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21
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Coach Survey Results
This informal online survey was conducted between September 26 and October 26, 1999. The survey was open to
figure skating coaches or instructors affiliated with any skating organization (or unaffiliated).
Respondents were asked to answer 18 questions about themselves and their experiences and concerns regarding
parent-coach communication, and issues related to abuse and harassment reporting and claims.
106 responses
1. How long have you been coaching at your current facility?
Less than 6 months
6 months to 2 years
2 to 5 years
5 to 15 years
Over 15 years
(No answer)
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7
26
40
22
10
2
|
2. What skating organizations are you a member of currently? (more than one answer possible)
Professional Skaters Association (PSA)
USFSA/CFSA
ISI
Other
|
63
88
43
7
|
3. What are the ages and ability levels of the students you currently teach? (more than one answer
possible)
Learn-to-skate/basic skills pre-schoolers
Learn-to-skate/basic skills/preliminary, age 5 - 12
Learn-to-skate/basic skills/preliminary, age 13 - 17
Learn-to-skate/basic skills adults
Testing juvenile or above/actively competing, age 5 - 12
Testing juvenile or above/actively competing, age 13 - 17
Testing/competing adults
|
73
98
75
62
58
61
22
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4. About how many different students do you coach in an average week?
10 or less
11 - 20
21 - 40
41 - 60
More than 60
(No answer)
|
28
38
15
7
8
10
|
5. Do you coach full-time or part-time?
Full-time
Part-time or seasonally
Not formally employed as a coach (volunteer, coaches in
exchange for personal ice time, etc)
(No answer)
|
46
47
11
2
|
6. Primary employer for coaching services is:
Self-employed or work freelance
A USFSA or CFSA-member club
An independent skating academy or school
A high school, college or university sports dept
A municipal rink or recreation dept
An independently owned rink
A multi-rink chain (or a rink owned by a chain)
None of the above
(No answer)
|
36
23
9
0
11
13
10
3
1
|
7. How would you rate your level of communication with the parents of your basic skills/learn-to-skate
students?
Always or usually effective
Mostly effective, but occasional miscommunication arises
Not often effective
Usually ineffective and frustrating
(No basic skills students)
(No answer)
|
46
49
5
0
4
2
|
8. How would you rate your level of communication with the parents of your testing/competing
students?
Always or usually effective
Mostly effective, but occasional miscommunication arises
Not often effective
Usually ineffective and frustrating
(No testing/competing students)
(No answer)
|
44
46
1
0
13
2
|
9. Have you ever conferred with a skater's parent(s) about what kind of physical contact or language you
expect to use (or they expect you to use) during the course of your lessons with their child?
Yes, at my request
Yes, at their request
No
(No answer)
|
31
7
64
4
|
10. Would you welcome the formation of a formal or informal "Parent-Coach" advisory group, or the
appointment of a person to serve as a parent-coach liaison, at the facility where you work? Why or why not?
Yes
No
Not sure
My facility already has such a group/person
(No answer)
|
34
25
32
12
3
|
11. Has your employer or direct supervisor informed you of any formal procedures or instructions for
reporting abusive behavior by coaches or employees at your facility?
Yes
No
(No answer)
|
23
79
4
|
12. Have you ever attempted to report physical or sexual abuse or harassment by coach (or by a skater or
parent) to someone at your facility? If so, were you satisfied with the way your report was handled?
Yes - I reported, and was satisfied with the way it was handled
Yes - I reported, but was not satisfied with the way it was handled
No - I have not had to report anything
(No answer)
|
5
7
90
4
|
13. If you were to receive a complaint of abuse or harassment against a coach or employee at your
facility, is there currently a specific person in a management/supervisor position at your facility to whom
you would feel comfortable reporting the complaint?
Yes
No
Not sure
(No answer)
|
78
15
11
2
|
14. Have you ever been the subject of a complaint of abuse (verbal, physical, sexual) expressed to
facility management (or, to your supervisor) by a skater or a parent?
Yes
No
(No answer)
|
4
93
9
|
15. Are you satisfied that the complaint procedure (whether formal or informal) at your facility is
responsible and fair to staff (coaches and other employees), as well as to parents and skaters?
I feel it is responsible and fair to staff and to parents/skaters both
I feel it is not responsible and fair to staff
I feel it is not responsible and fair to parents and skaters
I feel it is not responsible and fair either to staff, or to parents and skaters
What complaint procedure?
(No answer)
|
47
4
1
9
39
6
|
16. Have you ever received any official information from any sporting organizations (via printed
materials, workshops or seminars, or certification courses) about physical or sexual abuse or
harassment?
Yes
No
(No answer)
|
36
65
5
|
Of those answering "yes" to this question, sources of information were: PSA (17 respondents), CFSA
(9), USFSA (4), USOC (1), ISI (1), Australian Institute of Sport (1)
17. What is your level of concern about the possibility of false complaints or allegations of abuse ever
being brought against you by a skater or a parent? If you feel concerned about this possibility, are there
any specific reasons for your concern?
I'm not concerned
I'm somewhat concerned
I'm fairly concerned
I'm very concerned
(No answer)
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51
29
13
8
5
|
18. If a complaint or grievance charging abusive or sexually exploitative behavior were filed against
you with either rink management, or with a skating organization to which you belong, do you feel confident
that your case would be handled promptly and fairly?
Yes
No
Not sure
It depends on which organization
(I don't belong to any skating organizations)
(No answer)
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33
8
45
14
0
6
|
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