COACH REGISTRATION, RANKING, AND RATING - WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
In order to teach private lessons at The River's Edge, a coach must carry liability insurance. Group lesson instructors may or may not have this insurance, and so may or may not be eligible to teach private lessons. All group lesson instructors have passed a criminal background check, as required by the City of Davenport, have completed SafeSport training, are registered as instructors with Learn to Skate USA, and are covered by insurance while they are teaching in the LTS program. A group lesson instructor who is not also a USFS registered coach may take skaters to competitions at the Basic Skills levels only.
A US Figure Skating registered coach has passed a criminal background check, provided proof of liability insurance, completed annual Continuing Education Requirements and SafeSport training, and paid a registration fee to US Figure Skating. US Figure Skating requires registration of all coaches who instruct skaters for sanctioned events, such as competitions, test sessions, and sanctioned shows.
Coaches may also join the Professional Skaters Association, which has its own system of rating and ranking coaches. Any coach who wishes to be rated first takes the Basic Accreditation Exam. Further tests earn the ratings of Registered Instructor, Certified Instructor, Senior Instructor, or Master Instructor in the various disciplines of Free Skating, Figures, Ice Dance, Free Dance, Pair Skating, Group Instruction, Program Director, Synchronized Team, Choreography, or Moves in the Field. A coach must earn 28 continuing education credits every three years in order to maintain an active rating. Coaches who take skaters to qualifying competitions must be PSA members, but no coach is required to take ratings exams.
The Professional Skaters Association also assigns Rankings to coaches, based on the performance of their students. There are 10 levels, ranging from Level 1 coaches who take skaters to non-qualifying competitions, through Level 10 coaches who have coached multiple World and/or Olympic Champions. Level 1 coaches must be at least Registered Instructors who are current with their continuing education credits.
In order to teach private lessons at The River's Edge, a coach must carry liability insurance. Group lesson instructors may or may not have this insurance, and so may or may not be eligible to teach private lessons. All group lesson instructors have passed a criminal background check, as required by the City of Davenport, have completed SafeSport training, are registered as instructors with Learn to Skate USA, and are covered by insurance while they are teaching in the LTS program. A group lesson instructor who is not also a USFS registered coach may take skaters to competitions at the Basic Skills levels only.
A US Figure Skating registered coach has passed a criminal background check, provided proof of liability insurance, completed annual Continuing Education Requirements and SafeSport training, and paid a registration fee to US Figure Skating. US Figure Skating requires registration of all coaches who instruct skaters for sanctioned events, such as competitions, test sessions, and sanctioned shows.
Coaches may also join the Professional Skaters Association, which has its own system of rating and ranking coaches. Any coach who wishes to be rated first takes the Basic Accreditation Exam. Further tests earn the ratings of Registered Instructor, Certified Instructor, Senior Instructor, or Master Instructor in the various disciplines of Free Skating, Figures, Ice Dance, Free Dance, Pair Skating, Group Instruction, Program Director, Synchronized Team, Choreography, or Moves in the Field. A coach must earn 28 continuing education credits every three years in order to maintain an active rating. Coaches who take skaters to qualifying competitions must be PSA members, but no coach is required to take ratings exams.
The Professional Skaters Association also assigns Rankings to coaches, based on the performance of their students. There are 10 levels, ranging from Level 1 coaches who take skaters to non-qualifying competitions, through Level 10 coaches who have coached multiple World and/or Olympic Champions. Level 1 coaches must be at least Registered Instructors who are current with their continuing education credits.
