RATINGS Cheryl Faust MFS, MM
Virtual Trial Examiner Process H
appy New Year! We hope that 2021 will bring good news to everyone reading this magazine and to their loved ones. With the onset of the pandemic in the spring of 2020, the PSA Ratings Team (Cheryl Faust, Carol Rossignol, Barb Yackel, Heidi Thibert, and Denise Williamson) knew that the ratings format needed to make a dramatic jump into the world of virtual testing. We have landed with great success! The Ratings Team continues to address to make the process better and easier for all concerned. As the demand for virtual ratings has continued to grow, we know that we must increase our pool of volunteer PSA Examiners to fulfill the need across all the disciplines. It has been long expressed that the value of our ratings system rests on the quality and expertise of our examiners. The Ratings Team is taking this opportunity to update the process for a master rated coach to become an examiner within the discipline they hold their master rating. The process will be more in depth for the trial examiner, can be completed from the comfort of their own home, and will begin on March 1st, 2021. This will also give those previously started in the trial examiner process an opportunity to finish what they have started. Additionally, those already needing to finish a level or two within their disciplines can use this format to complete the process. Applications for new trial examiners can begin submitting their applications in January 2021. Trial examiners that are currently in process of trialing need to contact the PSA office at: byackel@skatepsa.com.
Introducing the New Process for Trial Examiners in the Virtual Rating Exam Format 1. Potential trial examiners must apply to the Ratings chair requesting to trial examine by submitting a Trial Examiner Application 2. If approved by the Ratings chair and discipline chair, they will be provided with a link(s) to an exam(s) in the discipline of their master rating in which they have selected to “trial” that have been conducted from previous virtual exam sites. 3. The trial examiner will watch the exam(s), fill out the trial evaluation form provided to them and submit their evaluation of the exam(s) to the discipline chair. 4. The trial evaluation will be reviewed by the discipline chair, the ratings chair, and one member of the ratings team or the exam monitor.
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5. The trial examiner will then attend a Zoom meeting discussion together with the discipline chair, exam monitor, and/or a member of the Ratings Team to defend their decision and evaluation of the exam(s) they reviewed. (Other trial examiners may present during this discussion.) 6. Each trial examiner will need to view and evaluate a minimum of three exams at each level in order to be confirmed as an examiner for that discipline. 7. The trial examiner must be approved by the Ratings Team and discipline chair to serve as an examiner. 8. Once approved as an examiner, they will be assigned as a back-up examiner at the registered level before proceeding to the next higher level.
Qualification to be a Trial Examiner • • • • •
Must be mastered rated in the discipline they wish to trial Must be a current PSA full member in good standing Must be current on U.S. Figure Skating coach compliance Must submit a trial examiner application to the PSA office Must trial a minimum of three exams (in the discipline) at each level • Must attend a trial examiner training session • Must pass the current online examiner test prior to being assigned as a back-up examiner on a panel • Must sign a strict pledge of confidentiality Reading the process and guidelines may seem long, but it is following a similar procedure that was in place when the PSA was conducting in-person rating sites. We believe that trial examiners will be able to move through this progression to reach examiner status much quicker and incur no personal expenses. Exams will be ready to be sent to trial examiners beginning March 1st. Please be sure your Trial Examiner application is on file with the office so you can get started (or resume your trialing). We need you and your expertise! The process is virtual but the gratification and knowledge you gain as an examiner is very REAL. We close this article with the quote we use when inquiring about examiner availability for virtual exams. Please think about this when you consider becoming an examiner, a mentor, or a helpful coaching colleague: “The quickest way to succeed is by helping others do the same.” ~ Napolean Hill. Thank you and we look forward to working with you!
