Attending First PSA Nationwide Seminar: What to Expect

[CoachPA]

I'm attending my first PSA Nationwide Seminar at the end of this month, and I was hoping that some of you who have attended seminars in the past can clue me in on what to expect.

The seminar schedule has been posted already, so I have an idea about the types of presentations that will be taking place both on and off-ice. (The focus is on the new/revised moves in the field.) Still, I have a few questions:

1. What does a Mock Oral Exam session include? Can I simply sit in or would I be expected to participate? Just trying to get an idea here.

2. How much actual skating is involved in the on-ice portions? Many of the new MIF will be presented here, and I was just wondering if I'd have the opportunity to phsycially learn the moves or if I'd more or less be standing on the ice watching? (There looks like there's about 2.5 hours on-ice.)

3. What is the most appropriate thing to wear? By this I mean should I wear something I can skate in or what I'd usually coach in, or is the attire more formal?

4. Lastly, how do I go about filling out an affidavit for the PSA to get credit for this seminar? Is the affidavit something I'll receive at the seminar or is there a place on the PSA's website to print on out (maybe I'm missing its location)?

And, anything else you feel is important to know is greatly appreciated. Thanks, everyone! :D

[Isk8NYC]

1. What does a Mock Oral Exam session include? Can I simply sit in or would I be expected to participate? Just trying to get an idea here.

I've never seen one, much to my dismay. (Had a chance, but something came up during that time and I couldn't get away.)

Just based on my experience with past PSA workshops, they never want to embarrass anyone, so I think you would have to volunteer to play the role of exam-taker. I'll bet people who are really getting ready to take that exam volunteer so they can be critiqued before spending the exam $$$.

If you choose not to be the guinea pig, you would be allowed to watch. They'd have to have more watchers than exam-takers, right?

2. How much actual skating is involved in the on-ice portions? Many of the new MIF will be presented here, and I was just wondering if I'd have the opportunity to phsycially learn the moves or if I'd more or less be standing on the ice watching? (There looks like there's about 2.5 hours on-ice.)

Entirely up to you - some coaches don't even bring skates, preferring to watch/listen from the boxes. Others wanted to be front-and-center, doing every move themselves. At past workshops, I found that I was just standing around because I wanted to hear the presenter more than I wanted to try the move.

The new moves are really fun, so you might want to plan on skating but play it by ear and take your cue from the others at the conference.


3. What is the most appropriate thing to wear? By this I mean should I wear something I can skate in or what I'd usually coach in, or is the attire more formal?

The attire is usually business casual (stretch chinos and a nice sweater are fine) but I've seen coaches come right from teaching in sweats and no one batted an eye. I try to pick something that I can move in - stretchy dress pants and a turtleneck, for example.

Wear layers, but bring a warm jacket and gloves - sometimes the off-ice rooms are a bit chilly and the on-ice is always cold.

Don't forget to bring hard guards for walking around. A pair of warm shoes or boots are nice, but if the off-ice involves exercise, you'll need sneakers.


4. Lastly, how do I go about filling out an affidavit for the PSA to get credit for this seminar? Is the affidavit something I'll receive at the seminar or is there a place on the PSA's website to print on out (maybe I'm missing its location)?

The affidavit is on the PSA website here: http://www.skatepsa.com/PDF%20Documents/new%20aff.pdf
The will tell you the credits for presentations at the seminar itself. You just fill it out and fax/email a copy to the PSA office.
They usually have a few copies at the seminar, but I usually have mine with me.
No one needs to sign it other than the member - honor policy.

Bring business cards if you have them so you can exchange numbers with other coaches easily.

[Isk8NYC]

You can submit an affidavit for non-PSA seminars as well. For example, ISI seminars, Red Cross First Aid classes, sports training workshops, things like that.

You have to submit a copy of the event's agenda and curriculum with the Affidavit in these cases. The PSA will evaluate them and tell you how many credits they will allow.

This is great for people who are too busy to go to a PSA education event.
(Or can't afford the travel/seminar costs.)

[rsk8d]

Mock Oral Exam: The presenters and some PSA rep coaches act out a mock oral exam. No participation from you required! (unless you want to make yourself really nervous in front of a lot of people :) )

[CoachPA]

Mock Oral Exam: The presenters and some PSA rep coaches act out a mock oral exam. No participation from you required! (unless you want to make yourself really nervous in front of a lot of people :) )

LOL, no thanks! :lol: That's good to know; I'm definitely going to have to sit in on this one. Sounds pretty interesting.

[CoachPA]

Thanks for the input, everyone!

I had an absolutely amazing experience for my first Seminar! I learned so much from the fabulous presenters both on and off the ice, and I was able to skate the new/revised moves in the field on-ice and get a bit more indepth with them during the off-ice presentations. (By the way, the moves aren't all that difficult at all; however, like the presenters emphasized, coaches and skaters are going to need patience when teaching--and learning--them, especially in regards to loops, twizzles, etc.)

Anyway, one of the most important things I took away from this Seminar came from sitting in on a presentation on a Mock Oral Exam. It may have helped that my old coach was one of the "examiners" and she along with the other "examiners" explained everything that basically went on during an actual oral exam start to finish, but the oral exams really didn't seem all that intimidating. (I'd love to hear stories of others experiences with oral ratings though! Please? ;)) I told my old coach how I had been wanting to get my Registered MIF rating and she pretty much told me that I'd be fine with the material, which was kind of reassuring, especially since I seemed to know the answers to the mock questions that were presented (I answered them in my head).

Well, today I came home and ordered the ratings study guide for moves in the field. I hope to take my [Registered MIF] oral exam within the next year, ideally at the 2010 PSA Conference in CO. That gives me roughly seven months to prepare. If that doesn't pan out, I'll take my oral at one of the oral rating sites, hopefully before the oral exams switch to include the new/revised MIF at the 2011 Conference. Granted, I need to take the Registered Sports Science and Medicine exam first, but I'm on my way! 8O

So, any advice, do's/don'ts, stories, etc. from those of you who have taken an oral exam (particularly MIF) would be so greatly appreciated! :D