Skip to main content
Add Me To Your Mailing List
HomeOur Coaches

Choosing a Coach

There are many reasons for hiring a private coach, from supplementing group lessons or getting assistance on a difficult skill to beginning to compete more seriously. Private lessons can be a great, beneficial way to help a skater progress in the sport. This guide is meant as a resource to help you find the right coach that fits your needs and outlines what makes a good coach:

Choosing a Coach


Our Coaches

Coaching Requirements


The Southern Wisconsin Figure Skating Club (SWFSC) follows U.S. Figure Skating and Professional Skaters Association coaching requirements to help ensure that we are providing proper instruction and a safe environment for our skaters.  The Club verifies coaching eligibility at annual membership renewal time and for coach participation in SWFSC ice and in U.S. Figure Skating sanctioned tests and competitions.  

What is coaching compliance?
Coach compliance consists of the six requirements listed below for all events, with coaches at qualifying competitions also having the additional requirement of membership with the Professional Skaters Association (PSA):
1. Must be a current full member of U.S. Figure Skating
2. Must successfully pass a background check
3. Must complete the online SafeSport Training program
4. Must have verification of current general liability insurance
5. Must complete four Professional Coach/Choreographer CER courses (four courses, one in each topic area)
6. Agree to the Coaches Code of Ethics
7. Must be a current full PSA member if coaching at qualifying competitions
Coaches must complete these requirements annually by July 1.


Verifying Compliance:
A master compliance report is available to all members by logging onto Members Only.
Click on the SafeSport icon, then on the link, “Download Full Compliance Report.”
This searchable document shows all members that are required to be compliant, along with their status, in addition to any other members who are completing compliance requirements for volunteer or leadership roles.

Coaches will appear as “Compliant” in the Coach box once they have met all six of the above requirements.

Associate Coaches: Coaches who belong to USFS as either an individual member or as a member of another USFS Club, are welcome to teach on SWFSC ice if they are current members of USFS, have proof of Liability Insurance, Safe Sport Coach's Certification and completed current annual Background Check.  This information must be presented to the Club President/ or Club Safe Sport Chair, prior to teaching on Club Ice. Visiting coaches can have five free days on club ice before we impose a $5 daily fee or request associate coach membership.


Certified Instructors are eligible to teach on SWFSC Ice with proof of Liability Insurance, current Instructor Certification, which includes Background Check for those 18 and older, Safe Sport Certification and Club approval.  More information on coaching requirements is available from U.S. Figure Skating's Coaches and U.S. Figure Skating Information for Clubs sites.  usfigureskating.org  

Note: Coaches must meet current eligibility requirements 2021-2022 Coaching Requirements Chart in order  to participate in a SWFSC sanctioned event or test session.  If a coach does not meet the requirements in time for a sanctioned event held by the SWFSC, we will inform the coach of their ineligibility and ask that the coach leave all coaching areas of the event.

Coach Requirements Chart
 
PSA CER Information for Coaches

Interested in Coaching Learn to Skate?

We are looking for Senior and Junior coaches for our program!

Senior coaches are professional coaches with previous group lesson experience and a coaching membership with Learn to Skate USA.

Junior coaches are high school/college age skaters who are interested in starting their coaching career as interns with little or no coaching experience and a coaching membership with Learn to Skate USA is also required. 

Please contact Katelyn Nieh, our skating school director, at SouthernWisconsinSkatingSchool@gmail.com and ask for the Learn to Skate coaching form.

Thank you for your interest!