WASA Minutes 10/14/2009

Attending: Jan Calnan, Canada; Claire Ginocchio, France; Andrea Cooper, USA, Lee Jones, USA; Nicolas Verite, France; Michael Wadson, United Kingdom, Moderator: Andrea Cooper

The group adopted a name today that resulted between the creative efforts of both England and Canada. From this point on the group will refer to itself as: WASA, World Adult Skating Association

Federations:
US asked Canada and England to give a more in depth explanation about the relationship between, in the case of Canada, Skate Canada and Sport Canada, and in the case of England, NISA and Sport England:

England explained that the relationship between NISA and Sport England was lose with NISA focusing upon elite and Olympic development, while Sport England was the overseer of the coaching and ethical standards. It was noted that all sports vet and certify their coaches through Sport England. It was explained that NISA and Sport England answer to one another to a certain extent. It was also noted that the UK has a Department of Culture, Media, and Sport, which is a government entity and provides funding for various sports.

Canada explained that the relationship between Skate Canada and Sport Canada was very similar to England’s. Canada has a Ministry of Sports that directs Sport Canada. Sport Canada, like Sport England, directs the CAC (coaching association of Canada.) Apparently, there is some government flow of funds from the Ministry down to various sports.

US explained that no such system exists in the United States and that the USFS Federation is responsible to no one, but works as a separate entity in cooperation with the PSA (Professional Skaters Association), STAR (Serving The American Rinks), and ISI (Ice Skating Institute.) Coaching certification is primarily conducted through the PSA. The US has nothing that is equivalent to Sport Canada, or Sport England, and has no government entity that regulates sports in this country. It was noted that the driving force behind any sport in the US is the media.

France joined the call at this point and was asked to outline their skating Federation:

FFSG, Federation Francaise Des Sports De Glace is the figure skating federation in France. Two Adult Skaters serve as representatives for the adult figure skating community within FFSG: Xavier Debernis and Bernard Diedrich. The ISU (International Skating Union) is the parent organization for FFSG. It was noted that FFSG is divided into different committees including Dance, Synchro, and Figure Skating; recently, hockey has been separated out from the FFSG and given its own federation. France also has a Ministry, which distributes funds to various skating clubs based upon merit (there is a bit of a competition structure built into the distribution of funding.)

There is no “Basic Skills/Learn-to-Skate” program in France. Basically, skaters of all ages join a club and select either Ice Dance, or Figure Skating (apparently adult pair skating doesn’t officially exist in France—at least, not yet.) Everyone is then taught on club ice in larger groups of 10-20; sometimes adults are mixed in with kids. However, at some clubs the adults enjoy their own group apart from the children. Private Lessons can only be given on Public Sessions, but of course that is a difficult environment in which to have a private lesson. Unlike Canada there are no “free” public sessions in France.

Canada noted at this point in the conversation that although there are various “free” public sessions in Canada, coaches are not allowed to give private lessons on these public sessions.

One can test either in Dance, or Figure Skating in France. Test for kids skating recreationally, and for kids climbing the ranks exist, but there is no separate testing structure for adults.

Three years ago the first Adult French Cup (adult nationals) was instituted in France. The Adult French Cup is a non-qualifying event, and one among the few competition in France for Adults (no adult sectionals or regionals.)

England also mentioned that all of their adult competitions are non-qualifying, too.

Apparently in Canada, France and the US one needs to be a member of their respective federations in order to compete. In France to be a member of the FFSG one has to be a member of a club. England does not require any such membership of adult skaters by their federation in order to compete. It was suggested that a lot of membership dollars are being lost among adult skaters in this respect, and England said that NISA is slowly waking up to this fact.

Adult Skaters:
The next round of discussion focused upon how adult skaters are regarded in each country by coaches, the general public, and skating moms and dads:

France began the discussion by saying that in France all adult beginning skaters are regarded as adults who just wish to “play” on the ice, and that there is very little perception by the general public that adult skating is, or can be anything more then recreational. France explained that the perception of adults taken as “serious” skaters who regularly practice, test, and, or compete varies in degree from club-to-club and among coaches.
In France and adult skater is considered age 18 and up. Adults are also not expected to be able to jump in France.

Canada reported that there is a good amount of respect for adult skaters and that this is something that has and continues to grow over time; the perception varies among the 16 different sections in Canada. Skate Canada definitely has adult recognition.

US described the USFS as having adult recognition, too. The conversation then moved on to ask more about the general perception from other adults who frequent rinks, such as skating moms and dads. It was noted that in the US the perception from the general public when encountering an adult skater is often that we all have triple jumps and are going to the Olympics! All of the other countries said that they share a similar perception among their general public. It was noted that this misperception is simply a matter of lack of education and media effort. With regard to skating moms and dads in the US the reaction toward an adult skater is one of two extremes: either they are appalled that an adult is trying to do what their kids are doing, and either ignore the adult skater and can often be rude to the adult skater. On the other extreme there are skating moms and dads who have a lot of respect for what we do, are amazed, but for a number of reasons cannot consider skating themselves.

England reported that as of 10 years ago that there wasn’t much acceptance for adult skaters, but that is beginning to change and now adult skaters are enjoying more acceptance in the UK, and don’t carry around as much “stigma” as they did in the past.

As small discussion ensued about TV productions, such as Battle of the Blades, currently airing in Canada; Skating with the Stars in the US; and Dancing on Ice in the UK. France and US mentioned that this was short-lived TV programming similar in both of countries. England noted, again, that there is always an increase of enrollment in their Learn-to-Skate program when these shows air. Canada said that any residual effect from Battle of the Blades has yet to be seen. It is undetermined whether or not these TV programs help the perception of adult skaters among the general public in their respective countries. France noted that Philip Candelaro seems to be the “skating” TV spokesperson in France.

ISU:
US mentioned that they had heard that there was an “Adult Committee” within the ISU and asked if anyone had any information about this?

Canada said that she was aware that there were originally two (2) adult skating representatives from the US, but now only one, since the passing of Paula Smart. The remaining adult skating representative from the US is Rhea Schwartz. Canada has agreed to contact Rhea Schwartz and find out more about how this committee is structured and report back with this information during the next WASA call.

There was some discussion about the controversy among the adult skating communities whether or not Oberstdorf was considered the Adult Worlds. It is divided between those who are very adamant that it is not, because it is not a qualifying competition and hasn’t been sanctioned as thus. The other half of the community is more relaxed about it and enjoys thinking of the Oberstdorf competition as the Adult Worlds.

Questions:
Why are we doing this? The WASA group took the first steps of trying to outline why we are having these international calls and what our purpose is in having them? The group unanimously agreed, and enthusiastically for the second time that these calls should continue.

A few potential goals were tabled:
1. Exploring ways to change the “perception” of Adult Skaters in all countries from the bottom up, or top down, or perhaps both simultaneously.
2. What can be done to promote Adult Skating within Clubs, to the general public, and to a targeted marked of adults who (for whatever reason) are in the rink environment, such as public session adults and skating moms and dads.
3. What can be done to promote Adult Skating as a “Wellness and Fitness” alternative to going to the gym?
4. How can we organize adult skating communities and have more adults serving on federation committees. France noted that they have about 200-300 adult skaters organized on “patinaqeadulte.”

US has agreed to outline what has been done thus far in the US with regard to “community” building among adult skaters during the next call, and this will be included on the agenda.

The next WASA call will take place Wed. Nov. 4th at 12:00noon (US and Canada time) 5:00pm (England time) and 6:00pm (French time.)

Please mark your calendars! Thank you everyone for participating!