The short answer is that the PSA or Professional Skaters Association is the “official” organization that offers training and accreditation to skating coaches to both U.S. Figure Skating and the Ice Skating Institute.
Accreditation is given out in two forms: ratings and rankings.
Ratings are tests that the coaches can take to prove themselves capable of teaching in a particular area of ice skating. Ratings are offered in the following areas: Free Skating, Figures, Pairs, Dance, Group, Program Director, Synchronized Team, Free Dance, Choreography and Moves in the Field.
Each rating has four levels of achievement: Registered, Certified, Senior and Master levels.
Tests consist of written and oral portions. Once the rating is achieved, the coach has to maintain the rating by doing continuing education credits at PSA events.
Coaches also have to do credits (and background checks) annually to be in compliance with U.S. Figure Skating which allows them to put skaters on the ice at sanctioned events like test sessions and competitions.
Rankings are earned by coaches based on their skater’s accomplishments. Most coaches would be Level I ranked as long as they are a member, take the entry-level tests and pay the $35 bucks. Level X coaches have multiple World or Olympic champions. These coaches are rare as you might imagine. (They don’t charge a fee for that test.)
Are you still with me? That is all the technical, I promise.
Here comes the commentary.
Is the PSA with all its tests and exams really important to us parents? The answer is NO… and yes.
The PSA does have some value. Coaches who are passionate about coaching will have a venue to learn (hopefully) more about their chosen field. In theory, these coaches will also have access to other coaches who might be able to teach them new techniques. They will attend seminars on various subjects that will (hopefully) make them better coaches. A coach who achieves a Master rating in their chosen area should be able to teach that area to the highest level without question.
So that’s reassuring, right? Not so fast!
The problem is that all this education, continuing education, and maintaining of ratings costs money. Lots of money. Not only do coaches have to pay for the tests and memberships, there is also the travel and hotel expenses. Additionally, the time it takes to go to PSA events means student lessons get canceled and lost revenue. (Sounds like kind of a racket, right?)
A coach who is able to have more students either because they live in a heavily populated area or teach learn to skate (which gives them access to more skaters) is able to make more money and pay for this stuff. A coach that also has to work a full-time “real” job in order to get benefits and only coaches in the evenings and weekends might have the money but doesn’t have the time to study or the vacation days to go to the conferences.
Sometimes that coach who teaches learn to skate and gets all the little kids for private lessons doesn’t have the ability to do anything else. She made some poor decisions and now she is stuck as a coach which might not have been her real passion. That coach who has the day job is the responsible adult who has skills to do something else. She has passion for coaching but wants to live within her means and not with her parents. Who is the better role model for your child?
A tale of three coaches
I once met a double master-rated coach who was a complete and utter witch. Haughty and rude are the two best words to describe her. Sure, she could teach my skater up to her senior moves in the field but do I really want my kid spending time with this horrible person? Not on your life!
I met another coach with a higher ranking than all the other coaches at the rink because she was the primary coach of a skater who made it to Nationals… 10 years ago. Only one skater. Ever. The coach has never been able to duplicate whatever it was that enabled that skater to get so far. She can afford to maintain the ranking because other parents brought their skaters to her hoping for the same national success. This coach has the rating, the ranking, but not a proven track record of success. At this point, this coach’s achievement actually looks like a fluke. There is no guarantee that she can take my skater to the top of the podium but she would have you believe she can. And if she doesn’t, it isn’t her fault. (Just ask her!)
The third coach doesn’t have any ratings or rankings. She still had two skaters get through their senior moves in the last month. She is kind, professional and a role model. She has a natural ability to connect with skaters. She pushes when the skater needs pushing. She is supportive when necessary and she communicates at an age-appropriate level. She doesn’t have the resources to maintain a rating or ranking at the moment but could have them without question otherwise. Personally, this is the coach I would want for my child.
So the moral of the story is…
Just because a coach has a master rating in Free Skating and a level 4 ranking doesn’t mean they are they right person to coach your skater. These certifications or achievements don’t mean that they will coach your skater to the international stage. Finding the right coach is a tough balance between coach, parent and skater.
- Is the coach able to communicate with the skater on their level?
- Can the coach translate the skating concepts to your child?
- Does your child need a strict coach or a “mom” personality?
- Is the coach able to communicate with the parent?
- Do you need a lot of hand holding as a parent?
- Are you the type of parent that needs to know everything or do you want to leave everything to the coach?
- Is the coach able to design a training program that fits your skater’s needs, level, goals and schedule?
Once you figure these things out is when you are more likely to find that coach that works best for your family. You will be able to rule out certain personalities fairly quickly. You will be able to communicate to a coach what you need from them and what is expected for your skater.
In the end, it doesn’t matter what a coach is rated or ranked as long as he or she can teach your skater correct technique and communicate with you as a family at the level you need.