Skating Association of Maine Coaches Credentials Policy May 2012

Transcription

1 May 2012 Introduction The Skating Association of Maine is dedicated to assisting skaters in achieving their ice skating goals by providing quality instructional programs in safe, secure, and fun environments. Highly skilled skating professionals are a crucial component of any successful skating program and organization. This document outlines the Skating Association of Maine s policies for contracting with coaches or accepting the volunteer services of individuals wishing to coach in SAM programs or on SAM ice. Generally, when accepting the services of a coach or volunteer, each SAM program will give priority to similarly qualified coaches or volunteers who are SAM members, followed by non-sam members. This Coaches Credentials Guide is designed to supplement the new United States Figure Skating (USFS) coaches registration policy. When applicable, the USFS policy will have precedence. Core Instructor Requirements Whether coaching groups in our Basic Skills program or individuals in private lessons on a fee or volunteer basis, individuals wishing to be sanctioned by SAM as an instructor must: o Be 18 years of age and a high school graduate Complete an instructor application Have documented work experience and skating credentials consistent with the desired coaching position/privileges Have employer and personal references verify or support: o Positive and reliable work ethic, o Ability to work with others children, parents, co-workers, the Skating Director and SAM Officers and volunteers, o Professional attitudes and ethical/moral beliefs, and Page 1 of 7

2 o Respectful and positive attitudes toward children and coaching that have the physical and emotional well-being of students as paramount; Have a criminal background check that reveals no crimes against children for child maltreatment or other behaviors that could place children or others at risk. The Skating Association of Maine requires instructors successfully pass a USFS criminal background check. If it is not possible for the background check to be done through USFS, then an alternative criminal background check may be accepted. Have no unresolved grievances or complaints according to liability insurance companies, USFS, PSA, and other relevant organizations. Skating Association of Maine coaches agree to: Abide by the Professional Skaters Association Code of Ethics (Appendix 1) and Tenets of Professionalism (Appendix 2) Engages in at least three continuing education requirements (CER) annually to stay current with instructional methods and further instructing skills, such as o PSA, USFS, or ISI sponsored seminars o Skating Association of Maine instructor workshops o Other relevant training opportunities including, but not limited to: First Aid/CPR training, sports medicine, Off-ice conditioning instruction, teaching methods and techniques. Complete an instructor contract that specifies Instructors and SAM expectations, commitments, and responsibilities and coaching privileges. Have instructor credentials updated and verified bi-annually; Promote a positive and supportive atmosphere among instructors, skaters, parents, association, and rink employees. Exceptions: Individuals may petition the SAM Coaches Credentialing Committee to have particular credentialing criteria waved due to good cause. Basic Skills Instructor Requirements In addition to meeting the Core Coaching Requirements listed above, individuals wishing to be sanctioned by SAM as a Basic Skills Coach must also meet the requirements of at least one of the following levels: Basic Skills Group Instructor I Requirements Qualified to teach Snowplow Sam through Basic Skills Basic 4 and Adults 1-2 Page 2 of 7

3 o Must have completed Freestyle 2and/or have passed the Pre-Preliminary moves in the field /or Preliminary Dance and/or equal certification from another program (ISI, Hockey). o Must have a minimum of 18 hours (1 hour = 50 minutes or > of instruction time) of group teaching experience, verified; Skating Snowplow Sam through Basic Skills 6 or ISI Tot through Delta, or other ISU organization member equivalent program. o Must have completed a U.S. Figure Skating approved Basic Skills educational program or similarly credentialed program. o Must be BASIC SKILLS members of USFS. o Must have completed CER C s o Will not have assistants/assistant instructors/junior instructors in their classes. Basic Skills Group Instructor II Requirements Qualified to teach Snowplow Sam through Basic Skills Basic 8 and Adults 1-3. o Must have completed Basic Skills Free Skating 1-6 Levels and/or have passed Preliminary MIF & Free Skating Tests and or Pre Bronze Dance and or equal certification from another program. o Must have a minimum of 36 hours (1 hour = 50 minutes or > of instruction time) of group teaching experience, verified; Skating Snowplow Sam through Basic Skills Freestyle and/or or ISI Tot through Freestyle 3and/ or other ISU organization member equivalent program and/or equal experience in another certified program. educational program or similarly credentialed program. o Must have completed CER C s: Must be BASIC SKILLS members of USFS. Basic Skills Group Instructor III Requirements Qualified to teach Snowplow Sam through Basic Skills 1-8, Adults 1-3 and one or more of the relevant specialties listed below. o Must have completed one of the disciplines of freestyle, dance or hockey requirements below o Must have a minimum of 54 hours (1 hour = 50 minutes or > of instruction time) of group teaching experience, verified; Skating Snowplow Sam through Basic Skills 8 and through your chosen discipline. educational program or similarly credentialed program. Page 3 of 7

4 o Must have completed CERC s: Must be BASIC SKILLS members of USFS Freestyle 1-6 and Adults 4 o Must have completed Basic Free Skating 1-6 levels and have passed prejuvenile MIF and Free Skating Tests. Skating through Freestyle 6; or ISI tot through Freestyle 6; or other ISU organization member equivalent program. Basic Skills Hockey 1-4 o Basic Skills Hockey Instructor I requirements qualified to teach Basic Hockey 1: o Basic Skills Instructor I, understanding of hockey and relevant skills; o Relevant experience (e.g., has played hockey, is or has been mentored in teaching Basic Skills Hockey). o Basic Skills Hockey Instructor II requirements qualified to teach Basic Hockey 2-4 o Basic Skill Instructor II and understanding of hockey and relevant skills; o Has attended a hockey instructors clinic. Basic Skills Dance 1-6 and Adult 4 o Basic Skills Dance Instructor I Requirements - Qualified to teach Dance 1-3. o Must have completed passed all three of the Preliminary Dance tests; o Must have a minimum of 18 hours of group teaching experience, verified; Skating Snowplow Sam through Basic Skills - Dance 3; or other ISU organization member equivalent program; educational program or similarly credentialed program; o Must have completed CER C s: Must be a Basic Skills member of USFS. o Basic Skills Dance Instructor II Requirements - Qualified to teach Dance 1-6. o Must have passed all three of the Pre-Bronze Dance tests; o Must have a minimum of 36 hours of group teaching experience, verified. Skating Snowplow Sam through Basic skills - Dance 6; or other ISU organization member equivalent program; Page 4 of 7

5 Specialty Classes Skating Association of Maine educational program or similarly credentialed program; o Must have completed three CERs: (1)Class Organization and Management, (2)Basic Skating Skills, Teaching Techniques and Evaluation, (3)Growth and Retention of Members o Must be a Basic Skills member of USFS. Basic Skill Instructor III and relevant experience (e.g., AIM, Synchro, Stroking, music, choreography etc.) Directors, Assistants Directors and Mentors Directors must be a SAM Level III instructor with a minimum of six years of experience. Assistant Directors/Mentors must be a SAM Level III instructor with a minimum of four years of experience. Extensive Skating Background or understanding of the program Strong interpersonal skills Experience designing and overseeing program operations Strong administrative and organizational skills Able to promote, market and attract people to the program Excellent customer service skills Must be a Skating Club of Maine Member Private Coaches In addition to meeting the Core Instructor Requirements listed above, individuals wishing to be recognized by SAM as a U.S. Figure Skating Test and Competition Coach must also meet the requirements as described below: Basic Skills Group Instructor level credentials that are appropriate to the Basic Skills private students test level; Coaches instructing skaters who have advanced beyond Basic Skills have credentials that, at a minimum, are at the Basic Skills Instructor III level, and exceed the skater s test level by at least two test levels; Continuing education through on-ice and off-ice lessons classes or seminars which is designed to improve teaching techniques develop training programs, tests and competition preparation, appropriate student and parental interaction, and so forth; Private Coaches must be full USFS members and carry personal liability insurance to teach on SAM ice. Page 5 of 7

6 Private Coaches must support the Association through having private students skating on SAM ice or by purchasing SAM ice for themselves on a continuous basis. Junior Coaches 3 Junior Coaches maximum per program Junior Instructors MUST be at least16years of age (when application is submitted) or older and in high school or equivalent education program and members of the Skating Association of Maine. Junior Instructors who meet Basic Skills Instructor qualifications I, II, or III may be assigned a class by the program s Skating Director. Applications are due by the 1 st Saturday of September. Applications for applicants who turn 16 after the deadline will be reviewed based on openings in the program Any instruction by a Junior Instructor will be conducted as part of a training program that includes some direct supervision and feedback and mentoring from the region s Skating Director or other mentoring coach. Junior Instructors may not teach private lessons. Junior coaches: Must meet appropriate Basic Skills Instructor qualifications if they instruct a Basic Skills class Must have a written reference from a Director of a program they participated in the previous year Must have a minimum of 15 hours of Assistant Instructor experience in the season immediately prior to becoming a Jr. Instructor. Example each program offers a minimum of 18 weeks of Basic Skill Classes, the applicant must have volunteered in 15 classes of the last Basic Skills Season at their rink in order to apply for a Jr. Instructor position. This experience must cover assisting at the Snowplow Sam level through basic eight; Must have attended a USFS approved educational program or similarly credentialed program. Must have completed CERC s: Assistants, Assistant Instructors, and Ice monitors 2 Assistant Instructors maximum per program if the maximum number of Jr Instructors is not utilized the one additional Assistant Instructor may be added. Assistants will be utilized on a rotating schedule Assistants, Assistant Instructors and Ice monitors may be appointed at the discretion of the skating directors after approval of the coaches credentialing committee. They must apply to the SAM coaches credentialing committee for acceptance into the Instructor program. Page 6 of 7

7 Ice monitors must be 18 years or older and have a minimum of one year s instructor experience. Assistants must be at least 14 years old or older at the start of season. Assistant Instructors must be 15 years of age at the start of the season and have a minimum of 18 hours as a SAM assistant. Assistants and Assistant Instructors must be SAM members. Must have attended a USFS approved educational program or similarly credentialed program. Must have passed USFS Basic Skills Learn to Skate test. Must have completed Basic Skills through Basic 8. Assistant Instructors may work directly with a SAM Instructor to develop coaching skills. The SAM instructor would allow the assistant instructor to participate in teaching sections of the class under their guidance. Assistant Instructors may work under an adult as an ice monitor. A SAM Instructor will not be assigned more than one assistants with the exception of Snowplow Sam two assistants may be assigned if needed. Assistants will be rotated through duties assigned by the Director on an off the ice. Assistants may not teach classes. They may assist coaches by demonstrating, skating with skaters who skate slowly, and helping with other tasks as requested by the Coach for the class or the Skating Director. They cannot at any time teach students or guide them on their own. Assistants, Assistant Instructors will be included in a training program that involves direct supervision, mentoring, and feedback from the region s Skating Director or other mentoring Instructors. Assistant Instructors should, whenever possible, be given the opportunity to work under multiple coaches and with Snowplow Sam through the Basic Eight Level. Requests for waivers to credential may be made to the Coaches credentialing committee. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Written Document Originated Dated: October 2008 Updated: December 2009 Updated: April 2010 Updated: September 2010 Updated: July 7, 2011 Update: November 2011 Updated: March 2012 Updated: May 2012 Page 7 of 7