Just wanted to give an update, since I asked for advice about Group ratings. I passed the Registered Group oral exam! So excited and relieved! Also passed the exam for the Hockey Skating 1 accreditation.

This is my first time attending the PSA Conference, it was an interesting experience. I'm glad it's over now, this was a long week since I had to come in early for the oral exam.

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Congratulations!!!!!!!!

Congrats!

I'd love to take some of my oral ratings someday, but they just seem so darn intimidating. How was the overall experience for you? Was it better/worse/about what you expected?

FWIW, I feel the same way about the oral ratings. I trip over my own tongue as it is.

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Thanks everyone! I'm just relieved it's over.

CoachPA The overall experience was stressful but at the same time not quite as bad as I thought it would be. I didn't attend PACE (financial reasons) or talk to a Master rated group coach. For the Registered level I felt like I knew everything covered in the study guide.

Even though I was confident I had the knowledge, I was very nervous because I wasn't sure what to expect in the exam. So I ended up being very visibly nervous, and at one point they had to pause the exam so I could get myself together. The examiners are very encouraging though. They do want to see you pass.

They definitely want you to be confident in your presentation. Organize your thoughts (practice ahead of time how to answer the questions). Be brief and concise in your reponses (bullet point format). If the examiners need more information, they will ask very leading follow-up questions.

They pretty much stuck to the sample questions listed in the study guide. For the Skills section, they asked me about falling & getting up, forward 3-turns, two-foot spin, forward & backward skating, and forward edges. Definitely know about traffic patterns and how to keep all skaters in the group moving during class, and know about safety procedures and have a plan for how you would handle an injury on-ice during class (they do prefer that you be first aid certified -- but I'm not at the moment).

Overall, it's really not that hard. I just wish I had controlled my nerves a little better. I'm not too good at "performance" tests (on or off-ice). I prefer written exams.

Congrats!!!!!!!!!

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You miss 100% of the shots you never take.--Wayne Gretzky