Introduction
Whether you are an arena manager or director, a coaching member of the Professional Skaters Association, or just the parent of a figure skater, you have the right to expect that those with whom you have a working relationship will act in a professional manner. In fact, from a manager or parent’s perspective, the minimum standard expectation should be that hiring a coaching member of the PSA will provide you with a qualified, well-educated, and ethical coach. The links on this webpage serve as an educational resource regarding professional standards and the many issues and obstacles facing our industry today.
Professional Standards
These professional standards provide a framework for the conduct that is expected of each PSA member. These standards are the foundational principles, standards, and moral and ethical expectations for PSA members. As part of these professional standards, all PSA members are expected to abide by, engage in, and support, the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s and U.S. Figure Skating’s policies and codes of conduct. PSA members understand the importance of honorable behavior and respect those in their training environments accordingly.
Members of PSA strive to help each skater realize their full potential as an athlete and individual. Therefore, as PSA member coaches we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards including honesty, integrity, respect, and transparency in our professional relationships and activities; development of professional/coaching competence through a commitment to skill enhancement and continual learning; promotion of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in our programs and throughout the skating experience; and strict adherence to legal standards and governing body requirements.
As a PSA member, you agree to accept the following professional principles and standards:
Abide by the U.S. Center for SafeSport Code
Abide by U.S. Figure Skating’s standards and respect their policies
Abide by U.S. Figure Skating’s Code of Conduct
Abide by and recognize disciplinary action by ISU and foreign figure skating federations
Abide by all local, state, federal, and international laws
It is your responsibility as a PSA member to self-report to PSA any criminal charge filed against you or any grievance or disciplinary proceeding initiated against you by any other skating governing body including, but not limited to, U.S. Figure Skating, ISU, or any foreign skating body.
Grievances
The integrity of the PSA and its membership is very important to us. In 1953, the Board of Governors established the Grievance Committee. This committee was developed in order to hear the complaints, problems, etc., of a coach or rink and then act promptly and effectively.
As of May 24, 2021, PSA is no longer accepting grievances. Grievances should be filed with U.S. Figure Skating, U.S. Center for SafeSport, or ISU.
If the victim is a minor, a report should also be made to the appropriate local authority, i.e., child protective services. Additionally, members of PSA and U.S. Figure Skating are required by federal law to report sexual misconduct to the U.S. Center for SafeSport.