Sunday, May 29, 2005
PSA Conference! Please share!
Please share what you learned at the 2005 PSA Coaches Conference!
# posted @ 4:41 PM 
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Well, I thought there was a lot of emphasis on the coach's responsibility, the coach's strategy, the coach's accountability to parents etc. It seems like the new system still allows for judges to collude, make majors errors etc., has many "gray" areas, but prints out a report that points all fingers at the coach.
Ted Barton would say over and over to the coaches that they need to do this and they need to do that, but the vague areas are disturbing. For example, it's the coach's responsibility to make sure the rockers and counters are "clear", not the judges or tech panel to make sure they identified it correctly. It should be everyone's responsibility.
It just seems like this system has an umbrella for everyone but hangs the coach out to dry. One of them said, "the coaches are the ones who get paid, they are the ones who need to take responsibility." If that is true, why the heck are the coaches the last ones being trained?!?!? I think we should have had a year's start on the training so that now that we have the responsibility, we would be ahead of the curve. This is very unfair and not in the best interests of the skaters to have the judges know more than their coaches and themsleves. Coaches should have had training all along just like the judges have.
Ted Barton would say over and over to the coaches that they need to do this and they need to do that, but the vague areas are disturbing. For example, it's the coach's responsibility to make sure the rockers and counters are "clear", not the judges or tech panel to make sure they identified it correctly. It should be everyone's responsibility.
It just seems like this system has an umbrella for everyone but hangs the coach out to dry. One of them said, "the coaches are the ones who get paid, they are the ones who need to take responsibility." If that is true, why the heck are the coaches the last ones being trained?!?!? I think we should have had a year's start on the training so that now that we have the responsibility, we would be ahead of the curve. This is very unfair and not in the best interests of the skaters to have the judges know more than their coaches and themsleves. Coaches should have had training all along just like the judges have.
# posted by 
: 6:07 AM
: 6:07 AM
I agree it is somewhat of an anamoly as to what the judges are looking for. I have considered going to judging school to find out what they are asked to look for to know what to put into my programs.
This years conference (2006) I think was eye-opening and actual training for the new system, from choreography to getting better quality elements - I have also found the judges (and more experienced coaches) more open and willing to share their technique and knowledge than ever before.
One thing to remember (even if it is only 98% applicable) is we are all doing the best job we know how - if we continue in this vein -this sport will continue to be the cream of all sports.
Skating is truly a village sport - it takes all of us - parents, coaches, judges, and fellow skaters to build not only a good person but also an athlete.
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This years conference (2006) I think was eye-opening and actual training for the new system, from choreography to getting better quality elements - I have also found the judges (and more experienced coaches) more open and willing to share their technique and knowledge than ever before.
One thing to remember (even if it is only 98% applicable) is we are all doing the best job we know how - if we continue in this vein -this sport will continue to be the cream of all sports.
Skating is truly a village sport - it takes all of us - parents, coaches, judges, and fellow skaters to build not only a good person but also an athlete.
# posted by : 6:49 AM
: 6:49 AM << Home
