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Coach Compliance Update
Message from PSA President Alex Chang
While many PSA members have used this time away from the rink to take advantage of free webinars, PSA TV content, and complete CERs for next season, we also know our members are facing financial hardship.
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PSA is continuing to look at ways to help our members for the upcoming renewal season because we understand the difficult situation many of our members are facing. All of our board members are coaches in the same situation with rinks closed, and many of our staff are coaches who have been affected as well. We are right there with you navigating this unprecedented situation, but together we will get up and return to the sport we love.
PSA is a “not for profit” association, owned solely by the membership. Our mission is to provide continuing education and accreditation to ice skating professionals. The income we do earn through membership dues is spent on educating coaches and member services.
PSA genuinely appreciates your membership and support. While we cannot eliminate membership dues, the Board of Governors has decided to eliminate the late fees for PSA membership and fee increases/late fee for CERs for the 2020-21 season. Additionally, the Board of Governors has decided to delay the previouslyplanned membership dues increase, holding membership fees the same since 2013 for one more season.
In light of the current coaching climate due to COVID-19, PSA and U.S. Figure Skating have been working together to modify coach compliance for the 2020-2021 season. Because rinks are expected to re-open at different times based on the situation in their geographic area, the goal is to allow more flexibility in the compliance deadlines so coaches can renew compliance as they return to the ice.
GR 4.04, which is the late fee and deadline for meeting the coach compliance requirements by July 1, is suspended for the season. The new schedule of compliance requirements for the 2020-21 season are as follows:
• Once a coach returns to teaching, they must have: Current U.S. Figure Skating membership, SafeSport training, a background check, and coaches’ liability insurance*.
• Once a coach attends a sanctioned activity, they must complete the remainder of the requirements applicable for their level: CERs (for any sanctioned activity) and PSA membership (for qualifying events such as NQS, regionals, sectionals, etc.).
*Reminder: To purchase liability insurance through PSA, you will need to renew your PSA membership at the same time.
The rationale is to not use any particular date because a return to teaching and/or sanctioned events will look different for everyone. The first set of items are for protection/liability and the second set are education.
Again, there will be no late fee from U.S. Figure Skating for compliance, no late fee on liability insurance, no fee increase/late fee on CERs, and no late fee or dues increase on PSA membership.
We hope these changes provide the flexibility you need as we emerge from the pandemic and return to coaching.
Thank you,
Alex Chang | PSA PRESIDENT
