Coach

U.S. Figure Skating Coach I.C.E.

Female coach helping a young female athlete with a spiral U.S. Figure Skating will soon launch a coach education, certification and development program, U.S. Figure Skating Coach I.C.E., for Inspiring Coaching Excellence.

The integration of coaches into U.S. Figure Skating, as members of Coach I.C.E., will be a key component in growing the sport by requiring that coaches are active, engaged partners of U.S. Figure Skating. Coach I.C.E., will include a Coaches Council for governance and a headquarters team that will focus on implementing coach education, certification and development.

Key Timeline:

Starting February 2024: Members can log onto Members Only, and click “U.S. Figure Skating Coach” to complete the U.S. Figure Skating Core Coach Certification course. It must be completed no later than June 30, 2024.
Starting June 2024: After you have completed step 1 and joined U.S. Figure Skating as a club or individual, purchase “U.S. Figure Skating Coach I.C.E.”
By July 1, 2024: From your new Coach I.C.E. profile, complete any remaining coach compliance requirements, such as your background check, SkateSafe training, insurance and waivers.
After July 1, 2024: From your Coach I.C.E. profile, coaches can participate in any learning activities you wish, take courses, etc. These will count towards your CEUs that keep your certification/accreditation active.

Educational opportunities and activities will be available in a limited capacity beginning in the spring of 2024.

Become a Learn to Skate USA® Instructor

A common step in becoming a figure skating coach is to join Learn to Skate USA® as an instructor and work with your local Learn to Skate USA® program to introduce new skaters to the ice. Each program has its own coaching requirements, but basic requirements set forth by Learn to Skate USA® include a Learn to Skate USA® instructor membership, background check and completion of the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s online SafeSport™ Training for all instructors over the age of 18. All Learn to Skate USA® instructors 17 and younger must have a Learn to Skate USA® instructor membership and must take the instructor certification course and exam.

Become a Learn to Skate USA® Instructor

Become a U.S. Figure Skating Coach

(Beginning Feb. 2024)

All coaches and those interested in becoming a coach must start by completing the U.S. Figure Skating Core Certified Coach course, available through Members Only. This core course provides all of the fundamentals needed to become a coach. After earning the core certification, coaches are eligible to join U.S. Figure Skating Coach I.C.E., the program for the education, development, and certification of coaches (beginning July 1, 2024). Beginning with the 2024-25 season, in order to coach at sanctioned events, all coaches must complete the core certification and join U.S. Figure Skating Coach I.C.E.

In addition to those professional requirements, coaches must also complete a background check, complete training through the U.S. Center for SafeSport and have coaches liability insurance. All will be available through the Coach I.C.E. portal.

Education

As U.S. Figure Skating transitions to delivering coaches certification, development and education during the 203-24 season, we are committed to providing robust educational opportunities for all certified U.S Figure Skating coaches through the Coach I.C.E. (Inspiring Coach Excellence) program, which will officially launch on July 1, 2024.

All coaches will first earn a Coach Core certification, available beginning February 2024. Beginning, with the 2024-25 season, all coaches wishing to coach at sanctioned U.S. Figure Skating events must join Coach I.C.E.

Educational opportunities will be posted on this website and will consist of programs such as:

In-person education opportunities
eLearning
Virtual learning via workshops, webinars and seminars
Networking and communications
Opportunities to earn higher accreditation levels

Starr Andrews sits with her coaches in the kiss and cry and reacts to her score with a big smile on her face

Rules and Rule Changes

One of the key responsibilities of a coach is to guide their students’ skating programs and skill progression to ensure that they are both satisfying the rules for competition and test entry, for the content of their programs, as well as maximizing and showcasing their strengths for maximum success.

Coaches should be familiar with the following:

U.S. Figure Skating Rulebook
Appropriate handbooks or rules for any events or series their athletes participate in:
Competition Requirements
Singles Skating – Skating Rules and Technical Information
Pairs Skating – Skating Rules and Technical Information
Ice Dance – Skating Rules and Technical Information
Synchronized Skating – Skating Rules and Technical Information
Adult Skating – Skating Rules and Technical Information
Technical Notifications (updates to rules; updated every Thursday)
Test Forms (for understanding the expectations of tests)

Coach Development Pathway

U.S. Figure Skating is committed to providing coach development pathway for all certified U.S. Figure Skating coaches through the Coach I.C.E. (Inspiring Coach Excellence) program. After earning their core certification, all coaches wishing to coach at sanctioned U.S. Figure Skating events must join Coach I.C.E.

U.S. Figure Skating coaches participate in professional development by earning increasingly higher level certifications and keeping those certifications active through Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Step 1

All coaches start by taking the U.S. Figure Skating Core Coach Certification, to become certified coaches. This online module is designed to teach coaches the core fundamentals of everything they need to know about coaching, including understanding the process, coach and athlete well-being, coaching best practices, coaching essential fundamentals, and general technique concepts.

Once a coach passes this core certification, they are eligible to join Coach I.C.E. and coach at sanctioned events.

Step 2

After completing the U.S. Figure Skating Core Coach Certification, coaches join Coach I.C.E., to open access to education and a development pathway. Annually, to keep their certification active, they must complete CEUs of their choice. Options include all the education opportunities, including in-person seminars, eLearning courses and virtual webinars and seminars, as well as earning an appointment as a test judge or technical specialist. All virtual options will be included in the Coach I.C.E. member package.

Step 3

Coaches are encouraged to pursue higher levels of certification within the Coach I.C.E. program:

Certifications will be offered in multiple disciplines including singles, pairs, ice dance, synchronized skating and specialty areas such as choreography, skating skills, theatre on ice and Learn to Skate USA.

All coaches who previously held an active rating through the Professional Skaters Association (PSA), will be welcomed to U.S. Figure Skating Coach I.C.E., and granted a certification at their parallel level, after having completed the U.S. Figure Skating Core Certification. Coaches that have a rating that is no longer active may re-activate it by taking the Core Certification and an online refresher course.

U.S. Figure Skating Certified Coach – Level 1
U.S. Figure Skating Certified Coach – Level 2
U.S. Figure Skating Certified Coach – Senior
U.S. Figure Skating Certified Coach – Master

Resources

U.S. Figure Skating encourages a culture of actively engaged learning, through not only the coach development pathway and education, but through various methods. Check back for coaching articles and tips!

Coaching Leadership

The U.S. Figure Skating Coaches Council consists of 27 coach members, including a chair and leadership team of six vice chairs. The council reflects the broad experiences of the coaching community within U.S. Figure Skating, including coaching at all levels, from Learn to Skate USA, through high performance development, national and international, as well as all skating disciplines and programs.

The current council was appointed by the U.S. Figure Skating Board of Directors and will hold office until May 2025, at which time, all certified U.S. Figure Skating coaches with active Coach I.C.E., memberships will elect a council.

The Coaches Council acts as a repository of knowledge and ideas of coach members, facilitates and supports the appointments of coach members on all U.S. Figure Skating committees, serves as an advisory group and partner with the appropriate U.S. Figure Skating staff departments to develop strategy for coach certification, education and development and provides input into athlete development strategies. Finally, members will serve as delegates representing coaches at the annual Governing Council meeting.