FEEDBACK FROM THE NISA LICENSED COACHES FORUM

FEEDBACK FROM THE NISA LICENSED COACHES FORUM HELD DURING THE BRITISIH CHAMPIONSHIPS - 9TH - 10TH JANUARY 2008

The NISA staff and Directors were very pleased to meet with over 50 of the NISA Licensed coaches during the recent British Championships. The event was held over 2 days to allow as many of our licensed coaches as possible to attend. The NISA staff and Board were represented by Simon Briggs, Coaching Director, Alan Seabrook, Development Director and Vice Chairman, Liz Littler, Judges and Officials Director, Keith Horton, General Secretary., Phillippa Teague, Sports Development with responsibility for NISA Licensed coaches development. Apologies were received from Karen Archer, Performance Director, due to a bereavement and work commitments.

Topics discussed were as follows: and wherever possible I have indicated actions that have been taken following the meeting:

Squad criteria

o It was agreed that NISA would, along with our senior coaches, review the requirement for squad criteria particularly the need for both points and element requirements to join the squad
o It was also agreed that NISA would review the start date of the squad and when new athletes are brought onto the squad during the season. At the moment the squad starts on 1st October however it was generally felt that it would be more conducive to skater development if the squad was to start in May/June just ahead of the competitive season. A meeting with senior coaches is currently in the process of being arranged.

CRB certificates

o Following a show of hands it was apparent that over 50% of our coaches do not have CRB certificates. In the main it is coaches from Local Authority operated rinks and our 2 National Ice Centres that have CRB certificates. Whilst these certificates have been issued by the respective ice rinks/arenas, if a coach were to move to a different ice rink, in a different geographical area, there would be a need for them to re-apply for another CRB.
o It was agreed that NISA should explore the possibility of becoming an umbrella organization and therefore issuing CRB certificates to all our Licensed coaches of part of their license revalidation. Certificates would last for 3 years and whilst it is recognized that would be an expense to obtain these certificates, Keith Horton agreed to look at the possibility of NISA funding the application, in the first instance, and then spreading the cost to the coaches over the 3 year period.

o The conscensus of the meeting was that skaters should be appointed to the squad as soon as they achieve the required number of points.

Child Protection Training

o It was generally agreed that NISA should offer more Child Protection Training opportunities

Skating Camps

o Everyone present wanted to see more Training Camps organized and also the ones that are currently delivered by individual rinks/coaches, better co-ordinated. This should be a role that NISA facilitates on behalf of the industry.

Public Liability insurance

o Many coaches take advantage of the Public Liability Insurance cover offered by NISA, however, concern was expressed that they did not fully understand the cover available.
o It was agreed that copies of the insurance policy should be placed on the website.

Accident procedures

o Many coaches were not aware of the requirements for accident reporting and the need to keep an accident book. Records need to be kept for a minimum of 14 years and it is important that coaches do retain their own accident book in case of future claims. It was generally felt that it is not appropriate to rely solely on the rink accident book.

Competitions

o A number of coaches expressed the wish to see the British Championships return to a date in early December. Keith Horton explained that NISA had an established timetable of events that have operated for the last 2 years that allows skaters to compete in 3 IJS competitions ahead of the British and also to allow sufficient time for NISA to organize the International Junior Grand Prix in October. If we were to move the British back to December, it is logistically impossible to organise 3 full IJS events between August and November whilst at the same time organising the Junior Grand Prix. One suggestion was to hold an IJS Singles and Pairs event in March/April with an IJS Dance only event early November.
o Concern was expressed that any IJS in March/April would not be able to take account of any IJS rule changes introduced by the ISU post July. However, it was agreed to explore the possibility with the NIC of moving the 2008/09 Championship from January to December (2008).
o It was also suggested that one method of reducing the number of days of IJS competitions would be to reduce or remove the amount of practice time available to skaters. We would welcome views from coaches as to this suggestion.

Update

o Following discussions with the NIC, all available dates in December are already committed to other concerts/events. NISA is contracted with the NIC for delivery of the British Championships during this forthcoming season however, we will revisit the date of the British Championships for the 2009/10 season when the event will be hosted by iceSheffield.

Rink Information boards

o It was generally agreed that NISA should make available to rinks posters that show all NISA licenced coaches along with their qualifications. Keith Horton agreed to look at this for introduction in 2008 following the issue of new licences from 1st March2008.

I think I have covered all of the areas of discussion however, if any of the coaches present feel something has been missed, please send an email to keith.horton@iceskating.org.uk and I will happily change the announcement.

31st January 2008
Keith Horton