May/June 2021 PS Magazine

Compliance for Coaches

BY: U.S. FIGURE SKATING’S SAFESPORT TEAM

Per U.S. Figure Skating Rule MR 5.11, all coaches are required to complete their coach compliance requirements prior to coaching at U.S. Figure Skating sanctioned activities which include 1) qualifying and nonqualifying competitions and test sessions, 2) all performances including ice shows, exhibitions, recitals and carnivals, 3) international competitions where the coach is attending on behalf of Team USA, and 4) any other sanctioned club activities which includes club ice.

With the new season quickly approaching, please remember that compliance will open on June 1, 2021. Members who require compliance are asked to wait until June 1 to complete their requirements to ensure the compliance components are applied to the new season.

The only exception to this is the SafeSport training which is valid for 365 days after completion and liability insurance that may expire mid-season.

“Members who require compliance are asked to wait until June 1 to complete their requirements to ensure the compliance components are applied to the new season.”

Coaches can check their compliance status in U.S. Figure Skating’s Members Only portal. If the portal shows that a coach is not compliant, they are not permitted to participate as a coach until the missing requirements are fulfilled and a green check is shown next to all compliance requirements. Below is an outline of each compliance requirement coaches must complete.

MEMBERSHIP Coaches must be a full member of U.S. Figure Skating and are required to renew their membership each year they are participating as a coach.

SAFESPORT TRAINING Coaches who are 18 years of age and older must complete the “SafeSport Trained” online course offered by the U.S. Center for SafeSport. This training course covers sexual misconduct awareness education, an overview of mandatory reporting requirements, and information on emotional and physical misconduct.

After a coach has completed the core “SafeSport Trained” course, they will be offered a new annual renewal course for the following three years, followed by the core “SafeSport Trained” course on the fourth year. This cycle will repeat every four years and all SafeSport training courses are valid for 365 days after completion. Since the SafeSport training can expire mid-season, coaches are encouraged to regularly check their compliance in Members Only.

Coaches who turn 18 years of age mid-season may take the course early with parental consent. The form for parental consent is built into Members Only and will appear when the 17-year-old coach attempts to access the SafeSport training.

COACHING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (CER) All coaches must complete the Professional Coach/ Choreographer CER Program offered through the Professional Skaters Association (PSA). PSA membership is not required to access CER courses. Each pre-packed, pre-priced module contains four courses. One module is required per season.

BACKGROUND CHECK Coaches who are 18 years of age and older must successfully pass a U.S. Figure Skating background check through the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI). Coaches who turn 18 mid-season are required to successfully pass a U.S. Figure Skating background check within 45 days of turning 18. U.S. Figure Skating will consider accepting other background checks completed through NCSI. A review of the search criteria used for the screen will be completed prior to determining if the screen will be accepted.

LIABILITY INSURANCE All coaches are required to submit proof of liability insurance with $1 million per occurrence, $5 million aggregate per coach. This is an annual requirement and may be purchased through U.S. Figure Skating, the Professional Skaters Association, or through other carriers so long as the above-mentioned criteria is met.

CODE OF ETHICS Each coach must agree to U.S. Figure Skating’s Code of Ethics annually. This can easily be done by accessing the compliance tab in Members Only. When clicking “Begin” for the Code of Ethics requirement, coaches will be asked to provide an electronic signature acknowledging their agreement to the Code of Ethics.

FULL PSA MEMBERSHIP A full membership with the PSA is only required for those who coach at qualifying levels of qualifying competitions and for coaches who travel to competitions as part of Team USA. This is an annual requirement that can be fulfilled through the PSA.

WAIVERS All coaches are required to complete three waivers: 1) Assumption of Risk, Waiver and Release and Indemnification Agreement, 2) Medical Consent, and 3) Name and Likeness and Consent Agreement. Each waiver is required to be agreed to annually and are located in Members Only under the compliance tab.

If you have any questions regarding coach compliance, please contact us at safesport@usfigureskating.org.