level skater to an international skater on the Grand Prix circuit. It is now my mission to give back to this organization and help coaches find their

path and place in this ever-changing sport we all love.

Every coach has been through their own unique journey, but for those who have pursued ratings, we all have one thing in common: the desire to push ourselves forward and the desire to be the best possible coach and mentor to our skaters we can be.

Although the PSA offers many different avenues for personal development, taking a rating exam is an excellent way to begin your personal development journey. It is challenging, yet rewarding, to prepare and present your coaching knowledge in front of a panel of colleagues who have each gone through the same process as you and who are now master rated.

For each successful exam, our goal is that coaches walk away feeling personally validated in their coaching methodology, technical prowess, and ability to coach effectively. Even for exams that aren’t successful, we hope that the candidate walks away from the exam armed with increased knowledge and experience, positive suggestions from the panel, and new mentors. No matter the outcome, we hope that the coach is proud of pushing themselves forward. (And of course, once you become master rated, we encourage you to join us in mentoring other coaches by sharing your experiences, becoming a part of the ratings process, and encouraging your colleagues to always keep going forward!)

In order to help make the rating process less overwhelming, I wanted to share the following educational opportunities that can help you begin—or continue—your ratings journey. Whether you utilize our on-demand video streaming service PSA TV, catch a virtual webinar, or attend an in-person event like the Summit in May, we have the support you need to grow your passion.

I hope that this provides clarification to the ratings process and how you can continue to move forward towards earning your first-ever rating, or someday a master rating! Challenge yourself to be the best coach you can be, get out of your comfort zone, set a goal to push yourself forward, and stick to it! The PSA is here to help and encourage you.

Ratings

Foundations of Coaching Course (FCC)

The first thing you need to do is take the Basic Accreditation (BA) exam or its equivalent, the Foundations of Coaching Course (FCC). Our Foundations of Coaching Course teaches coaches how to successfully navigate the profession of coaching while getting the tools and resources you need for your business. This course is currently a five-week virtual course, for one hour each week via Zoom. Successful completion of the course and submission of the course’s workbook is equivalent to passing the Basic Accreditation (BA) exam.

PSA E-Learning Academy

Accelerated Coaching Partnership (ACP)

The ACP is a one-on-one opportunity to work with a master rated coach. Together, you and your mentor develop a plan that pinpoints your needs as a coach and foster your growth in the areas that you choose while earning educational credits. Whether you are looking for help preparing for rating or looking for other learning experiences, the PSA can help you connect with this person. It is a strong commitment on both sides but can be very rewarding and create a friend and mentor for life.

Ratings Study Guides

This is where all of PSA’s online courses and exams are, including the Basic Accreditation and Sports Science and Medicine exams. Each verbal rating exam level has a corresponding Sports Science and Medicine exam that must be completed successfully prior to taking a verbal rating. CERs, which hold valuable coaching information, are also located here. Did you know… as a PSA member, you also have access to four free e-learning courses?

*New* Ratings Study Groups

This is PSA’s newest education program specifically geared towards coaches who are interested in beginning the ratings process for the first time and who participated in FCC or Ratings Prep. Small cohorts of five coaches are led by a master-rated coach. This is an interactive course offered via Zoom course for five consecutive weeks. Participants should expect that each week’s one-hour class will consist of homework assignments, answering mock exam questions, demonstrating technique on camera, and receiving guidance and advice from your group leader. Ratings Study Groups are currently offered for those seeking a rating in Skating Skills or Free Skate. In 2023, we will also begin offering Group, Choreography, Solo Pattern Dance (a brand-new ratings discipline!) study groups, too.

Other Opportunities

Educational opportunities that will help with ratings are abundant at PSA. Keep up-to-date with our variety of webinars, stream videos via PSA TV, or atten in-person events like our annual Summit.

Our official study guides are a very important resource for a rating candidate. Study Guides, listed on the PSA’s website, are offered for each discipline and are completely free to access. They give an overview of the exam content and categories covered, sample exam questions, and how candidates are evaluated by the panel. We are currently in the process of updating all of our study guides to make your rating preparation more organized and efficient. We have recently updated the study guides for Group Coaches and Skating Skills and are currently working very diligently to update the study guides for all other disciplines.

Ratings Prep

Ratings Prep is a great way for any candidate of any level to prepare for a rating exam. Our next Ratings Prep course will be offered February 25-26, 2023. This is a two-day virtual course delivered via Zoom for approximately four hours each day. Master-rated coaches will be giving live, interactive presentations that will help you with your next ratings exams. Content covered includes all exam levels for the following disciplines: Skating Skills, Free Style, Group, and a Choreography/Theater of Ice hybrid.

Check out these PSA offerings that support your ratings quest!

Cheryl Faust (MFS, MM) is the Ratings Committee Chair

Basic Accreditation

Phoebe Flynn

Brooke Comstock

Laithe Al-Zubi

Stephanie Coe

Abigail Schmitt

Jennifer Howland

McKayla Gunderson

Sabrina Brewington

Tosha Hanford

Meghan Wells

October 23, 2022 | Virtual Ratings

Michael Farrell RG

Renee Lynn Lepley RG

Kurt Stoll RG

Rachel Landers CG

Deanna Siswick CG

Jill Ferrier CG

Lindsay Johnston RPD

Kelly Belin RPD

Sharon Smith CPD

Emma McLellan RFS

Wendy David MFS

November 20, 2022 | Virtual Ratings

Nathaniel Viera RSS

Gina Cline RSS

Jennifer Cuchia CSS

Emma McLellan CSS

Stefano Stangalini MSS

AnnaLi Harp RG

Sakshi Wagh RG

Sarah Stoll RG

Lauren Hearon SG

Congratulations to our newly master rated coaches!

Ice Den Chandler Chandler, Arizona

Ice Den Scottdale Scottsdale, Arizona

World Arena Ice Hall Colorado Springs, Colorado

Edge Skating Academy Littleton, Colorado

Palm Beach Ice Works West Palm Beach, Florida

Iowa Figure Skating Academy Urbandale, Iowa

Marquette Figure Skating Club Marquette, Michigan

Onyx Suburban Skating Academy Rochester, Michigan

Rochester Figure Skating Club Rochester, Minnesota

The Greensboro Ice House Greensboro, North Carolina

Park City Ice Arena Park City, Utah

Register now and be recognized as a progressive training facility dedicated to excellence in coaching both on and off-ice. www.skatepsa.com

Hockey Skating 1

Rina Saji

Sabrina Brewington

Hockey Skating 2

Rina Saji

Carey Tinkelenberg

Hockey Skating 4

Amber Crispell

Aimee Ricca

Caryn Silver

Patti Itzin

Alanna Collins

Ratings Examiner Pathway Appointments

Amanda Meek Tier 1 Group

Connie Fogle Tier 1 Free Skate

Lisa Geltz Perri Tier 1 Group

Andria Kelling Tier 1 Group

RANKINGS

• Sharon Brilliantine Level 5 Pairs

• Phillip DiGuglielmo Level 9 Singles

• Amanda Meek Level 3 Pairs

• Svetlana Khodorkovsky Level 6 Singles

• Lucas Marquardt Level 1 Solo Dance

• Kelly Harper Level 6 Singles

DOUBLE AXEL TECHNIQUE: Cause and Effect

With Janet Champion

Ihave become known primarily for spin technique because of my personal ability as a skater and the niche work I have done with many top Olympic and World competitors. However, a major part of my teaching career has been as a primary coach responsible for all aspects of teaching skating including jump technique. I share some of these methods with you in this article.

As with all jumps, the preparation and take off of an Axel is the most essential part of the jump. Mistakes made on either of these two phases of the jump are difficult—maybe even impossible—to overcome. Sometimes we try to correct the mistake of the jump, ignoring the fact that there is cause and effect. It is important to recognize the mistake first, then problem solve the cause of this mistake. To do that, we have to examine what position may have precipitated the off axis jump, the over-rotation of the jump, or the under-rotation of the jump.

First, let’s look at the Axel preparation. This is done on a bold curve on a back outside edge. I can still hear Kathy Casey shouting, “curve, curve!”

The skater’s body alignment is critical here. The body, as a unit, leans slightly into the

circle of the back outside edge. We must, as always, be aligned over the skating hip and be able to control and stand still gliding on this preparation edge. I call this and certain other positions control positions. A control position is one in which we must be able to control and stand still on forever, even though we do not actually hold it that long. We should not be moving or swinging around, just standing still on the edge in a balanced position. There is a saying in the dance world: “If you can’t stand still, you can’t move.”

So, stand still gliding on the edge, and be calm and balanced as you prepare for the Axel take off. Glide on the middle of the blade here, no scratching please. The skater’s head must also be in alignment over the spine and be looking in the direction of the step forward for the take off— stare it down. Remember the body follows the head so the jumping axis will be affected if the head is leaning out of the preparation circle or turned too far to the left before the step forward. Cause and effect.

Long ago when I worked for a short while with John Curry, I remember he said his best double Axels came when his “back was to the circle on the step forward.” The shoulders will be square by the point

of take off, but it’s such a big help not to step forward with the shoulders already square. Stepping forward with the skating shoulder leading is so important. We don’t want to jump in to the circle. Let’s jump “straight with the circle.”

The Axel is a forward moving jump. But this doesn’t mean we jump out forward because our power off the ice must be up. We coordinate our forward momentum with vertical lift to create a great Axel take off. The direction of the Axel jump is forward, turn backward, and land backward, all off which are done on the line of travel which is a bold circle. I hope judges appreciate when a skater lands the double Axel with flow and on the same circle as the take off edge. This means, on a pristine double Axel the landing

Stepping forward to this position is another control position. A good exercise to try is having the skater glide the back outside preparation edge, controlling and holding longer than necessary, and then stepping forward to the left forward outside take off edge, holding both positions. The skater must have control of these positions without moving around, swinging or changing the position. When we are in control, our shoulders will not be rotating faster than our edge on the ice. (By the way, if the skater is in these positions correctly and cannot stand still in control of the edge, you may want to look for problems with blade mounting!)

Now we are at the point of stepping up into the jump. The arms and free leg should move close to the body and skating leg and in a forward direction to lift off.

If the skater is wearing a jacket, the arms should pass close to the jacket, which makes a whooshing sound. The main movement that gets the skater into the air is the extension of the jumping leg, knee, and ankle. Like in ballet, it’s bend/extend or stretch/reflex. Ankles could be the most important joint in a skater’s body, especially for power across the ice and lifting into the air.

In a biomechanics study of double Axels, Deborah King, Sarah Smith, and Kathy Casey found that a skater’s arms only contribute 2% to lifting into the air in a double Axel. So the arm movements do very little to assist the height of the jump, but if moved incorrectly can be detrimental to the jump’s success. Mistakes with arm movements include moving arms wide on take off, reaching back too far on the step forward, arms coming in too soon, and arms swinging around to the left. Also regarding arms, for every degree that the athlete's arms move to the left of the torso’s midline on take off will be the exact number of degrees the jump will be off axis in the air. Cause and effect.

I believe the movement of the free leg can also assist the height of the jump. Stepping up into an “h” position is best. Jumping into the take off with the free leg still behind will produce a very small jump. Again, cause and effect. With the weight over the skating hip, we step up into the take off with the arms reaching close in front and the free leg moving up and forward in the small

“h” position before we rotate. The next most important movement as the body starts rotating is how and when the free leg tucks behind the jumping leg. The timing of this free leg position is critical to the success of the double Axel. This must begin by the first half revolution after take off. If you hit this position too late in the rotation, the jump will not achieve 2 1/2 revolutions in time for a clean landing. Athletes can get into this position by moving the free leg knee (big muscles first) then the free foot (smaller muscles) into the tight position using quick twitch movements. Dartfish biomechanic studies have shown the tightest air position must be achieved within 0.2 seconds after take off. This tight air position requires muscular strength and efficient movement. Double Axels rotate at a significantly higher rate than other double jumps. The tightest air position can be achieved with these take off methods. Any swinging movements on take off will create slower rotation. Cause and effect.

Once the tight air position is achieved, the skater “stands

still like a statue” until time for landing. If the skater’s head tilts to either side during flight, rotation will be slowed down. Scientific studies have shown impact forces at landing multiply a skaters’ body weight by 7-10 times. Recently I took note of Nathan Chen saying he had to “brace for impact” at landing. So, with a strong body, head to the right, let’s get on the landing edge, say to it, “Got ya!” then check out and be a star. Arms and a free leg that open too soon will cause swing and an uncontrolled landing. We’re looking for an efficient quick twitch.

It seems to me that when skaters start learning double Axels their subconscious minds think the hardest part of the double Axel is rotating 2 1/2 revolutions. Because of this thinking, many incorrect movements start to happen. It is of course a tighter air position but they need to have technique that creates this quick rotation. Learning single and double Axels with good technique will prepare a skater for triples in the future. If not executed correctly, the intensity of more and more revolutions will adversely affect the axis of the jump. In

conclusion, for me the hardest part of learning a double Axel is being on axis in the air. I hope what I have discussed here will shed some insight into achieving this axis.

I am grateful to all the many great skaters, sports science researchers and PSA coaches over the years who have contributed to this technique, including: Frank Carroll, Kathy Casey, John Curry, Peter Dunfield, Deborah King, Christy Krall, Doug Leigh, Carole Shulman, Sarah Smith, Jan Ullmark, Peter Zapalo and Tom Zakrajsek.

Basics of the Double Axel

With Alex Johnson

The three most important aspects of Axels— and any jump, for that matter—are: alignment; rhythm and timing; and direction. Without these, skaters will not be able to develop efficient technique that sustains the heightened requirements of figure skating.

In regard to the rest of this article, I’d like to mention that this is my own philosophy. This is the culmination of my own experience learning a double Axel and working with many coaches of various backgrounds. Oftentimes, coaches simply want to know the “how,” but I believe it’s most important to know the “why.” With that knowledge, a coach can then develop multiple methods or strategies to teach any element, including double Axels.

PRE-DOUBLE AXEL PREPARATION

Before we can get to the double Axel, we first have to make sure that the skater is ready to learn it. So when is that? From a technical standpoint, if they have mastered the single Axel and a double loop with consistent and effort less technique, they are ready. I also like to take into consideration the psychological aspect: some skaters who are technically ready may not be psychologically. In their mind, the double Axel is difficult, and although they might be technically ready for the jump, psychologically they might not be there yet.

Regardless of the psychological state, I like to break down the double Axel into steps and build up to it, thus building the skater’s confidence and somewhat “tricking” them into learning it. Some of the buildup exercises I like to include are:

• Walk throughs

• Single Axel + double loop combination

• Single Axel + backspin

• Half turn cheated double Axel

This process will be a different length of time for every skater, but it helps to reduce the stress of what can feel like an overwhelming task. It also physically protects the skater. Skaters should never just “throw” themselves into a double Axel.

Now that the skater is ready for the double Axel, we can start to talk about the three main components of the jump.

ALIGNMENT

To me alignment is quite simple: it’s something skaters learn at a very young age. For

the Axel in particular, the back edge comes from a simple back outside eight. The skating side is pressed underneath while the rest of the body is lifted, the shoulders are rotated into the circle at first. As the skater prepares to step forward, the shoulders rotate as they would if the skater had reached the top of the circle and was beginning to prepare to switch to the other back outside edge. This starts to build the tension in the torso, which will ultimately be released and help create rotation.

The entry edge alignment comes from the beginning step of a forward outside eight, similar to above. The skating side is pressed underneath, and the skating shoulder is leading. The transition from back edge to forward edge is that of a waltz eight—all very simple.

Key Point: While these positions may look like static positions, I like to remind my skaters that this is a dynamic position. On that back edge, they are building up potential energy to ultimately turn it into kinetic energy. That comes both from staying tall and lifted on the back edge (not stiff) and by pulling the skating side back before stepping forward and releasing it. Think of it like a slingshot.

Exercise idea: To further develop skating side alignment and awareness, have the skater perform a forward inside bracket into an Axel. This is a great way to get skaters into the proper alignment, as it forces the skater to pull the skating side underneath before then stepping onto

the forward outside edge. It also helps create the tension in the torso that will be released as the skater steps.

RHYTHM AND TIMING

Rhythm and timing can vary greatly by skater. I have seen skaters that get to the toe pick very quickly and others who need a longer takeoff edge. There are multiple factors that can contribute to this, which might include different boot and blade combinations that affect the overall pitch of the skater, as well as muscle type (quick twitch versus slow twitch).

Two analogies I use to explain rhythm and timing to my skaters are:

• The Roller Coaster – To me, the timing can be related to the acceleration of a roller coaster. The back edge is the top of the roller coaster, the step and load is the buildup of speed as it heads down the track, and the lift is when the car starts to accelerate up the hill.

• The Trampoline – When someone bounces on a trampoline, there is a buildup of energy from the time the person is initially in the air to the time the person reaches the lowest point the trampoline can stretch to. This is the back edge through the step on the takeoff leg. When the trampoline rebounds and launches the person into the air, that is the take off. The tensions of everyone’s trampoline will be different, just like the timing of everyone’s load through take off.

Key Point: Everyone’s rhythm and timing will be

slightly different. Assess how the skater generates the most power, paying close attention to proper alignment, and lean into that timing.

Exercise idea: If skaters struggle with finding a natural timing, I like to have them do a half Lutz-based exercise. The skater will set up on a back outside edge (same edge as if setting up for an Axel) but then will tap as if going to do an opposite half Lutz. Instead of changing circles like a Lutz does, they will actually stay on that circle and then immediately step into an Axel. This often helps them establish a natural rhythm from the load to takeoff.

DIRECTION

The general direction of the Axel is forward. However, if a skater thinks forward, they are most likely going to jump inside the circle and will struggle to generate both the height and the rotational force needed to land a double Axel.

I like to tell my skaters to think of jumping off the circle.

The only way this can be achieved however is if they have the proper alignment mentioned above. If the skating side is not underneath them on the takeoff, jumping off the circle will result in a lean outside the circle and not a very fun experience for the skater.

My general rule of thumb is that the free leg presses through, between 30 to 45 degrees away from the skating side. The driving force behind this direction is ultimately the skating side.

Key Point: Forward can often be confused with a straight line. Skating is based on circles, and I like to make sure that skaters know the forward momentum will always be somewhat in line with the circle they set up on their back edge. It also doesn’t mean that the hips need to be parallel on the take off. If the hips are parallel on take-off, the edge will most likely be clean, and controlling the jump will be much more difficult.

Exercise idea: To feel the forward motion of the Axel,

I like to have my skaters do a normal Axel takeoff without rotation, land on the opposite foot, and then fold over into a back spin. While this is an exaggeration of the direction, it helps them understand the feeling of jumping off the circle from takeoff to rotation.

Again, I’d like to reiterate that all of these concepts are my philosophy on double Axel technique. There are many ways to get a skater to land a double Axel, but I believe these to be the three most important concepts to think about when developing your own double Axel methods as a coach.

Alex Johnson is a former Team USA Singles skater and is the current coach of USA Men’s skater, Camden Pulkinen. He holds a Non-Qualifying Technical Specialist appointment and is a National and International choreographer. Alex has been coaching since the age of 16 and has worked with skaters of all ages, levels, and abilities. He has trained under various coaches including Tom Dickson, Alexei Mishin, Mie Hamada, Rafael Arutyunyan and Frank Carroll. In addition, Alex holds a BS in Finance from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and works as a Senior Financial Analyst at Amazon.

IN HER WORDS:

Kathy’s Double Axels

With Kathy Casey

In 2013, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, U.S. Figure Skating, and the PSA collaborated together on a project called “The Mobile App Project.”

As part of the project, World and Olympic Coach Kathy Casey was asked to discuss double and triple Axels. Kathy (now deceased) was a PSA Master Rated World and Olympic Coach, past PSA President, and at the time of this project, was the U.S. Figure Skating Director of Athlete Performance Enhancement and Tracking. She was truly an expert in the field, was a frequent presenter at PSA Summit and other educational events, and was a pioneer in the use of Dartfish technology to enhance our understanding of skating technique.

In order to enhance our discussion on double Axels and to help preserve her legacy, it is with great respect and gratitude that we have reprinted a copy of that transcript below:

INTRODUCTION

My name is Kathy Casey, and today I am going to be talking about double and triple Axels. In starting difficult jumps like double and triple Axels, the skaters must clearly understand the correct movements and positions for them and do them correctly and exactly the same way every time.

The pattern for this jump that I prefer is a big, bold, circle curve. The skater’s head should be looking in the direction of travel. The skater’s left arm is back and the right one is (almost) in front. The skater’s free leg should be in the back and stretched a little. The skater’s weight must be well over the skating hip.

PREPARATION

I will start by talking about the back preparation edge going into the jump.

On this edge, the skater must: Stand straight • Lean back into the circle Be quiet and balanced

On the end of the back preparation edge, the skater is preparing to step forward. The skater brings the arms and hands in front—about 12 inches apart, and a little to the right (which is where the skater will be stepping forward). Some coaches do not teach this. I do!!

Next, the skater brings the free leg back underneath her and gets ready to step forward. This forward takeoff edge will aim slightly outside the circle, and it must be correct in order to complete good double

and triple Axels. The skater should not bend forward when stepping onto the takeoff edge.

TAKEOFF EDGE

The takeoff edge is where the technique changes between a single Axel and a double Axel. Dartfish technology has helped us with understanding this difference in technique. Usually, the triple Axel will have a shorter takeoff edge than the double Axel.

On this takeoff edge, the skating knee is the main explosive force for this jump. The skating knee bends as the skater steps forward and explodes into the air on the end of the takeoff edge.

On the takeoff edge, the free knee is bent in back and passes closely through. However, it does not pass very far. The knee merely lifts a little in front. I have been teaching since the days of Christopher Columbus and the Mayflower. Have I always taught it this way? No! I used to teach this with the free leg coming through quite a bit and lifting up.

Also on this takeoff edge, the free foot comes up to the skating leg, but not beyond it!! This is different from what we used to teach with the whole leg going through quite a ways. From here, the free foot tucks quickly right behind the left takeoff leg and presses down so the feet are crossed and the

legs are close and straight.

This is a very efficient way to perform a high jump and get into the rotating position quickly. Correct rhythm and timing between all body parts is important. The best way to increase rotational speed is to pull the arms and legs in tightly with quickness and strength.

ARMS

The arms come through as the free leg comes through. I prefer the skater to bring them through slightly to the right with the head also slightly to the right.

The arms must get through quite a ways as the skater needs to have something to pull in. When the arms are in front, they are a bit rounded and ready to pull in.

I prefer the right arm and hand to come into the right side and the left hand on top of the right hand. I also prefer the arms come to the right side as that is the side that the skater rotates around and lands on.

AIR POSITION

A very straight body is necessary for multiple rotational jumps. In the air, the skater must be tall and skinny like a pencil from head to toe. While rotating in the air, the skater’s body must be rotating on an axis just like a back spin rotates on a spin axis.

• The airtime for a lady’s double Axel ranges between .45-.55 seconds

• The airtime for a man’s double Axel ranges between .5-.6 seconds.

• The airtime for a man’s triple Axel ranges between .6-.7 seconds.

The right leg should be very straight in the air with the left foot very close and tight in front.

The head should be to the right:

• During the takeoff

• In the air

• On the landing

LANDING

When it is time to land the jump:

• The elbows open up

• The free foot lifts up to the right side of the skating leg

• The head stays still to the right

• The arms then open up into a landing position

• The free leg opens up into a landing position

• The free leg is very straight and turned out on the landing edge

• The free leg on the landing can be as high as the skater can perform it with a straight back

• The head is up and slightly to the right

• The back is straight

Some off-ice exercises I use are:

• Front “Casey Leaps” turns

• Axel walk-throughs

• Toe-tap Axels

• “Hippity-hop” Axels

On-ice, some exercises I use are:

• Backward “Casey Leaps” turns

• Takeoff exercises

• Skid exercises

• Side toe hop Axel exercises

• Back spin/double loops

The techniques discussed in this double axel feature are the opinions of the authors and are not officially endorsed.

Choreography: Taking a Risk to Push Yourself Forward

By John Mucko (MC, MM, MTOI, RFS)

To choreograph is to take a risk

Choreography predates man. For many thousands of years—and still today—there have been birds and animals whose mating dances are rhythmic rituals. The primitive man who made up a dance to explain, through mimetic gestures, the events of a battle, or a hunt, or to display his physical prowess to attract a woman was choreographing. The movements of the chorus in ancient Greek drama required choreography, as did the folk dances that developed in medieval Europe.

The term “choreography” originated in the late 17th century and meant the recording of previously composed dance steps by notation. Most of these early creations were instinctive and it was not until the early 1900’s that choreographers began to explore choreography as a science. Laban invented a workable system of dance notation, and along with the later Benesh system, it was made possible to record choreography of any dance for the use of future dancers and choreographers. All of these things, along with many other examples, reflect the exploration and risks that it takes to move forward with the development of choreography.

Choreography for figure skating coaches

The rules, criteria, and requirements of figure skating that are constantly changing are a challenge to choreographers, coaches, and athletes alike. For one to be a successful choreographer, it is extremely important to understand the tools that create strong, competitive, and crowd-pleasing performances for all to enjoy. Remember, you are the engineer of the program—the architect of creative design. Knowing the requirements, rules of sport, and the choreographic principles and processes are important. Time, space, energy, and form are the primary elements of dance; the same elements can be applied to choreography in the sport of figure skating.

Think about your own journey as a choreographer. Do you have a pathway? Do you have a process for continued education? What about a passion to continue to press forward by learning new and exciting techniques that might encourage you to take risks?

How to move forward in your own creative journey

Choreography always continues to move forward in design, and choreographers are always taking risks to create with new and contemporary ideas. There are numerous resources available to secure valuable information and provide continued education. Google, YouTube, webinars, virtual classes. and any in-person workshops, seminars or choreographer presentations are all great opportunities for learning. When thinking about developing your pathway forward, consider the ARP approach.

AAcquire the information. Research the possibilities that would allow you to add to your toolbox and continue the forward journey of knowledge and creativity.

RRetain this new information and continue to use it in your everyday experiences with your athletes. Speak the language. Repeat the delivery of processes, principles, and energies. Repeating and reinforcing information you want to retain in longterm memory is important.

PPractical application. Apply your knowledge to every lesson. Exercise the movements and share your knowledge with the athlete so they can understand the language. Use the information you acquire and retain and give it to the athlete to help them move forward in their own artistic and choreographic discoveries. Take risks and encourage growth through knowledge.

As you open up to deep self-awareness and growth with others, you’ll gain the knowledge needed to design and create choreographic works reflecting a forward movement in your own choreographic journey. PSA offers a wealth of information assisting in continued education through webinars, seminars, our annual Summit, and the ratings process, just to mention a few. Being a part of a most enthusiastic and supportive community will inspire you to continue to move forward in your pathway of creative discovery.

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

About us A word from Scott

Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™ is the nationwide peer-to-peer fundraiser for the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, empowering the community to join the fight against cancer by funding critical research.

“I see a day where everyone survives cancer. A day when no one suffers their way through their treatments. Our body holds the keys to surviving this insidious disease, and only through the research we are funding that we can unlock the keys to a much brighter futurea future celebrating survivors.“ - Scott Hamilton

Host a Frozen 5k or Ice Show as a fundraiser

Raise funds for cancer research and receive fundraising rewards at the end of the event

Honor those impacted by cancer and skate towards a better future for the next person diagnosed

Going Forward with DEI

By Darlene Lewis (CM, RG, RFS)

Two years ago, PSA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee was formed with the goal of promoting greater diversity in PSA’s membership and in its programming. Made up of PSA Board members and members at large, the committee assists PSA’s leadership in the implementation of strategic initiatives that recruit, support, and retain members and staff from diverse backgrounds.

Over the past two years, the committee has created and delivered training for coaches at Summit, through webinars, and through CERs. We were also excited to present the inaugural PSA DEI Award and to host the first in a series of “Join the Conversation” virtual meetings that focused on how to best support coaches as well as assist coaches in implementing practices to better support our athletes.

As we have interacted with coaches across the country, members of the DEI Committee often get questions from coaches who wonder how DEI impacts their everyday business and interactions given the

homogenous communities in which they live. Often, they question the need for DEI initiatives in their business. In essence, the question is: Why DEI?

The short answer is, it’s just good business.

Many of the most successful corporations in the world have embraced DEI practices—companies like UPS, Mastercard, and Coca Cola are just a few examples. What’s more, major sports associations such as United States Tennis Association and USA Gymnastics have also started to create DEI departments and initiatives. In July 2021, U.S. Figure Skating hired Kadari Taylor-Watson as its first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director and established a DEI Working Group to develop strategies to assist in creating a more welcoming organization “where all may participate as their true selves.” Successful corporations and organizations know, as studies have shown, that businesses who implement DEI practices outperform their peers who do not.

As coaches—whether you’re looking to tap into

“Embrace DEI as a journey, not a quick solution.”

– Jewell Parkinson

a new monetary stream, seeking to make adjustments that will best serve the increasingly diverse populations in your communities, or looking at best practices to enhance your own business— you can benefit from a DEI model. Even in seemingly homogenous communities, there are pockets of untapped markets.

Now, here we are at the beginning of a new year. This is a time of growth, self reflection, and forward movement. One of these ways is through DEI. The PSA and its DEI Committee are passionate about supporting, educating, and helping coaches enhance and grow their businesses by utilizing DEI principles, which include the actions, attitudes, and environments that foster diversity, equity, and inclusion. As we look forward, some of the benefits we hope to see for our coaches embracing DEI practices in their individual businesses and programs are:

• Greater retention of skaters

• New insights driving the design and implementation of effective coaching philosophies and group programs

• Representation of ALL markets in your community reflected in your programming

• Opportunities to participate provided to all

• Better understanding of how to work confidently with all the clients (athletes and parents) you serve

• A diverse staff serving a diverse population in group programs such as Learn To Skate, Theater On Ice, Synchro, etc.

These benefits are proven outcomes with the implementation of DEI principles. To assist coaches in achieving these outcomes, one of PSA’s 2023 initiatives is the development and rollout of a coaches’ toolkit designed to provide all the resources needed to develop diverse, inclusive programming that meet the needs of underserved groups and fosters a more diverse and inclusive figure skating community.

The toolkit will be filled with information to help coaches jump start their programs with some actions

needed to “get the ball rolling” towards a more inclusive skating environment, develop community partnership, locate funding to assist program startup, and other DEI training materials.

The toolkit will be dynamic and interactive, with PSA seeking coaches’ input into its design. Rather than a static document, it will grow and change as necessary to meet the needs of our coaches. Yes, we are moving forward this year knowing that it is just the beginning of an ongoing process that can result in good business outcomes for coaches. Jewell Parkinson of iCIMS, a talent company with a mission to empower organizers to attract, engage, hire, and advance the talent that builds a winning workforce, reminds us to “think of DEI not in terms of a five-year plan, but a continuous work in progress that is constantly revisited and revised to pivot with evolving DEI…needs.”

Let’s embrace the journey and move forward together.

For more on the need for DEI, read Coaching in a Changing World: Why You Need to Embrace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, PSA CER Curriculum 2022 written by Darlene Lewis, Kadari Taylor-Watson, and Denise Vierra.

“Diversity is where everyone is invited to the party. Inclusion means that everyone gets to contribute to the playlist. Equity means that everyone has the opportunity to dance and experience the music.”

- Robert Sellers

Rohene Ward, Darlene Lewis, and Alex Chang present the 2022 EDI Award to Tai Babilonia at the PSA Summit in Chicago.

Darlene Lewis is the chair of PSA's Diversity,, Equity, & Inclusion committee..

Tips and Tricks for Forward One Foot Glides

By Brock Huddleston (MG, MM, RFS, RD, RPD)

Nearly every big-time athlete was once a small child who, wanting to skate for the first time, showed up to a group class. Group lessons are the place where most of us first fell in love with skating. With that in mind, it’s easy to see how group coaches are vital not only to our rinks and clubs, but also to the longevity of our sport as a whole. Without them, the sport would fail to exist.

There are many important jobs that a group lesson coach has to consider. One job is ensuring that every skater gets a solid and technically-sound foundation in a safe and fun way. No matter what curriculum your rink or club uses, skaters must learn how to master the one foot glide within the first few months of skating. This can be a tricky skill to master, and for many coaches, it can be equally difficult to teach. As the gateway to many other skills, the one foot glide is one of the most important foundational elements. It’s important to get it right, right away.

So, how can you achieve this more easily while also making the learning process more fun? Here are some ideas:

Introducing the skill

During the introductory phase, you should review and assess the previous skills that are necessary to successfully accomplish this new skill. In addition to assessing that skaters have solid two foot glides, make sure that they also have the necessary balance, posture, and strength to perform the new skill. If not, work on these before attempting to introduce the element.

TIP: Consider all aspects of the group’s preparedness before introducing a new skill. For one foot glides, this means looking at other aspects and previous elements beyond their two foot glides. Ask yourself, “Are these confident and solid beginning-level skaters? Are they mentally ready to let go and attempt this skill?” Introducing a one foot glide too early can lead to unnecessary fear for an element that doesn’t need to be scary.

Once you are certain they’re ready to attempt the skill:

• Start with scooter pushes. This gives them an

opportunity to experiment with gliding on one foot in quick and short bursts.

• For younger age groups (3-6 years old), play games like Simon Says to “trick” them into picking up one foot quickly.

• Formal introduction: instruct your class to stand next to the wall at an arm’s-length distance. For balance, have them hold onto the wall with only two fingers and hold the other arm out. Now have them lift the free leg (and hip!) that is furthest from the wall. Practice balancing while holding the wall, then challenge them to let go. Do it on both sides.

Developing the skill

As you enter into the development phase of the skill, this is your perfect opportunity to talk about bilateral development, body alignment, weight placement on the blade, and edges. Here are some key points to remember:

• Bilateral development – Make sure that you are working to develop your class’s left and right one foot glides equally. By asking your entire class to lift the same leg at once, you can ensure that nobody in class is “forgetting” to try the more challenging side.

• Body alignment – Make sure your class remembers to think: head, shoulders, (hips!), knees, and toes/feet. Tell skaters to get their nose, belly button, and skating hip directly on top of their skating foot. They also have to be sure that their free hip is lifted and their head is upright and looking forward. They have to “zip it up” and stand tall.

• Weight placement on the blade – Explain that at any time they are skating forward, a skater’s weight placement should be on the middle-back of the blade. Show them what that means by drawing a picture on the ice.

• Edges – This is a great time to start talking about edges! Use age appropriate language, but make sure your skaters know that their blade should be on a flat, which is “straight up and down, not falling to the inside or the outside.” Demonstrate what happens when they fall onto an edge…their glide will curve!

TIP: If a skater is having trouble with their body alignment, change your traffic pattern! Instead of using straight lines, use large circles. Practice one foot glides on outside edges, which will force them to get on top of their skate and in proper alignment. If necessary, and with the skater’s permission, help them feel the body lean. Once successful, go back to one foot glides in a straight line. Tell them to “pretend that the circle is still under them, but that it straightened out” and watch the magic happen!

Mastering the skill

Regardless of the curriculum your program uses, a passing standard for all elements has been established. If a skater can perform the element to that standard, they have achieved the mastery phase of development. It is important to the overall success of your skating school that you respect these standards. To ensure that success:

• Make sure you are familiar with this standard.

• Compare your skaters to what is prescribed.

• Only pass the element when the skater meets that standard.

TIP: Your particular program may have slightly different passing standards than those prescribed by major organizations. Some rinks may require skaters to demonstrate a higher level of mastery. Others may be okay with a skater moving onto the next level even if both one foot glides are not of equal strength. Familiarize yourself with your rink’s expectations before evaluating your group classes.

Enhancing the skill: keep it moving forward

Now that your class mastered their one foot glides, you have reached the enhancement phase. How can you spice things up and make the skill even better?

Use one foot glide challenges to focus on distance instead of time. Here are some ideas:

• Select the shortest skater in your class and have them lie down at the center of your teaching lane. Draw a line at their head and their feet. See how many skaters can hold their one foot glide to the height of that skater. Each week, choose a taller skater in the class until they can all hold it for the length of the tallest skater.

• Have skaters challenge themselves. Draw a line across your teaching lane at the one-third mark. Ask each skater to start their one foot glide as they cross the line. Where each skater’s one foot

glide ends, mark their initial and a “1.” Do two more rounds, and rewrite their initial with a “2” or “3.” Encourage the skaters to beat their own score each time without worrying about anyone else’s score.

• Give the skaters a set number of marches/pushes and challenge them to hold their glide until they get to the wall on the other side. Slowly take away the number of pushes they are allowed to take and see who can make it all the way!

Experiment with different arm or free leg positions

• Can your class balance gloves on their hands while doing a one foot glide?

• Can they hold a beach ball, hula hoop, or other show prop?

• Can each person in the class create their own one foot glide variation?

• Consider what skills one foot glides will eventually lead to. (Skills like stroking, crossovers, waltz eights, bunny hops, or waltz jump takeoffs are just a few that come to mind.) Challenge your class to glide in positions that mimic these one foot glide variations.

Think about traffic patterns

Traffic patterns are nothing more than the way you move your class across your teaching space. As skaters move into the enhancement phase, consider using more complex traffic patterns that:

• Allows for greater speed and flow,

• Give room to combine the one foot glide with other elements,

• Require bilateral development.

For one foot glides, an oval-shaped pattern is one possible choice. On the first straight away, the skaters practice their left one foot glide, and on the second they practice their right foot. At either end, skaters can practice scooter pushes, half swizzle pumps, or a wide variety of other skills. Get creative!

Conclusion

Forward one foot glides are integral to the development of skaters and are a fun and exciting part of group classes. They represent what skaters can look forward to for years to come: athleticism through increased balance, movement, and speed; harder challenges and a continued sense of accomplishment; and a constant outlet for creativity. Push yourself forward as a group coach so that you can continue to inspire your skaters…after all, the one foot glide is just the beginning of it all!

How to Keep Your Lessons Going Forward and Making Progress

By Dianah Klatt (MG, MM, MFS, SFF)

W hen I was given the theme for this edition, I immediately thought of how hard we as coaches work to help our athletes continue progressing and building more advanced skills. Hopefully, the athletes are working just as hard to keep moving forward as we are. Then I started to ponder: what can we do as coaches to create an atmosphere that leads to strong work ethic and continual progress? How do we draw in the ones who are reluctant to work on skating skills, who only want to shoot the puck or play the game? Here are some thoughts:

At the Game Sitting next to someone watching their first NHL game in person, I kept hearing them exclaim “wow!” over and over again. When the opportunity came, I initiated conversation with them about their experience. The response, which was spot on, went something like this: “This game is so fast and has so many different things happening, I can hardly keep track! I don’t want to blink and miss anything!”

They were right. The game of hockey is fast and complex, and it only gets faster at every level. When we are working with athletes to help them improve their skating skills, it is helpful to keep this in mind. The faster the game, the less time there is to think about how to skate or handle the puck. The athletes need to be able to immediately react to what they are seeing and hearing. Even at the youngest levels of the game, while the athletes are skating they have to be able to multitask in order to see where the other players are on the ice, try to get the puck, try to keep the puck, and try to get the puck in the net.

In order for an athlete’s skating skills to improve during the game, we need to find ways to increase the number of quality repetitions they complete. Once they have done enough quality repetitions (and the jury is still out on exactly how many that is!) the quality skills become a habit, and begin to appear automatically in the game. This is not always an easy message for the parents to understand. One skating session will not automatically result in a visible change during the next game…sorry, Mom and Dad! Multiple sessions spread out over time will achieve the best and longest lasting results.

How

Many Times,

Coach? Other than shooting pucks, telling a team of skaters that they need to do 500 of any exercise or drill is not going to bring any show of excitement. Instead, it would likely cause lots of eye-rolling and a loss of any interest in the session. So, how exactly can we increase the repetitions done to improve their balance, stride, stops, transitions, and backwards skating skills? Some strategies that have found success can be implemented with a small amount of time and thought. These strategies include: beginning with a plan, finding multiple ways to work on the same base skill, and utilizing challenges.

Failing to Plan is… I’m sure we have all heard the quote, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” I did a little research and found that it is attributed to Winston Churchill. He must have watched many hockey practices! Practice sessions where athletes are standing around and waiting for the coaches to make decisions about what to do next, or where athletes are just skating around and shooting the puck without any direction are not inspiring ones.

Establishing an overall plan for a series of sessions as well as more detailed plans for each individual session helps to ensure the focus stays where it is intended and that time is used efficiently. It is easy to get bogged down on one skill that they just don’t seem to get. Sometimes it is better to leave it and come back to it again at another session. Without my own plans, I know I could not remember the exact drills I did with each team or athlete. A few notes added following each session gives me insight on what I should do in the next session, what we didn’t get to, and what new ideas I had. Using cloud-based technology (I like to use Google Docs) allows edits to be made right away from almost anywhere by smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Going back to Churchill's statement, I think about the number of times I had to throw out my plan and change the expectations and drills due to the circumstances on a particular day. This can be done quickly in part because of the previous planning that took place. By doing all of the legwork ahead of time, I have a base from which to start and know where I want to end up. A solid plan allows the coach to think about

what skills should be covered and how the lesson time can most efficiently be utilized; it provides a strong foundation, but equally important, the flexibility to adjust when necessary.

Yay, Something Different! Unless you are working with elite athletes, several times through any drill or exercise you may find that the athletes focus often begins to diminish. That’s okay! They are humans who love to play a game, and many of them don’t yet understand how much more fun the game will be when their skills are stronger. This is a great chance to influence their view of skill improvement.

As a coach, you should try to be creative and find different ways to work the same skill. One example is working on a forward stride. You can isolate and work on one leg first. Then switch over to the other leg. From there you can move to alternating legs. If the focus drops, you might put them on a circle or have them do two with each leg before switching, then three, four, and so on. I use about six different exercises that work on the bend, balance, and lateral push for forward strides. Some hop, some change direction, some have extended glides in position, and some include puck use. They all have generally the same purpose, but I continue to switch it up. My goal is for the athletes to be interested in each progression or version of the drills. I want them to be challenged without being overly frustrated, or worse, bored!

Are You Up to the Challenge? I have yet to meet an athlete that didn’t thrive on challenges. Isn’t that part of being in a sport? Hockey players are no exception. Whether it is a one-foot glide, swizzles, the number

of strides to skate the length of the rink, anything can be turned into a challenge. Starting with the sentence, “Ok, the challenge is…” will get their attention and a desire to accomplish it. I have had athletes come up to me years after working with them to tell me that they finally accomplished a challenge I had thrown their way. As long as it is realistically attainable, they will work and work to accomplish the challenge. Challenges can be the athlete competing against themself, another athlete, or the athletes in groups trying to outdo the others. The options are endless.

“Wait, what? Practice is Done Already?” These are words I love to hear. This tells me they had fun and will be ready to come back to do more. With a few small steps, coaches can create sessions that seem to pass quickly while building strong foundational skating skills and a desire to keep moving forward and learning more. Taking the time to plan what skills to work on, using a variety of exercises to build those skills, and incorporating challenges into the practice sessions can provide an environment that keeps the athletes interested, excited, and working hard, resulting in continued progress. When the athletes are in that frame of mind, the coach's time with them is more enjoyable— and for me, at least—less work. Keep going forward!

Dianah Klatt is the chair of PSA's Hockey Committee.

How Program Directors Can Keep Their Programs Moving Forward

By Danny Tate (MG, MM, MFS, MPD, SP)

As a program director, you have an important role in helping your program—and coaches—continue to develop and move forward. Here are some things to consider:

Program Directors Need to Be Creative Team Players

To mature in your role as program director, it’s important to step out of your usual routine. When you do this, it will help your program grow, making it an essential part of your facility, and will help build a stronger rapport with your team.

Program directors who are willing to think outside the box and deviate from popular opinion can sometimes get a bad rap. However, these innovative thinkers are also better able to creatively react to different situations and turn possible failures into success stories. Remember, what we accept as common practices today were once innovations of the past. Someone had to be brave and willing to take that step forward into uncharted territory.

Create Inspirational Environments Encourage your staff to be part of the creative process and help them feel comfortable sharing their ideas. Address mistakes in a positive manner, especially when they are your own. Reiterate how new perspectives and ways of doing things can only occur when everyone on the team works together.

Sometimes something as simple as changing up your surroundings can help your team feel safe and nurture new ideas. Consider conducting staff meetings or team building exercises in a unique setting away from the rink. Some ideas might include going to a trampoline park, having a potluck meal outside of work, going zip lining, going to an escape room, or having your meeting at a park.

Don’t underestimate the power of humor and laughter to help creativity. Remember we are in an industry that is about fun and sharing our love for the sport.

Help Your Team Approach your staff compassionately and ask where they need your help or support, even if it means doing something that might not be within your role as program director. Volunteer to

help with other organizations, groups, or events that coexist in your facility. And always be a true team player by being willing to step into whatever role you’re needed. A director that shows they’re willing to work in any capacity gains more respect from their staff and other coworkers while also cultivating a positive atmosphere.

Acknowledge Your Team’s Strengths

Your team needs to feel valued. Be transparent and humble about your strengths and weaknesses as program director. Humility can be a wonderful motivator and help you discover what your team’s talents are. Spend time getting to know your management and staff. Maybe someone is an expert skate sharpener, an organized planner for special events, or specializes in graphic design and social media. Finding ways to utilize their gifts will help your team not only enjoy their job, but also feel like an important part of your organization. Make sure to find ways to compensate your team for these additional tasks because it fosters exceptional performance. And most importantly, always acknowledge your staff appropriately for their efforts and for a job well done.

Invest in Education and Grow Create an atmosphere that applauds the pursuit of continuous learning. Emphasize the importance of career growth through education and ratings. Research ways to enhance existing programs, including your current group lesson programming. Consider adding new programs to your curriculum, too. Bridge programs, hockey skating skills classes, off-ice classes, and different specialty discipline classes such as Theatre on Ice, Synchro, or Figures are all great options. Ask your coaches what specialty classes they might be interested in teaching. These types of programs keep current skaters in your program longer, ensure that there is a space for every kind of skater, and allow your coaches to shine.

In closing, as a director be careful about complacency and becoming set in your ways. Listen to your team and be willing to evolve. I hope reading this article inspires you to be open to new ideas and gives you the confidence to take a step outside of the box.

Moving forward: A New Outlook on Carbohydrates

By Julianne Pondelli (SSS, CFS, RG)

In the last few years, carbohydrates have gotten a bad rap for being the cause of weight gain. In reality, carbohydrates are the main source of fuel for athletes and do not cause automatic weight gain. The truth is, carbohydrates (as well as protein) are an important energy source. Weight gain only occurs when there is an excess of caloric intake, regardless of the food source. When comparing carbohydrates, which provide 4 calories per gram, with fats, which provide 9 calories per gram, it becomes obvious that one would be much more likely to have an excess of calories by overconsuming higher-fat foods than they would with carbs.

Carbohydrates encompass a wide variety of foods that include different pastas, breads, rice, cereals, beans, lentils, milk, and starchy vegetables. To put some of these healthy foods in the same category as junk food—things like candy, chips, soda, donuts, and cookies—is unfair. At the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Food and Nutrition Expo and Conference in October 2022, Michelle McMacken1 spoke on the importance of high-quality carbohydrates. Her message was clear: when we categorize carbs as “bad” we are literally saying that lentils are nutritionally equivalent to lollipops and that sugary cereals are as nutritious as fresh fruit.

Clearly, not all carbohydrates are equal. The key is to make healthier choices when choosing a carbohydrate source. Limiting simple carbohydrates—junk foods like pastries, soda, and candy—is an excellent idea and will have a positive effect on overall health and weight. These simple, or refined, carbohydrates will only provide calories and minimal nutrients to the body, if any at all. Sources of carbohydrates that are refined are those that have been processed where the fiber, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients have been stripped away.

High-quality carbohydrates, on the other hand, can provide the athlete with both energy and nutrients their body needs. When choosing a carbohydrate source, it is important to look at the fiber content. Choosing foods that have three grams of fiber or more will help slow the effects that carbs have on blood glucose levels. Foods such as quinoa, sweet potatoes, oats, beans, and fruits, will provide heart-healthy fiber. These types of foods will keep blood glucose levels even and keep athletes feeling fuller, longer.

Foods such as applesauce and bananas are quickly absorbed. These are the best to have about 15-30 minutes before a practice session or competition.

Carbs are the most efficiently broken down and metabolized macronutrient. For normal everyday functioning, the body needs 130g from carbohydrate sources (approx. 520 calories). The brain, heart, and muscles constantly use glucose each day. For the athlete, studies have consistently shown that carbohydrates are the main macronutrient fuel source for sustaining and improving athletic performance. Athletes need high-quality, carbohydrate-rich foods to maintain muscle glycogen storage. These provide a quick delivery of energy to their muscles when working out at a high level. Athletes also need carbohydrates in their post-workout to replenish these glycogen stores.

Low carbohydrate diets can cause blood glucose levels to drop significantly. They are also very difficult to adhere to, as they are so limiting. Replacing carbohydrate sources with higher fat sources of energy may lead to an excess of calories, damage to the heart, and can hinder athletic performance. Research shows that athletes with low-carbohydrate stores are not able to sustain high-intensity levels that are necessary for competitive athletes to train and compete.

In conclusion, for best training and performance, athletes need a balanced diet that encompasses high quality carbs, protein, and heart-healthy fats. Changing our mindset around carbohydrates is imperative and will be beneficial to the athlete. Finally, by choosing higher fiber carbohydrates, athletes can ensure that they have the fuel and nutrients necessary for training and performing.

1 Michelle McMacken is the Executive Director of Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine for NYC Health and Hospitals.

“Foods such as quinoa, sweet potatoes, oats, beans, and fruits, will provide hearthealthy fiber. These types of foods will keep blood glucose levels even and keep athletes feeling fuller, longer.”

Officers, Board Members and Trustees

PRESIDENT Patrick O'Neil VICE PRESIDENT Carol Murphy TREASURER Scott McCoy SECRETARY Gerry Lane

BOARD MEMBER

Paul Wylie

Carol Rossignol

Tim Covington

Kelley Morris Adair

Jill Maier-Collins

TRUSTEE

Richard Dwyer

Robbie Kaine Wayne Seybold

Moira North

Curtis McGraw Webster

Skaters' Fund – Donation Levels:

• Platinum $10,000+

• Diamond $5,000+

• Gold $1,000+

• Silver $500+

• Bronze $100+

Recognition opportunities for donors available

The Professional Skaters Foundation (PSF) was founded to expand the educational opportunities of PSA members through a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable foundation.

A Giving Community

By Patrick O’Neil

In March of 2022, the country of Ukraine was invaded and thousands of people found themselves displaced. Among those displaced were many colleagues from our coaching community, their families, and their athletes.

Each of us is blessed to be part of a large and giving community that looks out for one another. With generous donations from Mr. Willy Bietak, Mr. Curtis McGraw Webster, and many of you in our coaching community, the PS Foundation was able to provide over $10,000 in financial support to those in dire need of medication, housing, and transportation.

Kelley Morris Adair oversaw the Ukrainian Relief Fund. Working with Dima Ilin located in Maryland and Maria Vierenich, located in the Ukraine, this small group of people helped to identify and disburse funds to those in need.

The PS Foundation is here to support coaches and performing skaters in times of need. It was an honor to help our Ukrainian coaching colleagues.

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

“Good afternoon, dear colleagues and the PS Foundation! I would like to express my deep gratitude for your help to Ukraine, Ukrainian coaches, and athletes. We are going through a very difficult time right now. Since the beginning of the war, you have helped so much! Some coaches lost their homes, some were forced to move to other regions of Ukraine, and many were even forced to leave the country for safer places. A large number of coaches have lost the opportunity to earn money and provide for their lives and health. Thank you very much for the financial help—it helped certain trainers get the necessary treatment. At that time, when all the ice arenas were closed and there was no way to earn money, your help gave people the opportunity to provide themselves with everyday things!”

-Maria Vierenich

PS Foundation was able to provide over $10,000 in financial support to those in dire need of medication, housing, and transportation.”

The PSA is truly a special organization. It doesn't matter where in the world you live...as members of the PSA, we are all part of the same community. In this new section, we celebrate that community. We encourage you to celebrate with us and join the conversation!

New Members

NEW MEMBER SPONSOR NEW MEMBER SPONSOR

Isabella Badhwar

Sergii Baranov

Rebecca Bauer

Haley Beavers

Christian Bennett

Kamden Black

Madison Blinick

Lisa Borzilleri

Annaliyse Bowden

Bailey Boyce

Amanda Butlett

Jacob Canton

Geneva Carlson

Christina Carreira

Timmy Chapman

Emily Clinkscales

Helen Cooper

Ana Dabdoub

Mckenzie Danielson

Mariel Davila Moreno

Sophia DeJesus

Daniella DeSousa

Ava Dimmick

Nicole Duke

Lillian Erwin

Annabelle Farris

Brooke Feinberg

Brittany Franko

Kelly Furterer

Julie Gardner

Martina Gavigan

Mark Getman

Elsie Gilder

Lauren Gordon

Daniel Grassi

Isabella Grignon

Shelby Hagedorn

Amy Harris

Lauren Harven

Anne Hauser

Tracy Hazen

Gabe Hernandez Kendall Hong

Nicholas Huff

Elizabeth Hume

Jillian Johnson

Alexandra Johnston

Lauren Karpinski

Kara Klomparens

Nikoline Laerum

Anabelle Larson

Jimmie Santee

Marina Zoueva

Jimmie Santee

TJ Nyman Jimmie Santee Jimmie Santee

Jimmie Santee

Derrick Delmore

Margaret Kinnett

Rachel Peterson

Jimmie Santee

Jordan Dinwiddie

Keiko Johnson

Anthony Ponomarenko

BJ Chapman Michelle Hong Emanuela M. Porter

Jimmie Santee

Brianna Hatch

Michele Cantu Felix Jimmie Santee Nicole Nichols Jennifer Bacon

Jimmie Santee

Tommy Brannen

Jimmie Santee

Kristen Weyl

Rachel Ricca

Penny Carpenter

Penny Carpenter

Lee Cabel

Roberta Dunn

Jimmie Santee

Sherri Terando

Jimmie Santee

Brielle Francis

Kelly Benzinger-Grelle

Alyssa Reder-Judnick

Jimmie Santee

Jimmie Santee

Jimmie Santee

Jimmie Santee

Ashley Geohas

Megan Williams-Stewart

Barbara Foltz

Elizabeth Thornton

Jimmie Santee

Jimmie Santee

Jennifer Farrell-Miller

Beth Brown

Martine de la Tore

Sierra Lewis

Peter Liu

Mia Lora

Kerry Louderback-Wood

Elizaveta Lubnikova

Heather Ludin

Laz Lune

Sasha Lunin

Ryan Mason

Grace Matvick

Glenda Mesta

Theresa Miller

Hannah Mitchell

Kayleigh Mulligan

Shannon Murphy Leslie Nachbauer

Sylwia Nowak-Trebacka

Jenn O'Donnell

Angela Paxos

Caitlin Pietsch

Gabriella Quintero

David Reicks

Sophie Richardson

Jocelyn Rios

Alyea Rourke

Emma Sacks

Emilia Sanchez

Allison Schaefer

Juliette Shadid

Austin Spatorico

Kelly Stevenson

Nathan Stewart

Bryanna Stoddard

Elizabeth Sullivan

Dave Sweeney

Margarita Sweeney-Baird

Nathan Tarrosa

Andrea Tolman

Alessia Tornaghi

Rorie Tressel

Daniel Turchin

Jeremiah Vandagrift

Ruthee Willson

Alyssa Wohlleber

Nikola Wolfe

Kaylee Wood

Ashley Wu

Patricia Yannerilla

Eva Yezerets

Yuliia Zhata

Jimmie Santee

Viktor Pfeifer

Jimmie Santee

Lisa Geltz-Perri Jimmie Santee

Jimmie Santee

Matej Silecky

Alexander Lunin

Kymberly Tompkins

Kristie Mitchell

Penny Carpenter

Jimmie Santee

Timothy Leduc

Jimmie Santee Jimmie Santee

Penny Carpenter

Ilya Tkachenko

Kim Alden-Lafave

Jimmie Santee

Emily Hao

Jimmie Santee

Jimmie Santee

Jimmie Santee Beatrisa Liang Jimmie Santee

Melanie Greene Jimmie Santee

Jessica Rensch

Christine Fowler Binder

Laura Pecchia Laurilee Gudino Jimmie Santee

Janice Teodoro-Forbes

Jimmie Santee

Morgan Perrine

Jimmie Santee Jordan Dinwiddie

Lawrence Marvaldi

Amanda Farkas

Jerry Santoferrara

Amber Gill

Jimmie Santee

Tiffany Lindley

Jimmie Santee

Deborah LaLone

Kayla Tennant

Lisa Ware

Danielle Hartman

Maria Nikol

Alexei Kiliakov

Help them get a head start on their coaching career, and encourage them to join PSA!

Do you know who are new to the profession?

calendar

JANUARY

Dates January 10, 17, 24, 31 & February 7

Event Virtual Foundations of Coaching Credits PSA Credits - 10

FEBRUARY

Dates February 1,8,15, 2023

Event Three Part Webinar – The Biomechanical Behind the Figure Skater Credits PSA Credits 3

Dates February 5, 2023

Event Virtual Ratings – Free Skate, Program Director, Choreography & Dance Credits PSA Credit 1 per exam

Dates February 25-26, 2023

Event Virtual Ratings Prep Disciplines Offered – Free Skate, Skating Skills, Group, TOI and Choreography Credits PSA Credits 18 Deadline February 20, 2023

MARCH

Dates March 12, 2023

Event Virtual Ratings – Free Skate, Skating Skills and Group Credits PSA Credit 1 Lottery Opens January 9

Dates March 18, 2023

Event PSA Seminar Location Ice Den Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ Credits PSA Credits – Minimum 5 Deadline February 20, 2023

APRIL

Dates April 23, 2023

Event Virtual Ratings – Registered and Certified levels only in all disciplines

Credits PSA Credit 1 Lottery Opens February 20, 2023

MAY

Dates May 23, 2023

Event In-Person Ratings at Summit – Senior and Master levels only in all disciplines, except TOI

Credits PSA Credit 1

Deadline March 15, 2023

Dates May 24-26, 2023

Event PSA 2023 Orlando Summit and Trade Show Credits PSA Credits 21 minimum

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

Sign up for Ratingstoday!Prep

FEBRUARY

If you've ever thought about taking a rating exam but were unsure of where to start, look no further.

ABOUT VIRTUAL RATINGS PREP:

The virtual Ratings Prep Training is a two day course that prepares coaches for verbal rating exams. Featuring a faculty of master rated coaches, this course will cover on- and off-ice topics to support coaches and generate a positive exam experience.

Our new virtual format keeps the best of the past, enhances the experience with a new look and feel, and has the added benefit and flexibility of recorded sessions for future review.

DISCIPLINES COVERED:

Free Skate, Skating Skills, Group WHEN: February 25-26 COST: $260 (Discount applied for Premier members)

Team Survey

WE WANT TO KNOW: What jump do you enjoy teaching the most? Salchow Toe Loop Loop Flip Lutz Axel

I don’t teach jumps

Aim your smartphone camera at the QR code, click the link that appears, make your choice and submit—it takes less than two minutes!

Be sure to vote by February 1 so that your vote is counted, and look for the results in our next magazine!

you

know

Email the editor at magazine@skatepsa.com to ask us a question, tell us what you want us to write about, or share other magazine-related feedback. Who knows…we might even publish some of your letters from time to time!

don't forget to pack the NECESSITIES

Equal parts learning, fun, and vacation. Won’t you join us?

SKATEPSA.COM/SUMMIT

2022 PHOTO OF THE YEAR PARTICIPANT By Jacob Marsh

Skater Jules Alpe takes off for a double Axel